Initial D: Second Stage

author: Shuichi Shigeno
director: Shin-ichi Masaki
review type: anime
status: completed
genre: Shonen, Racing
studio: Pastel
original run: October 14, 1999- January 6, 2000
episodes: 13


Synopsis

There are a new group of baddies in town and they are none other than Team Emperor, a street racing team that utilizes the Mitsubishi Evolution as their trademark race car. They are well known for their aggressive approach to street racing and for defeating any racer that comes up against them. However, their pride fell short when Seiji Iwaki; a prominent and seasoned racer with Team Emperor, was defeated by Takumi and his AE86.

With Team Emperor's pride and reputation at stake, their leader Kyouichi Sudo decides to challenge Takumi to a race. The avenger decides to teach Takumi a lesson. But the main purpose behind the race would simply be to bait in Ryosuke, his main target for a race.

Kyouichi, a professional racer, unleashes the full capacity of the Mistubishi Evolution during his race with Takumi. Literally, pawning him during the course. Luck runs out for Takumi as during the race, his engine blows. Officially placing him out of the race. Kyouichi however doesn't consider the defeat official and tells Takumi that it was more of a showcase to inform him of a need to drive better suited cars in order to match his own skills.

Kyouichi than successfully proceeds to race Ryosuke. The tide is turned when Ryosuke defeats Kyouichi; shocking Kyouichi dramatically.

Bunta; Takumi's father has always been preparing for the day Takumi would lose. He knew that the engine would suffer a blow out and waited for that day to happen. When it did, he installed a new engine with extraordinary capabilities. Wanting Takumi to learn more about the car, he doesn't inform Takumi on the equipment needed to suit the new engine.

The anime deals basically with Takumi learning to cope with the new engine and a rival AE86 driver whose not only competent with his driving skills but mechanical knowledge, challenging Takumi to a first ever AE86 showdown.



Rempits Vrooming Comment:

So things are finally starting to shape up. Of course defeating a Mitsubishi Evolution is totally bizarre. But the idea of Takumi suffering something that would rule him out is a good twist to the plot. Another good twist is to patch him up with a rival AE86 user. So you'd have a battle of the best and I think that's pretty neat and exciting; but predictable. How? Just pay attention and you'd know how.

Again there's not much character development here. Except that we note more of Takumi's contemporaries being totally skilled and cool. Sometimes you'd just wonder how did Takumi beat Ryosuke; with Ryosuke being a total lean mean driving machine? Takumi on the other would eventually become more knowledgeable about his car and the mechanics that are involved in it. But somehow or the other, it is again through a huge dosage of apathetic- ness which ultimately gave way to the thought of succeeding. Which basically would mean that Takumi is still a slow learner when it comes to things beyond the steering and accelerator.

Well the graphics get better, the art sometimes just pisses me off. But I think for classical anime fans, the art is less than a bother. The races are very well depicted and they still keep you in suspended animation; not entirely but it is fair enough.

So here's the continuation of the life of Takumi as a race car driver. With only the looming thought of victory that keeps him going. And I personally think it is only worth it to watch in terms of the races and the hype that surrounds it. Besides that, it is as a shallow as the Straits of Malacca; where you can even see the nice green algae at the bottom of the ocean.

I recommend this title if you're itchy for a sequel and if you're feeling high and a little less melancholic. And of course it is still a shonen title. A really straightforward and enjoyable one of course; on occasions.


Rempit Rates:

Storyline: 3/5
Character Development: 2/5
Art: 3/5
Originality: 3/5