Speed Racer

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Speed Racer
A profile picture of Speed Racer
マッハGoGoGo (Mach GoGoGo)
Genre	Action, Racing
TV anime
Director	Hiroshi Sasagawa
Studio	Tatsunoko Productions
Network	Fuji TV
Original run	April 2, 1967 – March 31, 1968
Episodes	52
Manga
Author	Tatsuo Yoshida
Publisher	Fusosha Digital Manga Publishing
Original run	1966

Speed Racer is an English adaptation of the Japanese anime and manga, Mach GoGoGo (マッハGoGoGo, Mahha GōGōGō^?) which centered on automobile racing. The series is an early example of an anime becoming a successful franchise in the United States.

[edit] Background

Tatsuo Yoshida's Mach GoGoGo manga.
Top Row:Volume 1,Volume 2
Bottom Row:Volume 1 (Reprint),Volume 2 (Reprint)

[edit] Mach GoGoGo Manga

The characters and storylines originated in Japan as the manga and anime series Mach GoGoGo, from the anime studio Tatsunoko Productions.

Mach GoGoGo was first created and designed by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida (1932–1977) as a manga series in the 1960s and made the jump to TV as an anime series in 1967. The actual manga was inspired by Yoshida’s earlier, and most popular automobile racing comics, Pilot Ace. ^[1] Pilot Ace’s main storyline would be lifted onto Mach GoGoGo, which followed the adventures of an ambitious young man who would soon become a professional racer. The characters’ designs in Pilot Ace would set the main ground for the character design in Mach GoGoGo. Yoshida got his idea for his story after seeing two films that were very popular in Japan at the time, Viva Las Vegas and Goldfinger. By combining the look of Elvis Presley's race-car driving image, complete with neckerchief and black pompadour, and James Bond's gadget-filled Aston Martin, Yoshida had the inspiration for his creation. Soon enough, Mach GoGoGo hit shelves in the early 1960’s. The central character in the anime and manga was a young race car driver named Gō Mifune (Mifune Gō).

The name of the series, Mach GoGoGo is actually a triple entendre: as mentioned, it stands for the number 5, i.e. it is the name of the car, the Mach 5; it is the name of the main character; and it contains the English word "go." Taken together, the program's title thus translates as, "Mach 5, Gō Mifune, Go!" The names themselves constitute a multi-lingual wordplay of the kind that had started to become part of the Japanese popular culture of the time.

The two-volume manga has several storylines such as "The Great Plan", "Challenge of the Masked Racer", "The Fire Race", "The Secret Engine" and "Race for Revenge" that have been adapted to the anime, each story having similar storylines. However, minor changes occur between both the original manga and the anime series. Differences include:

• Racer X's story. Racer X doesn't disguise himself as Kabala and reveals himself to Speed in the end of the manga in the Mach 5 as a surprise.
• Prince Kabala's story. Prince Kabala doesn't die, nor no storyline is shown that he affiliated in any way with Racer X. He remains alive through the whole "Fire Race" chapter of the manga.
• Sparky's Role. In the manga, he is shown only as Speed's friend. His role in the anime is Speed's mechanic. Other than that, the character remains the same in both versions.
• The "Challenge of the Masked Racer" chapter. This chapter inspired two episodes the anime, one of which had the same name as the chapter in the original manga (Challenge of the Masked Racer), while the other was used in a separate episode called "The Most Dangerous Race". The chapter in the manga portrays Racer X telling Speed obscurely not to participate in the Alpine Race while he tells Speed not to participate in the Trans-Country Race in the anime (However, the Trans-Country Race is mentioned in another volume of the manga, whose concept was used in the anime in "Challenge of the Masked Racer Part 2"). The chapter also introduces the Car Acrobatic Team. The role Snake Oiler plays in the anime version is filled in with Captain Terror, the leader of the Car Acrobatic Team, in the manga.
• The ER-X engine. The ER-X engine inspired the GRX car and engine in the anime and is portrayed the same way as the GRX, making the car it is installed in go faster. The ER-X is also used in the American comics.
• The manga's ending. In the end, Speed is surprised by Racer X, who is driving the Mach 5. Racer X reveals to Speed that he is Rex, and that he is finally coming home because his work as an international secret agent is over. The manga ends with Speed and Rex vowing to race together as brothers.

A few years later after the volumes were released, Yoshida decided to release his manga series as an anime program, adding new and heart-pounding storylines in addition to the original stories in the manga. 52 episodes aired in Japan, each one emulating the fast-paced action of the manga.

Tatsuo Yoshida selected the symbolism of his creations carefully.
The large M (far left) stood for Mifune Motors.
The yellow G (top right) stood for the initial of Speed's Japanese name, Gō.
The M (middle right) stood for the initial of Trixie's Japanese name, Michi.
The S (bottom right) stood for the initial of Sparky's Japanese name, Sabu.

[edit] Symbolism

Yoshida selected the names and symbolism in his creation very carefully. The large red M on the hood of the Mach 5, which in North America was assumed to stand for "Mach 5," is actually the emblem of Mifune Motors, the family business. That is also the origin of the "M" on Gō's helmet. This was an homage to Japanese film star Toshiro Mifune. His given name, Gō, is also a Japanese homophone for the number 5 (the number on his race car). This is also represented by the yellow letter G embroidered on his short-sleeve blue shirt. The tradition of symbolism on characters' shirts would be also used on Michi (Trixie) and Sabu (Sparky), who had the letter "M" and "S" on their shirts, respectively.

[edit] English adaptation

The English rights to Mach GoGoGo were immediately acquired by American syndicator Trans-Lux. The main character Gō Mifune was given the name "Speed Racer" in the English version. A major editing and dubbing effort was undertaken by producer Peter Fernandez, who also provided the voices of many of the characters, most notably Racer X and Speed Racer himself. Fernandez was also responsible for a rearrangement of the theme song's melody and subsequently wrote its English lyrics.

In a 2008 interview with Chicago Tribune DVD columnist Louis R. Carlozo, Fernandez recalled that he landed the job working on "Speed Racer" after ghost-writing scripts for "Astro-Boy" and "Gigantor." Simultaneously with "Speed Racer," Fernandez also voiced the main character and wrote scripts for another anime series, "Marine Boy," sometimes taping both shows in the same day in New York City. Fernandez also said he could not possibly have predicted "Speed Racer's" lasting appeal at the time or in the decades that followed. Reflecting on the series' staying power, he commented: "There was the family relationship. You knew about Speed's family, you knew them well. They were all involved in each race. And we all play with cars as little kids, we love cars. The Mach 5 was a hot car, and there all sorts of cars throughout all episodes. I still think the Mach Five is ahead of its time."

In an effort to squeeze the complicated plotlines into existing lip movements, the frenetic pace of the dubbing made Speed Racer famous-—and famously parodied-—for its quirky "fast" dialogue.

In the early 1990s the series made a comeback as reruns on MTV broadcast in the early morning hours. Several years later, Cartoon Network would broadcast the series in late afternoon (and later on in late night/overnight) programming. The series was distributed in the 1990s by Group W's international unit, but with all mentions of Trans-Lux Television deleted from the show's opening sequence.

In 2008, a revival of the show had developed in the United States with permission from Lionsgate Entertainment and Speed Racer Enterprises, Inc., made by various companies and studios. A live-action film was released under Warner Bros., written and directed by the Wachowski brothers, as well as multiple tie-ins with toy companies. A new animated series called Speed Racer: The Next Generation was made as a Nicktoon and continues to air through the year.

[edit] The Cars

Tatsuo Yoshida's sketch of the Mach 5 from the Mach GoGoGo manga

Main article: Mach 5

Many of the show's cars are shown to have special abilities in the series, which is one element of the show's glory and legacy. Some cars (especially Speed's Mach 5) have made a great impact to many viewers of the show and are notable to most of the series' fans.

[edit] The Mach 5

Mach 5 Steering Wheel Hub (H button not shown)

The Mach 5, the car Speed Racer drove in the series (known as the "Mach Go," or simply the "Mach," in the Japanese version), is a technological marvel, containing useful pieces of equipment. Gō Mifune/Speed Racer easily deployed these gadgets by pressing buttons marked "A" through "G" on the steering wheel hub.

The buttons had the following functions which help Speed in the perilous races he participates in:

• Button A (Auto Jacks): “Releases powerful jacks to boost the car so anyone can quickly make any necessary repairs or adjustments.” Although not designed for this function, the auto jacks can also be used to “jump” the car short distances at high speeds. The "chyock chyock" sound effect played whenever the car jumped through the air is instantly recognizable to the show's fans.

• Button B (Belt Tires): Toggles special grip tires for traction over rough terrain (firm, icy, or unsteady ground, ocean floor, vertical mountainsides etc.). At the same time, 5,000 horsepower (3,700 kW) is distributed equally to each wheel by auxiliary engines.

• Button C (Cutters): For use traveling over heavily wooded terrain. A matched pair of powerful rotary saws protrude from the front of the Mach 5 to cut away many obstacles.

• Button D (Deflector): Releases a powerful transparent cover which seals the cockpit into an air-tight chamber. The cover is bullet- and crash-proof. The cockpit becomes a water-tight chamber which then allows the car to be completely submerged under water.

• Button E * ("Evening Eye"): Controls special illumination lights "which can be controlled singularly or in tandem," allowing the driver to see more clearly than with ordinary headlights. When used with the “night shades” attached to Speed’s helmet, his vision is enhanced with infrared light. The original Japanese version strictly translates this as "illuminating eyes."
  • Button E was later modified to activate mini-wings (Pops got the idea from the Car Acrobatic Team) that would slide out from under the car to assist Speed in long jumps.

• Button F (Frogger mode): Used when the Mach 5 is submerged. An oxygen canister supplies the cockpit with breathable air. A periscope can then be raised to scan the surface of the water. Everything viewed is relayed to a video screen inside the Mach 5's cockpit. The 100-pound auxiliary supply of oxygen is enough to last for thirty minutes. (This is despite the fact that enough diatomic oxygen gas to weigh 100 pounds—that is to say, 1417 moles—would occupy over thirty thousand liters at standard temperature and pressure and thereby support many people for many hours)

• Button G (Gizmo Rocket): Releases a flying, gull-shaped "homing robot" from under the hood of the car. In one episode, the homing robot is sent to Racer X's car (the Shooting Star) for help/information; in another it's sent to the police with a tape recording. It is also even used as a makeshift weapon at times, knocking guns out of people's hands. A small silver joystick can be seen on the console that controls its flight.

In later adaptations, there would be a "Mach" Series consisting of other variants such as the Mach 4 and Mach 6 in addition to the Mach 5. These cars were introduced later in comics and toys and appeared in the live action film.

[edit] The Shooting Star

The Shooting Star is Racer X's car, colored bright yellow with a black front bumper and numbered 9 on the hood and sides. The car's engine is located in the back, and it is a very agile machine, often displaying abilities akin to and above those of the Mach Five. Many of its high-tech features allowed Racer X keep an eye on Speed Racer, who is his younger brother.

In later comics written by Tommy Yune, Rex acquires the car that he names "Shooting Star" from Prince Kabala of Kapetapek. During his time training with the royal leader, Rex is informed that he is the ninth student of Kabala, hence the number 9. Rex also builds other cars numbered 9 with similar paint schemes and names them variants like "Falling Star".

In the 2008 film adaptation, the car makes an appearance but is not named. The car was the only car built in addition to the Mach Five for the movie, and features weapons like machine guns mounted above the cockpit and under the chassis. In addition to this car, Racer X also drives a car built for the competitions in the film, a T180. It features a number 9 and is colored schemed black and yellow, like the car that resembles the "Shooting Star." The T180 version only makes one appearance in the film, when Racer X competes to protect Speed after he has rejected Royalton's offer.

[edit] The Mammoth Car

Supposedly the largest racing vehicle in the world. Designed after an extremely long trailer truck, the Mammoth Car is mostly red and is built by infamous Speed Racer villain Cruncher Block. The Mammoth Car was built almost entirely of $50,000,000 in stolen gold bars. By entering it in 'The No Limit World Race', Cruncher wished to smuggle the gold out of the country. The Mammoth Car's main engine has 7,500 horsepower (5,600 kW). Each wheel also has an engine with 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW). In total, the Mammoth Car is run by 30,000 horsepower (22,000 kW). It can travel at 500 mph (800 km/h), on any kind of road and on any kind of terrain. It has magnetic brakes, and is over 200 yards (180 m) long, making the Mammoth Car one of the most interesting cars in the series. It was melted to liquid, for it was crashed into an oil refinery. The Mammoth Car makes a small cameo in the 2008 film in the scene where Cruncher Block interrogates Taejo Togokhan after he resists Royalton Industries in the race fixing business. They were interrupted by Racer X, who battles the Mammoth and saves Taejo. The Mammoth Car in this movie is shown to have viewports for its drivers to shoot out of, just like in the original series, and is shown to fire missiles from its grill.

[edit] The GRX

The GRX was technically an engine, but it has become more identified with the gold-colored car that housed the engine in the series episode "Fastest Car on Earth." The engine was designed by Ben Cranem, and was responsible for crashes and deaths of four test drivers, including its inventor due to the impossible speeds it could attain. Cranem died and the GRX engine was buried with him, but Oriana Flub and her men retrieved the engine and placed it into the car with a sleek, golden, and markless chassis.

Oriana convinced Speed to test drive the car with the GRX, but like other test drivers it messed with his mentality and he developed a strong phobia of speed. As a result, he became scared of anything moving but regains his love of racing due to Pops' help in the race that followed. The car and engine were destroyed when Cranem's son Curly fatally crashed the car.

In the 2008 film adaptation, the name makes an appearance as a car developed by Royalton Industries and driven by Jack "Cannonball" Taylor. The car retains none of the backstory from its anime counterpart, and is redesigned into the racing competition of the film. It is numbered 66 and colored brown and gold. In the Grand Prix race that closes the film, the GRX is the main competitor for Speed in the Mach 6 and features a secret weapon called the "spear-hook" that is illegal in professional racing. Speed uses track cameras to reveal this device, which aides in the case that is built by Inspector Detector against Royalton.

[edit] Characters

From left to right: Chim-Chim, Spritle, Trixie, Speed, Racer X, Sparky, and Pops

[edit] Speed Racer

The focus character of both the anime and the manga is Speed Racer, originally Go Mifune. He is known for his love of racing and values his family. He drives the Mach 5 (as well as other cars, such as the Mach 6 in the movie) and he always manages to wind up into extreme danger (such as encountering thugs, race fixers, gangs, etc.) with his younger brother or his girlfriend Trixie. Speed is shown to miss his older brother, Rex (secretly disguised as the Racer X) in both versions.

Casually, he wears a blue shirt with a yellow "G" that sports with a white collar, a red neckerchief, white pants, red socks, and black well polished shoes. In racing, he sports a white open-face helmet with an M (representing Mifune Motors) flashed on top. On special occasions, Speed wears a red blazer with a yellow "G" embroidered on. This only happens in the anime. In the manga, he wears his standard outfit on special occasions. In the live action film, he wears a white leather racing jacket and white pants. He wears his classic outfit (without the embroidered "G") in the first half of the Casa Cristo 5000.

According to Peter Fernandez's introduction in the American release of the Mach GoGoGo Manga, he wanted a name that everyone could remember. So he came up with "Speed Racer" a name for both the main character and the actual series itself. In the 2008 film, he is portrayed by Emile Hirsch as an adult and Nicholas Elia as a child.

[edit] Spritle and Chim-Chim

Speed Racer has a younger brother named Spritle, originally Kurio Mifune, who, along with his pet chimpanzee, who responded to the name of Chim-Chim in the American version and Senpei in the Japanese original, constantly got into mischief by hiding in the trunks of cars. Oddly, Spritle and Chim-Chim dress in identical jumpsuits and striped hats and often perform identical physical actions. According to the Peter Fernandez's introduction in the American release of the Mach GoGoGo manga, Spritle got his name for him being an energetic "sprite". Chim-Chim got his name because he was considered a chimpanzee

[edit] Sparky

Other regular characters included Sparky, whose full name is Wilson Sparkolemew and was originally named Sabu, the company mechanic, whose shirt bears an "S" that matches both his original Japanese name and North American renaming. Sparky is portrayed both in the anime and manga as a quirky young man who is a best friend of Speed and knows everything about cars. In the live action movie, he is portrayed as a middle aged man, but still retains the quirkyness of the original character.

[edit] Pops Racer

Speed's father, Pops, originally Daisuke Mifune, is a former wrestler-turned race car owner and builder.He had also fought in World War II. He is portrayed as a hothead, overprotective about his family. His attitude brings comic relief in the series and also the live action film. He wears an athletic red shirt and a beige mechanic's cap and is portrayed as a heavyset person.

[edit] Mom Racer

Speed's mother, Mom, originally Aya Mifune; is a side character in the series. She rarely appears in the anime, having limited dialogue. In the live action film, however, she is portrayed as an encouraging, caring, parenting figure.

[edit] Trixie

She is Speed's chaste girlfriend, Trixie, originally Michi Shimura. The "M" adorning Trixie's blouse stands for Michi. Michi would often fly around in a helicopter during a race, advising Speed Racer via a radio link to the Mach 5, in effect acting as his spotter. Though this is never made clear in the anime, in Michi's first manga appearance, she is presented as the spoiled, willful daughter of the head of a rival car company who first meets Gō when she is sent to spy on Mifune Motors. When she falls in love with Gō, the plan is foiled. The character's background as a "rich girl" explains why she owns her own helicopter and drives a Mercedes. A recurring event, used to add comic relief in the anime, is when Trixie becomes jealous and arrogant if Speed is apalled or enthralled by another beautiful girl or when she is ignored or left alone.

[edit] Captain Terror, Snake Oiler, and the Car Acrobatic Team

One of the original set of characters that appeared both in the manga and in the anime. The 16 racers' (automobiles numbered 11 through 26) uniforms are embroidered with a letter from the English alphabet. All of the cars in the team, except for number 11, look the same in appearance, with purple and black accents. The cars also act similarly in function. The cars sprout wings from both sides, making them capable of traversing large gaps and gorges. The most notable of the team are Captain Terror and Snake Oiler.

Captain Terror is the leader of the Car Acrobatic Team, is shown as an arrogant racing car driver in the manga, sabotaging races for his own benefit. His arrogance gets the best of him, and he ends up getting severely injured in an explosion after not heeding Speed's warning about his car leaking oil. He has a "Z" embroidered on his racing uniform, and has a face of skeletal features and a lone feather atop his helmet. He drives the number 11 car, the only car different in appearance to the rest of the Car Acrobatic team.

In the anime, Captain Terror's character exists, but is often replaced with Snake Oiler, a hothead racer, eager to win. Embroidered with an "S" on his uniform and tinted visor on his striped helmet, Snake Oiler drives the number 12 car, similar in appearance to the other cars in the Car Acrobatic Team. He makes an appearance in the live action movie, completely changed in appearance. In the film, he is part of the Hydra-Cell racing corporation and not the Car Acrobatic team. He wears large shades and sports a black pompadour. His racing uniform is made entirely of snake skin and his car is now completely orange. Despite the change in appearance, Snake's car number and attitude are still intact in the film.

[edit] Racer X (The Masked Racer)

A frequent recurring character, driving car number 9, the "Shooting Star," is the enigmatic Racer X (Fukumen Racer in the Japanese version). Racer X is a heroic, mysterious, flamboyant, selfless, sympathetic and often brooding soldier of fortune whose secret identity is that of Rex Racer (Ken'ichi Mifune in Japan) Speed's older brother. Years earlier, Rex had a falling out with Pop after Rex wrecked the Mach 1, the first race car that Pops had built. Pops had told Rex prior to the race that Rex was not yet prepared to compete at the professional racing level. With less than one lap to go in his first major race, Rex was leading and cruising toward victory, but lost control of the car and wrecked it. Pops exploded with anger and berated Rex. In even more enraged response, Rex fled the family and exiled himself while vowing to become the world's greatest race car driver. It was at that time that Rex assumed the mysterious, Racer X identity, to pursue his racing career. In both Speed Racer X and in the 2008 movie, however, Rex is thought to have died in that accident, instead of simply running away from home.

In the manga and the original anime, Racer X is portrayed with a black mask with an "X" emblazoned onto it, and a white spandex uniform with an "M" embroidered across his chest. The "M" probably stood for Mifune Motors, but it is unknown, since Speed (Go Mifune) had overlooked the "M" numerous times in both the manga and the anime without immediately knowing Racer X's true identity. Racer X's original uniform design may have been the influence to later of Tatsuo Yoshida's character designs in his later Tatsunoko works such as Casshan and Gatchaman, which would later inspire Toei's Super Sentai franchise, known in America as the Power Rangers. In Tatsunoko's remake of the anime series, known in America as "Speed Racer X", Racer X's look bears more of a design similar to Gatchaman antagonist, Berg Katse.

It was acknowledged by both Pops and Speed over the years that Racer X was the superior driver of the two, and the greatest driver that they had ever seen, but Speed always vowed to defeat Racer X as the two vigorously competed. Speed was often suspicious of Racer X's identity and motives because Racer X would repeatedly, and inexplicably, sacrifice winning races to protect Speed from drivers and others who tried to harm him. The assistance from Racer X nearly always led to Speed winning races, while Racer X came in second place. Racer X always left the scene unnoticed, receding into his secret life. It was not until the episode "The Trick Race" that fans of the show finally got to see the face of Racer X. Early in the series, in the episode "Challenge of the Masked Racer," Speed had already begun to suspect that Racer X might, in fact, be his estranged older brother.

[edit] Westernized Appearance of Characters

One distinct feature seen in Speed Racer is the Westernization of their characters' physical appearance and, to some extent, their mentality. This is partly due to Tatsuo Yoshida's affinity for the United States through portrayals of American life in numerous films (see Background above). This use of Western appearance can somewhat be referred as mukokuseki (literally meaning, "stateless"), though the term relates to more abstract anime and is used for hyperbole in this case. In Speed Racer, the fair complexion and American attire can be seen as an example of mukokuseki, but it can take many nonconventional forms.^[2] This can be seen more readily in later anime in the fantasy and mecha genres, where characters are given more unusual traits like unusually colored hair (pink hair, blue hair etc.), enlarged eyes, and dysmorphic humanoid bodies (such as Tetsuo and the Espers in Akira). Reasons behind the presence of mukokuseki may be to diversify the character roster and distinguish between individuals, but it can have cultural implications.^[2]

Despite their Westernization, the series falls into the familiar manga-anime storyline, which is a form of Japanese expression.^[3] Speed Racer embodies the typical manga characterization of a teenage boy with superior skills (in this case, racing skills) facing unreal adversity through a multitude of villains; this is seen more in mecha anime such as Mobile Suit Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Though always doing his best, he frequently receives a helping hand from his virtually superior brother (Racer X) when he falls short of his goals. This kind of continuing support can easily be identified in the episode “Challenge of the Masked Racer”. Another persistent manga component is the overreactions of many characters. The long, drawn out dialogues with no pauses are very distinct in Speed Racer, from Pops speaking his mind to Ace Deucey's thugs in "The Great Plan" to Racer X’s monologue of his thoughts to Speed after crashing in "Challenge of the Masked Racer."

Beyond Speed Racer's appeal as an early anime, the series generally was for family entertainment and does not contain the deep intellectual conflicts or controversies seen in anime today. It can be argued that the storylines in Speed Racer were more complicated than conventional American cartoons of the 1960s, but the overall purpose was to please a growing fanbase worldwide with exciting plots that involved facing adversity on the race track and beyond.^[4] While the Speed Racer which aired in the US was appropriate entertainment for the whole family, the original Mach Go Go Go episodes went under significant editing. In West Germany, the SDR network cancelled Speed Racer in November 1971 after only three episodes, due to concerns from parents over the violence displayed. Newspapers wrote quite negative reviews about the series, calling it "horror comic" and a "blood and collision racket". It is unknown if the SDR episodes were based on the original Japanese prints, or on the edited American version.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Voice cast

[edit] American version (1967/1981)

• Peter Fernandez - Speed Racer/Rex Racer (Racer X)/Additional Voices (also writer and director, English-language dialogue)
• Jack Grimes - Sparky (Wilson Sparkolemew)/Chim-Chim/Additional Voices
• Corinne Orr - Trixie/Spritle Racer/Mom Racer/Additional Voices
• Jack Curtis - Pops Racer/Lionel Racer/Inspector Detector/Announcer/Additional Voices

[edit] Japanese Cast version

• Katsuji Mori (Setsuya Tanaka) - Go Mifune
• Kinya Aikawa - Masked Racer/Kenichi Mifune
• Yoshiko Matsuo (later Michiko Nomura) - Michi Shimura
• Teiji Omiya - Daisuke Mifune
• Ryoko Kinomiya - Aya Mifune
• Junko Hori - Kurio Mifune
• Kei Tomiyama - Sabu
• Hiroshi Ohtake - Senpei
• Kenji Utsumi - Detective Rokugo

[edit] Episodes list

Main article: List of Speed Racer episodes

[edit] Legacy

Speed Racer was one of the first truly successful anime franchises in the United States. The pivotal episode in which Racer X reveals his identity to Speed ("The Trick Race") was selected by TV Guide as one of the most memorable moments in TV history.

Speed Racer was even introduced in a 1990s Cartoon Network Tv intro that started with the Scooby Doo Gang and an announcer explaining about the Mystery Machine and its alloy wheels; slick paint job, and its groovy soundsystem. As Scooby drives the van, Speed Racer's Mach 5 comes in and knock the van off the track, and exploding with the "chyok chyok" noise in the background. Near the end of the hilarious crash, Speed leaps from the Mach 5, he does the famous bullet time pose in mid leap, and then the camera does the famous bullet time shot from front to sideways, with the announcer going, "Speed Racer, on Cartoon Network!" It ends with Speed saying to Scooby, "Dogs should not drive", as the Scooby Gang looking bewildered as to how they survived the crash. In the ad, the Speed Racer Theme is playing about ten seconds when the fabulous Mach 5 comes in.

The title character was "interviewed" in a humorous series of promotional ads for auto racing that ran on ESPN. The Speed Racer characters also appeared in an animated television commercial for the Volkswagen GTI in 1996. In the ad, titled "Sabotage", Speed drives a GTI to victory after the Mach Five is disabled. The ad also incorporated the rotating freeze frame shot from the cartoon's opening sequence, with the GTI replacing the Mach Five in the shot.

Speed Racer was also featured in a 30-second advertisement for GEICO Insurance in 2004. In the ad, Speed is advised that the bridge is out ahead. That's bad news for Speed Racer, but Trixie, who transmitted the news to him from her helicopter, is more concerned with her good news about the GEICO savings. The next shot of Speed shows him dumb struck in bewildered astonishment.

In the 1977 film Slap Shot, after arriving at their hotel room in Charlestown on their way to join the Charlestown Chiefs, one of the Hanson Brothers asks when Speed Racer is broadcast in the city. It should be known that the Hansons, when they are not playing hockey, play with toy racecars.

The series was also revived on MTV for a short period of time in 1993, then moved to Cartoon Network in 1996, and again to its sister network Boomerang until 2005, after which it was picked up by the SPEED Channel.

The series was parodied in the Dexter's Laboratory episode with a pun-intended title, Mock 5. It featured Dexter competing in a soapbox derby against Mandark; Dexter's father in a role much like Pops Racer, and Dee-Dee in a role very much like Racer X (as 'Racer D'). Everyone in this episode talked incredibly fast and detoured into redundant chatter, all the while having their lip movement never match their speech. A clip from Robot Chicken includes a race similar to the Hanna-Barbara Wacky Races featuring several famous race characters including Speed Racer, the Knight Rider, Mario Kart, The Dukes of Hazzard, Batman, and so on. In the Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends installment "Make Believe It or Not," the group plays a game where they imagine things happening. When they start to imagine who they would be, Mac says he is a interstellar race car driver, then makes a familiar pose which is kneeling in front of a car with one hand pointing up like Speed Racer.

Speed and his dad Pops were parodied on the episode of Family Guy, "The Son Also Draws." Chris Griffin enters a soapbox race held by his Boy Scouts troop. When the racers line up at the starting line, Speed shows up and jumps out of a soapbox car that resembles his race car, the Mach 5. Pops comes out from the audience at the race and tries to convince Speed that he should not be in this race and that he isn't Speed's real father. In their conversation, they have purposefully bad lip sync, a parody of the series, and each sentence Speed and Pops says ends in "Ha ha!".

Speed Racer was parodied in the Fairly Oddparents animated movie, Channel Chasers. A short segment of the film featured Timmy Turner taking a role similar to Speed's.Even the car's gadgets were parodied by Timmy inserting a coin then pressing a numbered button, activating either the jumpjacks, or the "buzz saw" lasers, that and the number five is changed to a one, and the "M" on the helmet, and the car are changed to a "T". Even the title of the short segment is Speed Racer's name in reverse; Racer Speed. Most characters during this segment parodied Speed Racer's fast dialogue and added exclamations such as "Hah! Hoo! Ha!" to the end of their lines, in the same vein as The Son Also Draws.

In the episode My Hero (season 1) of Scrubs (tv series), Ted's band sings an acapella version of the American theme song.

Rapper Ghostface Killah uses scenes from Speed Racer for his music video for his first solo single, "Daytona 500."

The Nicktoon Kappa Mikey had a minor recurring character, a fat, middle-aged version of Speed, who appeared in the pilot episode and every opening sequence. Here, he was a limousine driver who would escort the main cast to wherever they needed to go. This is fitting, considering that Animation Collective, the producer of the series, also produces Speed Racer: The Next Generation.

One of the earliest examples of bullet time is found in the shot at the end of the title sequence for Speed Racer: as Speed leaps from the Mach 5, he freezes in mid-jump, and then the camera does an arc shot from front to sideways. It is thought that this opening sequence partially inspired the Wachowski Brothers to incorporate the bullet time effect into The Matrix.^{[citation needed]} The Wachowski Brothers later went on to produce a live action adaptation of Speed Racer in 2008 also entitled Speed Racer.

[edit] DVD releases

Artisan/Lion's Gate Entertainment released the first 11 episodes of the original series in DVD format in the US and Canada on April 22, 2003. This turned out to be the first in a series of DVD re-releases of the shows.

The second volume, containing episodes 12 through 23, went on sale on May 18, 2004. The DVD came in a special package where one could push a button on the cover and the Mach 5's headlights would light up while a portion of the show's English theme song played.

The third volume came out on May 24, 2005, with the discs packaged in a round metal box made to resemble the steering wheel of the Mach 5. It contains episodes 24 through 36. This volume was later released to promote the live action film in a standard keep case.

Lion's Gate released the fourth volume, which featured episodes 37 through 44, on March 14, 2006; this volume included a die-cast toy Mach 5. The last episode, "Race the Laser Tank," was time-compressed (in other words, sped up to take up less space on the DVD) which upset some fans.

The fifth and last volume was released on October 31, 2006. This volume included the final eight episodes of the series, and for a limited time it came with a miniature license plate with the inscription, "Go-Speed Racer-Go!"^[5]

The entire series was released in Australia in the form of a complete 8-disc box set on April 30, 2008.

[edit] Later series

• The New Adventures of Speed Racer was an American produced 1993 series by Fred Wolf Films with a much more contemporary art style. It introduced science fiction themes such as robots and mutants. The series was off the air after only 13 installments, as the show failed to arouse viewer interest.

• Speed Racer X was released in 2002 by DiC on Nickelodeon's short-lived action block, Slam. This new series was based on a new 1997 Mach GoGoGo anime series created by original Japanese studio Tatsunoko Productions. However, it was discontinued a few weeks after it started, when Nick unceremoniously, and without prior notice, took all Slam programs off the air. Its future is uncertain, as DiC and Santa Monica-based Speed Racer Enterprises became embroiled in a bitter lawsuit for control of the series. Unfortunately, even if the lawsuits between DiC and Speed Racer are cleared up, the anime series will never be completed; due to production problems, production on this Speed Racer series was halted after 34 episodes, out of a projected 52.^[6]

• Speed Racer Lives, a Flash-based series of "webisodes" that takes place many years after the original series, was made available on the internet to promote a new line of toys.^[7]

• Speed Racer: The Next Generation, a new series, taking place years after the original, focuses on the sons and of the original Speed Racer. Its premiere coincided with the live-action feature film in May 2008. Peter Fernandez voices a middle-aged version of Spritle, Speed's younger brother from the original Japanese series. The movie's protagonist, also named Speed, and one of Spritle's nephews, is voiced by New Jersey native Kurt Csolak.^[8] Larry Schwarz is the creator of the TV series, which is produced by Animation Collective, the creators of Kappa Mikey.

[edit] Comics

• Mach GoGoGo - selected chapters of Tatsuo Yoshida's original Mach GoGoGo manga series were reprinted by Now Comics as Speed Racer Classics and by DC Comics/Wildstorm Productions as Speed Racer: The Original Manga (ISBN 1-56389-686-9). In 2008, a hardcover box set of the complete manga series was released as Speed Racer: Mach Go Go Go (ISBN 978-156970731-9).

• Now Comics launched an American Speed Racer comic series in 1985. The series became an instant hit with the high production values of superstar airbrush artist Ken Steacy. The comics continued for nearly 40 issues and included a spin-off Racer X series and crossovers. A mini-series adapting The New Adventures of Speed Racer was also released, which included art by Oscar González Loyo. Now Comics also published a 4-issue crossover between Speed Racer and the characters of Ben Dunn's Ninja High School in the 1990s.

• Wildstorm Productions released a new Speed Racer comic series in 1999 to widespread acclaim, becoming the #1 pick of industry publication Wizard magazine. The manga style of writer/artist Tommy Yune recaptured the striking look of the original anime which was soon followed by an industry-wide revival of comic adaptations of other classic animated series. The prequel comic storylines were also released as the graphic novel Speed Racer: Born to Race (ISBN 1-56389-649-4) and a Racer X miniseries featuring the artwork of Chinese manga star Jo Chen.^[9]

• IDW Productions is re-releasing the Wildstorm series as Speed Racer/Racer X: The Origins Collection (ISBN 978-160010211-0) and previously published issues from Now Comics as Speed Racer Vol. 1-5. A new miniseries Speed Racer: Chronicles of the Racer was also produced.^[10][11]

[edit] Toys

• Lego has released new sets of Speed Racer.

• Mattel has the master toy license for the 2008 Speed Racer film, including action figures and related vehicles and accessories. In addition, Mattel's Hot Wheels line produced miniature replicas of the Mach 5 called the West Wind and later the Second Wind.

• Jada Toys currently holds the rights to produce diecast replicas of the Mach 5 from the original animated series. In addition, they released a plastic model kit of the movie Mach 5.

• Playing Mantis released a wide range of the Speed Racer miniatures, including replicas of the villains' cars and "mini-dioramas" under their "Johnny Lightning" line. A limited-edition release of the Mach Four from the Wildstorm comic series remains one of the hardest-to-find collectibles to this day. In 1998 Playing Mantis acquired the rights to the "Captain Action" action figure line, a vintage line about a crusading adventurer who disguises himself as famous "super-heroes." Playing Mantis had planned to produce new costumes of Speed Racer, Racer X, and Captain Terror for the revamp of the line, but they were never produced. Control art for the Speed Racer costume appears on the packaging of some figures, and pictures of the prototypes are available online.

• Barbie Collector released a collector doll set featuring Trixe and Speed to coincide with the release of the live action movie.

• Resaurus produced two series of five-inch (127 mm) action figures, rich with articulation and accessories; as well as a full-sized Mach V in 1999. A third series of figures and a full-sized Shooting Star were planned, but the line folded before this could happen.

• Toynami is currently releasing a large-scale version of the Speed Racer vehicles, including a Mach Five playset complete with all of its gadgets.

• Polar Lights is currently manufacturing two 1/25-scale (according to the box) model kits in standard "glue" and snap-together variations (though the scale of the model inside is closer to 1/32). These can be built with or without the waterproof bubble canopy at the modeler's discretion. The kits feature a homing robot and separate jacks; and a rear engine (possibly a tip to NOW comics, which illustrated the engine in the rear).

• RC ERTL has produced Speed Racer's Mach 5 in 1:18 Die Cast Form with many features of the animated car, including pop out saw blades, ion jacks, opening doors, hood and trunk. It includes Spritle Racer and Chim-Chim figures. (Special variants were made with decals celebrating Racer X and other characters from the series as part of the 35th Anniversary Edition in 2001. A similar die-cast version of Racer X's Shooting Star was produced as well. It has now been retired from production and is a sought-after collectible.

• Art Asylum made a line of toys consisting primarily of their block-figure Minimates in 2006.

Lego has also been planing an April release of Speed Racer Lego sets. The sets include a 242 piece Speed and Snake Oiler set, a 237 piece Racer X and Taejo Togokhan set, a 367 piece Racer X and Cruncher Block set, and a 595 piece Grand Prix set, which includes Trixie, Pops, Speed, Spritle, Chim-Chim, 2 racers, and a racing announcer.

[edit] Film

Main article: Speed Racer (film)

The Wachowski Brothers wrote and directed a live-action adaptation of Speed Racer, released on May 9, 2008.^[12]

[edit] Video Games

In 1992, Accolade made Speed Racer in The Challenge of Racer X for DOS. Two years later, that company made Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures for SNES.

Namco created a Speed Racer arcade game in 1995.^[13]

In 1998, Jaleco made a Speed Racer game for the Playstation.^[14]

In 2006, a joint production of ironmonkey.com and blitinteractive.com, entitled Speed Racer -- The Great Plan, was released to the internet as a Shockwave game. The game stays very true to the original television show, with all the original voices, sounds, and Mach 5 controls.

A game based on the Speed Racer movie, for the Wii, DS and Playstation 2 platforms, stars Emile Hirsch (Speed), Christina Ricci (Trixie) and Matthew Fox (Racer X) reprising their roles.

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

• Official website
• Johnson, Glen. "Speed Racer." Glen Johnson's 60's Anime. 03 Apr 2007. 19 Oct 2007.
• Patrick, Macias and Tomohiro Machiyami. Cruising the Anime City: An Outer Guide to Neo Tokyo. Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press, 2004.

[edit] External links

• Mach Go Go Go at the Internet Movie Database
• Speed Racer Season 1
• Speed Racer Lives
• Speed Racer lawsuit
• Speed Racer toys
• Interview Q&A: Rei's Anime and Manga Page (fan site) 4 December 2007.