Initial D: First Stage

Initial D First Stage is a 1998 anime series, marking the first installment in the Initial D anime adaptation. It covers volumes 1 to 7 (chapters 1-77) of the manga, telling the story of Takumi Fujiwara, a tofu delivery boy with no interest in cars or racing, who gradually becomes an exceptional drift racer. Set in the late 1990s in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, it depicts the local illegal street racing culture, particularly mountain pass drift racing. Takumi hones his driving skills through daily tofu deliveries on Mount Akina in his father's Toyota AE86. His battles with formidable opponents like the Akagi Red Suns and his encounters with the Takahashi brothers set the stage for his racing journey. The anime is renowned for its intense racing scenes and dynamic music, laying the groundwork for subsequent series. It was produced by Studio Comet and Studio Gallop.