Speed Racer X

Speed Racer X
マッハGoGoGo
(Mach GoGoGo)
Genre Action, Racing
Anime television series
Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa
Produced by Yumi Murase → Makiko Iwata (TV Tokyo)
Minoru Ohno (Yomiko Advertising)
Masatoshi Yui (Tatsunoko Pro)
Written by Masaaki Sakurai
Music by Michiru Ōshima
Studio Tatsunoko Production
Licensed by
Network TV Tokyo
English network
Original run January 9, 1997 – September 25, 1997
Episodes 34[1]

Speed Racer X, known in Japan as Mach Go Go Go (マッハGoGoGo Mahha Go Go Go), is a remake of the original 1967 series produced by Tatsunoko Production, the same studio that did the original. The show originally aired in Japan in 1997 on TV Tokyo and lasted only 34 episodes of a planned 52.[2]

An English adaptation was later produced by DIC Entertainment and aired in the United States on Nickelodeon's short-lived action block, Slam. This show was quickly taken off the air (with only twelve episodes dubbed) due to a lawsuit between DiC and the Santa Monica-based Speed Racer Enterprises, the company which owned the American rights of the franchise.[3]

Differences from the original series

In this version, Rex Racer does not run away, but is presumed dead after an accident while testing out the Mach 5. His father, Pops, later rebuilds the Mach 5 with a new safety system called "Safety Seven", which protects its driver. Rex's younger brother and Pops' second son, Speed, decides to follow up on his brother's footsteps. Trixie appears in this series as a reporter who befriends Speed, with Spritle being her younger brother now (as opposed to being Speed's younger brother in the original).[4]

There are also differences that exist even in the original Japanese version. Aside from Gō's different surname (Hibiki), other characters were replaced entirely, but have similar roles. For instance, Mai Kazami is the "Michi Shimura" (the original Trixie) of this series, with her younger brother Wataru representing "Kurio Mifune" (the original Spritle). Although Gō's father is still called Daisuke, his mother (Aya Mifune in the original) is now known as Misuzu. The chimpanzee representing Chim-Chim that Wataru is taking care of is named Rocky. Later on in the series involves time traveling. When the Mach 5 hits 555 km/h, it sends Gō and his friends to the year 2555 where the world is ruled by a blue alien named Handler, who plans to use the Ezekiel Wheel to rule time.[5]

Voice cast

Mach Go Go Go Japanese version

Speed Racer X English version

Speed Racer X Episodes

References

  1. 1 2 作品データベース. Tatsunoko Production (in Japanese). Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  2. ↑ "Mach Go Go Go '97 on the Tatsunoko US Fan Club". Tatsunokousa.com. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  3. ↑ Kroll, Justin (2003-04-23). "DIC takes ‘Speed’ to court". Variety. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  4. ↑ "Tatsunoko Pro". Tatsunoko Production. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  5. ↑ "The Aftermath of Speed". Retrieved 2016-01-18.

External links

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