Initial D Third Stage

Takumi Fujiwara is a skilled street racer, but he suffers a crushing loss against the team Emperor's leader Kyoichi Sudou due to his AE86 experiencing an engine failure. Doubting his abilities, the recent high school graduate is then approached by the Akagi RedSuns' team leader Ryousuke Takahashi, who proposes the formation of a professional street racing team. Although it would be the ideal way to improve as a street racer, Takumi remains undecided.

Does the young street racer have what it takes to become a professional? Perhaps Ryousuke and the RedSuns can help him reevaluate his own doubts and misconceptions concerning street racing. However, first and foremost, Takumi decides to settle the score with Kyoichi Sudou...

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Fujiwara, Takumi Main

Miki, Shinichiro Japanese

Fujiwara, Bunta ing

Ishizuka, Unshou Japanese

Takahashi, Ryousuke ing

Koyasu, Takehito Japanese

Takahashi, Keisuke ing

Seki, Tomokazu Japanese

Takeuchi, Itsuki ing

Iwata, Mitsuo Japanese

Satou, Mako ing

Neya, Michiko Japanese

Nakazato, Takeshi ing

Hiyama, Nobuyuki Japanese

Shouji, Shingo ing

Fujiwara, Keiji Japanese

Iketani, Kouichirou ing

Yao, Kazuki Japanese

Sudou, Kyouichi ing

Tanaka, Masahiko Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Mima, Masafumi Sound Director

Watanabe, Hiroshi Episode Director

Vale, Eric Script

Reviews

Mar 9, 2025

Chanrey

Recommended

Initial D Third Stage ends off the original 86 of Akina arc with an invitation to Project D by Ryosuke Takahashi which will be a team composed of Takumi, Keisuke, and Ryosuke, in charge of the project. Project D will travel across all over the country in search of the best street racers and beat them, it does seem contradictory of the last 2 stages because the protagonists were the ones who were defending their towns pride, and now they will be the ones taking the pride of over towns racers, but I digress,

the story between Takumi and Natsuki is finally finished with what ... I believe to be a very satisfying conclusion, and the animation has upgraded a lot with the movie budget especially with the racing scenes, they still have the same energy that the first two stages had, if not even more. The Eurobeat soundtrack is amazing and gives so much more hype and excitement to the racing as usual.

In conclusion, Third Stage might aswell have been the ending to Initial D, as Takumi explores the idea of if he truly wants to race or not, and his romance story with Natsuki ends with the stage, you could pretend that the series ended here and there were no more stages after this if you really want to.

A

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Dec 28, 2023

Legoboy0109

Recommended

This is my personal favorite Christmas movie, I watch it every year as a tradition now! This is just more Initial D, if you like that, then definitely watch it! The races are great, and have the same Initial D flair as always! The art style and animation are obviously a bit outdated, but I personally like it. I think it makes it more charming. I personally feel that Initial Ds characters seem boring to a lot of people because they're realistic. Normally they just go about their usual lives, and Takumi occasionally gets involved with a new street racer that challenges him. You don't ... see the side characters as much in this movie, but they're still present.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Jun 20, 2023

Bensonas

Mixed Feelings

So stage 3. It was ok. Probably shouldn't have been a film, maybe a smaller season like stage 2. Music was still great but quite a step down for me from stage 1 and 2. I'll expand.

Animation wise, as usual, is broken into two different parts; the driving, the non driving. I'll start with the driving as I believe this is the element that shines. Seemingly, with every season it gets better and better. It's now at a point where I'm not sure it can to be honest. Every race, with come thick and fast in this season, I'll touch on this later, is ... animated flawlessly. Sadly the investment and excitement for these races is lacking, again something I'll mention later. I cannot fault the animation on the driving at all however, which is not something I can say about the non driving animation.

I'm going to say it. It's poor. Really really poor. I'm watching this 20+ years after it was made so I don't know what happe ed studio wise, but it really is rubbish. From Stage 1 to 2 there was progress, progress I had to adjust too because I loved this animation in stage 1, but an adjustment that made me happy with the progress. Here in stage 3, you have to adjust quickly as otherwise, it will just be an annoyance throughout. Thank goodness for the driving quality. Without it, it would be very difficult to get through.

Another issue I had with this is the story. Stage 2 gets you really ready for this season for you to feel completely deflated by the end of Stage 3. It makes me think that Stage 3 is the real scene setter for the next (this what I thought stage 2 was to stage 3) Ultimately this season really under derlivers. It's rushed, poorly written and not a patch on 1 and 2. Races just happen, with no build up, the building up that allows you to get excited, that puts you on the edge of your seat before the racers are at the start line. They happen, then they're are done and that's it.

Maybe this season is about Takumi
'finding himself' or 'forgiving' so that he can truly move on. Sadly, I don't care. I just want to start Stage 4 knowing it doesn't get worse than this....I hope.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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