MF Ghost
MF Ghost (Japanese: MFゴースト, Hepburn: Emu Efu Gōsuto) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno. It is a sequel to Initial D, and it also focuses on the Japanese street racing scene. It was serialized Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine from September 2017 to February 2025, with its chapters collected in 23 tankōbon volumes.
MF Ghost
- Creator
- Shūichi Shigeno.
- Date
- 2017.
- Publisher
- Kodansha.
- Language
- Japanese.
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MF Ghost (Japanese: MFゴースト, Hepburn: Emu Efu Gōsuto) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno. It is a sequel to Initial D, and it also focuses on the Japanese street racing scene. It was serialized Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine from September 2017 to February 2025, with its chapters collected in 23 tankōbon volumes.
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wikidata · Q48746227 · wikipedia · MF Ghost
In this article
Plot
Plot
An anime television series adaptation by Felix Film aired its first season from October to December 2023; a second season aired from October to December 2024; a third season aired from January to March 2026; a fourth and final season has been announced. The series was followed by Subaru and Subaru, which started in July 2025.
The series takes place in 202X, where self-driving electric cars have replaced internal combustion ones. However, in Japan, there is a large organization called MFG, founded by Ryosuke Takahashi (from the Initial D series), that is focused exclusively on street racing with internal combustion cars. Kanata Rivington (カナタ・リヴィントン, Kanata Rivūinton), a 19-year-old Japanese-British man who is competing under the pseudonym Kanata Katagiri (片桐 夏向, Katagiri Kanata), has shown up on the scene driving a Toyota 86. He manages to work his way through the ranks of MFG, beating top-tier cars such as the Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4, Ferrari 488 GTB, Lotus Exige, Alfa Romeo 4C and Porsche 911 Carrera (991). Kanata has been trained by legendary downhill and rally racer Takumi Fujiwara (the protagonist of the Initial D series) at the Royal Donington Racing School in the UK and is a Formula 4 world champion. He has only one motive: to find his long-lost father.
Manga
Manga
Written and illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno, MF Ghost was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine from September 4, 2017, to February 17, 2025. The series is a sequel to Shigeno's manga series Initial D. Kodansha collected its chapters in 23 tankōbon volumes, released from January 5, 2018, to June 6, 2025. Kodansha USA and Comixology published the 23 volumes digitally from January 11, 2022, to November 18, 2025. Kodansha added it to its K Manga online platform in May 2023. A sequel series by Shigeno, titled Subaru and Subaru, started in Weekly Young Magazine on July 22, 2025.
Anime
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on January 4, 2022. It is produced by Felix Film and directed by Tomohito Naka, with Kenichi Yamashita supervising the scripts co-written by Akihiko Inari, Naoyuki Onda designing the characters, and Akio Dobashi composing the music. The series aired from October 2 to December 18, 2023, on Tokyo MX and other networks. The opening song is "Jungle Fire feat. Motsu" by Yū Serizawa, while the ending song is "Stereo Sunset" by Himika Akaneya. Following the final episode of the first season, a second season was announced, which aired from October 7 to December 23, 2024. The opening song is "Rock Me Kiss Me feat. Motsu" by Yū Serizawa, while the ending song is "Side U (Prod. AmPm)" by Himika Akaneya. Following the final episode of the second season, a third season was announced. It aired from January 4 to March 29, 2026. The opening song is "Timeless Power feat. Motsu" by Yū Serizawa, while the ending song is "Yokan no Tochū Prod. Taku Takahashi (m-flo)" (予感の途中 Prod. ☆Taku Takahashi (m-flo)) by Himika Akaneya. Following the final episode of the third season, a fourth and final season was announced. Crunchyroll is streaming the series. Medialink licensed the series in Asia-Pacific for streaming on its Ani-One Asia YouTube channel.
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Japan.
Country
MF Ghost is associated with Japan.
Country
Reception
By January 2019, the manga had over 1 million copies in circulation; over 3.2 million copies in circulation by January 2022; and over 4 million copies in circulation by January 2023. Anime News Network (ANN) had four editors review the first episode of the anime: Rebecca Silverman was put off by the fan service depiction of Ren and felt disappointed with the racing being relegated to "only about thirty seconds of actual race footage"; Richard Eisenbeis felt betrayed by the lack of "awesome dirfting car races and killer eurobeat music" throughout the episode, but gave it credit for being a "solid introduction" and had decent stories involving Kanata and Ren, saying he will check out the second episode; James Beckett critiqued that "automotive-illiterate viewers" may enjoy the series through Ren and Kanata's potential romance but was unsure of its racing anime appeal based on the brief snippets it shows, saying that fanbase "will have to wait another week to get a real taste of the action." The fourth reviewer, Nicholas Dupree, was unimpressed with the "mild-mannered and matter-of-fact" main cast (outside of Ogata) but felt that viewers will get invested in them during the long run. He added that the visuals were a mixed bag, commending the details to the CG vehicles and the "distinctive character designs", but was critical of the environments being "(barely-)edited reference photos," saying "the make-or-break detail will depend on how well they can capture the speed and intensity of racing in the next episode." Fellow ANN editor Steve Jones chose MF Ghost as his pick for the Worst Anime of Fall 2023, criticizing the "paper-thin characters, shoddy presentation, and almost nonexistent story" as compared to Overtake!, and added that it fails as a continuation to Initial D, saying "Yes, it brings the Eurobeat back, and that's absolutely the best creative decision this sequel makes. But in all other respects—setting, character, stakes, direction, storyboarding—the classic Initial D anime runs laps around this one." Monique Thomas also chose the series as her pick for the Worst Anime of 2023, feeling that the races lacked storyline stakes and contained "long technical explanations", and felt the overall production away from the tracks was "sterile with very little expression," saying, "It feels like someone took all the worst parts of Initial D and cobbled them together into one vehicle. It's a reminder that we're no longer "running in the 90s" and have left them behind a long time ago." Kennedy, also writing for ANN, reviewed the complete first season in 2024 and gave it an overall C grade, praising the racing segments but felt it lacked Initial D's "over-the-top elements" that made it fun and criticized the bland characters throughout the disjointed story, concluding that: "On its own merits, it's (no pun intended) pretty middle of the road—exciting race scenes, which are weighed down by just about everything else. Overall, I wouldn't readily call it a particularly good or bad anime. But, it's the Initial D you have at home: it may also be a racing anime set to a Eurobeat soundtrack, but it lacks the over-the-top fun of Initial D." Kennedy reviewed the complete second season in 2025 and gave it an overall C− grade, commending the "serviceable" production and various Eurobeat-soundtracked races, but felt it was "another middle-of-the-road racing anime", criticizing the secondary storylines for lacking progression and "connective tissue" involving the central plot and said races for being repetitive and monotonous throughout the episodes, concluding that: "[T]his series is starting to drag, and I'm ready for it to reach the end of its road—which, incidentally, is in the process of happening in the manga, so at least there's that."
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “MF Ghost”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q48746227: MF Ghost
Unverified · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Colbert, Isaiah. Anime Fall 2023 Guide: What To Watch, Binge, And Stream - MF Ghost. Kotaku. September 25, 2023.
- 2.Hodgkins, Crystalyn. Shuuichi Shigeno's MF Ghost Manga Launches on September 4, Reveals New Visual. Anime News Network. August 28, 2017.
- 3.Kodansha. magazine.yanmaga.jp.
- 4.Pineda, Rafael Antonio. Shuuichi Shigeno's MF Ghost Manga's Story, 1st Page Previewed. Anime News Network. September 4, 2017.
- 5.Mateo, Alex. MF Ghost Manga Ends in 6 Chapters (Updated). Anime News Network. January 7, 2025.
- 6.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. February 17, 2025.
- 7.Hodgkins, Crystalyn. MF Ghost Manga Hints Connection to Initial D's Takumi. Anime News Network. April 9, 2018.
- 8.Luster, Joseph. Initial D Sequel MF Ghost Shows Off More of Its Anime Adaptation. Otaku USA. May 5, 2022.
- 9.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. January 5, 2018.
- 10.Mateo, Alex. Exclusive: Kodansha Comics, ComiXology Publish Initial D Successor Manga MF Ghost. Anime News Network. January 10, 2022.
- 11.Blaster, Master. Kodansha's K Manga app launches with 60 English simupubs among 400 titles. SoraNews24. May 11, 2023.
- 12.Loo, Egan. Initial D, MF Ghost Manga Get Subaru and Subaru Sequel in July. Anime News Network. June 5, 2025.
- 13.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. July 22, 2025.
- 14.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. January 5, 2018.
- 15.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, January 9–15. Anime News Network. January 11, 2022.
- 16.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. May 7, 2018.
- 17.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. September 6, 2018.
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- 19.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. May 7, 2019.
- 20.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. September 6, 2019.
- 21.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. January 6, 2020.
- 22.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. May 7, 2020.
- 23.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. September 4, 2020.
- 24.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. January 6, 2021.
- 25.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. May 6, 2021.
- 26.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, March 5–11. Anime News Network. March 7, 2023.
- 27.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. September 6, 2021.
- 28.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, April 2–8. Anime News Network. April 4, 2023.
- 29.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. January 6, 2022.
- 30.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, April 30–May 6. Anime News Network. May 2, 2023.
- 31.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. May 6, 2022.
- 32.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, June 4–10. Anime News Network. June 6, 2023.
- 33.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. September 6, 2022.
- 34.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, July 2–8. Anime News Network. July 6, 2023.
- 35.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. February 6, 2023.
- 36.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, July 30–August 5. Anime News Network. August 1, 2023.
- 37.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. June 6, 2023.
- 38.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, October 1–7. Anime News Network. October 3, 2023.
- 39.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. October 5, 2023.
- 40.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, March 3–9. Anime News Network. March 6, 2024.
- 41.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. February 6, 2024.
- 42.Kodansha USA. MF Ghost, Volume 19.
- 43.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. June 6, 2024.
- 44.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, January 19–25. Anime News Network. January 23, 2025.
- 45.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. October 4, 2024.
- 46.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, March 16–22. Anime News Network. March 20, 2025.
- 47.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. February 6, 2025.
- 48.Mateo, Alex. North American Anime, Manga Releases, July 13–19. Anime News Network. July 17, 2025.
- 49.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. June 6, 2025.
- 50.Kodansha USA. MF Ghost, Volume 23.
- 51.Pineda, Rafael Antonio. TV Anime of Initial D Successor MF Ghost Confirmed With Teaser. Anime News Network. January 4, 2022.
- 52.Loo, Egan. Initial D Successor Anime MF Ghost Reveals Staff, Eurobeat Soundtrack With 2nd Video. Anime News Network. May 5, 2022.
- 53.Hodgkins, Crystalyn. MF Ghost Anime Debuts on October 1. Anime News Network. September 2, 2023.
- 54.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie.
- 55.Cayanan, Joanna. MF Ghost Anime Reveals 4th Video, Theme Songs, October Debut. Anime News Network. July 5, 2023.
- 56.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. December 18, 2023.
- 57.Tai, Anita. MF Ghost Anime Gets Second Season in 2024. Anime News Network. December 17, 2023.
- 58.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie. August 9, 2024.
- 59.Natasha, Inc. Comic Natalie.
- 60.Mateo, Alex. MF Ghost Season 2 Anime's Promo Video Unveils Opening Theme, October 6 Premiere. Anime News Network. August 9, 2024.
- 61.Hodgkins, Crystalyn. MF Ghost Anime's 2nd Season Previewed in 3rd Promo Video. Anime News Network. September 6, 2024.
- 62.Loo, Egan. MF Ghost Anime Gets 3rd Season. Anime News Network. December 22, 2024.
- 63.Tai, Anita. MF Ghost Anime Season 3 to Air in 2026. Anime News Network. February 16, 2025.
- 64.Cayanan, Joanna. MF Ghost Anime Season 3 Premieres in January. Anime News Network. September 16, 2025.
- 65.Hodgkins, Crystalyn. MF Ghost 3rd Season Anime Reveals January 4 Debut, Theme Songs in Promo Video. Anime News Network. November 21, 2025.
- 66.Mateo, Alex. MF Ghost Anime Gets Final Season. Anime News Network. March 26, 2026.
- 67.Pineda, Rafael Antonio. Crunchyroll Licenses Rent-A-Girlfriend Season 3, Horimiya: The Missing Pieces, 5 More Anime. Anime News Network. May 20, 2023.
- 68.Pineda, Rafael Antonio. Ani-One Asia Streams A Girl & Her Guard Dog, MF Ghost, Firefighter Daigo Anime. Anime News Network. October 2, 2023.
- 69.Mateo, Alex. Crunchyroll Announces Release Schedule for Fall 2024 Season. Anime News Network. September 18, 2024.
- 70.Pineda, Rafael Antonio. Ani-One Asia Licenses MF Ghost Anime's 2nd Season. Anime News Network. September 30, 2024.
- 71.Sutōrī Anime『MF Gōsuto』Kōshiki Saito. mfg-anime.com.
- 72.Watch MF GHOST – Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll.
- 73.Kadokawa Corporation.
- 74.Tokyo MX.
- 75.Tokyo MX.
- 76.Loveridge, Lynzee. Initial D Creator's MF Ghost Inspires Limited Edition Hachiroku. Anime News Network. January 8, 2019.
- 77.Animate Times. January 4, 2022.
- 78.Mantan Web. January 4, 2023.
- 79.MF Ghost – The Fall 2023 Anime Preview Guide. Anime News Network. September 30, 2023.
- 80.The Anime News Network Editorial Team. The Best and Worst Anime of Fall 2023. Anime News Network. December 22, 2023.
- 81.Loveridge, Lynzee. The Worst Anime of 2023 + The Mega Poll Results. Anime News Network. January 1, 2024.
- 82.Kennedy. MF Ghost Season 1 Anime Series Review. Anime News Network. September 29, 2024.
- 83.Kennedy. MF Ghost Season 2 Anime Series Review. Anime News Network. January 15, 2025.
References
Citations
References
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