TV Show Info:
Creators: Larry Schwarz, Ken Katsumoto
Cast: Kurt Csolak, Robbie Sublett, Peter Fernandez, Sahra Mellesse, Carter Jackson, Michal Friedman, Dave Skigen, Michael Sinterniklaas, David “Zen Mansley”
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount & CBS
Release Info:
Original Air Dates: June 27, 2008-July 11, 2008
Season Air Dates: April 27, 2008-Present
DVD Box Set Release Date: August 12, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $42.49
Episodes: Three episodes from the first season of Speed Racer: The Next Generation “The Fast Track I, II and III”
My nickname in high school was Speed Racer. It’s not something I cared to be called one way or another. It also wasn’t because I had exceptional driving skills. I’d be hard pressed to find any person in a power wheelchair not called Speed Racer (or who hadn’t heard someone say to them “Go, Go Speed Racer in their life) who grew up in the 1970s or 1980s. I grew up in the 80s. We all knew of and had watched the original Speed Racer cartoon from the 70s, so it seemed like a fitting nickname.
When I heard that Speed Racer: The Next Generation was being developed by Lionsgate Entertainment for NickToons, I was curious. We’ve seen some successful re-doings of shows from when I grew up such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and even the Carebears. While these shows just can’t compare to the originals, they are enjoyable as fresh, new interpretations in their ow right. This could go either way, though. Speed Racer: The Next Generation could either be a totally new, hip incarnation or it could totally bomb.
Not surprisingly, I find that I’m not overly fond of Speed Racer: The Next Generation. The animation gets on my nerves more than anything. If they wanted to go modern, they should have gone completely modern. I much prefer the older animation styles of my youth, but times are a-changing and everything is beginning to look digitized. Unfortunately, Speed Racer: The Next Generation suffers from being stuck somewhere between digitized and static animation. It gives the entire animation process a choppy feel. That is, by far, my biggest complaint.
Not far off is the story writing. Speed Racer: The Next Generation is lame. I didn’t laugh once at any of the supposed jokes. I counted down the seconds until the show was over. There are way too many unlikeable or annoying characters (Conor, Jesse, Jared, Annalise). Even Speed Jr. isn’t exactly likable. The dialogue is corny and the entire premise that Speed Racer had two children he’s never seen or met is just ridiculous. The whole premise of Speed Racer disappearing is dumb because nothing or no one could have ever made the original Speed Racer disappear and/or go off into hiding.
That being said, Speed Racer: The Next Generation lacks creativity. It seems like those who make cartoons are running out of original ideas. Instead, they have decided to take successful animated series’ from the past, recycle them and profit off of the fact that old fans of the original shows, as well as new fans, will want to check them out. In the end, the cartoon suffers because it seems like projects such as Speed Racer: The Next Generation were only made and developed to make a quick buck. With the live action Speed Racer movie just released on top of that, it seemed like the ideal time, I guess, to bring a Speed Racer cartoon back. Unfortunately, this particular cartoon lacks substance amongst other things.
The Speed Racer: The Next Generation - The Fast Track Plot
There are three episodes included on the Speed Racer: The Next Generation - The Fast Track DVD. These episodes are presented as one full length movie, known as The Fast Track. Like the past DVD release of Speed Racer: The Next Generation, which featured the first three episodes of the show, in Speed Racer: The Next Generation - The Beginning, this DVD offers three episodes from the first season of the show.
Speed Racer: The Next Generation - The Fast Track features episodes that aired from June, 27, 2008 to July 11, 2008. By this point, the creators assume you already watch Speed Racer: The Next Generation, so you know the story. It isn’t hard to watch this if you’re new to the series, but some things aren’t apparent, such as the fact that X and Speed are long lost brothers. This is because this information was already presented in earlier shows.
The Fast Track is made up of three episodes. Here is a small description of each episode. Just for reference, all three episodes were directed by John Holt and written by Ben Gruber.
“The Fast Track, Part One” - The lab technician, Joel, who is working for Zile Zazic, allows Zile to take over the virtual track during the Redwood Rally. Zile has sinister plans as he tries to mess up the race for Speed Jr. and kill him. Speed is able to figure out he’s being sabotaged and manages to survive the race. This causes Zile to fire Joel. Speed decides to investigate the matter in the virtual track, with the help of Conor and Lucy. Unfortunately, the technician has implanted a virus in the virtual track, trapping Speed, his Mach 6 and Annalise Zazic (Speed’s #1 enemy).
“The Fast Track, Part Two” - Continuing where Part One left off, Speed and Annalise are still stuck in the virtual track. The two are forced to work together as the virus eats the track, so they can survive. Conor, Lucy and X try to find a way to save them from the track, which is destroying itself. If they don’t save them in time, the two will be stuck in the track forever. When Conor accidentally loads the original Speed Racer enemy files, the Mammoth Car and the X3 set out to destroy the Mach 6 with Annalise and Speed in it.
“The Fast Track, Part Three” - After Speed and Annalise escape the track, Annalise tells Speed they can’t be friends. Zile is pleased to find out that Joel planted the virus. He re-hires him and promotes him, so he can make sure Speed dies in the virtual track. When the Mammoth Car, X3 and Jungle Conor enter the real world from the virtual track, Annalise turns to Speed for help.
The only good thing about these episodes is they flow together, like one big movie.
Storyline/Plot: 
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:
Audio/Visual:
It’s hard for me to say the video quality was excellent because the animation style left something to be desired. Do you remember PS2 and GameCube graphics? Well, the animation on the Speed Racer: The Next Generation - The Fast Track DVD has this occasional edgy look, like the animator didn’t exactly know how to smooth things out. Sometimes I feel like I’m watching a show that was drawn with video game specs. We can all admit that while the latest games look far superior to anything out there, television animation is still smoother and has the ability to look nearly flawless.
The actual image is a 4×3 full frame presentation. I guess things look okay, but then I really couldn’t get over how much I disliked the animation. There are a few visual errors, but for the most part, this looks like the quality of your standard new cartoon television show.
The sound quality for Speed Racer: The Next Generation - The Fast Track works out just fine. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack comes through as you’d expect a Dolby Digital surround track would. There is no need to mess with the volume . Every annoying word comes through loud and clear. Closed Captioning is available so the hearing impaired can enjoy Speed Racer: The Next Generation - The Fast Track.
Visual:
Audio: 
Bonus Features:
There are only two bonus features on the Speed Racer: The Next Generation - The Fast Track DVD. The two features are actually very short featurettes. There is also a series of trailers for other Lionsgate titles. There are also trailers that play when the DVD is first started.
The first bonus feature is the featurette, “The Animation of Speed Racer: The Next Generation”. The featurette is introduced by creator and executive producer, Larry Schwartz. As you might have guessed, this looks at the animation for Speed Racer: The Next Generation. I don’t particularly like the animation for this show, so I didn’t really care too much for this feature. If you like the show, this featurette discusses things like animation development and specific designs like the virtual tracks.
The next featurette is enttied, “Sneak Peek w/ Jeff Gordon”. As you might have guessed, it includes a sneak peek at Speed Racer: The Next Generation with Jeff Gordon. Jeff talks about how he grew up watching the original series, his racing history and about how it felt to lend a voice to Speed Racer: The Next Generation. If you like Jeff Gordon, you might like this featurette or not!
Finally, there are trailers for Happily N’Ever After, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the original series DVDs, Doctor Strange, Ultimate Avengers: The Movie, and The Invincible Ironman.
Bonus Features:
Bottom Line:
If you are one of the few people who like Speed Racer: The Next Generation or you have a child you know or think will like this series, then you may want to purchase Speed Racer: The Next Generation - The Fast Track. Fans of the old Speed Racer cartoon will want to avoid this like the plague. This is nothing like the original series. In fact, the few original series characters have changed so much (in growing up) they’ve lost their personalities and charm. If you’re new to this cartoon, check it out on NickToons before buying this DVD, because chances are, you won’t like it. Not recommended.
Overall Rating:
Technorati Tags: Speed Racer, The Next Generation, The Fast Track, DVD Review, TV show, Cartoon, Racing
Written by Dominick Evans - Visit Website
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Dominick is in his late 20s. He lives in Michigan with his life partner, Ashtyn, their 14 year old son Robert, and their Shih-Tzu, Oliver. Dominick is a writer and the head editor for both LI Kids and Literary Illusions. He enjoys composing music and is an aspiring director/screenwriter. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, playing and watching sports, playing video games, watching movies, and singing.
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