Speed Racer [Anime Series]
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Speed Racer [Anime Series]
One of the first Japanese anime series to enjoy significant success in the United States, Speed Racer first drew life as Mach Go Go Go, a cartoon strip (manga) created by cartoonist Tatsuo Yoshida. Per its title, the star of Mach Go Go Go was a high-tech racing car, driven by fearless young Go Mifune on behalf of his father Daisuke's auto manufacturing firm. The supporting cast included Go's kid brother/mascot Kuo, his girlfriend Michi, his mechanic Sabu, and his pet monkey Senpei. Whenever Go and his amazing car were threatened by villains (who ranged from dishonest racers to international spies), our hero could count on the aid of the mysterious Masked Racer, who unbeknownst to everybody, was Go's fugitive older brother Kenichi. Using the enormous profits from the comic book version ofMach Go Go Go, Tatsuo Yoshida set up an animated cartoon firm, Tatsunoko, for the express purpose of producing cartoon shows for television -- including a series version of his most successful manga property. Debuting on Japanese television in 1967, Mach Go Go Go was soon thereafter picked up for American play under the title Speed Racer. In the inevitable English-dubbing process, all the characters' names were changed: Go Mifune became Speed Racer ("He's a demon on wheels!"), Michi became Trixie, Daisuke became Pops Racer, Kuo became Spridal, Sabu became Sparky, Senpei became Chim Chim, and even The Masked Racer was re-christened as Racer X.
The focal point of the series remained, as ever, Speed Racer's marvelous jet-propelled car, now known as the "Special Formula Mach 5," which, with the aid of the seven specially equipped buttons on its control panel, was able not only to go faster than any other racing car in existence, but also to cut through forests with retractable saws, deflect bullets and other missiles, travel underwater (with periscope!) and deliver vital messages via a tiny birdlike robot. The 52 half-hour episodes of Speed Racer have never stopped playing since their initial appearance on America TV in September 23, 1967. As a bonus, the property has spawned two "upgraded" versions, 1993's The New Adventures of Speed Racer and 1997's Speed Racer X. Alas, a long-promised live-action feature film version of the series has yet to materialize. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Includes Episodes:
Speed Racer: Episode 37: The Terrifying Gambler
Speed Racer: Episode 38: The Secret Invaders Part 1
Speed Racer: Episode 39: The Secret Invaders Part 2
Speed Racer: Episode 40: The Man Behind the Mask
Technically speaking, the Japanese anime adventure series Speed Racer has yielded only one season's worth of episodes -- but it's a big season, 52 half-hours strong! The re-dubbed and reedited American version of this property remains relatively faithful to the Japanese original, Mach Go Go Go, though some of the more violent passages have been muted or excised, and additional emphasis has been placed upon "comic relief" characters Spridal (the kid brother of hero Speed Racer) and Chim Chim the monkey. The opening episode not only introduces Speed Racer and his jet-powered Special Formula Mach 5 racing car, but is also generous enough to explain the functions of each of the seven buttons on the car's control panel: Button "A" activates the jets, "B" handles the special-grip tires in case of rugged roads, "C" starts the rotating saws that enable the car to cut through heavy foliage, "D" puts into place the mechanism that deflects bullets and other missiles, "E" switches on the long-range headlights, "F" is used for underwater driving (oxygen tanks, periscope, et al.) and "G" ships out the tiny robot bird which delivers messages to Speed's friends Trixie and Sparky, and to his mom and dad. Later episodes establish the omnipresence of the mysterious Racer X, who always seems to be on hand when one of the characters whom we care about is in danger; the annoying tendency of Spridal and Chim Chim to stow away in the Special Formula Mach 5 when Speed tells them to go home and stay out of trouble; and the astonishing number of criminals: enemy, spies, and other lowlifes who seem to have but a single purpose in mind: to destroy Speed's car, and Speed with it! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Speed Racer: Episode 41: The Car Destroyer
Speed Racer: Episode 42: The Desperate Racer
Speed Racer: Episode 43: The Dangerous Witness
Speed Racer: Episode 44: Race the Laser Tank
Speed Racer [Anime Series]
(not reviewed)
General Specifications: | | Language Options: | English | | Subtitle Options: | | | Sound Processing: | DD1: Dolby Digital Mono
| | Additional Features: | none specified | | DVD Aspect Ratio: | 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard
| | MPAA Rating: | NR | | DVD Discs Included: | 1 | | DVD Sides: | 1 | | DVD DVD Region Code: | 1 | | Content Length: | 184 min | | | |
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