INITIAL D LEGEND: THEATRICAL COLLECTION

I love this series a lot, it covers all of season 1 with updated graphics/animation and cuts out a lot of filler, yes you miss some of the little details, but for the love of cars, this really is the best rendition of this series.

Initial D is one of my favorite anime shows hands down. This particular version will get you up to speed if you're not fortunate enough to find the 5 stages of episodes, and the extra stages that are out there. This episode covers the first part of what season one was all about. If you're a fan of the music from the show, be prepared, it's got a different feel to it, but still very good. The animation is very good quality, and really just pulls you into the story. If you love car movies the way I do, not just the fast and furious franchise, but Gone in 60 Seconds, Baby Driver and Redline you will love Initial D. Give it a shot, you may find yourself scouring the web for anything else you can find. Initial D? A+++

All 3 legend movies on one disc, video and audio quality are great. Wish there was eurobeat!

It's nice that we have some Initial D on blu-ray. The three movies that come on this blu-ray disc cover the first part of the Initial D story, in an abbreviated way. It has been so long since I read the mangas or watched the original anime series that I can't really remember much of what was left out. So this release covers Takumi's story up to his race with Ry Takahashi (FC). It's absolutely beautiful how the animators improved upon the original and brought this material into this century. Nice detail and beautiful cinematography! The spirit of Initial D's romantic awkwardness is still intact. Unfortunately the English dubbing department didn't consult anyone who knows cars, but the dub is good and has character. The Japanese language track is an option on this disc but you must select it in the menu, my blu-ray player couldn't switch it during playback. I really like the way this theatrical version tells the story. I guess I'll buy Stage 2/3 and 4 on DVD, while we wait for more Initial D on blu-ray. Recommended!

I have to admit. This is one of my favorite anime. I grew up racing cars my whole life but could never afford the latest and greatest. I grew up driving 4 banger dual cam cars RWD and worked with what I had. I eventually went to college in Japan and met my wife accordingly in Osaka. She was all about FWD cars like the Civic Type-R. At the time, I had a FD RX-& like Keisuke but silver I had bought for $3700. These days are long gone as RX-7 FD's are north of 40K in the U.S with current market value. But I will say, without this car, without these experiences. I wouldn't be who I am today. Nothing can replace the feeling you get with the heightened emotions behind these machines. There is no interference, just you and the machine. And you believe me when I say I have thrown alot of money in the trash over the course of my life on mistakes... But none of it can ever replace the emotion drawn from the feeling of being in a old ratty Japanese car from the 80's/90's. To this day I still own a miata because it's what I can afford and will still canyon and track this car until it can run no more... I must have 20-30k in this car by now... I will never EVER trade it for something newer...

Amazing recap of the original series that ends with the events of the first race. Feels different without the original music, but it's still great. Gives slightly different perspectives and has some more insight to some characters.

Honestly, I just finished watching all of the original about a month ago still had an itch for more. So imagine my surprise when I found this. So far it has been a fantastic retelling and the animation and drift angles are fantastic! The only thing that would have made this perfect for me would have been if they had Eurobeats. Not that they don't do a good job of music but it's just missing that "oomph". Now going to watch number 2!

Takumi Fujiwara is a spacey high school kid who lives in a town obsessed with racing cars. A rival team with national fame comes to race after their star driver gets beaten by an anonymous racer "up on the mountain" at 3am. The plot is relatively simple to follow, and the characters have little time to develop given the 67min format. That being said though, the extended anime episode does a good job of gripping our attention, building tension, and displaying some mostly realistic driving/racing! All in all, a great way to pass 70min if you're into anime and cars.