Synopsis
An amazing downhill specialist appeared in the mountain passes of Akina. For five years beginning in the 7th grade at the age of 11 Takumi Fujiwara has been delivering tofu to a hotel via Akina everyday at 4 o’clock in the morning be it rain or snow. His method of training: a cup of water. If he spilt some water that would mean that he disrupted the integrity of the tofu. Bunta, his dad, told Takumi to rotate the water in the cup by shifting the weight of the car. Unknowingly, Takumi acquired and perfected his incredible driving technique. He became Akina’s hero overnight, and many strong rivals came to challenge him. Takumi continued to learn race after race.
Review
Initial D fourth stage is 24 episodes long similar to first stage. 2 episodes were aired at a time every other month starting in April 2004 to February 2006. Not quite as bad as Macross Zero’s schedule. Fourth stage naturally comes after the Initial D movie, third stage not the live action Chinese one, where Takumi has decided to join Ryosuke’s exclusive racing team called Project D. Takumi and Keisuke are the double aces challenging the top opponents outside of the Gunma prefecture.
The official Japanese Initial D website can be found at http://avexmode.jp/animation/initial/initial.html.
For an in depth explanation about TOKYOPOP’s botching of the previous stages I suggest you check out ViperMask’s PS2 Initial D Special Stage guide at Gamefaqs
http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/game/589379.html. F*** TOKYOPOP!
The Breakdown
Someone please teach me how to drift.
» The Pros
Takumi has to learn for himself how to beat the modern cars like the Evo. He begins to expand his worldview in his race with God Hand that there can be an infinite number of lines to take, not solely one correct one. My favorite line is from the coach of Todou: 'If there's such as thing as natural talent for driving, it just means that the person will improve just a little faster than everyone else. There's no such thing as an innate talent that overcomes repeated effort and practice.'
|
|
» The Cons
Initial D fourth stage features a couple of close call matches namely between Takumi and Tomoyuki, the professional racer of Todou, and Takumi and God Hand. Unfortunately (*spoils*), Takumi is not allowed to lose except to Bunta's Impreza. Keisuke seems to be given the back treatment since some of his races are not animated, for example versus Atsuro of team Seven Star Leaf. Most of the battles are one time rivals with the exception of Wataru and Kyoko. Kyoichi briefly phone calls Ryosuke and is a spectator for one of Takumi's battles. In the previous stages, you got to witness matches between the Nightkids, Emperor, Red Suns, and Impact Blue. That form of competition is absent in fourth stage. It's everyone pitted against Project D. In fourth stage, Takumi's friends Itsuki, Iketani, and Kenji are no longer cheering him on from the galleries. No drama with Mogi either, but Takumi thinks about her and misses her.
|
» Animation
8.0 |
The animation reverts back to first stage but drawn better. First stage was in the 1980's animation style (just look at their hair). It diverges from second stage's plastic feel. The third stage's movie animation was simply beautiful. I'm not an art major so I'm not sure how to describe it. The cars and engines are 3D computer animated. |
|
|
» Sound
10.0 |
There are two opening and ending themes all sung by an unhindered Move. I was told that in the previous stages they forced her to sing high pitched (see Initial D songs All Around the World and Gamble Rumble). Her natural voice is deeper like Do As Infinity (Inuyasha). OP1 - Dogfight, OP2 - Noizy Tribe (yes misspelt noisy), EN1 - Blast My Desire, and EN2 - Nobody Reason. The full version of Nobody Reason has an Arabian interlude about 3 minutes into the song. My personal favorite Forever Young by Symbol. Of course there's the god of all male japanese voice actors, Takehito Koyasu as Takahashi Ryosuke (Excel Saga's Ilbarazzo-sama, Fushigi Yuugi's Hotohori, and Mahoromatic's Ryuuga-sensei). |
|
» Story
7.9 |
Plot milestones in a nutshell (*spoils*) - Todou school (that produced Emperor's leader Kyoichi) and the professional racer, Cappuccino versus AE86, the other AE86 driver Wataru versus Keisuke, allusions into Keisuke's past gang experiences and former girlfriend, Kyoko who wants to be Keisuke's new girlfriend, Keisuke's new body for the FD3S, Project D versus God Hand and God Foot, and Bunta's new Impreza. Oh yea, Takumi outfits a carbon hood onto his Trueno, and Itsuki says his final farewell to Kazumi, Wataru's sister. In first stage, Takumi used the gutter run. In fourth stage, Takumi learns a new technique, the invisible line (turning off one's headlights trick). I still prefer the air-headed Takumi from first stage. The series ends with the message See you again hinting at a possible fifth stage. In the manga, there is a fake Project D team, and Takumi gets slapped. |
|
|
» Recommend
8.0 |
The official DVDs go for ?5,565 ($49.36) and only contain two episodes apiece. You must have previously watched the prior Initial D stages (first through third) to follow fourth stage. My personal opinion, I liked the other stages better but for completions sake watch fourth stage. |
|
» Other Information
Language: Japanese with English or Chinese subtitles
Extras: None
Package: Takumi and below his AE86. Hong Kong bootleg I know. Volume 1 of the official DVD has a red Roadster S Special [NA6CE] on the cover, Tohru's car from team Seven Star Leaf (this isn't Naruto). |
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
