the first time i ever saw this movie be back in the 1980s a a wee lad . my dad actually record it off the tv . i must have watch be over 20 time and before the relatively recent release on dvd . i of course buy and watch the dvd and be take aback by how much the dialogue have change . in the first version and which i still have on vhs and the mood of the film and thanks to the dialogue and be actually very dark . however the new version and feature van der beek et al and be more comic . to put it another way and it like watch the original u release of akira with that dub and before watch the remastered version with the literal translation of the japanese . i be in no way complain and the story and quality of animation be not detract from and but it do raise the question of whether miyazaki intend for a lighter or darker narrative and theme in his film .