I could've included this with the other threads on Speed Racer, but I didn't think this really fit with those.
Yesterday, either in the newspaper, or, in the news features included on my ISP's home page, I read that Viacom's Nickelodeon is going to have a new Speed Racer cartoon series. (Probably due to the interest created by the soon to be released Speed Racer "live action" movie.)
This series is to feature Speed's (and, presumably, now wife Trixie's) who is in training to become a racer like his father, ( and, Uncle Rex-a.k.a. the part time racer, part time secret agent, Racer X,) at his Uncle Spridle's racing school. (I presume that Chin Chin the chimp has passed on to where ever funny TV animal sidekicks go when they are no longer needed.)
The article didn't say who was producing this new Speed Racer show, but did say that "Speed Racer, Jr." was to be voiced by the actor who originally voiced Speed.
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Posted by: Don Markstein
Posted on: 2008-04-25 at 07:17:52 AM
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Thanks for passing the info on, Chuck. (Tho a case can be made that funny animal sidekicks are "no longer needed" from the moment they appear.)
Quack, Don
Quack, Don
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Posted by: Chuck Taine
Posted on: 2008-04-25 at 03:24:29 PM
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Just "Googled" Speed Racer and Nickelodeon;
Found article from Variety posted on another site. According to the article, Lionsgate will be the production company, although another Nickelodeon animation house will do the animation. Apparently Lionsgate still owns the rights to the Speed Racer cartoon in America, and, plans to take advantage of the publicity of the "live action" Village Road Show/Warner Bros. movie that comes out later this month, along with their own publicity along with Nickelodeon.
Found article from Variety posted on another site. According to the article, Lionsgate will be the production company, although another Nickelodeon animation house will do the animation. Apparently Lionsgate still owns the rights to the Speed Racer cartoon in America, and, plans to take advantage of the publicity of the "live action" Village Road Show/Warner Bros. movie that comes out later this month, along with their own publicity along with Nickelodeon.
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Posted by: Don Markstein
Posted on: 2008-04-26 at 04:56:05 AM
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Well, good for them. I hope they make a fortune with the re-heating of their property. A fortune being made on an old cartoon franchise is good for everybody.
Quack, Don
Quack, Don
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Posted by: Chuck Taine
Posted on: 2008-04-26 at 06:18:58 AM
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I thought you'd be more cynical about Lionsgate wanting to take advantage of the publicity of Warner's movie. Obviously, I was wrong.
Oh, some other news from the article from Variety, the "real" Chim Chim may be gone, but unfortunately (?) he has a successor, a robot chimpanzee answering to the same name. Sorry 'bout that, cheif-er, Don.
Oh, some other news from the article from Variety, the "real" Chim Chim may be gone, but unfortunately (?) he has a successor, a robot chimpanzee answering to the same name. Sorry 'bout that, cheif-er, Don.
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Posted by: Don Markstein
Posted on: 2008-04-27 at 07:17:46 AM
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Cynical? Moi? I'm trying to ride the coat-tails of the movie myself, posting an article on Speed just a few weeks before its release, hoping their publicity sends at least a few people to my site.
I'll admit I'm not much of a fan of Speed Racer, and probably won't watch the series for myself. (Tho I'll no-doubt catch glimpses of it -- when the grandkids are over, we usually have Nickelodeon on the tube. because the 2-year-old is a huge Spongebob fan, which shows she has good taste.)
But it strikes me as no dumber than the average such spin-off. And if there's money to be made by exploiting their property, then by all means, they should grab it while the grabbin's good.
Quack, Don
I'll admit I'm not much of a fan of Speed Racer, and probably won't watch the series for myself. (Tho I'll no-doubt catch glimpses of it -- when the grandkids are over, we usually have Nickelodeon on the tube. because the 2-year-old is a huge Spongebob fan, which shows she has good taste.)
But it strikes me as no dumber than the average such spin-off. And if there's money to be made by exploiting their property, then by all means, they should grab it while the grabbin's good.
Quack, Don
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Posted by: Chuck Taine
Posted on: 2008-05-05 at 05:20:36 AM
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Yesterday, I finally sat down and watched Speed Racer-The Next Generation, which is Nickelodeon's Lionsgate/Animaton Collective response to the Speed Racer movie (which opens Friday.)
The animation was better than the original (it should be after all these years,) but the story line, to me at least, was worst than the original.
I mean, really, orphan kid-who just happens to have the same name as the missing world famous racer, comes to Spridle's racing academy, where X Racer, Speed Racer's now famous son, is the resident star. (Why X isn't called Rex, Racer X's real name, is beyond me.) And, we call can imagine how the plot goes from there.
Don, look at it in passing, if you want. But I wouldn't make a point of it in any way.
The animation was better than the original (it should be after all these years,) but the story line, to me at least, was worst than the original.
I mean, really, orphan kid-who just happens to have the same name as the missing world famous racer, comes to Spridle's racing academy, where X Racer, Speed Racer's now famous son, is the resident star. (Why X isn't called Rex, Racer X's real name, is beyond me.) And, we call can imagine how the plot goes from there.
Don, look at it in passing, if you want. But I wouldn't make a point of it in any way.
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Posted by: Don Markstein
Posted on: 2008-05-05 at 05:34:47 AM
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Oh sure, I'll take a look, all right. But I'm not expecting much -- wasn't before you posted, either, so a negative review won't deter me too much.
X as a first name does kinda suck. How's you like to go through life with a name like that? Sounds like one of those names cruel parents give their kids as a not-so-funny joke. One would think a hero like Speed Racer would be above that sort of stuff.
Well, I didn't expect rave reviews. After all, it's nothing but a spin-off to take advantage of a highly-promoted movie. I'll see an episode fairly soon, before it goes the way of all flesh, especially cheap spin-off flesh.
Thanks for the early look.
Quack, Don
X as a first name does kinda suck. How's you like to go through life with a name like that? Sounds like one of those names cruel parents give their kids as a not-so-funny joke. One would think a hero like Speed Racer would be above that sort of stuff.
Well, I didn't expect rave reviews. After all, it's nothing but a spin-off to take advantage of a highly-promoted movie. I'll see an episode fairly soon, before it goes the way of all flesh, especially cheap spin-off flesh.
Thanks for the early look.
Quack, Don
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Posted by: Siobhan Lynch
Posted on: 2008-05-27 at 01:49:07 AM
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I actually didn;t mind "The New Generation" or whatever its called, admittedly, I have very little exposure to the original Speed racer (having fond memories of when I was a young girl, but nothing earth-shattering).
It is certainly entertaining to my 5 year old, who shows good taste, such as loving the X-Men series from the 90's and the Fantastic Four "World's Greatest Heroes" series.
While yes, the premise is kind of... lame, the storyline runs similar to the original Speed Racer, builds on the original storyline, pays homage to it, and reveals some of the old history to the current generation of children, who (hopefully) might be inspired to go back and watch the original.
I know Dillon (my son) wants to get the original series on DVD now, that definitely means that the show is good for something?
It is certainly entertaining to my 5 year old, who shows good taste, such as loving the X-Men series from the 90's and the Fantastic Four "World's Greatest Heroes" series.
While yes, the premise is kind of... lame, the storyline runs similar to the original Speed Racer, builds on the original storyline, pays homage to it, and reveals some of the old history to the current generation of children, who (hopefully) might be inspired to go back and watch the original.
I know Dillon (my son) wants to get the original series on DVD now, that definitely means that the show is good for something?
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Posted by: Don Markstein
Posted on: 2008-05-27 at 04:48:39 AM
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Well, that makes it okay in my book.
I still haven't seen it, and don't expect to enjoy it when I do, but to paraphrase Dr. Frank N. Furter, they didn't make it for me.
Quack, Don
I still haven't seen it, and don't expect to enjoy it when I do, but to paraphrase Dr. Frank N. Furter, they didn't make it for me.
Quack, Don
