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{{Short description|Japanese manga series}}
{{About||the 2008 film|Speed Racer (film){{!}}''Speed Racer'' (film)|other uses|Speed Racer (disambiguation)}}
{{more citations needed|date = April 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = July 2024}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| image = Speed Racer promotional image.jpg
| caption = Gō Mifune, also known as Speed Racer
| ja_kanji = マッハ {{ruby|GoGoGo|ゴーゴーゴー}}
| ja_romaji = Mahha GōGōGō
| genre = [[Sports manga|Sports]]<!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per [[MOS:A&M]]). -->
| creator = [[Tatsuo Yoshida]]
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = manga
| author       = [[Tatsuo Yoshida]]
| publisher    = {{ubl|[[Shueisha]]|[[Sun Wide Comics]]}}
| publisher_en = {{english manga publisher|NA={{ubl|[[NOW Comics]]|[[Wildstorm Productions]]|[[Digital Manga Publishing]]}}}}
| magazine     = [[Shōnen Book]]
| first        = June 1966
| last         = May 1968
| volumes      = 2
| volume_list  = List of Speed Racer chapters
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = tv series
|director = {{ubl|[[Hiroshi Sasagawa]]|[[Peter Fernandez]] (adaptation)}}
|producer = {{ubl|[[Tatsuo Yoshida]]|Peter Fernandez (adaptation)}}
|writer = {{ubl|[[Jinzō Toriumi]]|Peter Fernandez (adaptation)}}
|music = Nobuyoshi Koshibe
|studio = [[Tatsunoko Production]]
|licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA={{ubl|[[Trans-Lux]] (formerly)|[[Crunchyroll]] (formerly; 2015–2024)|[[Shout! Studios]] (currently; 2024–present)}}
}}
|network = [[Fuji Television|Fuji TV]]
|network_en = {{English anime network
 | AU = [[ABC TV (Australian TV channel)|ABC-TV]], [[Network Ten]]
 | US = [[Cartoon Network]], [[MTV]], [[Speed (TV network)|Speed Channel]], [[Broadcast syndication|Syndication]], [[MeTV Toons]]
}}
|first = April 2, 1967
|last = March 31, 1968
|episodes = 52
|episode_list = List of Speed Racer episodes
}}
<!-- {{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = tv series
|title = {{ubl|[[Speed Racer X]]|Mach Go Go Go: Restart}}
|director = {{ubl|Hiroshi Sasagawa|Hiroyuki Fukushima}}
|producer = {{ubl|Kenji Yoshida|Makiko Iwata|Masatoshi Yui|Minoru Ohno|Yumi Murase}}
|writer =Masaaki Sakurai
|music =[[Michiru Oshima]]
|studio = Tatsunoko Production
|licensee = {{english anime licensee|NA = {{ubl|[[DIC Entertainment]] (former)|[[Crunchyroll LLC|Crunchyroll]] (currently)}}
}}
|network = [[TV Tokyo]]
|network_en = {{English anime network
 | US = [[Nickelodeon]], [[Broadcast syndication|Syndication]]
}}
|first = January 9, 1997
|last = September 25, 1997
|episodes = 34<ref name="作品データベース">{{cite web|url=http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/works/archive/machgogogo_1997.html|script-title=ja:作品データベース|access-date=2008-10-06|work=Tatsunoko Production|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407182745/http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/works/archive/machgogogo_1997.html|archive-date=2010-04-07}}</ref>
|episode_list = List of Speed Racer episodes#1997 TV series
}} -->
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type        = manga
| title       = Mach GoGoGo!
| author      = Toshio Tanigami
| publisher   = [[Shogakukan]]
| magazine    = [[CoroCoro Comic]]
| first       = January 1997
| last        = October 1997
| volumes     = 2
| volume_list = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
|title = Related works
|content =
* ''[[The New Adventures of Speed Racer]]''
* ''[[Mach GoGoGo (1997 TV series)|Speed Racer X]]''
* ''[[Speed Racer: The Next Generation|The Next Generation]]''
* ''Speed Racer'' (NOW Comics)
* ''Racer X'' (NOW Comics)
* ''Speed Racer: Chronicles of the Racer''
* ''Speed Racer: Born to Race''
* ''Racer X'' ([[Tommy Yune]] prequel)
* ''[[Speed Racer (film)|Speed Racer]]'' (live action film)
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer|portal=yes}}

'''''Speed Racer''''', also known as {{nihongo|'''''Mach GoGoGo'''''|マッハ{{ruby|GoGoGo|ゴーゴーゴー}}|Mahha GōGōGō|lead=yes}}, is a Japanese [[manga]] series written and illustrated by [[Tatsuo Yoshida]]. It was originally serialized in print in [[Shueisha]]'s 1966 ''[[Shōnen Book]]''. It was released in {{Transliteration|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} form by [[Sun Wide Comics]] and later re-released in Japan by [[Fusosha]]. Adapted into [[anime]] by [[Tatsunoko Production]], its 52 episodes aired on [[Fuji Television]] from April 1967 to March 1968. In the United States, the show aired in [[Broadcast syndication|syndication]] at approximately the same time. The anime was later re-broadcast on [[Tokyo MX]] from July 1 to September 25, 2008.

Selected chapters of the [[manga]] were released by [[NOW Comics]] in the 1990s under the title ''Speed Racer Classics''. These were later released by [[Wildstorm Productions]], a division of [[DC Comics]], as ''Speed Racer: The Original Manga''. In 2008, under its Americanized title, ''Speed Racer'', ''Mach GoGoGo'' was republished in its entirety in the United States by [[Digital Manga Publishing]] and was released as a box set to commemorate the franchise's 40th anniversary, as well as serving as a tie-in with the [[Speed Racer (film)|2008 film]]. The television series was very successful in the United States and is said to have defined anime in that country until the 1990s, being watched by a total estimated audience of {{nowrap|40 million}} viewers during the 1960s{{ndash}}1970s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fouladpour |first1=Tony |title=Speed Racer Becomes First Animated Action Hero to Endorse a Car--drives Volkswagen GTI to Victory in New TV Spot |url=http://udel.edu/~mm/anime/speed/articles/vw.html |access-date=20 February 2021 |publisher=[[Volkswagen of America]] |date=July 16, 1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Launching From the Web: Art Asylum Seeks an Alternative to Costly TV Ads |url=https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/8252/launching-from-web |access-date=20 February 2021 |work=[[ICv2]] |date=February 20, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Need For Speed |magazine=[[Sega Pro]] |date=14 October 1993 |issue=25 (November 1993) |page=14 |url=https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-25/page/n13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Malham|first=Howell J.|date=May 20, 1993|title=In Pole Position for a Comeback|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-05-20-9305200351-story.html|access-date=2021-12-26|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>

==Media==

===Manga===
[[File:Mach GoGoGo manga covers.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Tatsuo Yoshida's ''Mach GoGoGo'' manga.<br />'''Top Row''': Volume 1, Volume 2 <br />'''Bottom Row''': Volume 1 (reprint), Sun Wide Comics release]]

''Mach GoGoGo'' was first created and designed by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida (1932–1977) as a manga series in the 1960s and made the jump to [[television|TV]] as an anime series in 1967. The actual manga was inspired by Yoshida's earlier and more popular automobile racing comics, '''''Pilot Ace'''''.<ref>[http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/04/20/racers-start-your-engines/ "Racers, Start Your Engines!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808203439/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/04/20/racers-start-your-engines/ |date=2017-08-08 }}, ''Sci-Fi Japan'' 20 April 2008.</ref> ''Pilot Ace'''s main storyline formed the structure for ''Mach GoGoGo'', which followed the adventures of an ambitious young man who soon became a professional racer.

The characters' designs in ''Pilot Ace'' set the main ground for the character design in ''Mach GoGoGo''. Yoshida got his idea for the story after seeing two films that were very popular in Japan at the time, ''[[Viva Las Vegas]]'' and ''[[Goldfinger (film)|Goldfinger]]''. By combining the look of [[Elvis Presley]]'s race-car driving image, complete with neckerchief and black pompadour, and [[James Bond]]'s [[Aston Martin DB5#James Bond's DB5|gadget-filled Aston Martin DB5]], Yoshida had the inspiration for his creation. Soon enough, ''Mach GoGoGo'' hit shelves in the early 1960s. The central character in the anime and manga was a young race car driver named Gō Mifune (''Mifune Gō'').

The name of the series, ''Mach GoGoGo'', has a triple meaning: {{Nihongo|"Mahha-gō"|マッハ号}} is the name of the car; the name of the main character is Gō Mifune; and finally, it contains the English word "go". In the American adaptation, Mach 5 stems from the number 5 on the door. Although in Japanese, {{Nihongo|''go''|五}} is the word for the number 5, the Kanji character {{Nihongo|''gō''|号}}, which is used in the car name, actually means "item number" (i.e. it is an ordinal suffix). In addition, gogogo, is used as a general Japanese sound effect for rumble. Taken together, the program's title means, "Mach Number Five, Go!"

The manga (compiled into two deluxe volumes for Fusosha's re-release) has several storylines, such as "The Great Plan", "Challenge of the Masked Racer", "The Fire Race", "The Secret Engine", and "Race for Revenge", that were adapted to the anime. However, minor changes occur between both the original manga and the anime series, such as differences between the back stories of several characters and places.

A few years after the volumes were released, Yoshida decided to release his manga series as an anime program, adding additional plots. Fifty-two episodes aired in Japan, each one emulating the fast-paced action of the manga.

Selected chapters of the original ''Mach GoGoGo'' manga series were reprinted by NOW Comics as two volumes of ''Speed Racer Classics'' (1988–1989), and by [[DC Comics]]/[[Wildstorm Productions]] as ''Speed Racer: The Original Manga'' (2000).<ref>{{cite book |last=Yoshida |first=Tatsuo |translator-last=Gertler |translator-first=Nat |title=Speed Racer: The Original Manga |year=2000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wBnsAAAAMAAJ |publisher=[[WildStorm]] |volume=1 |language=en |isbn=1-56389-686-9}}</ref> In 2008, a hardcover box set of the complete manga series was released by [[Digital Manga Publishing]] as the two volume ''Speed Racer: Mach Go Go Go''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Yoshida |first=Tatsuo |editor-last=Kuxhouse |editor-first=Daryl |translator-last=Aurino |translator-first=Joyce |title=Speed Racer: Mach Go Go Go |date=February 2008 |volume=1 |publisher=Digital Manga Publishing |location=Gardena, CA |language=en |isbn=978-1-56970-731-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Yoshida |first=Tatsuo |editor-last=Kuxhouse |editor-first=Daryl |translator-last=Aurino |translator-first=Joyce |title=Speed Racer: Mach Go Go Go |date=February 2008 |volume=2 |publisher=Digital Manga Publishing |location=Gardena, CA |language=en |isbn=978-1-56970-731-9}}</ref>

===Anime===
{{Main|List of Speed Racer episodes{{!}}List of ''Speed Racer'' episodes}}
The manga spawned an anime adaptation that actually became a bigger success. Fifty-two episodes were produced from 1967 to 1968. In 1997, Tatsunoko produced a modernized version of ''Mach GoGoGo'' that aired on [[TV Tokyo]], lasting for 34 episodes. An English-language adaptation of this remake was produced by [[DiC]] titled '''''Speed Racer X''''', which aired in 2002 on [[Nickelodeon]]. Only the first 13 episodes were adapted due to licensing disputes between DiC and Speed Racer Enterprises. ''Mach Girl'' was a web-based series by Tatsunoko Productions, created by Tatsuo Yoshida's daughter, Suzuka.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/machgirl/ |title=マッハガール |website=Tatsunoko.co.jp |access-date=2016-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115192350/http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/machgirl/ |archive-date=2016-01-15 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The title of sequence of Speed Racer shows an early anime example of [[Bullet time]]: at the end, as Speed leaps from the [[Mach Five (Speed Racer)|Mach Five]], he freezes in mid-jump, and the "camera" does an arc shot from front to sideways.

====English-language adaptation====
The English-language rights to ''Mach GoGoGo'' were acquired by syndicator [[Trans-Lux]], and ''Speed Racer'' premiered on American television in the summer of 1967.<ref>"Television," ''New York Times''. (Sep 22, 1967) Page 95.</ref> In the series, Speed's full name was Go Mifune, in homage to Japanese film star [[Toshiro Mifune]]. His name, Americanized, became '''Speed Racer'''.<ref>{{Cite news|title= Return Laps for the First Voice of Speed Racer|work= New York Times|date= May 10, 2008|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/10/movies/10speed.html?scp=28&sq=astro%20boy&st=cse|access-date= 2010-08-12|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151017140134/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/10/movies/10speed.html?scp=28&sq=astro%20boy&st=cse|archive-date= October 17, 2015|url-status= live}}</ref> His adventures centered on his powerful [[Mach 5 (Speed Racer)|Mach 5]] car, his girlfriend [[Trixie (Speed Racer character)|Trixie]], his little brother Spritle, Spritle's pet chimpanzee Chim-Chim, his father "Pops" Racer, and his mysterious older brother, Racer X,<ref>CD liner notes: Saturday Mornings: Cartoons’ Greatest Hits, 1995, MCA Records</ref> whose real name was Rex Racer.

For American consumption, major [[editing]] and [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbing]] efforts were undertaken by producer Peter Fernandez, who likewise not only wrote and directed the English-language dialogue but also [[voice acting|provided the voices of]] many of the characters, most notably Racer X and Speed Racer himself. Fernandez was also responsible for a rearrangement of the [[theme music|theme song]]'s melody, written and composed by Nobuyoshi Koshibe, and he subsequently also wrote its English lyrics.<ref>{{Cite news|title= 'Americanizing' a cartoon classic|work= Japan Times|url= https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2008/07/03/films/americanizing-a-cartoon-classic/|access-date= 2021-07-04|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190108051557/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2008/07/03/films/americanizing-a-cartoon-classic/|archive-date=2019-01-08|url-status= live}}</ref>

A ''Speed Racer'' daily comic strip written and drawn by [[Mort Todd]] ran in the ''[[New York Post]]'' from 2000–2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://strippersguide.blogspot.com/2011_07_17_archive.html |title=Stripper's Guide: 7/17/11&nbsp;– 7/24/11 |website=Strippersguide.blogspot.com |access-date=2016-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191356/http://strippersguide.blogspot.com/2011_07_17_archive.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=live }}</ref> IGN ranked the original Speed Racer series at #29 on its "Best 100 Animated Series" list.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

At [[Otakon]] 2015, [[Funimation]] announced that it had acquired the license to ''Speed Racer'' from Tatsunoko and would release it on [[Blu-ray]] for the first time.<ref name="Anime News Network">{{cite web | url = https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-07-25/funimation-licenses-speed-racer-noein-anime/.90893 | title = Funimation Licenses Speed Racer, Noein Anime | work = Anime News Network | date = 2014-07-25 | access-date = 2015-07-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150726050332/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-07-25/funimation-licenses-speed-racer-noein-anime/.90893 | archive-date = 2015-07-26 | url-status = live }}</ref> Funimation gave ''Speed Racer'' two separate home video releases: a standard release for the English version on May 30, 2017, and a collector's edition for the Japanese version with English subtitles on November 7, 2017, the first such North American release.

==Development==

===Names===
{{Unreferenced section|date= March 2014}}
The large red M on the hood of the Mach 5, as well as on Gō's helmet, is the emblem of Mifune Motors, the family business, and an homage to Japanese film star [[Toshiro Mifune]]. In North America, it was assumed to stand for Mach 5, and in the Latin American version for Meteoro. His given name, Gō, is a [[Japanese language|Japanese]] [[homophone]] for the number 5 (the number on his race car), which is also represented by the yellow letter G embroidered on his short-sleeve blue shirt. The tradition of symbolism on characters' shirts was also used on Michi (Trixie) and Sabu (Sparky), who had the letter "M" and "S" on their shirts, respectively.

===Audience===
The overall purpose of the anime was to please a growing fan base worldwide with exciting stories that involved facing adversity on the race track and beyond.<ref>"[http://maxpages.com/speedracer/Characters A Brief Description of the Racer Family/Go Team]." ''The Speed Zone''. 29 November 2002. 19 October 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618100014/http://maxpages.com/speedracer/Characters |date=June 18, 2006 }}</ref> Review of the episodes in the ''Speed Racer: Collector's Edition'' of Japanese and English-language episodes reveals frequent changes to the soundtrack (dialogue and the addition of an off-screen narrator) but very little editing of the image-track. Most significantly, the names of villains are often changed to be more cartoony, e.g. Professor Anarchy in episode 31 ("Lightning-Quick Ninja Cars" in Japanese, "Gang of Assassins" in English).

==Characters==
{{original research|section|date=January 2025}}

===Racer family===
'''Speed Racer / {{Nihongo|Gō Mifune|三船 剛|Mifune Gō}}'''
:{{animevoices|[[Katsuji Mori]]|[[Peter Fernandez]]}}
[[File:Speed Racer Family.jpg|198px|thumb|right|From left to right: Chim-Chim (Sanpei), Pops (Daisuke Mifune), Mom (Aya Mifune), Spritle (Kurio Mifune), Speed (Go Mifune), and Trixie (Michi Shimura) in the Mach 5]]
:The [[protagonist]] of both the anime and the manga is Speed Racer, originally Gō Mifune.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/works/macha_gogogo/chara.html |title=マッハGoGoGo キャラクター |date=2008-09-26 |access-date=2016-01-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926070545/http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/works/macha_gogogo/chara.html |archive-date=September 26, 2008 }}</ref> He is known for his love of racing and valuing his family. He drives the Mach 5 (as well as other cars, such as the Mach 6 in the movie) and always manages to wind up in extreme danger with either his younger brother or his girlfriend Trixie. Speed is shown to miss his older brother, Rex (secretly disguised as Racer X), in both versions. He is portrayed by [[Emile Hirsch]] in the 2008 film, while his younger self is portrayed by Nicholas Elia.

:Off the track, he wears a blue shirt with an orange "G" (standing for his Japanese first name, Gō) with a white collar, a red racing bandanna around his neck, white pants, red socks, brown loafers, and yellow gloves. He is 18 years old, has a brown, almost black, [[pompadour (hairstyle)|pompadour]], and his eyes are brown (in the anime version, they are blue). In racing, he sports a white open-face helmet with an M (representing Mifune Motors) on top. In the anime, on special occasions, Speed wears a red [[blazer]] with a yellow "G" embroidered on it. In the live-action film, he wears a white [[leather jacket|leather racing jacket]] unzipped over his classic outfit. He wears his classic outfit (without the embroidered "G") in the first half of the Casa Cristo 5000. To strengthen the character's back-story continuity between Speed and his older brother Rex, Speed's red socks were considered "lucky socks".{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

'''Spritle Racer / {{Nihongo|Kurio Mifune|三船 くりお|Mifune Kurio}} and {{Nihongo|Chim-Chim|三平|Sanpei}}'''
:{{animevoices|[[Junko Hori]] (Spritle), [[Hiroshi Ohtake]] (Chim-Chim)|[[Corinne Orr]] (Spritle), [[Jack Grimes (actor)|Jack Grimes]] (Chim-Chim)}}
:Speed Racer has a younger brother named Spritle (''Kurio Mifune'' in the Japanese original). Spritle has a pet [[chimpanzee]], who responded to the name of Chim-Chim in the American version (Sanpei in the Japanese original). Their rebellious attitudes often lead them to trouble. Often in Speed's way, their mischief somehow aids Speed away from danger. Spritle and Chim-Chim dress in identical jumpsuits and striped hats and often perform identical physical actions. They both have an extreme appetite for candy, and they are usually bribed with dessert or other presents. Spritle and Chim-Chim often use a [[slingshot]] to combat any threats that come to both themselves and/or Speed. {{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

:According [[Peter Fernandez]]'s introduction in the American release of the ''Mach GoGoGo'' manga, Spritle got his name for being an energetic "sprite." Chim-Chim got his name because he was considered a chimpanzee. In the live-action film, they are portrayed faithfully to their characterizations in both the anime and manga. Spritle was portrayed by [[Paulie Litt]] in the film.

'''Pops Racer / {{Nihongo|Daisuke Mifune|三船 大介|Mifune Daisuke}}'''
:{{animevoices|[[Teiji Ōmiya]]|[[Jack Curtis (voice actor)|Jack Curtis]]}}
:Speed's father, Pops, (Daisuke Mifune) is a former wrestler-turned race car owner and builder. After quitting his job in a corporate car manufacturing company, he founded his own company, '''Mifune Motors'''. (In America, the company was changed to '''Racer Motors'''.) He is portrayed as a hothead who is overprotective of his family. His eldest son, Rex, ran away (although he would return as Racer X). In addition to [[Spritle]] and [[Chim-Chim]], Pops' attitude is a running gag in the anime series as well as the live-action film. Overweight, he wears an athletic red shirt and a beige mechanic's cap. Despite his build, Pops is nearly unmatched in combat, as he was once a champion heavyweight wrestler. His design skills allow him to create powerful engines, especially his (in the film) prized "Mach" Series, giving the car the ability to travel at high speeds while sustaining maximum performance. He is portrayed by actor [[John Goodman]] in the 2008 film.

'''Mom Racer / {{Nihongo|Aya Mifune|三船 アヤ|Mifune Aya}}'''
:{{animevoices|[[Ryōko Kinomiya]]|[[Corinne Orr]]}}
:Speed's mother, Mom Racer (originally Aya Mifune), is a side character in the series. She rarely appears in the anime or manga, having limited dialogue, and many episodes of the anime did not feature her at all. In the live-action film, however, she is portrayed by [[Susan Sarandon]] as an encouraging parental figure.

'''{{Nihongo|Racer X (The Masked Racer)|覆面 レーサー|Fukumen Rēsā}} / Rex Racer / {{Nihongo|Kenichi Mifune|三船健一|Mifune Ken'ichi}}'''
:{{animevoices|[[Kinya Aikawa]]|[[Peter Fernandez]]}}
[[File:Racer X promotional image.jpg|thumb|130px|Racer X]]
:The enigmatic Racer X (Fukumen Racer in the Japanese version) is a frequent recurring character, driving car number 9, the "Shooting Star". Racer X is a mysterious, selfless, sympathetic, and often brooding [[mercenary|soldier of fortune]] whose [[secret identity]] is that of Rex Racer (Kenichi Mifune in Japan), Speed's older brother. Six years prior, Rex had a falling out with Pops after wrecking a race car that Pops had built. Pops had told Rex prior to the race that he was not prepared to compete at the professional racing level. With less than one lap to go, Rex was leading and cruising toward victory, but lost control of the car, wrecking it. Pops exploded with anger and berated Rex, and in response, Rex exiled himself, vowing to become the world's greatest race car driver. In both ''Speed Racer X'' and in the 2008 movie, Rex is thought to have died in that accident. In the film, he is portrayed by [[Matthew Fox]], while his younger self is portrayed by [[Scott Porter]].

:Pops and Speed always acknowledged that Racer X was the superior driver and the greatest driver that they had ever seen; however, Speed still vowed to defeat Racer X. In the anime, Speed was often suspicious of Racer X's identity and motives because Racer X would sacrifice winning races to protect Speed from drivers who tried to harm him. The assistance from Racer X nearly always led to Speed winning races, while Racer X came in second place. Racer X always left the scene unnoticed, receding into his secret life.

===Supporting characters===
{{Unreferenced section|date= March 2014}}
'''Trixie / {{Nihongo|Michi Shimura|志村 美智|Shimura Michi}}'''
:{{animevoices|Yoshiko Matsuo (eps. 1–4), [[Michiko Nomura]] (eps. 5–52)|[[Corinne Orr]] }}
: Trixie, or Michi Shimura (named after actor [[Takashi Shimura]], who collaborated with [[Toshiro Mifune]] on several films), is Speed's girlfriend. The "M" adorning her blouse stands for Michi. Trixie often flies around in a helicopter during a race, acting as Speed's spotter, a function she also serves in the live-action film during the Casa Cristo 5000. In the manga, it is mentioned that her father is the president of Shimura Aviation, which explains why she has her own helicopter. To add comic relief in the anime, Trixie becomes jealous if Speed pays too much attention to another girl or if she feels ignored. In the 2008 live-action film, she is portrayed by actress [[Christina Ricci]], while her younger self was played by [[Ariel Winter]]. She had an auburn [[bob cut]] with [[Bangs (hair)|bangs]]; in the anime, her hair was dark brunette.

:Unlike most female characters in cartoons at that time,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.animefeminist.com/history-ahead-pack-trixie-speed-racer-broke-gender-barriers/ | title=Ahead of the Pack: How Trixie in Speed Racer broke gender barriers | date=28 April 2017 }}</ref> Trixie is not portrayed as a helpless perpetual victim. In addition to frequently providing helicopter backup, Trixie often proves herself the equal of Speed when forced into physical altercations. While Trixie has been captured on occasion by the villains, she refuses to cower or plead for her release, more often giving the bad guy a serious tongue-lashing until she is either rescued or escapes on her own. On some occasions, Trixie has even been the one to rescue Speed or other male characters from their predicaments. In the spin-off ''Speed Racer: The Next Generation'', she is assumed to be the mother of X and Speed Jr.

:Casually, Trixie wears a pink blouse with the aforementioned "M" on her left side. She also wears red pants. In racing events, she wears a white long-sleeve shirt underneath pink [[overalls]], which also have the embroidered "M". During races, she also wears a pink [[cap]] with [[goggles|racing goggles]]. On special occasions, Trixie wears a blue hat and dress.

'''{{Nihongo|Sparky|サブ|Sabu}}'''
:{{animevoices|[[Kei Tomiyama]]|[[Jack Grimes (voice actor)|Jack Grimes]]}}
:Other regular characters included Sparky, whose full name in the movie and in ''Speed Racer: The Next Generation'' is Wilson Sparkolemew (in the manga and anime, he is only called Sparky). In the Japanese original, he was Sabu, and he was Bujía in the Latin American version. He is the company mechanic, a quirky young man who is a best friend of Speed and knows everything about cars. In the live-action movie, he is portrayed as older than Speed, but is still his close friend. He wears a yellow shirt bearing the letter S. He is portrayed by actor [[Kick Gurry]] in the live-action film. He makes a cameo in ''Speed Racer: The Next Generation''.

'''The Car Acrobatic Team'''
:The Car Acrobatic Team (or Car Acrobats) is one of the original set of characters appearing in both the manga and anime. The 16 racers' uniforms are embroidered with a letter from the [[English alphabet]]. All of the cars in the team (automobiles numbered 11 through 26), except for number 11, look and act the same. The cars sprout wings from both sides, making them capable of jumping large gaps and gorges. The most notable of the team are Captain Terror and Snake Oiler (the latter being a character exclusive to the anime).

:'''Captain Terror''', the leader of the Car Acrobatic Team, is shown as an arrogant driver in the manga, sabotaging races for his own benefit. His arrogance gets the best of him, and he gets severely injured in an explosion after not heeding Speed's warning about his car leaking oil. He has a "Z" embroidered on his racing uniform, a face of skeletal features, and a lone feather atop his helmet. He drives the number 11 car, the only car different in appearance to the rest of the Car Acrobatic team.

:In the anime, Captain Terror's character exists, but many of his appearances are played by a new character, '''Snake Oiler'''. He replaces Captain Terror in terms of hotheaded attitude. Embroidered with an "S" on his uniform and tinted visor on his striped helmet, Snake Oiler drives the number 12 car, similar in appearance to the other cars in the Car Acrobatic Team. The role Captain Terror had in the manga was lifted onto the Snake Oiler character; therefore, Captain Terror's role in the Alpine Race (and injuries from a crash related to an oil leak) was replaced by Snake. Although Snake did not exist in the original manga, he was notable in the West due to his appearance in the anime. Snake Oiler's name and acrobatic skills are an homage to Haro Bora.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://snakeoiler.com/index.php?file=haro-connection |title=SnakeOiler.com |website=SnakeOiler.com |access-date=2016-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203233036/http://snakeoiler.com/index.php?file=haro-connection |archive-date=2016-02-03 |url-status=live }}</ref>

:In the live-action movie, Snake has completely changed in appearance. Since the Car Acrobatic Team didn't exist in the film, he is instead the leader of his own racing team, named "Hydra-Cell". He wears large sunglasses and sports a black pompadour. His racing uniform is made entirely of snake skin (complete with a yellow snake on his helmet), and his car is completely orange. Despite the change in appearance, Snake's car number and attitude are still intact in the film. He is portrayed by [[Christian Oliver]].

:In the next-to-last episode of the original series, the Car Acrobatic Team and Speed are tricked into racing against each other in a grudge race by a terrorist organization hoping to use the race as a means to kill Speed and Racer X. After the two sides learn of the deception (which involved planting time bombs in the Car Acrobatic Team's cars), they agree to a truce in order to foil the plan. The Car Acrobatic Team park their cars around the terrorists' secret headquarters, and the explosion destroys the building and kills the leaders. After that, Speed and Captain Terror part amicably, with Terror wishing Speed the best of luck next time they meet. Snake Oiler does not appear in the episode.

:In ''Speed Racer: The Next Generation'', Zile Zazic was seen wearing a racing outfit similar to Captain Terror's during the "Comet Run" episodes, implying that Zile was Captain Terror. Stan, Zile's main henchman, also noted that Speed Racer had raced against Zile's racing team at one point.

==Vehicles==
{{Unreferenced section|date= March 2014}}
Many of the show's cars have special abilities in the series. *Note: The names of the cars that have appeared in both the manga and the original anime have been fitted with ''Italics''.

===The ''Mach 5''===
{{Main|Mach Five (Speed Racer)}}
[[File:Mach 5 profile.jpg|thumb|Side view of the Mach 5]]
The Mach 5, Speed Racer's car ("Mahha Gō," or "Mahha," in the Japanese version), is a technological marvel, containing useful pieces of equipment. Gō Mifune/Speed Racer easily deployed these gadgets by pressing buttons marked "A" through "G" on the steering wheel hub (although there are buttons on the steering wheel in the manga, the letter designations are exclusive to the anime and the 2008 live action film). This uniquely designed car, built with a sleek [[Coke bottle styling|Coke bottle bodystyle]], has a white exterior with a large "M" on its hood, the logo for the family business, Mifune Motors (changed to Pops Motors in the anime and Racer Motors in the live action film). The two-seat car had a mostly red-colored interior. The number 5 is emblazoned on both side doors of the car. In the manga and anime, this is the car's racing number; in the film, it is because it is the fifth car built in Pops' "Mach" series of racing vehicles. Although technically inferior to other racing vehicles such as the Mammoth Car and the GRX, the Mach 5 manages to win most races because of Speed's superior driving skills.

The Mach 5 has been stolen from Speed a few times, once when Cornpone Blotch took the car to add it to his car collection in the "Girl Daredevil" saga. However, Speed always gets it back at the end of the episode. At one point, the car was replicated, functions and all, by Dr. Nightcall. However, this replica included other new abilities that inspired later functions of the car in remakes of the show, one of which were the Aero-Jacks, used as a replacement for the Auto Jacks in ''[[Speed Racer X]]''. In manga continuity, the Mach 5 was destroyed and rebuilt. See ''Manga and Anime Differences'' for more information on the Mach 5's manga continuity.

In both American comic and movie continuity, Pops is portrayed as having built a "Mach" Series consisting of other variants, such as the Mach 4 and Mach 6, in addition to Rex Racer's Mach 1 and the Mach 5.

===The ''Shooting Star''===
[[File:Racer X and the Shootin' Star.jpg|198px|thumb|right|The Mysterious Racer X and his vehicle, ''the Shooting Star'']]
The Shooting Star is [[Racer X (Speed Racer character)|Racer X]]'s car, colored bright yellow with a black front bumper and numbered 9 on the hood and sides. The car's engine is located in the back, and it is a very agile machine, often displaying abilities akin to and even above those of the [[Mach Five (Speed Racer)|Mach Five]]. Many of its high-tech features allowed Racer X to keep an eye on Speed Racer, who is his younger brother.

In later comics written by [[Tommy Yune]], Rex acquires the car that he names the "Shooting Star" from Prince Kabala of Kapetapek. During his time training with the royal leader, Rex is informed that he is the ninth student of Kabala, hence the number 9. Rex also builds other cars numbered 9 with similar paint schemes and names them with variants like the "Falling Star."

In the 2008 film adaptation, the car makes an appearance but is not named. The car was the only car built in addition to the Mach Five for the movie, and it features weapons like machine guns mounted above the cockpit and under the chassis. In addition to this car, Racer X also drives a car built for the competitions in the film, a T180. This car was titled the "Augury" in the film's video game counterpart. Like Racer X's unnamed street car, it features a number 9 and has the black and yellow color scheme, with a large black "X" on the front bumper. The T180 only makes one appearance in the film, when Racer X competes to protect Speed in the Fuji race after he has rejected Royalton's offer.

===The Mammoth Car===
Appearing only in the anime, it is supposedly the largest racing vehicle in the world. Similar in design to a [[road train]], the Mammoth Car is mostly red and is built by ''Speed Racer'' villain Cruncher Block. The Mammoth Car was built almost entirely of $50,000,000 in stolen gold bars. This amount of gold, however, would actually occupy only 74 cubic feet, based on the then price of gold of $35 per ounce. By entering it in "The No Limit World Race", Cruncher wished to smuggle the gold out of the country. The Mammoth Car's main engine has {{convert|7500|hp}}. Each wheel also has an engine with {{convert|1500|hp}}, giving it a total of {{convert|30000|hp}}. It can travel at {{convert|500|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}, on any kind of road or terrain. It makes screeching sounds reminiscent of Godzilla. It has magnetic brakes and is over {{convert|200|yd}} long, making the Mammoth Car one of the most interesting cars in the series. It was destroyed after it crashed into an oil refinery and melted into its original gold form by the intense heat.

The Mammoth Car makes a small cameo in the 2008 film in the scene where Cruncher Block interrogates Taejo Togokhan (a character created for the movie) after he resists Royalton Industries in the race-fixing business. They were interrupted by Racer X, who battles the Mammoth and saves Taejo. The Mammoth Car in this movie is shown to have view ports for its drivers to shoot out of, just like in the original series, and it is shown to fire missiles from its grill.

The Mammoth Car also makes an appearance along with Flash Marker Jr.'s X3 in ''Speed Racer: The Next Generation'' in the second and third episodes of "The Fast Track" saga, as an enemy program of the show's virtual racing track. Although the Mammoth Car is rendered in CGI after its original anime design, the car is missing its grill and many other details that had appeared in the original anime. The Mammoth Car in this episode makes the same sound as it did in the anime. It pays homage to the original series by using its signature attack of surrounding and circling a rival.

===The ''Melange'' and the ''X3''===
The Melange was a roofless racing car numbered with a "3," driven by Flash Marker. When investigating the mysterious car, Speed recalls that the name Melange was the name of [[Napoleon]]'s horse, who saved his life several times in battles. (The name was actually [[Marengo (horse)|Marengo]] but became Melange due to an erroneous transliteration from Japanese to English.) When Speed recalls his knowledge of French history, a rendition of [[Jacques-Louis David]]'s painting of ''[[Napoleon Crossing the Alps]]'', which depicts Napoleon riding Marengo, is drawn in the episode. Pops Racer, however, identified the name "Melange" as a car driven 15 years earlier by a young driver named Flash Marker. The Melange's chassis was colored with two shades of purple and had an exposed engine on its hood. During the "Race at Danger Pass", the Melange, along with Marker, was finally destroyed in a crash caused by the Three Roses Club.

Since then, Flash's son, Flash Marker Jr., had plotted revenge on the Three Roses Club by building a car with a sleek, black body marked "X3." The car was driven through remote control, and a robot dummy was placed in the driver's seat, broadcasting the phrases "Melange still races" and "Melange is alive" to haunt the Three Roses Club. The X3 was used primarily to deliberately crash into and kill those affiliated with the Three Roses Club, leaving behind a card marked X3 to taunt the remaining members. Speed, who had volunteered to help the police, was chasing down the X3 when it narrowly avoided colliding with a train, leaving the robot dummy hanging over the [[level crossing]]'s [[Boom barrier|boom gate]].

Speed noticed its robot "driver" and brought it back to the police for further investigation. Meanwhile, Flash Marker Jr. secretly brought back the damaged car and replaced its body with a replica of the original Melange, placing it over the X3 chassis in his secret underground car factory, to prepare for the next Race at Danger Pass. Since it is the same car with the chassis of the Melange, the car can still be controlled remotely. While the new Melange is still numbered "3", it has the ability to be changed through remote control to X3, which makes the drivers of the Three Roses Club realize that the "new Melange" is actually the X3. The car, controlled by Flash Jr. in his helicopter, was used to fatally crash into two Three Roses drivers before it was destroyed when it lost control and crashed into the final member of the Three Roses Club.

The first episode has been translated into Armenian, using the Western Armenian dialect.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/um6cI2inTIs Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210905043857/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um6cI2inTIs&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um6cI2inTIs&t=0s|title=Արագ Մրցող Speed Racer in Armenian 教育と娯楽の目的で純粋に Մրցարշավորդ アルメニア語|website=[[YouTube]]|date=25 June 2021 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===The GRX===
The GRX was technically an engine, but it has become more identified with the gold-colored car that housed the engine in the series episode "The Fastest Car on Earth." The engine was designed by Ben Cranem, and it was responsible for the crashes and deaths of four test drivers and its inventor due to the impossible speeds it could attain. Cranem died, and the GRX engine was buried with him, but Oriana Flub and her men exhumed the engine and placed it into the car with a sleek, golden, and markless body.

Oriana convinced Speed to test drive the car with the GRX, and Speed was sprayed with a special serum known as the V-gas to artificially sharpen his reflexes. The V-gas causes its driver to become extremely thirsty, and if the driver consumed any compound containing water, they would develop a strong phobia of speed. The car got a new driver, Cranem's son, Curly. Curly was given the V-gas and soon experienced its side effects. The GRX and its engine were destroyed when he fatally crashed the car due to Curly drinking water during a pit stop.

The GRX episodes mark one of the few continuity errors introduced by the English dubbing. In the first episode the GRX's speedometer with a maximum speed of {{Convert|400|km/h|mph}} on it is shown in the beginning of the episode, however, due to a continuity error in the Japanese animation, as Speed drives it, the speedometer tops out at {{Convert|440|km/h|mph}} This would make the GRX ''slower'' than the Mammoth Car by the English dialogue.

In the 2008 film adaptation, the name makes an appearance as a car developed by Royalton Industries and driven by Jack "Cannonball" Taylor. The car retains none of the backstory from its anime counterpart. It is numbered 66 and colored purple and gold and was transformed from a two-seater to a single-seater. In the Grand Prix race that closes the film, the GRX is the main competitor for Speed in the Mach 6 and features a secret weapon called a "spear-hook" that is illegal in professional racing. After Taylor deploys the device against Speed during the Grand Prix, Speed uses the Mach 6's auto-jacks to flip the cars and reveal the hook to the track cameras, automatically disqualifying Taylor and aiding the case built by Inspector Detector against Royalton.

==Speed Racer Enterprises==
{{Unreferenced section|date= March 2017}}
The show's mainstream success in the United States spawned an ongoing ''Speed Racer'' franchise. This ranged from comics, video releases, merchandise, a live-action film, and newer series either rebooting or continuing the original series {{citation needed|date= November 2021}}. The franchise began in the early 1990s when a company, Speed Racer Enterprises, acquired rights to the original series.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GTB0DwAAQBAJ&dq=speed+racer+enterprises+1990s&pg=PT441|title=Mechademia 9: Origins|first=Frenchy|last=Lunning|date=November 15, 2014|publisher=U of Minnesota Press|isbn=9781452943664|via=Google Books}}</ref> At the time when the series was originally released, very little merchandise was released in the United States. However, during the series' re-airing during the 1990s, Speed Racer Enterprises was responsible for the creation of actual ''Speed Racer'' merchandise, ranging from small collectible die-cast cars to action figures to home video releases of episodes from the original series. Speed Racer Enterprises was also involved in creating original American takes on the Japanese series, such as ''The New Adventures of Speed Racer'' and ''Speed Racer: The Next Generation''.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

Due to Speed Racer Enterprises, the original 1967 series made a comeback through reruns on MTV, broadcast in the early morning hours.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} In 1993, the series was rebroadcast in syndication concurrently with a new American-created remake.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} Since all the rights were then under Speed Racer Enterprises, all references to the original rights holder, Trans-Lux, were removed.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} Therefore, the opening sequence included an entirely recreated logo, which most people are familiar with today; however when Speed Racer Enterprises authorized [[Volkswagen]] to use Speed Racer in a July 1996 [[Volkswagen GTI|GTI]] commercial, [[J.J. Sedelmaier]] faithfully replicated the look of the original episode title cards, including the original logo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awn.com/mag/issue2.8/2.8pages/2.8kenyonsedel.html |title=Speed Racer Lives Again: An Interview With J.J. Sedelmaier |website=Awn.com |access-date=2016-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210303/http://www.awn.com/mag/issue2.8/2.8pages/2.8kenyonsedel.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awn.com/mag/issue2.8/2.8quicktimes/speedracer.mov |title=Sound file |website=Awn.com |access-date=2016-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304233727/http://www.awn.com/mag/issue2.8/2.8quicktimes/speedracer.mov |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2002, [[DIC Entertainment]] acquired worldwide entertainment rights for the series, consisting of broadcast, merchandising and licensing.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kidscreen.com/2002/10/01/ppdbriefs-20021001/ | title=News in Brief }}</ref>

This is the version that later aired on the Cartoon Network in the late afternoon (and later on in late night/overnight) programming, and it was also the version of the series that was first released on Region 1 DVD.

In December 2013, Tatsunoko gained all rights to the ''Speed Racer'' franchise, retroactively as to May 2011, as part of a settlement of lawsuits between Speed Racer Enterprises and the animation studio. Tatsunoko had claimed that SRE had exceeded its contractual rights in continuing to license the property after 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-04/speed-racer-rights-revert-to-tatsunoko-with-lawsuit-settled |title=Speed Racer Rights Revert to Tatsunoko With Lawsuit Settled&nbsp;– News |publisher=Anime News Network |access-date=2016-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308081524/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-04/speed-racer-rights-revert-to-tatsunoko-with-lawsuit-settled |archive-date=2016-03-08 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="Speed Racer" Licensing Lawsuits Settled|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/01/02/speed-racer-licensing-lawsuits-settled|website=[[Crunchyroll]]|date=January 3, 2014|access-date=January 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103031630/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/01/02/speed-racer-licensing-lawsuits-settled|archive-date=January 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

===American comic adaptations===
[[NOW Comics]] launched an American ''Speed Racer'' comic book series in 1987.<ref>[https://www.comics.org/series/17137/ "Speed Racer: Now (1987 series),"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413145145/http://www.comics.org/series/17137/ |date=2016-04-13 }} Grand Comics Database. Accessed Jan. 4, 2020.</ref> The series became a hit with the high production values of airbrush artist [[Ken Steacy]]. The comics continued for 38 issues and included a [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] ''Racer X'' series and crossovers.<ref>[https://www.comics.org/series/19456/ "Racer X: Now (1988 series),"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119065910/http://www.comics.org/series/19456/ |date=2013-01-19 }} Grand Comics Database. Accessed Jan, 4, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.comics.org/series/14389/ "Racer X: Now (1989 series),"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119073053/http://www.comics.org/series/14389/ |date=2013-01-19 }} Grand Comics Database. Accessed Jan, 4, 2020.</ref> A miniseries adapting ''The New Adventures of Speed Racer'' was also released, which included art by [[Oscar González Loyo]].<ref>[https://www.comics.org/series/17136/ "The New Adventures of Speed Racer (Now, 1993 series),"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203050413/http://www.comics.org/series/17136/ |date=2013-12-03 }} Grand Comics Database. Accessed Jan, 4, 2020.</ref> In 1993, NOW Comics and [[Antarctic Press]] also published a four-issue [[intercompany crossover]] between Speed Racer and the characters of [[Ben Dunn]]'s ''[[Ninja High School]]''.<ref>[https://www.comics.org/series/15726/ "Speed Racer Featuring Ninja High School,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203050403/http://www.comics.org/series/15726/ |date=2013-12-03 }} Grand Comics Database. Accessed Jan. 4, 2020.</ref>

In 1999, [[DC Comics]]/[[Wildstorm Productions]] released a new ''Speed Racer'' limited series, which became the #1 pick of industry publication ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'' magazine.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} The manga style of writer/artist [[Tommy Yune]] recaptured the look of the original anime, which was soon followed by an industry-wide revival of comic adaptations of other classic animated series.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} The limited series was collected as the [[trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] ''Speed Racer: Born to Race'' {{ISBN|1-56389-649-4}},<ref>[https://www.comics.org/issue/356786/ "Speed Racer: Born to Race, DC (2000 series),"] Grand Comics Database. Accessed Jan. 4, 2020.</ref> and a ''Racer X'' limited series featuring the artwork of [[China|Chinese]] manga artist [[Jo Chen]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Racer X|author=Wright, Benjamin|publisher=Mania: Beyond Entertainment|url=http://www.mania.com/racer-x_article_23827.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120930000011/http://www.mania.com/racer-x_article_23827.html | archive-date=September 30, 2012 | date=September 30, 2012}}</ref>

In 2008, [[IDW Productions]] re-released the Wildstorm series as ''Speed Racer/Racer X: The Origins Collection'',{{citation needed|date= March 2014|reason=original citation was only the ISBN number:978-160010211-0}} and previously published issues from NOW Comics as ''Speed Racer Vol. 1–5''. A new limited series, ''Speed Racer: Chronicles of the Racer'', was also produced.<ref>[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=140985 "''Speed Racer'' #1,"] ''Newsarama'' (27 December 2007).{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=Darkmorpher |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=''Speed Racer: Chronicles of The Racer'' #1 | publisher=Major Spoilers|url= http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/3188.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703145350/http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/3188.htm/ |date=26 March 2008|archive-date=2009-07-03 }}</ref>

[[Seven Seas Entertainment|Seven Seas]] published an adaptation by Dwayne Alexander Smith in 2007 with art by Elmer Damaso.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Manry, Gia |title=Speed Racer Vol. 1 |work=Newtype USA |volume=7 |issue=1 |page=112 |date=January 2008 |issn=1541-4817 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=Cha, Kai-Ming |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/6812-speed-racer-returns.html |title=Speed Racer Returns |work=[[Publishers Weekly]] |date=March 31, 2008 |access-date=October 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014052216/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/6812-speed-racer-returns.html |archive-date=October 14, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2025, [[Mad Cave Studios]] began publishing a new ''Speed Racer'' comic book series written by [[David Pepose]] and illustrated by Davide Tinto. Issue #0 was released on [[Free Comic Book Day]] on May 3, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dodge |first=John |date=Apr 18, 2025 |title=Mad Cave Studios Reimagines a Legendary Anime Series to Launch a New Shared Universe |url=https://www.cbr.com/speed-racer-shared-universe-mad-cave-studios/ |website=CBR |access-date=May 12, 2025}}</ref> The first issue was released on July 30, 2025 to generally positive reviews, with ''Comic Book Round Up'' averaging its critic rating at 9.4/10.<ref>{{citation|title=Speed Racer #1 Reviews (2025)|language=en|website=ComicBookRoundup.com|access-date=2025-08-17|url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/mad-cave-studios/speed-racer-(2025)/1}}</ref>

===Latin American comic adaptation===

Editorial Abril, an [[Argentine]] company established by [[César Civita]], published a Spanish-language comic book in the 1970s.<ref>Oscar Edgardo Vázquez Lucio, ''Historia del humor gráfico y escrito en la Argentina: 1940–1985'' Page 446, Editorial Universitaria de Buenos Aires, 1987, {{ISBN|9789502303468}}</ref> Soon after, his brother, Victor Civita, published a magazine in [[Brazil]] through [[Editora Abril]]. In 2000, Editora Abril published a series by Tommy Yune.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uol.com.br/|title=UOL&nbsp;— O melhor conteúdo|website=www.uol.com.br|access-date=2020-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321081556/https://www.uol.com.br/|archive-date=2020-03-21|url-status=live}}</ref>

===American TV series===
In 1993, ''[[The New Adventures of Speed Racer]]'', an American-produced series, had a much more [[contemporary art]] style.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} It was not a direct continuation of the original series; therefore, it is considered a [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]].<ref name="SciFi Japan">{{cite web|first=James|last=Long|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/05/13/the-aftermath-of-speed/#|work=SciFi Japan|title=The Aftermath of Speed|date=May 13, 2008|access-date=December 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026093239/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/05/13/the-aftermath-of-speed/|archive-date=October 26, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>  While the original series had more realistic themes, such as gang violence and family ties, this series introduced science fiction themes, like robots and mutants. Tatsunoko did not authorize the production of this series,{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}, and it was off the air after only 13 episodes.

For the original series' 40th anniversary in 2006, a [[Adobe Flash|Flash]]-based series of "webisodes" titled ''Speed Racer Lives'' was released.<ref name="Speed Racer Lives">{{cite web|url=http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/8252/launching-from-web|work=[[ICv2]]|publisher=GCO|title=Art Asylum Seeks an Alternative to Costly TV Ads|date=February 20, 2006|access-date=December 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202172151/http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/8252/launching-from-web|archive-date=December 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> This series was depicted as a continuation of the original series, taking place many years after it.<ref name="SciFi Japan" /> The series was made available on the Internet solely to promote a new line of toys made by Art Asylum.<ref name="Speed Racer Lives" />

In 2008, ''[[Speed Racer: The Next Generation]]'', a new series, was released on [[Nicktoons]]. Like ''Speed Racer Lives'', this series was conceived as taking place years after the original. It focuses on the sons of the original Speed Racer. Its premiere coincided with the live-action feature film in May 2008. [[Peter Fernandez]] voices a middle-aged version of Spritle, Speed's younger brother from the original Japanese series. The show's protagonist, also named Speed, and one of Spritle's nephews, is voiced by New Jersey native Kurt Csolak. [[Larry Schwarz]] is the creator of the TV series, which is produced by [[Animation Collective]], the creators of ''[[Kappa Mikey]]'' and ''[[Three Delivery]]''. Like the 1993 remake, this series was not authorized by Tatsunoko.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} Pangea Corporation has been working with Speed Racer Enterprises for over 20 years and has created several new show iterations.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

The original series was also revived on [[MTV]] in 1993. It moved to [[Cartoon Network]] in 1996 and again to its sister network [[Boomerang (TV network)|Boomerang]] until 2005.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

In May 2022, [[Apple TV+]] announced that a live action television series from [[J. J. Abrams]] is in development with his company [[Bad Robot]]. The series will be based on an unproduced script that Abrams had written in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/speed-racer-live-action-tv-series-bad-robot-apple-tv-plus-1235032611/|title='Speed Racer' Live-Action TV Series From Bad Robot Ordered By Apple TV+|website=Deadline|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=May 25, 2022|access-date=May 25, 2022}}</ref>

===''Speed Racer: The Movie'' (1993 film)===
In 1993, the episodes "The Car Hater" and "Race Against the Mammoth Car" were combined into a feature-length film and briefly released in theaters. It was later released on VHS and DVD and has been available on [[Hulu]]. The film also featured old commercials for Bondex ready-mix cementing, [[National Forest Service]] (featuring [[Smokey Bear]]), [[FLIT|Flit]] insecticide spray, and [[Elopak|Pure-Pak]] milk cartons (featuring [[Old King Cole]]), and a bonus cartoon, the [[Colonel Bleep]] episode ''The Treacherous Pirate''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/anime/speed-racer-and-me-5602.html | title=Speed Racer and Me | date=7 May 2008 }}</ref>

===Live-action film===
{{Main|Speed Racer (film)}}

[[The Wachowskis]] wrote and directed a live-action adaptation of ''Speed Racer'', released on May 9, 2008.<ref>[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2007-03-10/speed-racer-may-9-2008 Speed Racer May 9, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707145215/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2007-03-10/speed-racer-may-9-2008 |date=July 7, 2011 }} Anime News Network&nbsp;– 10 March 2007</ref> It was poorly received by most critics and was a [[Box-office bomb|box office failure]], making just under $93 million worldwide against a production budget of at least $120 million (before prints and advertising).<ref>[https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=speedracer.htm Listing for ''Speed Racer''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518061057/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=speedracer.htm |date=2014-05-18 }} at [[Box Office Mojo]]</ref>

===One-act play===
In 1994,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-comic-con-san-diego-timeline-htmlstory.html|title=Timeline: Downey Jr. dances, Arnold surprises, Spider-Man rushes the stage: Every year of Comic-Con in one giant timeline|date=July 8, 2015|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302142029/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-comic-con-san-diego-timeline-htmlstory.html|archive-date=March 2, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Pangea Corporation wrote and produced a one-act play titled ''Spridle: A One Man Show'' [sic],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedracer.com/press/images/1manshow.jpg |title=Archived copy |website=www.speedracer.com |access-date=19 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980526121625fw_/http://www.speedracer.com/press/images/1manshow.jpg |archive-date=26 May 1998 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which debuted at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] and was a huge success.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/the-guide-to-the-guide-to-comics-wizard-37-september-1994/|title=The Guide to the Guide to Comics&nbsp;— WIZARD #37 (September 1994)|date=January 11, 2016|website=CBR|access-date=March 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134421/https://www.cbr.com/the-guide-to-the-guide-to-comics-wizard-37-september-1994/|archive-date=August 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> It chronicled what happened to all the Speed Racer characters after the show was canceled, following the concept  that the characters were real and had private lives. Spritle, Speed's younger brother, relates the tell-all confessional piece as a disgruntled grown-up who is now sour that his career floundered after his celebrity status on the show. It was cited by [[Wizard (magazine)|''Wizard'']] magazine as one of the top 10 best sessions at [[San Diego Comic-Con|Comic-Con]] 1994. The show was written by [[John Schulte]] and [[John Besmehn]], produced, directed, and moderated by Cheryl Ann Wong.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

===Other appearances===
Sequences from the original TV show were used for the entirety of [[Ghostface Killah]]'s music video for "[[Daytona 500 (song)|Daytona 500]]".

===Merchandise===

====Toys====
The first major toy line of Speed Racer was developed in 1992 by Pangea Corporation for Ace Novelty Toy Company. Products focused on both the classic Speed Racer anime program from Tatsunoko, plus a whole new line based on the [[Fred Wolf (animator)|Fred Wolf]] series, ''The New Adventures of Speed Racer.''{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} [[Lego]] released new [[Lego Speed Racer|Speed Racer construction sets]] to coincide with the release of the ''Speed Racer'' film. These include a 242 piece Speed and Snake Oiler set, a 237 piece Racer X and Taejo Togokhan set, a 367 piece Racer X and Cruncher Block set, and a 595 piece Grand Prix set, which includes Trixie, Pops, Speed, Spritle, Chim-Chim, 2 racers, and a racing announcer.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} [[Mattel]] had the master toy license for the 2008 ''Speed Racer'' film, including [[action figure]]s, related vehicles, and accessories. Mattel's [[Hot Wheels]] division produced miniature replicas of the Mach 5 called the Second Wind, and their [[Barbie]] Collector division released a collector doll set featuring Trixie and Speed as they appeared in the film. Also, a Mattel product called UB FunKeys got a new patch, which included a Speed Racer zone.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

[[Jada Toys]] held the rights to produce die-cast replicas of the Mach 5 from the original animated series.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

Playing Mantis released a wide range of the Speed Racer die-cast miniatures, including replicas of the villains' cars and mini-dioramas under their "Johnny Lightning" line.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} A limited-edition release of the Mach Four from the Wildstorm comic series remains one of the hardest-to-find collectibles to this day.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} In 1998, Playing Mantis acquired the rights to the "[[Captain Action]]" action figure line, a vintage line about a crusading adventurer who disguises himself as famous superheroes. Playing Mantis had planned to produce new costumes of Speed Racer, Racer X, and Captain Terror for the revamp of the line, but they were never produced. Control art for the Speed Racer costume appears on the packaging of some figures, and pictures of the prototypes are available online.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

Resaurus produced two series of five-inch (127&nbsp;mm) action figures, rich with articulation and accessories, as well as a full-sized Mach V in 1999. A third series of figures and a full-sized Shooting Star were planned, but the line folded before this could happen.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} [[Toynami]] is currently releasing a large-scale version of the Speed Racer vehicles, including a Mach Five playset complete with all of its gadgets.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} The company [[Polar Lights]] is currently manufacturing two 1/25-scale (according to the box) model kits in standard "glue" and snap-together variations (though the scale of the model inside is closer to 1/32). These can be built with or without the waterproof bubble canopy at the modeler's discretion. The kits feature a homing robot and separate jacks, and a rear engine (possibly a tip to NOW comics, which illustrated the engine in the rear).{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

RC ERTL has produced Speed Racer's Mach 5 in 1:18 Die Cast Form with many features of the animated car, including pop out saw blades, ion jacks, opening doors, hood, and trunk. It includes Spritle Racer and Chim-Chim figures. Special variants were made with decals celebrating Racer X and other characters from the series as part of the 35th Anniversary Edition in 2001. A similar die-cast version of Racer X's Shooting Star was produced as well. It has now been retired from production and is a sought-after collectible.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

[[Art Asylum]] made a line of toys consisting primarily of their block-figure [[Minimates]] in 2006.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

====Video games====
In 1992, [[Accolade, Inc.|Accolade]] published ''[[Speed Racer in The Challenge of Racer X]]'' for [[MS-DOS]]. Two years later, Accolade published ''[[Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures]]'' for [[Super NES]], which was developed by [[Radical Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/Game_Players_Issue_37_February_1994/page/n33/mode/2up |title=Speed Racer in Development |last=Mizell |first=Leslie |magazine=[[Game Players]] |issue=37 |date=February 1994 |pages=32–34}}</ref>

In 1993, [[Pangea Corporation]] created and authored a [[CD-ROM]] title that featured game elements, a video clip creator that allowed players to make a classic Speed Racer mash-up moment, along with other themed interactive content. It was marketed under the name "The Compleat Speed Racer."{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

[[Namco]] released a ''[[Speed Racer (1995 video game)|Speed Racer]]'' [[arcade video game]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite web | title = Speed Racer arcade flyer | url = https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/flyers_video/namco/21005602.jpg | accessdate = 2022-03-14 }}</ref>

''[[Speed Racer (1996 video game)|Speed Racer]]'' was released for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]. It was published in Japan by [[Tomy]] (1996) and in North America by [[Jaleco]] (1998).<ref>{{cite web|first=Ryan|last=Donald |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_02/24_spedrace/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001014224442/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_02/24_spedrace/index.html|title=Speed Racer Comes Ashore|website=[[GameSpot]]|archivedate=October 14, 2000|date=February 24, 1998|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>

A video game based on the [[Speed Racer X|1997 series]], simply titled ''Mach Go Go Go'', was released by [[TOSE]] and Tomy for the [[Game Boy]] (with [[Super Game Boy]] support) in Japan.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

In 2006, a joint production of enterthemonkey.com and blitinteractive.com, titled ''Speed Racer&nbsp;— The Great Plan'', was released as a Web browser game to Shockwave.com. The game has all the original voices, sounds, and Mach 5 controls from the original television show. The game features the operational steering wheel buttons from the original animated series. Each button activates a customized accessory to avoid obstacles and take on rough terrains.<ref>{{Citation|title=Shockwave Games&nbsp;— Speed Racer: Demon On Wheels/The Great Plan|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eBb-rgujR8|language=en|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref>

''[[Speed Racer: The Videogame]]'', a game based on the movie, was released for the [[Wii]], [[Nintendo DS]], and [[PlayStation 2]] platforms. Stars [[Emile Hirsch]] (Speed), [[Christina Ricci]] (Trixie), and [[Matthew Fox (actor)|Matthew Fox]] (Racer X) reprised their roles.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

During an interview with ''[[Siliconera]]'', [[Capcom]] producer Ryota Niitsuma commented that Speed Racer was considered for the roster of ''[[Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars]]'', but since he was purely a race car driver, making him fit in in a fighting game was unfeasible.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/capcom-tried-to-get-samurai-pizza-cats-for-tatsunoko-vs-capcom/|title=Capcom Tried To Get Samurai Pizza Cats For Tatsunoko vs. Capcom |website=[[Siliconera]] |date=January 20, 2010 |access-date=April 29, 2023}}</ref>

====DVD releases====
Artisan Home Entertainment/[[Lionsgate Entertainment]] (through [[Family Home Entertainment]]) released episodes 1 through 11 of the original series in [[DVD]] format in the U.S. and Canada on April 22, 2003. This turned out to be the first in a series of five DVD re-releases of the show. The second volume, containing episodes 12 through 23, went on sale on May 18, 2004. The DVD came in a special package where one could push a button on the cover and the Mach 5's headlights would light up, while a portion of the show's English theme song played.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}} Volumes 1 and 2 were re-released as a two-disc set on April 20, 2010. The third volume came out on May 24, 2005, with the discs packaged in a round metal box made to resemble the steering wheel of the Mach 5. It contains episodes 24 through 36. This volume was later released to promote the live-action film in a standard keep case. {{citation needed|date= March 2014}} Lionsgate Family Entertainment released the fourth volume, which featured episodes 37 through 44, on March 14, 2006; this volume included a die-cast toy Mach 5. The last episode, "Race the Laser Tank", was time-compressed (in other words, sped up), similar to when Cartoon Network aired the series in the mid-1990s. Although nothing was removed from the episode, the higher-pitched voices of the characters and the diminished quality of the episode due to the time compression upset some fans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gospeedracer.homestead.com/files/video.html |title=Homestead &#124; Get a site, Get found. Get customers |website=Gospeedracer.homestead.com |access-date=2016-01-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402035633/http://gospeedracer.homestead.com/files/video.html |archive-date=2015-04-02}}</ref> The fifth and last volume was released on October 31, 2006. This volume included episodes 45 through 52, and for a limited time, it came with a miniature license plate with the inscription, "Go-Speed Racer-Go!"<ref>[http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6222 Speed Racer DVD news: The Checkered Flag Waves For Speed Racer: Lionsgate Announces Vol. 5, Provides Hi-Res Box Art] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303010454/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6222 |date=2007-03-03 }}, TVShowsOnDVD.com</ref>

The entire anime series was released in Australia on April 30, 2008, and in the United States later that year, on October 7. The U.S. release of the entire anime series is a repackaging of all five individually released volumes into a comic book-style box set, in homage to the ''Mach GoGoGo'' manga. In addition, a bonus disc containing special features and an episode of ''Speed Racer: The Next Generation'' is included. These six discs were packaged in an exclusive die-cast casing modeled after the Mach 5.{{citation needed|date= March 2014}}

All previous DVD releases went out of print after Tatsunoko gained worldwide rights to the franchise.

After Funimation garnered the rights, they released the English version on separate DVD and Blu-ray sets on May 30, 2017. On November 7, they released a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Collector's Edition of both the English and Japanese versions, as well as the Japanese version of ''[[Speed Racer X]]'', known as ''Mach Go Go Go: Restart'' on DVD. It has a bust of Speed Racer with sound effects, as well as a key chain and an exclusive interview with the voice actress of Trixie and Spritle, [[Corinne Orr]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.funimation.com/blog/2017/08/12/announced-otakon-2017/|title=Announced at Otakon 2017!&nbsp;– Funimation&nbsp;– Blog!|publisher=Funimation|date=August 12, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813060213/https://www.funimation.com/blog/2017/08/12/announced-otakon-2017/|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2024, it was announced that [[Shout! Studios]] had acquired the distribution rights to the series and the original Japanese series, which was released on digital streaming on June 1, 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://otakuusamagazine.com/classic-speed-racer-anime-hits-digital-this-june-in-english-and-japanese/ | title=Classic Speed Racer Anime Hits Digital This June in English and Japanese | date=May 3, 2024 }}</ref>

== See also ==
* {{Portal inline|1960s}}
* {{Portal inline|Japan}}

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==References==
* Johnson, Glen. [http://home.alphalink.com.au/~roglen/speed.htm "Speed Racer"]. Glen Johnson's 60's Anime. 3 April 2007. 19 October 2007.
* [[Patrick Macias]] and Tomohiro Machiyami. ''Cruising the Anime City: An Outer Guide to Neo Tokyo''. Berkeley, California: Stone Bridge Press, 2004.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180815153443/https://www.speedracergogogo.com/ Speed Racer GoGoGo] (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200220045835/http://www.mxtv.co.jp/mach_gogogo/ ''Mach GoGoGo''] at Tokyo MX (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060444/http://www.dmpbooks.com/gateway.php?id=93&type=1 Official digital manga publishing website]
* {{IMDb title|id=0061300|title=Mach Go Go Go}}

{{Speed Racer}}
{{Hiroshi Sasagawa}}
{{Tatsunoko Production}}
{{Authority control}}

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