Initial D - Domestic Style

[Vermillion]

Well I went out and actually picked up the first DVD of Initial D yesterday (along with some decks of the Initial D Collectible Card Game) and here's the low down.

The DVD is actually VERY good. I was very skeptical due to all that I heard of the butchering of the original Japanese style, but luckily it's intact. When you start the DVD, you're actually given a choose your style mode. Either Japanese w/ English Subtitles or Dubbed English. The Subbing was excellent. It was on par with the HK versions that I own in almost every way. The picture was alot better than the HK counterparts though.

I did try out the English dubbed side and I must say it is some of the worst anime dubbing I've ever heard in my entire life. EVERYTHING is dubbed, including the incredible Eurobeat songs which have been modified into some lame-ass Rap style music. Along with that, the inconsistency of the words matching the characters faces and the whole changing of everyone's name in the series is quite annoying. (Takumi is now Tak, Iketani is now Cole, and Itsuki is now Iggy, along with everyone else in the series has their named changed.) Whatever you, DO NOT WATCH the dubbed side as it is utter trash.

[Gibb]

Yeah, apparently the CG scenes have been rerendered for the US release so they look a bit better. The japanese side is indeed intact, but the american version, labled the "Tricked Out" version is basically a total conversion (or perversion, whatever you see it as ;)) of the series. Music is updated to more modern American type music, such as hip-hop and rap. The characters speak in ebonics type phrases such as "this car costs 10000 bones!" rather than costing dollars heh. I dont really mind the tricked out version, but it's more entertaining as a funny alternative, rather than a cool one they made it out to be. We dont sell those cards at my specific gamestop, but the other gamestops carry em. They look pretty cool, wish i could get my hands on some for cheap (meaning free) :D