Did Initial D ever actually catch on?

[spock]

You mean the Mazdaspeed Type 2 aero kit on the yellow fd?

[GoukiS14]

I think the body kit keisuke get's is mazdaspeed.... it's the one that covers the 99' spec lights and makes em lok longer.... veiliside kit's are kinda organic looking except the d1gt kit (oooOOooo god I want that kit)

[Hardluck]

I did some research, and I found that Initial D Fourth Stage is only twelve episodes long and will air in two episode segments on Pay Per View television over the next several months. Before the premiere of the first two episodes, they will be airing a special 85-minute recap episode, which I'm assuming is the same as the 'Initial D: Fourth Stage ~Goes to Project D' DVD is (which is also 85 minutes).

As for Fourth Stage, here's the schedule.
Ep. 1 & 2 - April 14, 2004
Ep. 3 & 4 - June 19, 2004
Ep. 5 & 6 - August 21, 2004
Ep. 7 & 8 - October 16, 2004
Ep. 9 & 10 - December 18, 2004
Ep. 11 & 12 - February 19, 2005

Yup, that's right, it doesn't end until 2005, so don't expect to get the full subbed version until sometime that summer. OUCH!

As for the plot. Basically Takumi and his rebuilt Trueno join up with Ryosuke and his 'Kengai Racing Team' (as mentioned in Third Stage) which is also referred to as 'Project D'. The mission of the team? to dominate all the mountain passes in Japan.

From what I've seen in screenshots and pieced together from manga rumors, etc... Takumi gets a carbon fiber hood at some point, Keisuke gets a very nice (Veilside, I think) body kit, at least I think that's Keisuke's yellow FD, it might be a new one. As for opponents, apparently ep. 1 & 2 involves a red MX-5 against Takumi, and I've also seen shots of Keisuke's FD racing a black R34.

Also, the animation has been given a more cel-shaded approach so that it doesn't look quite as out-of-place when in the same shot as an animated character. Hopefully this won't ruin everything.

Tak- Tak- TAKUMI!
- Nathan

[DoriAltis]

initial D 4th stage

I saw the same 4th stage dvd at a Car Freak store. I don't think it's the actual season. I heard there was some pay per view special about 4th stage in japan, I think that's what the dvd is

[OBAKASAN]

TokyoPop's version of the Initial D DVD's aren't doing so well because they suck and they're a little more expensive than the Chinese bootlegs (Japanese dialogue with English or Chinese subtitles options). So, don't buy the TokyoPop version!! The Chinese bootlegs aren't bad at all, IMO.

[Hardluck]

Hey, speaking of Initial D, I've noticed that Fourth Stage is already on eBay... which I find odd, since I didn't think fourth stage was even premiering on Japanese TV until April (at least that's what I always read, and what I put on the Fourth Stage imdb.com listing...).

Anyway, anyone have any light they can shed on these shady Fourth Stage DVDs?
Hurry, I'm about to plop down a $20 just to find out what these things are.

- Nathan

game= great fun... but im still on the first one lol... i dont play much... havent read the manga... and i only have the first 2 dvds...

anywayz thousand oaks... i dont know if its in los angeles county or ventura... cuz eveytime i pass the sign that says entering west lake village right underneath it says now entering ventura county... and thats on the 101 freeway... so i have no clue what so ever... has any one seen a grey ford escort with racing stripes and a wing mounted backwards in the thousand oaks area?

[MrodDrft]

i love the manga, get it the 1st day it comes out. So far i have all 10 that are released. The dvd = retarded. The game is fun.

[GoukiS14]

sorry to thread jack....yeah I got book 10 and I got two packages of the first three books at D1

[GoukiS14]

dope we all gotta meet up I was thinking of going down there when I got the FD rebuilt

[FC guy]

I dont know about most of you but Initial d must be pretty popular because when i go to get the new manga its almost always gone.

[nissanguy_24]

i go to school at the ITT in oxnard. which isnt far from thousand oaks. And i dont know if thats ventura county or not, but its close enough for me.

[GoukiS14]

is thousand oaks still ventura county....? i thought vc ended in the 'rillo hahaha I grew up in oxnard.... we should all hook up

[Ichi-Go]

I've read up to the seventh manga book and watched 1st and second stages. I love this stuff. I was watching it with my EX gf and she was like I cant read the subtitles that fast. Some people are just retarded and cant read and watch.

I tried to watch the "TrIckED oUt VeRsOIn" but about threw up.
It was so watered down. I wish I could remember some of that hilarious crap they called speaking.

[nissanguy_24]

thousand oaks? in ventura?