Initial D: Third Stage

author: Shuichi Shigeno
director: Noboru Mitsusawa
review type: anime movie
status: completed
genre: Shonen, Racing
studio: Pastel
released: May 15, 2002
runtime: 105 minutes


Synopsis

It is a journey that has now demanded a decision for the maverick and prodigious Takumi. Ryosuke, of the Red Suns fame asks him to join a new racing team he is forming featuring the best street drivers from the Gunma district. Takumi, still relishing that bitter moment with Team Emperor's front man Sudou Kyouichi, mentions his desire to only decide after having settled the score with him.

Takumi proceeds to challenge Kyouichi at the Irohazaka pass. The battle format is simple. Kyouichi decides that Takumi should lead. If Takumi loses the lead, than Kyouichi wins. Takumi has the daunting task of preventing Kyouichi from slipping ride out and above him, since a change in leader would ultimately be the penalty for defeat. Takumi bravely fends off Kyouicihi to stay ahead and win the race.

Kyouichi, who's a racer that's absolutely proud in his knowledge of his own home course, concedes defeat and gives the AE86 the praise it deserves. Takumi felt that it could only muster up a draw but was more concerned for the acknowledgement of Kyouichi that the AE86 is a competent race car and not just an antic on wheels.

More awaits Takumi has he would face his father, Bunta's old rival's son, Kogashiwa Kai. This would lead to a finale of epic proportions as Takumi begins to feel the heat of street racing and thus pursuing s more matured approach to racing.



Rempit's Vrooming Review

Finally, Initial D has produced a quality plot. Of course the bitter issue of Takumi and his quest for proving the AE86 was a little immature and typical, but finally Takumi becomes the go-getter. Takumi has largely been apathetic in the first two installments, and to see him react in a different fashion, just tells you that Takumi might be actually real! For once!

And the idea of having him square off with his rival is also yet another typical shonen issue, but then again having squared off with someone so talented that the win might just be out of Takumi's hands is so enticing. So I'd say that these factors are a manager break into the series and it does seem to be an exciting one.

The season challenges Takumi to be a more mature driver, honing not only his skills on the road but also his ability to decide. So character development here is up a notch. As he battles the crossroads of joining Ryosuke's team, Takumi's philosophy might just be a different approach to the more mainstreamed "hard-resolved" resolutions shonen heroes and heroines would normally undertake. Plus, since Takumi does age in the series it is noteworthy that the author did allow that maturing process to transpire into the series. At least he is not perpetually stuck at high school;Form 4 Science Stream, anyone?

The art, well is still the same. I guess I don't have much to complement when people look like kidney beans with a weird triangle as a nose. But I do have to say that in terms of the cars, and the race tracks, then this is promising. Their attempt to 3D-fy the races has gradually improved. So there's quality control going on, and that gives it the point of difference.

I still do think their races are the best feature. Ok, DUH!. But, since the series has travelled this deep, you'd just be worried that the excitement might just die off at the fact that it has become monotonous. But surprisingly, it still manages to keep you faithfully hooked into the world of downhill and uphill street racing.

I do think this installment is an exciting one. And a better one comparing to the 2nd, and on par with the 1st (my favorite's still the first, somehow in a weird way). So give this one a try and you might discover a franchise that may not be as a good as other common titles out there, but simply one that keeps promising and delivering gradually. Maybe it was intentional that we too, the viewers, also grow along with the franchise in terms of like ability? Perhaps. But give this one a shot.



Rempit Rates:

Storyline: 4/5
Character Development: 4/5
Art: 3/5
Originality: 4/5