Go Speed Racer!

I've had the Speed Racer cartoons in the my stacks for many years. I watched some many moons ago when I first acquired them, but somehow never managed to get time to see them all. I have just done that and it's a good thing too. Speed Racer is a flavorful bit of late 60's entertainment, jaunty and energetic and surprisingly intriguing. The animation is fascinating in many ways, limited of course in some ways but with often lovely backgrounds that can dominate the action and mood of a scene. The stories are told with care and a great variety.

I thought of Hanna-Barbera's Jonny Quest as I watched episode after episode of Speed Racer this time. A young man (Speed/Jonny) mentored by an older much respected and accomplished older man (Racer X/Race Bannon) who operates in the larger world with his family along especially a bright accomplished father (Pops / Doctor Bannon). There are comedic antics at times (Spritle and Chim Chim/ Bandit) but they don't undermine the tension, or at least not always.

There are encounters with espionage and bizarre threats both on the track and off it. Now that I've at long last seen the Speed Racer cartoons in toto, I need to sit down and read the manga. Mach Go Go Go as it was originally known looks to be compelling as well in its own way.

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Mach Go Go Go!

While at my new favorite bookstore, Half-Price Books, I stumbled across a wonderful bargain--a clean slip-cased set of Mach Go Go Go, better known to me as Speed Racer. This is a two-volume set of the original manga which inspired the anime which was translated into English and broadcast in America during the 60's. The influence of that cartoon was culturally immense, though I confess I didn't see them until years later.

I found this set, a neat companion to the complete anime/cartoon collection I picked up several years ago. Both were released in 2008 in conjunction with the failed live-action movie update. That version tanked, but it did give us these gems, so it's a great event nonetheless.

Handsome and sleek, both the dvd and the hardcover manga reprint offer insights into a fresh style of entertainment, one I'm not all that familiar with.

Mach Go Go Go Indeed!

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Speed Racer!

I've never much cared for Speed Racer. I never saw the show when I was young, and when I caught it on TV later it always confused me.

But the other day I was trying to burn up some credit at Best Buy and looking for something of interest. Their racks were bereft of vintage material in my price range, until I stumbled across a box set of dvds with the original Speed Racer cartoons from the late 60's. Attracted by the handsome package, I rolled the dice.

And I'm glad I did. The episodes are bright, colorful, and watching them carefully, they do indeed make sense. I've learned a lot about Speed and his family in the last 24 hours, and I have to say there's a lot to recommend here. I never imagined the cartoon was a blend of Elvis in Viva Las Vegas and James Bond in Goldfinger (the Aston Martin don't you know)-- a heady brew indeed. The Mach 5 is pretty dang cool I'll have to admit. And I don't know if it's me, but the characters seem vivid and real in ways I never imagined possible. I get a Jonny Quest vibe off the cartoon. There's a contrast between an exotic homelife and adventure that twists and turns in unexpected ways.



I'm anxious to see more and learn more about Speed and his world. I'd like to get a glance at some of the original Mangas, to get a sense of where the characters roots come from. I've never been a fan of Anime, but early examples do fascinate me somewhat for the historical context they thrive in.

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