Led by the prodigious Shinji Inui, a quiet, unassuming driver who works at a gas station (echoing Takumi’s own origins), Sidewinder is the antithesis of Project D. While Project D relies on data, strategy, and the genius of Ryosuke Takahashi, Sidewinder relies on raw, instinctual talent. Shinji, driving a Toyota AE86 Levin (the coupe sibling of Takumi’s Trueno), possesses a driving style that terrifies even Keisuke Takahashi.

But did this short, four-episode arc stick the landing? For most fans, the answer is a resounding yes . Here’s why Final Stage remains the gold standard for racing anime conclusions. Unlike previous arcs that focused on random challengers or internal team drama, Final Stage narrows its focus to one ultimate rivalry: Project D versus Sidewinder .

For anyone who watched Takumi drift through the streets of Akina in 1998, watching him cross the final finish line in 2014 felt like saying goodbye to an old friend.

For fans of automotive culture and high-stakes anime racing, the name Initial D needs no introduction. Based on the manga by Shuichi Shigeno, the series dominated the better part of two decades, chronicling the journey of tofu delivery boy turned street racing legend, Takumi Fujiwara. After six seasons, multiple movies, and countless gutter runs, the story finally concluded with Initial D Final Stage in 2014.