| MORE DETAILS ON SPEED RACER THE NEXT GENERATION: THE BEGINNING DVD |
[Apr. 21st, 2008|02:52 am] |
 
A few weeks back I reported on the upcoming DVD release of a direct-to-DVD SPEED RACER cartoon being released to coincide with the big screen film opening in a few weeks. I was initially highly skeptical of the SPEED RACER THE NEXT GENERATION: THE BEGINNING since it's box art made it look like it was just going to be another cheap piece of computer animated junk, ala the numerous HOT WHEELS DVDs that have been getting churned out the last couple years. As it turns out, there are some computer animated moments involved, but for the most part the animation is more of the 2-D variety. More surprising, I come to learn the movie is actually the launching point for a new Speed Racer toon. Here's some extra info from the film's press release:
"Go, Speed Racer, Go! This May, start your engines and feel the need for speed as LIONSGATE releases Speed Racer The Next Generation: The Beginning, the first-ever movie for the new Speed Racer brand on DVD. After 40 years, one of entertainment’s most recognizable animated classics returns from a pit-stop with the DVD premiere of the first movie for the next generation of Speed Racer fans. Speed Racer The Next Generation: The Beginning builds on the legendary adventures of the iconic original series by focusing on Speed’s orphaned son as he contends with the everyday hassles of school life at the Racing Academy while uncovering secrets behind his famous father’s disappearance.
This Spring poses a triple threat as fans of the celebrated series will bear witness to a complete brand resurgence beginning with the worldwide television premiere of the all-new animated movie debuting on Nicktoons Network, Nickelodeon’s 24 hour animation network on Friday, May 2.
This dovetails into the new animated half-hour television series, Speed Racer: The Next Generation, airing Fridays at 7pm ET. The DVD of the animated movie races to major retailers everywhere four days later on Tuesday, May 6 and on Friday, May 9, the much buzzed about Warner Bros. live-action feature film directed by the Wachowski Brothers, attempts a photo-finish as it hits theatres nationwide. The Speed Racer The Next Generation: The Beginning DVD features the complete animated movie premiere as well as an interactive racing game and the featurette, "Creating the Next Speed Racer," for the suggested retail price of $19.98.
Following in the footsteps of the classic series, Speed Racer: The Next Generation, explores the passion of a teenage racer with the most powerful and stylish car on the planet. Speed arrives at The Racing Academy only to find himself immediately intimidated by his fast-paced classmates, but armed with his new friends Conor, Lucy and Conor’s robot monkey, Chim Chim, Speed quickly lives up to his name and becomes the new one to beat in the driver’s seat! 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.
The new chapter of Speed Racer utilizes a cutting-edge, unique style of animation inspired by the original series and incorporates hot-topic storylines such as renewable resources and the pursuit of a car built with a gasless engine."
The trailer for SPEED RACER THE NEXT GENERATION: THE BEGINNING can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.
Kind of looks like a hybrid of what we saw in the original series and what we'll be seeing in the upcoming theatrical film. Unless I'm misunderstanding something, it almost sounds like the racing in this new toon takes place in virtual reality. Maybe I need to go back and rewatch that trailer.
One last thing, am I alone in having never heard of this NickToons Network? Does anyone reading actually get this Nicktoons Network? |
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| Comments: |
From: (Anonymous)
2008-04-21 01:33 pm (UTC)
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I have heard of NTN, my kids watch it all the time. It plays Dora, Diego and all that educational crap
Yes, I get that Network. If you like all of the Nick Toons, it's for you. If not, then it's a waste. Speaking of waste, we also had the now defunct Nick Gas (Games and Sports) Network. This is where they dumped re-runs of all their old game shows, Double Dare, and the like.
From: (Anonymous)
2008-04-21 04:33 pm (UTC)
Foy, FilmCritic3000 from Dread Central here... | (Link)
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Wow, you've never heard of Nicktoons Network? And here I thought you were the king of all things pop culture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicktoons_Network
Yeah, it's been around for almost seven years now. It's on DIRECTV, Dish Network, and I think Comcast carries it as well. Initally, it aired early '90s Nickelodeon cartoons (and they still air "Ren and Stimpy" fairly often) but now it seems to be just a repository for the newer Nick cartoons.
Now, onto bigger fish to fry...when the hell will you be launching Foy TV..All B-movies. All the time?
The racing takes place mostly on the Racing Academy's virtual track. I kind of think it's a neat gimmick to keep the races different while keeping to the school setting for the series. Granted, the show might not be as revolutionary as the original Speed Racer, but I think it'll do its job to attract a new generation to the franchise. And I don't know about anybody else, but the two episodes with a 3D animated Mach 5 pretty much made my life. | |
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