Alejandro Rubio
Relatively recently I came across one of the best car series I have ever seen; I speak of initial D, a Japanese anime production created by Shuichi Shigeno, a manga artist and cartoonist.
The strong point of Initial D is that the plot transmits the values of driving and also teaches us in great detail the successes and failures that are usually committed at the wheel, such as when we face a mountain pass.
This series of street races is set in the city of Japan in the 90s and with it Shuichi intends to contribute to the automobile culture in his country. Its protagonists are above all the Japanese cars of the time, now 'youngtimers'; and is that among the cars that populate its frames we can find a Toyota AE86, a Honda Civic, Nissan GTR, Mitsubishi Evolution, Nissan S14, among many others.
What's Initial D about?
But let's talk about the plot: Takumi is an 18-year-old boy who lives in a small mountain town. His father owns a tofu shop and, fresh out of his license, he helps him make the delivery first thing in the morning. That means that to go down to the city every day you have to travel the highway with Toyota AE86.
It turns out that Takumi's father is a legend of drift -sport that is very fashionable lately-, and once he retired and after the death of his wife, he became a rather unaffectionate father. That influences the attitude of the protagonist, but I'm not going to spoil you; Let's say it's worth paying attention to paradoxical evolution of a character who does not like to drive but who finds a way to feel fulfilled behind the wheel. We embed a Video below for you to check ...
A series for fans
The beauty of Initial D is that Takumi experiences this evolution that we talked about together with his AE86, which, although it seems very spiritual, people who see the car as a friend rather than as a form of transport we value very much. As you can imagine, Takumi becomes a legend among Japanese drivers as he teaches us the ins and outs of driving.
If you are a fan of Japanese cars from the 80s / 90s and you like to drive, Initial D can become in a reference for you. Although they are cartoons, I have never seen an audiovisual product that conveys the love that unites us in such an explicit way. And if you want more, there is even a movie 'flesh and blood' ...
