It has been revealed that the third season of the TV anime " MF Ghost ," a sequel to the popular manga " Initial D " by Shuichi Shigeno , " MF Ghost 3rd Season," will be broadcast in 2026. The original manga reached its final episode in the 12th issue of the serialized magazine "Young Magazine" (Kodansha), released on February 17, bringing the series to a close after about seven and a half years since its start in September 2017.
A video celebrating the end of the original series, consisting of many heated battles and footage from the third season, was released on YouTube. An illustration drawn by character designer and chief animation director Naoyuki Onda was also released. In response to the end of the original work, the anime staff and cast have provided comments.
"MF Ghost" began serialization in "Young Magazine" in September 2017. It is Shigeno's first automobile-themed manga in about four years since "Initial D," which was serialized from 1995 to 2013. Set in Japan in the year 202X, where self-driving cars have become widespread, the story follows Kanata Katagiri, who graduated from a racing school in the UK, as he takes part in races to achieve a certain goal, while the MFG car races on public roads are gaining popularity around the world.
Kanata is a student of Takumi Fujiwara , the main character of " Initial D ", and races in a red 86. The appearance of characters from " Initial D ", such as Keisuke Takahashi and Hiroya Okuyama, also became a hot topic. It was also made into a TV anime, with the 1st season airing from October to December 2023 and the 2nd season airing from October to December 2024.
◇Comment from Director Tomohito Naka
Congratulations to Shuichi Shigeno Shuichi on the completion of "MF Ghost"! Thank you so much for all your hard work over the long 7 and a half years of serialization. It's heartwarming to see you have made it this far after all the creative hardship. It feels so sad that Natsuki and friends' story has come to an end, but the film adaptation is only halfway there... All of the animation production staff will do their utmost to carefully portray this wonderful story, full of the author's soul, so that it can be shared with as many people as possible. Thank you so much for creating "MF Ghost"! Over!!
◇Comment from character designer and chief animation director Naoyuki Onda
First of all, congratulations on completing the serialization of "MF Ghost." Shigeno-san is known for "Initial D," but I was also an avid reader of "Bari Bari Densetsu," and I also liked "Sho," so I was looking forward to the next installment. I wasn't able to participate in Initial D due to timing issues, so I was just one of the people watching with my fingers in my mouth, but this time I was unexpectedly asked to take part, and as a manga otaku who loves cars, I was very happy. Thank you so much.
◇Comment from Sound Director Masafumi Mima
Thank you for your hard work! Although I have never met Shigeno-sensei before (that's strange...), for some reason it didn't feel that way (that's also strange...), but I feel as though we have been working together on the project all this time. Cars are my dream, and I am truly happy to have come across the work "Initial D" as a dream. I am truly grateful to the creator, the sensei. I believe that the best way to repay him is to carefully create the anime version of "MF Ghost" so that fans can enjoy it until the very end. Thank you so much. And thank you for your hard work!
◇Comment from Yuma Uchida, who plays Natsumu Katagiri
I was really moved by Shigeno-sensei's passion for cars. Seeing Kanata squarely facing his cars and pushing the limits of what he can do gave me the courage and power to take on new challenges. I hope to carry on the spirit of the original work in the 3rd season of the anime and deliver it to many people. Thank you so much for your hard work serializing "MF Ghost"!!
◇Comment from Ayane Sakura
Congratulations to Shigeno-sensei on completing the series. I don't know much about cars yet, but when I see people who love cars, I imagine that if I were to fall in love with them, a really fun world would be waiting for me... I've been reading "MF Ghost" for a few years now, thinking this. There was definitely a world I had never known before. The world of cars seen through the lens of love is very brilliant, and it was filled with Shigeno-sensei's "love," making it a very enjoyable read. I'm very happy to be involved with "MF Ghost." I hope that an even more brilliant world awaits Shigeno-sensei in the future!
◇Comment from Daisuke Ono, who plays Shun Aiba
Congratulations to Shigeno-sensei on completing "MF Ghost." And thank you for your hard work in completing the long and intense race that is serialization. The passion inherited from "Initial D" The exhaust note that has been ringing in my heart since those days will never stop. Thank you for the heart-shaking story!
◇Comment from Hiroshi Kamiya, who plays Mikhail Beckenbauer
Shigeno sensei is a superhuman who depicts the extraordinary using everyday things, and shows a glimpse into the world of professionals while allowing an ordinary person like me who has no knowledge to understand. Congratulations on the completion of "MF Ghost". I am proud to have been a part of Shigeno sensei's creation through animation!
◇Comment from Kouki Sawatari, who plays Ryota Osaka
Congratulations to Shigeno-sensei on completing "MF Ghost," and thank you for all your hard work! Since I was involved in "MF Ghost" as Sawatari, I have read all of "Initial D," watched all of the anime, and even grown to love Alpine, a manufacturer I had never heard of before. I'm so immersed in Shige's world that I'm a little sad that it's coming to an end, but I hope to give it my all as Sawatari in the continuation of the anime.
◇Comment from Yu Serizawa, who is in charge of the opening theme and plays Kitahara Nozomi
Congratulations to Shigeno-sensei on completing MF Ghost! Thank you so much for creating this work as the successor to Initial D I was able to meet my favorite cool and passionate character, Kitahara Nozomi, and I was able to sing the theme song in various countries. Without this work, I don't think I would have had a driver's license, even though I love driving now! It's an important work that has expanded my world. Thank you so much for all your hard work. I'll take it to the very end!
◇Comment from MOTSU, the opening theme singer
Kanata's 86 has grown wings, and our heaven has been completed. Completion, that is, our dreams have been connected. From here on, we will run around in this dream again, endlessly. Thank you very much to Shigeno-sensei for your hard work.
◇Comment from Himika Akaneya, who is in charge of the ending theme
Congratulations on the completion of "MF Ghost." Thank you so much for all your hard work! Including its predecessor, "Initial D," it has been loved for so long by a wide range of generations and people all over the world, and I think it's so wonderful that you were able to carry that love with you through to the end. I also respect you as someone who has perfected an art form...! I'm really happy to have been involved in the work in the form of a song. I'm rooting for Shigeno-sensei's continued success! Thank you for letting me encounter such a wonderful work!
