Initial D's MF Ghost Release Date, Characters And Plot - What We Know So Far

In all of anime, there's nothing quite like "Initial D." The heart-pounding series about Japanese drag racers, and the absurdly talented teenager who trumps them all in nothing more than a stock Toyota AE86, is pretty much a cultural icon. In fact, if you haven't watched "Initial D," there's a decent chance that you've been exposed to its soundtrack somewhere on the internet. Tracks like "Running in the 90s," "Gas Gas Gas," and "Deja Vu" are all certified Eurobeat bangers that reflect the show's fast-paced racing sequences and have extended beyond the scope of "Initial D" itself, becoming part of a much wider meme culture.

Alas, the heydays of Takumi Fujiwara (the aforementioned talented teenager) and his Eight-Six are over. The original manga by Shuichi Shigeno ended in 2013, and the last time anyone saw "Initial D" in anime form came with the final entry in a film trilogy in 2016. However, just because the original "Initial D" crossed the finish line did not mean that Shigeno was done with his high-octane world of racing. In 2017, the manga author started up a sequel series entitled "MF Ghost," and now that series is receiving its own adaptation. So, without further ado, here is what we know so far about the release date, characters, and plot of "MF Ghost."

While "MF Ghost" has existed as a manga since 2017, the series is only just now receiving an anime adaptation. News on this upcoming series broke on January 3, when Avex Pictures uploaded the first teaser trailer on YouTube. At the same time, according to Anime News Network, the manga publishing company Kodansha released a promotional image announcing the series' development. According to both the trailer and the image, "MF Ghost" is set to debut sometime next year, in 2023.

Unfortunately, neither source specified when exactly in 2023 "MF Ghost" will be released. Likewise, there has been no news on where or how fans outside of Japan will be able to watch the series. Like most anime, however, it is likely to show up on either Crunchyroll or Funimation at some point. More information on the upcoming anime will arrive more steadily as we near its eventual release in 2023.

While Takumi is most certainly the most well-known character in the world of "Initial D," the series "MF Ghost" provides a change of pace by focusing on a new character named Kanata Livington. A British-Japanese racer who attended racing school in England, Kanata travels to Japan in order to compete in its MFG racing circuit. At this time of writing, it is unknown who is slated to voice this new protagonist.

That being said, Kanata will not be the only major character that appears in "MF Ghost." Fan favorite characters like Takumi and Ryou (who runs the MFG circuit) will return at some point in the series. Likewise, Kanata has a few allies who support him during his time in the MFG. These include his love interest, Ren, the mechanic Ogata, and a fellow racer named Shun Aiba. Like Kanata, it is currently unknown who will portray these characters when "MF Ghost" is released.

Set in an undisclosed year in the future, seemingly sometime in the 2020s, "MF Ghost" takes place in a post-driver world. The majority of commercial cars in Japan are now self-driving, and the only people who bother to get behind the wheel are racers. Enter Kanata Livington, a half-British racer who graduated top of his class in racing academy, and who returns to Japan in order to conquer its MFG circuit. Like his mentor, the legendary Takumi Fujiwara, Kanata is a downhill specialist. In his trusty Red Toyota 86 GT, Kanata aims to become the circuit's top racer.

However, that is not the character's only motivation for coming to Japan — in fact, Kanata will also be searching for his long-lost father. When he's not racing under his father's last name, Katagiri, he is searching for clues as to his whereabouts. Whether Kanata successfully conquers the MFG and finds his father is uncertain, but it is sure to be revealed when "MF Ghost" debuts in 2023.