Initial D (2005 Movie)

Hubby and I like the Initial D anime. It follows that we would watch the movie and read the manga as well, if we haven’t yet. (It could happen that we read the manga first and compare the story to the anime.)

The story of Initial D focuses on the illegal world of Japanese street racing, with events mostly happening on mountain passes with drifting as a technique emphasized. As expected Tshuchiya Keiichi, known as the Drift King, worked closely behind the anime.

The movie is Hongkong made and stars both Hongkong based Chinese and Japanese actors led by Edison Chen (scandal not yet out at this time). Thanks to the subtitles I don’t get lost that much. (I probably should add Cantonese and Mandarin to my vocabulary, lol). It is about an unlikely highschooler/gasoline boy/tofu-delivery guy named Takumi who became famous for his driving skills.

Turns out his father was a once known racing driver but due to personal struggles has stopped his career. Takumi has to deal with his alocoholic father and a not so loyal girlfriend in the film as well.

The races in the movie are really breath-stopping as the tracks seem so steep and dangerous.

According to websites, three new Toyota AE86 Sprinter Truenos, a car out of production since 1987, were especially built by Toyota for the film. The anime has given the AE86 a name in the market. The appearance of the car in the manga and anime turn has led to a resurgence of interest. It later on led to a growth in its demand and a subsequent rise in its resale value. What was once a car that was looked over by many in the US and abroad (during a time when power and 1/4 mile times were focused on more than cornering ability and balance) is now a hot commodity among auto-enthusiasts. The AE86 even gained attention fromvideo game publishers, as this car was included by Electronic Arts’s Need for Speed Underground 2 (although under the American name Corolla GTS). (http://www.wordiq.com, IMBD)

A second installment is in the works and will be out next year.

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