History Trivia / InitialD

** Tokyopop made an english dub of the Third Stage movie, but it was only screened once at the Big Apple Anime Fest on 2003 and it was never release on home video due to Tokyopop losing the Initial D license and Funimation redubbing the movie for their home video release. (According to some rumors, it also aired on Cartoon Network Australia during the 2003 Christmas season, but this has never been proved).

** In Fourth Stage and the ''[[VideoGame/InitialDArcadeStage Arcade Stage]]'' games, Tomoyuki was voiced by Kazuhiro Nakata. Due to Nakata retiring sometime around 2011, he was replaced by Daichi Endo in Fifth Stage and ''Arcade Stage 8''.

** In Fourth Stage and the ''[[VideoGame/InitialDArcadeStage Arcade Stage]]'' games, Tomoyuki was voiced by Kazuhiro Nakata. Due to Nakata retiring sometime around 2011, he was replaced by Daichi Endo in Fifth Stage and Arcade Stage 8.

** In Fourth Stage and the [[VideoGame/InitialDArcadeStage Arcade Stage]] games, Tomoyuki was voiced by Kazuhiro Nakata. Due to Nakata retiring sometime around 2011, he was replaced by Daichi Endo in Fifth Stage and Arcade Stage 8.

* TheOtherDarrin: The ''Legend'' movies use a different cast from the TV series and [=OVAs=], the English dubs of those movies however avert this since Creator/SentaiFilmworks managed to get most of the Funimation dub cast to reprise their roles.

* FanNickname: "Golf Takumi" for Takumi's girlfriend Mika Uehara from the later stages of the series due to being raised by her father to play golf in a similar manner to how Bunta raised Takumi to race.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: At present, the Tokyopop DVD releases are the only way to watch the original dub of the first two seasons, as those seasons were eventually redubbed by Funimation in 2009.
** Tokyopop made an english dub of the Third Stage movie, but it was only screened once at the Big Apple Anime Fest on 2003 and it was never release on home video due to Tokyopop losing the Initial D license and Funimation redubbing the movie for their home video release. (According to some rumors, it also aired on Cartoon Network Australia during the 2003 Christmas season, but this has never been proved)

** With the expiration of Tokyopop's licenses to all the manga series it received from Kodansha (the publisher for the Japanese version of the manga), manga volume of this series after Volume 33 to fell victim to this trope. However, Creator/{{Funimation}} picked up the licensing rights from ''First Stage'' to ''Fourth Stage''; unfortunately, most of the [=OVAs=] aside from the first ''Extra Stage'' have also not been picked up[[note]]The second ''Extra Stage'' and the two ''Battle Stages''[[/note]].

** Kodansha USA finally released the full manga digitally in 2019.

** The [=AE86=] has cropped up in ''Tokyo Highway Battle'' a.k.a ''VideoGame/TokyoXtremeRacer'' , ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'', ''VideoGame/{{Forza}}'' (where it also shows up as the icon for the drift events), ''Juiced'', and ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeed Need For Speed Underground 2]]'', among other games. It also makes a minor appearance in ''Shakotan Boogie'' which was a decade before ''Initial D'' made it popular.

** With the expiration of Tokyopop's licenses to all the manga series it received from Kodansha (the publisher for the Japanese version of the manga), expect any manga volume of this series after Volume 33 to fall victim to this trope, taking into account the chances of another company picking up the English distribution rights to the manga are very slim. However, Creator/{{Funimation}} picked up the licensing rights from ''First Stage'' to ''Fourth Stage''; unfortunately, most of the [=OVAs=] aside from the first ''Extra Stage'' have also not been picked up[[note]]The second ''Extra Stage'' and the two ''Battle Stages''[[/note]].

** With Kodansha USA taking the torch from Del Rey, it could be possible for licenses that expired under Tokyopop to be rescued, including ''Initial D''. However, that may have to wait until Kodansha USA actually announces something...

** ''First Stage'' was produced by Creator/StudioComet and Creator/StudioGallop, before switching to Pastel for ''Second Stage'', Creator/StudioDeen for ''Third Stage'', Creator/ACGT for ''Fourth Stage'' and finally Creator/SynergySP for ''Final Stage''.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: At present, the Tokyopop DVD releases only way to watch the original dub of the first two seasons, as those seasons were eventually redubbed by Funimation in 2009.

* ExecutiveMeddling

* NoExportForYou

* TheRedStapler

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Tokyopop had big plans for ''Initial D'', which according to reports, was being eyed as their "marquee title". Indeed, other reports claimed the publisher was intending to market it as "''Anime/SpeedRacer''" for a new generation. They licensed it with the intention of turning it into a multi-media franchise. Besides a TV broadcast of the {{Anime}}, it would have included various merchandise such as die-cast cars, video games, and "comics". North America did get all three, but besides there being no franchise to speak of, the comics were, of course, the original {{Manga}} (which came first, and has ended in summer 2013), which had been changed to be more like the {{Anime}}, all because Tokyopop was going for "a younger audience than Japan" motif. The "[[IncrediblyLamePun initial]]" DVD release had even been delayed because Tokyopop was trying to get the show on television. Somehow, Tokyopop managed to get a CollectibleCardGame licensed and released.

** The [=AE86=] has cropped up in ''TokyoHighwayBattle'' (or ''TokyoXtremeRacer'') , ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'', ''VideoGame/{{Forza}}'' (where it also shows up as the icon for the drift events), ''Juiced'', and ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeed Need For Speed Underground 2]]'', among other games. It also makes a minor appearance in ''Shakotan Boogie'' which was a decade before ''Initial D'' made it popular.

* ColbertBump: This series is responsible for eurobeat having any sort of decent popularity at all outside of Japan or its native Europe.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The translators working on the English version of the manga originally wanted a straight translation, but Tokyopop executives demanded various changes because they were "aiming for a younger audience than Japan". This resulted in the translators writing an open letter to the fans in which they joked about releasing the manga shrink-wrapped with White-Out and a felt-tip pen.
** Additionally, they wanted even more significant changes including, but not limited to: removing the kanji from the show's logo and the car, changing "tofu" delivery to "pizza" delivery, and having Takumi renamed "Jeffery" because it was "easier to pronounce". In the end the translators elected to give everyone the "nicknames" used in the English versions of the Arcade Stage games. As a result, "Takumi" became "Tak", for instance.
* FanNickname: Takumi's girlfriend Mika Uehara from the later stages of the series is often referred to as "Golf Takumi" due to being raised by her father to play golf in a similar manner to how Bunta raised Takumi to race.
* NamesTheSame: Is Ryosuke Takahashi based on [[Anime/ArmoredTrooperVOTOMS the mecha anime director of the same name]]? No, judging by Kanji writing.
* NoExportForYou: With the expiration of Tokyopop's licenses to all the manga series it got from Kodansha (the publisher for the Japanese version of the manga), expect any manga volume of this series after Volume 33 to fall victim to this trope, taking into account that the chances of another company picking up the English distribution rights to the manga are currently looking very slim. However, Funimation only picked up licensing rights to all 3 TV Stages, and the Third Stage movie. Most of the [[=OVAs=]] aside from the first Extra Stage have also not been picked up[[note]]the second Extra Stage and the 2 Battle Stages[[/note]].
** The fact that Battle Stage 2 wasn't picked up is a little disappointing because people will question [[spoiler:what happened in those two hill-climb races in Fourth Stage that were not shown, ''especially'' the race against Sakai which was a pretty important race.]]
** With Kodansha USA taking the torch from Del Rey it could be possible for licenses that expired under Tokyopop to be rescued, including Initial D. But that may have to wait until Kodansha USA actually announces something...
* RealSongThemeTune: Like it's video game counterpart ''Initial D Arcade Stage'', the anime makes heavy use of licensed Eurobeat tracks from Avex Trax's Super Eurobeat library.
* TheRedStapler:
** The [=AE86=] has cropped up in ''TokyoHighwayBattle'' (or ''TokyoXtremeRacer'') , ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'', ''VideoGame/{{Forza}}'' (where it also shows up as the icon for the Drift events), ''Juiced'', ''NeedForSpeed Underground 2'' and ''2015'', among other games. It also made a minor appearance in ''Shakotan Boogie'' which was a decade before ''Initial D'' made it popular.
** This series is what pushed it from "old used car" to "sought-after classic" both in Japan and the US; slightly subverted by the fact that the notchback coupe model is more sought-after than ''Initial D'''s hatchback due to a slightly stiffer shell.
** And guess what? [[spoiler: The notchback appears much later in the manga, driven by a young boy named Shinn.]]
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Tokyopop had big plans for Initial D, which according to reports, was being eyed as their "marquee title". Indeed, other reports claimed that TP was intending to market it as "''Anime/SpeedRacer''" for a new generation. They licensed it with the intention of turning it into a multi-media franchise. Besides a TV broadcast of the anime, it would have included various merchandise such as die-cast cars, video games, and "comics". North America did get all three, but besides there being no franchise to speak of, the comics were of course the original manga (i.e., which came first, and has ended in summer of 2013), which had been changed to be more like the anime, all because TP was going for "a younger audience than Japan". The "[[IncrediblyLamePun initial]]" DVD release had even been delayed because TP was trying to get the show on TV. Tokyopop did manage to get a CollectibleCardGame licensed and released...

** The [=AE86=] has cropped up in ''TokyoHighwayBattle'' (or ''TokyoXtremeRacer'') , ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'', ''VideoGame/{{Forza}}'' (where it also shows up as the icon for the Drift events), and ''Juiced'', among other games. It also made a minor appearance in ''Shakotan Boogie'' which was a decade before ''Initial D'' made it popular.

* NamesTheSame: Is Ryosuke Takahashi based on the mecha anime director of the same name? No, judging by Kanji writing.

* TheRedStapler: The [=AE86=] has cropped up in ''TokyoHighwayBattle'' (or ''TokyoXtremeRacer'') , ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'', ''VideoGame/{{Forza}}'' (where it also shows up as the icon for the Drift events), and ''Juiced'', among other games. It also made a minor appearance in ''Shakotan Boogie'' which was a decade before ''Initial D'' made it popular. Beyond that, the series has made the 86 something of a hit amongst importers of Japanese cars, but less because of the car's merits and more because a really, really good fictitious driver made it look good.

* TheRedStapler: The [=AE86=] has cropped up in ''TokyoHighwayBattle'' (or ''TokyoXtremeRacer'') , ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'', ''VideoGame/{{Forza}}'' (where it also shows up as the icon for the Drift events), and ''Juiced'', among other games. It also made a minor appearance in ''Shakotan Boogie'' which was a decade before ''Initial D'' made it popular.

** This series is what pushed it from "old used car" to "sought-after classic" both in Japan and the US; slightly subverted by the fact that the notchback coupe model is more sought-after than ''InitialD'''s hatchback due to a slightly stiffer shell.

* TheRedStapler: The [=AE86=] has cropped up in ''TokyoHighwayBattle'' (or ''TokyoXtremeRacer'') , ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'', ''ForzaMotorsport'' (where it also shows up as the icon for the Drift events), and ''Juiced'', among other games. It also made a minor appearance in ''Shakotan Boogie'' which was a decade before ''Initial D'' made it popular.

* ColbertBump: This series is responsible for eurobeat having any sort of decent popularity at all outside of Japan or its native Italy.

* HeyItsThatVoice: If there's one thing this series is known for, it's its cast of very notable voice actors and actresses for the original Japanese version. Also, most of the cast have also been involved in a Gundam series either before, during, or after they voiced a role in Initial D.
** Creator/TakehitoKoyasu - Voices Ryousuke Takahashi. Also voiced Zechs Marquise/[[spoiler:Milliardo Peacecraft]] in Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing and Mu La Flaga/[[spoiler:Neo Roanoke]] in Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED
** Creator/ShinichiroMiki - Voices Takumi Fujiwara. Would go on to voice Tatsuya Shima in ''Manga/WanganMidnight'' and Lockon Stratos in {{Anime/MobileSuitGundam00}}.
** Creator/TomokazuSeki - Voices Keisuke Takahashi. Also voiced Domon Kasshu in Anime/MobileFighterGGundam and Yzak Joule in Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED, as well as the deceased Devil Z driver of ''Manga/WanganMidnight''. Keisuke is also summoning [[VideoGame/YokaiWatch Whisper]] too.
** Creator/NobuyukiHiyama (Takeshi Nakazato) and Creator/KeijiFujiwara (Shingo Shoji) of the Night Kids transfered in from [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamThe08thMSTeam The 08MS Team]].
** Creator/MitsuoIwata - Voices Itsuki Takeuchi. You may recognize him as the voice of [[LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana Marchosias]] or [[VideoGame/TimeCrisis Richard Miller]].
** Creator/ToshiyukiMorikawa - Voices Todou-Juku member Daiki Ninomiya. Also voiced Shagia Frost from ''[[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Gundam X]]''.
** Creator/HiroyukiYoshino - Before he voiced [[Anime/{{MobileSuitGundam00}} Allelujah/Hallelujah]], he provided the voice of Sakamoto.
** Keiichi Tsuchiya - Real Life drifting legend, appears via phone call a couple of times, where he's ''calling Bunta for advice.''
** On the English front (assuming you're watching the Funimation dub) we have [[LightNovel/{{Baccano}} Jacuzzi]] as Takumi, [[{{Manga/XxxHolic}} Watanuki and Doumeki]] as Keisuke and Ryosuke, and [[{{LightNovel/SpiceAndWolf}} Holo]] as Natsuki.
** In Arcade Stage 6 AA - [[spoiler:[[Creator/YuuichiNakamura KAORI!]] [[{{Anime/MobileSuitGundam00}} I LOVE YOU!]]]]

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Tokyopop had big plans for Initial D, which according to reports, was being eyed as their "marquee title". Indeed, other reports claimed that TP was intending to market it as "''Anime/SpeedRacer''" for a new generation. They licensed it with the intention of turning it into a multi-media franchise. Besides a TV broadcast of the anime, it would have included various merchandise such as die-cast cars, video games, and "comics". North America did get all three, but besides there being no franchise to speak of, the comics were of course the original manga (i.e., which came first, and has ended in summer of 2013), which had been changed to be more like the anime, all because TP was going for "a younger audience than Japan". The "[[IncrediblyLamePun initial]]" DVD release had even been delayed because TP was trying to get the show on TV. Tokyopop did manage to get a CollectibleCardGame licensed and released...

* RealSongThemeTune: Like it's video game counterpart ''Initial D Arcade Stage'', the series makes heavy use of licensed Eurobeat tracks from Avex Trax's Super Eurobeat library.