(AfroGamers.com) In 1967, the landmark anime Mach GoGoGo. aired in Japan. The one-season series proved popular enough domestically that an English dub was produced and released in the U.S that summer—mere months after it began airing! Known as Speed Racer here in the States, it was one of those super old-school anime series like Gigantor and Astro Boy and tokusatsu series like Godzilla and Ultraman that gave the West a taste of Japan.
Now, I’m going through Speed Racer—as well as Ultraman, Godzilla, and Kamen Rider—on Tubi. Oh yes, it’s all there, folks. It’s been a blast to relive this series after first experiencing it on Cartoon Network in 1996 and later here in there. As far as I remember, I’d never watched Speed Racer start to finish. Sure, I’ve watched it in sequence several times but as far finishing all 52 episodes in order? I’m not certain.
The Episode Set Up of Speed Racer Was Interesting
Going through the first half of the series is very convenient. The first 28 episodes bar for one are a mix of the episodic approach I dislike and the serial approach to series which I love. Mind you, most of Speed Racer is episodic in nature, it just has a lot of two-part episodes in the first half.
That means that while there are the persistent storylines of Speed wanting to be the best racer in the world and his brother Racer X watching over him in dangerous races, you could honestly slot in any adventure in the series out of order and miss nothing.
The only story that has some sense of chronological order involves the Mach 5 Team’s run-ins with the Car Acrobatics Team. I’ll get into the story with them in another piece because these episodes are different in that they’re the only episodes that seem to be revisited in the series.
As for the rest of Speed Racer, you have your intro episode and conclusion episode—usually in some sort of dangerous race. Although, we’ll have to revisit the “Mach 5 vs. Mach 5” episodes which ended on a different note.
Once you get out of the first 28 episodes, the episodes become more standalone adventures with some two-parters sprinkled in. What we’re going to focus on here are the first two episodes. I find them to be some of the best examples of flawless anime introductions. You know, the episodes that let you know who the characters are, what all of this is about, what are the important tools/weapons/skills, and the pace of the series.
Before We Continue: All of he Mach 5 Team Are Powerhouses
Listen, in watching these episodes, I found that everyone but Mom Racer had those hands. Speed was spanking henchmen, Pops is a former wrestler who is spanking henchmen, and Trixie is tossing them easily and can fly a helicopter. Then you Spritle and Chim Chim who can lift rocks the size of their head over their heads and drop them on a henchmen’s head.
Also, Speed’s racing ability? Insane. Everyone else is crashing and driving over the rails—blowing up below. But Speed? A spin out at worst. They are never in any actual danger of losing but I don’t mind it at all.
“The Great Plan” Parts 1 and 2
Without going into the whole story, the first episode introduces 18-year-old racer Speed Racer, his family, girlfriend, and later his main mechanic Sparky. Pops Racer quits his job with a major car manufacturer after disagreement in engine plans. Speed would like to race but his father isn’t a fan of the idea. After finding out about a $5,000 race, Speed decides to enter it anyway to help his father get his independent engine work off the ground.
Again, this is the 1960s—apparently a lot could be done with a couple thousands because some company execs show up in either these episodes or the “Challenge of the Masked Racer” episodes offering thousands for Speed to race for them. I’m talking low thousands before talking bigger money—yet they started basement low—lower than the prize money of the Sword Mountain Race in episodes one and two.
Speaking of side-but-not-supporting characters, the antagonists of this episode are Mr. Van Ruffle, a board member at Pops’ former employer and Ace Deucey, Van Ruffle’s goon. Van Ruffle wants Pops’ engine plans. It’s the focus of the episodes and the cause of much danger and issues with Ace and his gang.
These episodes set up the common enemy of shady-guy-with-a-weird-beard-and-evil-eyes wanting something related to the Mach 5 Team. This could be secrets, Speed Racer himself, or the Mach 5 itself. If it’s none of those, we see Speed and the gang getting involved in some larger plot where a race just so happens to be scheduled with these shenanigans ongoing.
However, my favorite thing in these two episodes comes in episode two where Speed explains the buttons on the Mach 5’s steering wheel and what they do. It made this car seem like a Japanese version of the Aston Martin from the James Bond films of that time. It was introduced in such a cool way in this very fast-moving series—and we would get to see these abilities in action throughout.
Were you a fan of Speed Racer? Does it hold up? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Staff Writer; M. Swift
This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.