I might be too young to understand....

[Verfall]

But why was the show this is based on so popular?

http://blogs.tampabay.com/juice/2008/04/speed-racer-cou.html

I remember the show vaguely, have more memories of the 90's American redo, but the Wachowski's are doing it, which means this may not be just an acid trip with cars.

I'm tempted to see it in theatres just because of the visuals, but it looks to cheesy it makes Transformers look like Shakespeare.

[zuludelta]

But why was the show this is based on so popular?

Not entirely sure myself... might have something to do with the fact that it was one of the first "cool" cartoons to be shown in the States back in the 1960s. Prior to Speed Racer, most Saturday morning cartoon fare was pretty much in the "anthropomorphized talking animal" genre (Looney Tunes, Merry Melodies, Hanna-Barbera). Speed Racer had nifty gadgets, fast cars, and a young male protagonist kids could identify with, and many of the characters were designed to follow the contemporary fashions of the day, so it really stood out from the rest of the cartoons being shown back then. And while the original show was pretty formulaic, the continuing subplots (such as the mystery of Racer X's identity... is he Speed Racer's estranged brother?) was a rarity in a show targeted for children.

It looks very quaint and dated now, but I could imagine it being a real mind-trip for kids back when it was first shown in 1967. 

As for the upcoming movie... ehhh... looks like it could be a good rental, I don't have any emotional ties to the original show myself (or the 1990s American remake) although I did grow up watching the reruns, so I don't really have any nostalgia for the property going in.

[RTTingle]

But why was the show this is based on so popular?

http://blogs.tampabay.com/juice/2008/04/speed-racer-cou.html

I remember the show vaguely, have more memories of the 90's American redo, but the Wachowski's are doing it, which means this may not be just an acid trip with cars.

I'm tempted to see it in theatres just because of the visuals, but it looks to cheesy it makes Transformers look like Shakespeare.

Lets keep it simple.

Put yourself back to the late 70's and yer' say 7.  Now watch it with that perspective of mind.  Outrageously cool cars, wacky adventure, kung-fu'ish action and even a mystery man.

Just put yourself in perspective for most anything thats popular for its time and you'll "get-it".

Remember Speed for most was just the start Japanimation and cool cartoons that presented a bit more danger than the Super Friends or other cartoons at that time could offer.  Hanna Barbara with Jonny Quest, Herculoids & Space Ghost and Filmation gave a valiant effort with Star Trek & Flash Gordon, but came up short with later efforts due to IMHO its generic look.  Japanimation was the big "different" and from there Speed was the stepping stone to other shows like StarBlazers, Robotech, etc.

Kinda' funny.  I'm so burnt out on Japanimation and funny now how to me that is now the generic look for animation.

RTT


 

[Cardmaster]

//slight tangent//
Heh, we talked about Speed Racer in my History of Animation class last semester; it's nearly universally regarded as being the first successfully imported show from Japan.
As RTT said, it was the show that opened the door to let Anime, Manga, etc. all come into the States.
Now, thirty years later, the American market has been saturated by Anime-influenced visuals and elements and studios are all reflexively creating shows with incredibly off-beat and funky styles. The ones that garner success then get other shows cribbing notes from their style. Then most likely in a 5-10 years Anime won't be as overused, someone will use it again, etc. It's the "anime cycle" :P
//slight tangent//

That being said, although I understand the cultural importance of the series, I don't really get the movie myself, haha...

[RTTingle]

I'm curious about the movie and anxious to see it... as long as I can see it on IMAX.  Seeing it any other way with the visual style being presented will just be a let down.

Why Speed Racer?

Why not?  Considering all the other properties being made into movies.  Its easily the most accessible of all Japanimation to bring to the screen.  Even if you never sat down and watched it... a lot of people know what Speed Racer is.

RTT

[Mr. Hamrick]

Ok, I can give a little more insight into the series but I think Cardy and RT covered most of it.

Speed Racer was one of the first Japanese anime series to be imported over here to the US shortly after Astro Boy and Gigantor.  The series itself was created based on influences from James Bond (from the movie Goldfinger) and Elvis Presley (from the movie Viva Las Vegas) which were popular in Japan at the time.  It could be argued that the show was designed under influences from Western pop culture.   

The producer who brought the series here, Peter Fernandez, commented on the series' staying power with "There was the family relationship. You knew about Speed's family, you knew them well. They were all involved in each race. And we all play with cars as little kids, we love cars."  Fernandez also voiced Speed Racer and Racer X in the original.  (He's also an interesting person to converse with on an elevator ride and onto the convention floor of Anime Weekend Atlanta, which I had the opportunity to do years ago.) 

As for "Why Speed Racer?"  The original series is celebrating what is essentially it's 30th anniversary.  Also, given the style that the Wachowski Brothers, the series lends itself to a lot of potentially great visuals (especially with today's effects technology) and a simple, easy to follow story for a very wide audience.

[Alaric]

But why was the show this is based on so popular?

I'm pretty sure it was the gigantic explosions every time a car fell off the race track.

[Protomorph]

If it means that Battle of the Planets is closer to being made, I'm for it.


As for the Speed Racer, I didnt grow up watching it, so I have no particular fascination with it.

But what kid wouldn't love to watch a movie with a monkey and a kid who stow away in a car trunk? Such a great message for our youth today.

[Pyroclasm]

I haven't seen Speed Racer since I was a child.  However, I watched it religiously, and will be watching this new movie.

[Cardmaster]

On a side note, when my little brother (aged 9) and I saw this trailer at the theater over spring break he immediately turned to me, wide-eyed, and exclaimed "That movie looks AWESOME. Can we see it?" Clearly the appeal is not limited generationally speaking. I could see this going really well actually.

[BWPS]

This movie looks AWESOME. It's also based on an awesome show. The Mach 5 was a car that had blades and stuff and raced evil robotic statues and stuff and everyone talked so stupid it was funny. I used to watch videos of the show when I was littler and this looks like it will be just a plain awesome movie no matter how lame my little sisters think it is.

[TheMarvell]

the movie looks tacky as hell, but so was the show. I kind of grew up watching the show (when cartoon network re-aired the original one, not the american one) and liked it. I didn't like it as much as TMNT or GI Joe, but I thought it was fun to watch.

The only reason why I want to see it is because I used to watch it. Had I not seen the show as a kid, I would probably have absolutely no interest in it whatsoever. Kids, on the other hand, I can definitely understand the interest.

[thanoson]

This was the show that 1st brought me ninjas. The stunt car assassins I belive were ninjas. Or the closest thing at that time to me. Battle of the Planets, Starblazers and Captain Harlock soon followed shortly after. Man, I miss my youth. Watching Bob Wilkins as Captain Cosmos airing Starblazers, Battle of the Giant Robots, Jonny Socko and his Flying Robot, Ultraman and Specterman. Good times my friends.

[Uncle Yuan]

When I was a kid we lived waaaay out in the country, at the bottom of a deep valley.  We got one television station (CBS) and even then only really well after dark.  But - summers I would go spend time at my grandparents house in St. Louis.  The Big City.  Which had two unaffiliated television stations, and they played the best cartoons.  Like Speed Racer, Battle of the Planets, and Voltron.  I'm intrigued by the movie, but I don't think it will be the same without my grandfather standing in the doorway and yelling at me about watching TV all the time . . .

[Bujin]

For me, it was all about the buzzsaws that would come out of the car to buzz down trees, and the fact that it could jump other cars.   ;)