How to Watch the Initial D Anime in Order

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Plus, where to watch Initial D

Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: February 24, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Release Order
|
• Streamlined Order
|
• MF Ghost
|
• Where to Watch
|
• What It’s About
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• More Anime
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• Video

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Initial D is a cult classic street racing anime that debuted in 1998. Since the franchise has continued releasing content into the 2020s, you may feel overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start. Luckily, the watch order is pretty straightforward! Keep reading, as we’ll explain how to watch the series in its complete release order, as well as a streamlined order without filler.

What’s the best way to watch Initial D?

If you want to watch Initial D in its entirety, watch each stage and movie according to release order. The series was released in chronological order according to the in-universe timeline. However, the extra stages, battle stages, and Legend movies are recaps or side stories, so you can skip them if you want.

Steps

Section 1 of 6:

How to Watch Initial D in Release Order

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1. 
   While many anime series have separate release and chronological orders, Initial D’s are one and the same. The series is comprised of 11 “stages” (6 main stages, 2 extra stages, and 3 battle stages), as well as additional movies that summarize the story. Here’s how to watch Initial D in full:

   • Initial D: First Stage (1998)
   • Initial D: Second Stage (1999-2000)
   • Initial D: Extra Stage (2000)
   • Initial D: Third State – The Movie (2001)
   • Initial D: Battle Stage (2002)
   • Initial D: Fourth Stage (2004-2006)
   • Initial D: Battle Stage 2 (2007)
   • Initial D: Extra Stage 2 (2008)
   • Initial D: Fifth Stage (2012-2013)
   • Initial D: Final Stage (2014)
   • New Initial D the Movie: Legend 1 – Awakening (2014)
   • New Initial D the Movie: Legend 2 – Racer (2015)
   • New Initial D the Movie: Legend 3 – Dream (2016)
   • Initial D: Battle Stage 3 (2021)
   • New Initial D the Movie: Battle Digest (2022)
   • Note: A “stage” is essentially the equivalent of a season.
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Section 2 of 6:

How to Watch Initial D without Filler

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1. 
   Other than the 6 main stages, a lot of Initial D’s content is filler, meaning you won’t miss out on anything if you decide not to watch it. The battle stages recap the street races from the main stages, while the extra stages are side stories that focus on Mako Sato and Sayuki. The Legend movies are a retelling of the early stages, condensed into a 70-minute runtime for each movie. So, if you just want to watch the main story, try the streamlined order:

   • Initial D: First Stage (1998)
   • Initial D: Second Stage (1999-2000)
   • Initial D: Third Stage – The Movie (2001)
   • Initial D: Fourth Stage (2004-2006)
   • Initial D: Fifth Stage (2012-2013)
   • Initial D: Final Stage (2014)
   • Note: Since the Legend movies also offer a recap of the series, you could also just watch them instead if you don’t have time to watch the full series.

Section 3 of 6:

What is MF Ghost?

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1. MF Ghost is a sequel series to Initial D.MF Ghost takes place in the same universe as Initial D and is set in a time when self-driving electric cars have replaced internal combustion ones. However, an organization called MFG hosts street races for internal combustion cars. The series follows 19-year-old Kanata Rivington as he competes on this circuit.

   • You do not have to watch Initial D to understand the plot of MF Ghost, nor do you have to watch MF Ghost to get the full story of Initial D.
   • The MF Ghost anime premiered in 2023 and, as of 2026, has 3 seasons. Watch it on Crunchyroll.
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Section 4 of 6:

Where to Watch Initial D

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1. Watch Initial D on Crunchyroll. While streaming services are always subject to change, right now, Crunchyroll is the only place you can stream Initial D in the United States. If you have a VPN, you may be able to access it on streaming platforms in other countries, like Netflix.

Section 5 of 6:

What is Initial D about?

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1. Initial D follows Takumi Fujiwara as he becomes an underground street racer. Takumi Fujiwara is a high school student working part-time making tofu deliveries for his father. While doing so, he masters high-speed driving on Japan’s dangerous mountain passes. He soon catches the attention of a street racing team, and the series follows his journey to becoming an undefeated racer.

   • Initial D is based on the manga series of the same name, which ran from 1995 to 2013.
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Section 6 of 6:

More Anime Watch Orders

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1. Looking for another anime series to binge? We’ve got you covered! Check out these other wikiHow articles to learn the best watch orders for some of the most popular anime:

   • Monogatari
   • Gurren Lagann
   • Re:Zero
   • The Seven Deadly Sins
   • Hajime no Ippo
   • Baki
   • Haikyuu!!

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