TV Show Info:
Writers: Peter Fernandez, Tadashi Hirose, Tatsuo Yoshida
Creator: Tatsuo Yoshida
Cast: Peter Fernandez, Corinne Orr, Jack Grimes, Jack Curtis
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Info:
Original Air Dates: September 23, 1967-March 15, 1968
DVD Box Set Release Date: October 7, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $42.49
Episodes: All 50+ episodes from the original, classic Speed Racer series
“Here he comes! Here comes Speed Racer! He’s a demon on wheels…”
I have had that theme song in my head for the past week or so, ever since I started watching Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Series Collection. It is quite the catchy tune, isn’t it? I have learned a considerable amount about the classic cartoon series and its history, all from doing this review. You know what though? I can truly see why Speed Racer has some strangely addictive power that makes you want to keep watching these episodes.
I knew Speed Racer was a cartoon from the 1960s. I knew that I used to watch reruns of the cartoon in the 1980s. I also knew that people really liked calling me “Speed Racer” because I’m in a wheelchair. A bit cliché, I know, but those are the facts! What I did not know was that Speed Racer was originally a Japanese anime and manga called Mach GoGoGo! or Mahaa GoGoGo!. The manga was originally available in the Shōnen Book from Shueisha. The manga was designed by Tatsuo Yoshida, and was modeled after his Pilot Ace series.
In 1967, Mach GoGoGo! premiered on Japanese television as an anime. It wasn’t long before Trans-Lux bought the rights and the show was brought to the United States as Speed Racer. Not much was removed from the Japanese version. It was slightly more violent, but the characters all had a westernized look because that was Yoshida’s vision for the characters. Essentially, they looked similar to other cartoons from the 1960s. The characters were also dubbed, of course, because the original cartoon was in Japanese. Also, the name of the characters were changed. For example, the main character was Go Mifune in the Japanese version and Speed Racer in the American one.
So, through all of the things I’ve learned I’ve concluded that, Speed Racer is addictive. It’s violent, but not in an obvious way. While watching an episode of the show, as villains try to kill Speed, the morbidity of this show totally struck me, and I like it! Does that make me morbid, too? It doesn’t really matter, because all I can do is recommend this cartoon. I feel this is something safe to watch for kids, merely because the violence is subtle enough that they probably won’t pick up on it (or they’ll see it as Looney Tunes-style violence. Speed Racer is also violent enough to keep adults interested in the series. Sure, some of the characters (like Spritle) are annoying), but the annoyance is actually endearing.
The Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Series Collection Plot
Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Series Collection comes in an awesome, metal tin that is shaped like the Mach 5. There is a DVD envelope inside with the five DVDs that offer up the episodes and the one bonus DVD. In total, this is a set with six DVDs, 52 episodes and a plethora of bonus features.
Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Series Collection follows the story of a young man by the name of Speed Racer. Speed lives with his Mom, Pops, and his little brother Spritle (who has a chimp named Chim-Chim). The series also features Speed’s girlfriend, Trixie, his best friend and car expert, Sparky, and the mysterious racer, Racer X (sometimes called the masked racer).
Here is a list of the episodes included in the Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Series Collection tin, with very brief descriptions. It should be noted that some of the descriptions might contain spoilers for earlier episodes in the series, so read with caution if you’ve never seen Speed Racer before.
DISC ONE
“The Great Plan (Part 1)” - Speed Racer, a young man who is also a racing phenom, decides he wants to become a professional racer despite his Pops disapproval. Pops quits he job because he has designed an updated engine for Speed’s car, the Mach 5, but the board member who voted against it wants the engine for himself.
“The Great Plan (Part 2)” - Speed must race with evil baddies chasing after him (without crashing), since Pops’ plans for the car engine are written in invisible ink on the windshield that Spritle has given Speed to use.
“Challenge of the Masked Racer (Part 1)” - Speed’s entering his first professional race, though Pops doesn’t approve. He is warned not to enter by a mysterious masked racer known as Racer X, but Speed doesn’t listen. The two (Speed & Racer X) end up racing during a stormy and dangerous night.
“Challenge of the Masked Racer (Part 2)” - A secret is revealed about Racer X. Speed is taken prisoner, because the Alpha Team believe he is the masked racer. Trixie, Racer X, and Chim-Chim save Speed and Spritle (who has been caught snooping around) and Speed and Racer X are able to enter the big race.
“The Secret Engine (Part 1)” - Speed meets an old man who owns a Model T. When an escaped criminal comes after the old man and his car, Speed must find out why with the help of Spritle and Trixie.
“The Secret Engine (Part 2)” - Speed learns the Model T is the key to finding a billion dollars that is rightfully the old man’s, but the criminal wants the money. Speed must get the money to its rightful owner and get the criminal re-arrested.
“The Race against the Mammoth Car (Part 1)” - In the No Limit World Race, Speed and Trixie seem to have no chance at racing against the Mammoth Car, which is 600 ft. long. Racer X and Inspector Detector search for stolen gold worth $50 million dollars, which they believe is hidden in one of the cars racing.
“The Race against the Mammoth Car (Part 2)” - Crusher Block has set traps for anyone trying to find out about the stolen gold. The Mammoth Car continues to out-shadow all the other racers, including Speed. Of course, it isn’t long before Chim-Chim and Spritle get in on the action.
“The Most Dangerous Race (Part 1)” - The Stunt Car Spectacular is being held. Contestants try to run up a ramp and hop a stack of cars. When more than one racer is unsuccessful, Snake Oiler tries to get Speed to compete, but there could be a cost to pay.
“The Most Dangerous Race (Part 2)” - Speed is racing in the Big Alpine Race, when bad weather is eminent. Since Speed will need new brakes to handle the weather, Spritle, Chim-Chim and Sparky try to get to Speed to give him brakes, but Sparky’s car isn’t exactly working, at the moment.
“The Most Dangerous Race (Part 3)” - It’s the next day of the Big Alpine Race. Only Racer X has managed to get through. Trixie, Spritle Sparky and Chim-Chim attempt to save Speed Racer. Meanwhile, Speed is trying to figure out who Snake Oiler is and what he wants with Speed.
DISC TWO
“Race for Revenge (Part 1)” - When the coaches of the Three Roses Club race team are victims of mysterious car crashes, the past seems to be returning to haunt the team. When the X3 Melange that was a favorite to beat the Three Roses Club racers in a past race, shows up for the Danger Pass Race, Speed is rightfully suspicious.
“Race for Revenge (Part 2)” - Slash Jr. drives the Melange via remote control and Speed is unable to catch up to the car. When it is heading towards the Three Rose Club race cars, Speed tries to do what he can to try to help their three race cars come out of this race unharmed.
“The Desperate Desert Race (Part 1)” - When Speed and crew head to Sandoland for the Desert Race, Spritle and Chim-Chim stow away on an airplane to go to the race, too. On the plane, Spritle sees a man plant a timebomb on Kim Jugger’s car, the Black Tiger. Kim blames Speed, and the Speed gang must prove his innocence, but in the process Speed and Spritle get kidnapped.
“The Desperate Desert Race (Part 2)” - The Flathill Army sets the Mach 5 on fire. Kim’s father, The General admits his cousin set Kim’s car on fire because Kim is needed to help fight the revolution. The damaged Mach 5 and Black Tiger are forced to race without breaks and Speed and Kim are both attacked by scorpions.
“The Fire Race (Part 1)” - The country of Kapecapek tells the League of Countries they want to shut their borders off to outsiders. If Kabala, the Kapecapek racecar driver, can beat Speed in a race, then the League of Countries will allow this to happen. In Kapecapek, both Speed and Racer X have been invited. Kabala is missing and the winner of the race will get to marry Princess Sibana. When the Princess is kidnapped Speed must save her. He must also race through massive Volcanic tunnels right after it erupts!
“The Fire Race (Part 2)” - When Speed finds Kabala, he learns that it is actually Racer X. X tells Speed that Kabala was his mentor, who is unfortunately dead, but he took on the part of Kabala to keep Kapecapek’s treasure safe. The race continues with the fate of Kapecapek’s border dispute in the hands of X and Speed.
“Girl Daredevil (Part 1)” - Speed gets to know a daredevil in the circus, Twinkle Banks, when she faints and he saves her. When she is set to do a dangerous stunt, Trixie and Speed try to stop her from performing said stunt. She goes through with it, but someone tries to sabotage her and Speed must save her, yet again.
“Girl Daredevil (Part 2)” - When the bad guy, Compone Brotch steals the Mach 5 to make his escape, Speed and Twinkle must try to stop him. Luckily, they have Trixie, Chim-Chim, and Spritle following him in Trixie’s helicopter. When the gang learns the truth about what Brotch is doing, their lives are all in danger.
“The Fastest Car on Earth (Part 1)” - The GRX racecar engine is unearthed at a cemetary, at midnight. When Chim-Chim and Spritle stow away in a car that takes them to Oriana Flub’s home, Chim-Chim is sprayed by this mysterious liquid. During the race, the same liquid is sprayed at a racer. Pops realizes that Oriana has stolen the engine from the tomb of its inventors. When Pops is taken prisoner, it’s up to Speed to save him.
“The Fastest Car on Earth (Part 2)” - With Pops saying the GRX engines are dangerous, Speed’s life is put in danger. Oriana’s thugs steal the GRX car Speed is driving after Spritle saves him from it. With the Oriental Grand Prix about to take place, the liquid a is used on Louis Towcar, who might end up crashing due to its effects.
“Mach 5 vs. Mach 5 (Part 1)” - When an exact replica of the Mach 5 is made, suspicions rise. When someone is blamed for the burglary by the scientist who made the replica, it’s Speed who is forced to take the fall.
“Mach 5 vs. Mach 5 (Part 2)” - Speed manages to get away from Cumulus. Speed destroys the Mesmo gun and the homing robot. When Cumulus takes off, Speed decides to follow him. It isn’t long before Speed and Trixe are aware of Cumulus’ real plan.
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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