Speed Racer- One of the first anime in Brazil

In April 1967, the anime premiered in Japan Speed Racer X (Speed Racer) by Tatsunoko Production, created by Tatsuo Yoshida. The anime tells the story of a young man racing driver eighteen-year-old who runs the Mach 5 car, raised by his father. The production had a very limited budget, but even so, with a great story, good characters and an unforgettable soundtrack, until today it is considered one of the most outstanding Anime.

The races shown in the anime were always striking and enthusiastic. They were full of accidents, overtaking, strategies and cheating. In addition to many teams like “Mammoth car" and the ''Acrobatic Team'', races were held in jungles, volcanoes, deserts and more. And since many races were dangerous and over rough terrain, they were always designed accessories to help runners.

As soon as it launched, the anime became quite popular, but nothing comparable to the reception it would find on the western side. When it was exported to the United States in 1967, the title and names of many characters had to be changed. It was then that the phenomenon was born. Speed Racer, which became successful all over the world and especially in Brazil.

Speed Racer - one of the first anime in Brazil

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Speed Racer in Brazil

The anime had its debut on Brazilian TV on Rede Globo in 1969, staying on the station until 1971. Years later its name was even changed to Captain Meteoro, perhaps in reference to the letter "M" stamped on the Mach 5 car. Again with Speed Racer, in 1975, it was presented in the extinct Tupi TV in the Clube do Capitão Aza program. There he became the show's highest rating, remaining on the channel until 1979.

It only showed up again in the Brazilian programming at TV Record in 1981, but running for a few months. In 1994, it was broadcast in the early hours of MTV, only fully subtitled. All the original Brazilian dubbing made by Telecine, was lost in the fire of TV Record. But in 1996, the Cartoon Network broadcast it for two years straight. Bringing a new dubbing, considered to this day as one of the best ever made at that time.

Em 1993 an animated series called The New Adventures of Speed Racer, created to be an anime update. But this American version did not please the fans, did not achieve the expected success, lasting only one season with 13 episodes. In 1997 Another anime of the franchise was released in Japan, but it did not reach the success of the classic series. It was screened for 52 episodes, but was canceled after 34. Even so, it was released in the United States under the name Speed Racer X, and later in Brazil.

Speed Racer - one of the first anime in Brazil

The memorable Speed Racer

In 2008, the Wachowski brothers, creators of the Matrix trilogy, ran a movie based on anime. Even without the participation of the original study of the work, the film even got a good reception from the public. Since the work Speed Racer is even more popular in the west than in its home country. But the film ended up with results well below the studio's expectations, receiving some criticism and grossing just over 130 million dollars.

Even as the years go by Speed Racer will always be remembered as one of the first Anime to be broadcast and to be successful on Brazilian TV. Many only remember Dragon Ball, Knights of the Zodiac or Yu Yu Hakusho, but forget the enormous importance and influence that Speed Racer exerted at the time. Opening the doors to all later Japanese anime and series.

Are you from the time it was on TV? Did you know that Speed Racer is an anime or did you only know the movie? Leave your comments and share the article with friends.

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