Initial D is another discovery courtesy of Fabulous Anime Club at UNM. It does not top the amazing discovery of Nodame, but it underscores once again the importance of extending horizons once and again. No, I'm not watching Madoka. But I thought Initial D was some kind of stupid action flick like Fast and Furious, and I was traumatized by the EX-Driver.

Unfortunately for blogging's usefulness, I come here encumbered. I drove a Neon, you see. Been to street races in Fremont. Visited The Riceboy Page when it was alive. I know what a "hachiroku" is, although I learned about it much later, when Toyota tried to re-create its mistique. Therefore, a lot of enjoyment for me here is the kind of thing engineers get when watching Rocket Girls, only less cerebral. It's real. In the same time, it's not: everything is idealized, like in idol anime. This assessment is a very important point: I want it that way.

Still, trying to step back a little, it seems surprisingly well made on merits. The basic 3D is not jarring, somehow. I reacted violently when the reference was made in Lucky Star, but here it feels in place. The old-time animation is adorable. Designs seem like caricatures of Kiminozo's. Characters are very likeable, although I harbor doubts about the nature and role of Mogi. This includes the initial antagonists. It is not very common when Sorting Algorithm of Evil can be employed with such fidelity and consistency while training on non-lethal enemies. Training in StrikerS? Bitch, please.

Not sure if I want to proceed from here on, the franchise is fairly long. But then I always rewatch 2 first episodes of Ai yori Aoshi, too. I am ok with loving a part.

Omitted Material:

• Initial D is a mecha anime, albeit without power multiplier. It does have the concept of an ace though.
• My Neon was an EX, with a SOHC, just like Itsuki's AE-85 in the sense of its relationship with DOHC models before the PL2K generation. But it was lighter than ACR. True story. Also, I'm just as talentless and enthusiastic as Itsuki. Whenever I visit a kart track, I lap 110% of the track's best.
• About real-unreal: there's a real-unreal inside the anime itself, with the selection of the downhill as equipment equalizer. The characters select the unreal because they want it.
• Jeremy Clarkson once said that the speed is the only truly modern sensation. He was paraphrasing James Dickey, who actually said it about the flight. But then, a famous aviator once said that speed is the only reason for flight (I think it as Al Mooney).
• Among animebloggers, I think the one with a connection would be Adun, but I don't have a great relationship with him. He's also gone inactive. He used to drive a Mazda of some kind, possibly an FD. The joy of living in a RHD country. {Update: Omo told me that he drove a 240SX!}
• BTW, nobody uses the phrase "FR layout". It's a Japanism re-implanted.
• It's a FUNi's title ("FUNi only licenses garbage" - precision 90%).