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Make no mistake. Initial D is not (solely) a show about cars. It's a show about self improvement, to become the greatest possible version of yourself. It's about going past your circumstances, and learning to use them to your advantage. And of course, Initial D is a show about JDM cars and a badass soundtrack.

Initial D is (besides the Matrix and Nirvana) peak 90s. Initial D is the embodiment of everything 90s anime is, for better or for worse. Surprisingly, the CGI is great, and the only animation gripe I really have is some character designs. It's not all balls to the wall action, and ... some might dislike the more drama focused episodes. I feel it gives a certain charm to it, like GTO (also a great car). Hey, maybe you'll even like their antics.

The story of the main character resonates with me. It's this young kid, in a beat up old 86. He learns to improve upon himself with every battle, and learns more about his car and himself. Underestimated at every step, he faces opponents with GTRs, RX7s, and cars statistically way better than his. He faces insurmountable odds, but never gives up. In life, you might be considered a failure, but if you have skill and tenacity, you can beat even the greatest of opponents.

Of course, what put this show on my radar are the battles. Almost every battle had me on the edge of my seat, and introduced something new to the table. They're famous for a reason. Shit, now I want to buy an 80s Toyota and drift in it.

In conclusion, you should watch Initial D because it's badass as hell, and you might learn something from it.

This was a really fun anime. It's the story of how three depressed, unfulfilled people find joy in the company of one another. The characters may seem a little bland at first, but over the course of the series, they lose their prospective barriers and talk about their backstories. You eventually fall in love with em. If you're expecting a straight 100% historically accurate show, this is not it chief. Hip-hop and Black culture blends into the soul of this production. It's similar to Afro Samurai in this regard. It's an action-packed, and beautifully animated show. The music from Nujabes goes hard as well (Araurian ... Dance). It's a classic for a reason. Some downsides is that you may not enjoy the hijinks that ensue every episode. If you want something that is very plot driven, this won't be the show for you. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys something more mature and action-focused, but still enjoys good humor and characters. 9/10

I don't understand what I'm supposed to take away from this show. I feel like art is supposed to tell us something about our world, and give us something applicable to our lives. I find none of that in Serial Experiments Lain.

I feel the show is very convoluted, and for no reason. The show could have been half as long, and the same message would have been present. A lot of the episodes felt like fodder. I know that they were supposed to increase tension and have a slow build up to the (many) plot twists, but I feel like it was just too ... boring. There was just way too many plot points. This could have been a 3 hour movie, and it would have been more enjoyable.

Most of the philosophic aspects aren't developed properly. For example, I felt like they were trying to reference Plato, with his theory of forms and the allegory of the cave, but it was hard to grasp. I don't understand what Lains' arc means. The ending is strange, and doesn't make a lot of sense. I won't describe it, but I don't know what I'm supposed to take away from it. Lains interactions with the God of the Wired were interesting. I feel the show could have done a better job communicating what it was trying to say about the world or the internet, but I digress.

Overall, I did enjoy the show, but it's bogged down by a convoluted plot and pretentiousness. The art is alright, and I liked the grunge atmosphere. I know the show wants to say something, it just can't speak. I'll give it a 7/10. Maybe I'm the dumb one, and I'll rewatch it a year from now. Who knows.