Initial D: Legend 1 - Awakening Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

Initial D: Legend 1 - Awakening Blu-ray Movie Review

Rev your engines for adrenaline-fueled action adventure!

Based on the successful manga series by Shuichi Shigeno, Initial D: Legend 1 – Awakening is the first feature-film adaptation in a trilogy of anime productions adapting the original story. With fast cars and memorable characters, there's nothing surprising about the enormous success of the series. The first film in the saga helps introduce newcomers (or re-acquaint longtime fans) to the beloved saga. The anime adaptation is produced by studios Liden Films and Sanzigen.

The story begins the retelling of the Initial D anime with enormous gusto and enthusiasm. The central figure of the storyline is the level-headed and charming Takumi. An often brash teenager, he works as delivery-man by day while pursing his dreams on the side. As he struggles with his normal day-to-day life as an ordinary delivery driver (while saving money for a car of his own while attending his school), Takumi slowly rises out of the shadows of the background to take on a new and unexpected role which has the ability to transform his life from that of an ordinary youth to that of an expert racer (driving at lightning speeds across the gravely roads). The engine roars and Takumi takes flight.

In the opening act of the Initial D trilogy, the storyline idolizes the mechanical wizardry of the great Eight-Six vehicle (otherwise known as a Toyoto Sprinter Trueno AE86 car) which becomes a character within the story in its own right. As the film places such a strong emphasis on the races themselves, the classic vehicle makes a huge impression as it roars along the road at high-speed. There's something of great beauty in how the car is animated and how it revs its engine. Fans of fast cars will appreciate the design and style of the Initial D vehicle (in all of its glory).

While delving into the world of car races, Takumi juggles his personal life. He spends a great amount of time talking to his headstrong father, Bunta (who was a legendary race-car driver himself). Then there's the romantic life to talk about: Takumi is dating the affectionate Natsuki. Trying to balance everything leads to some complications for Takumi but somehow he always finds a way to make it work. The family dynamic in the storyline makes a firm impression during the first of the three films and gives some heart and pathos to the characters (while the storytellers never forget to also showcase badass vehicles blazing across the streets of Japan).

Non-stop action and fast cars to whet one's appetite.

The conclusion of Initial D: Legend 1 - Awakening builds towards the epic confrontation against the Takahashi's: the hot-headed brothers have their own agenda while racing on the roads. The epic race which unfolds is a stunning sight that must be seen as the characters rev their engines and embark on the road-rampage of a lifetime. Place your bets and tune in for the spectacle of it all.

The first of a trilogy, Initial D: Legend 1 – Awakening is arguably the most exciting, action-packed feature in the entire trilogy of films. The story remembers to showcase fantastic vehicles and fast, exciting racing sequences without sacrificing the story. Having immensely enjoyed watching the Initial D anime series growing up it was wonderful to revisit. Exploring the world and characters in a feature-film setting is truly fantastic.

Recreating elements of the original anime with new animation and revamped mechanics, the feature has exceptional artwork and distinctive character designs. The first-rate animation was directed by Atsushi Aono (Cowboy Bebop, Steamboy) and Hiroya Ilijima (Pokemon). The animators did a undeniably terrific job of portraying the essence of the characters (their youth and ambitions).

One of the components of the anime which fans are most excited to see is the non-stop car races. The production team delivers on the action quotient sufficiently with a number of high octane action scenes. The blazing-fast vehicles race across the screen while the art is accompanied by the superb music score by Akio Dobashi (Dance in the Vampire Bund, Sisters of Wellber). The energy is unbridled and the rich cinematography by Shinsuke Ikeda (Promare, Pokemon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice) is a perfect compliment to the race-car world.

Initial D: Legend 1 – Awakening features a noteworthy screenplay by Mayori Sekijima (Darkside Blues, Video Girl Ai) that remembers to never sacrifice ongoing character-development for mere spectacle. While the sleek direction by Masamitsu Hidaka (Pokemon, The Sacred Blacksmith, Linebarrels of Iron) delivers the action and energy fans want in spades, the filmmaking is better tuned than what some might expect from a racing anime. The heart of Initial D is what makes the story worth investing in (even if the cars are undeniably fun, too).

Initial D: Legend 1 - Awakening Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Revving on to Blu-ray from Sentai Filmworks, Initial D: Legend 1 - Awakening features a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The release quality is exceptional with an excellent video presentation. The eye-popping visuals look great throughout and the adrenaline-fueled excitement of the film is well-reproduced with a bold style effectively showcasing the rich colors of the filmmaking. During the epic car-race duel at the film's conclusion, the engines roar and the encode proves its worth with exceptional clarity. There are no issues with banding to report. The image is clean, crisp, and beautiful.

Initial D: Legend 1 - Awakening Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The audio presentation for Initial D: Legend 1 - Awakening is presented with an altogether stunning DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound presentation that capably brings the anime to life. The lossless surround sound mix is available for either the original Japanese language track (with English subtitles accompanying the presentation) or the excellent English dubbed version. The dynamics of the track were impressive and the use of the surround sound was extremely well implemented on the mix.

The race scenes sound intense with the revved engines blasting through the streets with exceptional clarity and detail. Dialogue reproduction is superb and the sound comes through with crisp detail that should not go overlooked. While bass might not be quite as tight as on a major blockbuster production, the quality of the surround implementation thoroughly impresses and entertains. The English subtitles are excellent and there were no noticeable issues with grammar or spelling.

Initial D: Legend 1 - Awakening Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Initial D: Legend 2 - Racer Preview (HD, 00:48)

The release also contains trailers for other releases from Sentai Filmworks.

Initial D: Legend 1 - Awakening Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There is something to be said about anime series which are capable of fine-tuning their distinctive worlds with a creative mix of action-packed moments with genuine pathos and character development. Initial D: Legend 1 – Awakening is an example of this brilliance. The anime features exciting non-stop fun audiences expect to find with blazing-fast car races while building a compelling narrative around Takumi, the hero, and his daily struggles in life. The first part of a trilogy of feature-films, Initial D: Legend 1 – Awakening is can't-miss entertainment for anime fans of all ages. And the best part? The fun is only beginning.