Research Guru
Posted:
Apr 14, 2008, 2:47 PM
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Speed Racer: TNG starts its engines May 2
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Nicktoons Network is set to premiere Speed Racer: The Next Generation, a new animated series that builds on the legendary adventures of the iconic original series, at 7 p.m. (ET) Friday, May 2.
The 90-minute premiere will launch the Speed Racer: The Next Generation TV series just prior to the Lionsgate DVD release Tuesday, May 6, and the live-action Warner Bros. feature film, directed by the Wachowski Brothers, on Friday, May 9.
The 26-episode, half-hour series will air regularly at 7 p.m. (ET) Fridays on Nicktoons Network.
"Nicktoons Network is thrilled to add a completely new version of this iconic property to our brand," said Keith Dawkins, Nicktoons Network's general manager and senior vice-president of Nickelodeon Programming Partnerships. "Speed Racer has global appeal as a comic book, television series and feature film. It's a great way to grow our brand and bring something new and exciting to our audience."
Speed Racer: The Next Generation, executive produced by John and Jim Rocknowski, principals of Speed Racer Enterprises Inc., and Larry Schwarz, CEO of Animation Collective, is based on the classic series which originally debuted in 1967 in the United States. The series follows Speed after he arrives at The Racing Academy, only to find himself intimidated by his fast-paced classmates. Armed with his new friends Conor, Lucy and Conor's robot monkey, Chim Chim, Speed quickly lives up to his name and becomes the one to beat in the driver's seat.
Throughout the series, Speed must balance studying and racing, all while avoiding the evil schemes of oil tycoon and school board member Zile Zazic and his racer daughter Annalise. Along with action-packed adventure on the racetrack, Speed and his pals work together to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance and build the ultimate racing machine, the Mach 6.
In the 90-minute premiere, "The Beginning," Speed, a teenager who had been orphaned as a baby, arrives at the prestigious Racing Academy and tries to get acclimated as the new kid. He meets friends and enemies, finds out he is the son of the famous driver Speed Racer, and begins to deal with his new brother, X, and uncle, Headmaster Spritle (voiced by Peter Fernandez, original voice of Speed Racer in the original U.S. version).
After finding parts of Speed Racer's car -- the Mach-5 -- in a junkyard, Speed, with help from his new friends Conor and Lucy, rebuilds the legendary vehicle, but wrecks it during an intense race. Dejected and in need of a new car, Speed discovers his father's schematics for a revolutionary gasless engine and builds the Mach 6.
This month, Speed Racer: The Next Generation will stream on Video-on-Demand. Select video content from the series will be available on the network's video player at www.nicktoonsnetwork.com.
The Warner Bros. live-action feature film is based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida and stars Emile Hirsch as Speed, Matthew Fox as Racer X, Christina Ricci as Trixie, Susan Sarandon as Mom Speed and John Goodman as Pops Racer.
On May 6, Lionsgate will release Speed Racer The Next Generation: The Beginning on DVD, which will feature the complete animated series premiere, as well as an interactive racing game and the featurette "Creating the Next Speed Racer," for the suggested retail price of $19.98.
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"Oh boy." -- Allan Sherman
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