Now Playing: Eugen Enin's Initial E
Sometimes, Eugen & the Gang gear up for some Tokyo drifting.
Initial E doesn't look anything like your typical VOD. It doesn't follow the typical skate section template either. It doesn't even sound like anything skate-related, and in that sense, it can get confusing, or judging by comments I've read, just plain frustrating for some folks. Yet if the goal was to serve you a real slice of Japan, then Initial E truly is an outstanding success. Just like Japan itself, Initial E is colorful, bright, and loud. It's hard to comprehend and follows no apparent logic. It's all over the place, and quite honestly, a little frustrating at first! But with its different sections, sounds & transitions, Initial E is indeed a remarkable homage to modern Japanese culture.
Following Eugen's 2018 E.3 section, the crew got back together to push their shared vision even further. Temple's Vincent Lindgren and the other Enin, Daniel, teamed up once again behind the camera and then took turns at the editing station. Once again, the attention to detail is obvious, as shown by Danny's delicate work on both the sound engineering and color grading, or Jonas Bødtker's 2D visuals and animations. With carefully crafted projects such as this one, one can sense the team was eager to create something truly special that would stand in its own category. And once you're done spotting all the easter eggs, comes the time to focus on the skating itself.
And as usual with Eugen, the skating is next level. As usual, his footwork is as futuristic as some of Tokyo's urban landscapes. And not so usual yet, Initial E includes several rail transfers and ballsy disasters. The video showcases mind-blowing switch-ups you'll need to rewind several times to fully comprehend (as is to be expected), but also carefully picked, easier-to-understand bangers like a true spin cabdriver or 450 unity. From Vinny Minton to Matty Schrock, Eugen's influences are truly diverse, and with his crazy balance and creative cess slide combos, his physical abilities also seem virtually endless. So if you're confused with what's happening all around, simply shift your attention back to Eugen's skating: as usual, he's freaking killing it!
Initial E might be confusing at first, to some it may even be frustrating, but boring... Never! So if you haven’t seen this one yet, make sure to treat yourself with a truly unique piece of blading!
PS: next time, you better invite me over for one of those food breaks, because I'm now craving Tonkotsu ramen!