Initial D Third Stage Making Of The Movie (頭文字D Third Stage Making Of The Movie, Inisharu D Third Stage Making Of The Movie) is a behind-the-scenes "making of" special for the movie Initial D Third Stage, It was released on the Initial D The Movie Special Box on DVD and VHS on August 29th, 2001.
Contents[]
The special is split into 4 chapters, each chapter talking about the development and production of Initial D Third Stage.
The following content is roughly translated into English from Japanese and may not be 100% accurate.
Chapter 1[]
Chapter 1, titled "The World of D ~Gorgeous Voice Cast~", focuses on the voice cast of the movie and the importance of how they bring life to the characters they voice. The chapter includes a section where the voice cast introduces themselves and their respective characters, along with their thoughts on the movie. Additionally, it showcases behind-the-scenes footage of the voice actors recording the dialogue for their characters, which took place in October 2000.
Chapter 2[]
Chapter 2, titled "The World of D ~3DCG~", discusses the use of CG and its evolution since its incorporation in the First Stage. It also delves into the challenges involved in compositing 2D animation and 3DCG models. With CG production done by the company Pastel. The chapter includes an interview with Executive Producer Ren Usami, wherein he discusses their journey of experimentation and gradual improvement in composing elements for the first, second, and third stages. Eventually, their efforts led to a project efficient enough to succeed on the grand screen of a movie. The process of compositing the 2D animation and 3DCG is also demonstrated with a scene using both as an example.
The result is a more realistic and deeper image.
In addition, the use of the digital editing software "Inferno", was employed to enhance the range of expression and the fluidity of visual imagery. This digital editing is evident in the battle between Takumi Fujiwara and Miki, which unfolds in a snowy setting. The scene is rendered and composited by dividing it into separate parts. First, the base CG is added, followed by the incorporation of the snow effects, resulting in a completed form with improved visual effects. The rendering for all of these processes would take around 80 minutes, and the snow scenes utilizing multiple computers to process the vast amount of data.
Initial D has evolved in its portrayal of showing high-speed paced battles on the mountain pass. In the past stages, certain scenes down the mountain pass were filmed by tilting the camera to make it look like a slope.
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However, for the Third Stage, an in-house developed program was used to reproduce a three-dimensional slope on which the car is driven. This program is capable of detecting collisions between the CG car and its environment and can calculate the behavior of the car to the last detail.
An example of a scene made using visual mapping.
The movie also makes use of perspective mapping, which enhances the realistic feel of the car driving down the mountain pass. The process involves mapping a 2D background to a 3D guide and then constructing the scene by placing many 3D elements based off both the guide and background. By utilizing perspective mapping, it enables the use of 3D camera work. This allows for the composition of the car into a scene, resulting in a much more realistic viewing experience. Lastly, in this section, is the process of synchronizing the 2D person with a 3D CG car, taking note of the camera work.
The process of synchronizing the 2D and 3D CG.
two Using an example from the Second Stage, firstly, is the creation of objects for the camera to map according to the 2D person, enabling the use of 3D camera work. This process creates an image in which the camera wraps around the 2D character while maintaining the facial expressions of the 2D character, so that the movements of the 3D car and the 2D character become one and synchronized.
Chapter 3[]
Chapter 3, titled "The World of D ~Real~", delves into the anime's commitment to realism, particularly in the display of the battle scenes. With scenes crafted in a way that ensures every movement of the vehicle feels authentic and true to real-life driving. The key to the high level of realism is the involvement of Japanese professional race car driver Keiichi Tsuchiya, known as the "Drift King", who serves as a supervisor for the production of Initial D. On June 29, 2000, at Maze Circuit, Tsuchiya, also joined by Mitsuo Iwata who voices Itsuki Takeuchi and Shin-ichiro Miki voice actor of Takumi Fujiwara. Wherein they discuss the with the transition from TV to film allows for more details to be included. Such as tire squeals, engine sounds, and the glow of brake rotors, were now be able to be accurately portrayed at a higher level. Thus allowing to create car movements that would feel genuine to anyone familiar with cars or racing in general.
One of the most striking aspects of the sound production was the effort put into capturing the real-life sounds of the cars. The team conducted sound recording at Maze Circuit on July 30, 2000 under the blazing sun, where microphones were placed in the AE86’s engine room to capture the true heartbeat of the car. With Tsuchiya's own AE86 being used to record the exhaust notes and drift sounds in the movie. This level of authenticity extended to every detail, with sound director Masafumi Mima emphasizing that while TV productions could get away with cutting corners, the larger-than-life sound environment of the theater required a higher standard of mixing and sound layering.
Release[]
The Making Of The Movie was released on the Initial D The Movie Special Box on DVD and VHS on August 29th, 2001.
Music[]
- Running In The 90's - Max Coveri (Recap)
- Deja Vu - Dave Rodgers (Recap)
- Spacelove - Fastway
- Speed Lover - Speed Man
- Street Of Fire - Dave MC Loud
- Fightin' The Night - Dave MC Loud
- Max Power - Dr. Love ft. D.Essex
- Space Boy - Dave Rodgers
- Gamble Rumble - M.O.V.E.
- Jiremna - Every Little Thing
- Hey Ho, Let's Go - Dusty
- The Race Is Over - Dave Rodgers
- Take Me Baby - Mickey B. (Trailer 1)
- Spacelove - Fastway (Trailer 2)
- New Love - Priscilla (Trailer 2)
- Live In Tokyo - Kelly Wright (Trailer 2)
- Strike On - M.O.V.E. (Trailer 2)