Speed Racer: The Next Generation is an American animated television series based on the classic Japanese Speed Racer franchise, in which the internal events take place decades after those in the 1967 Japanese series. It is the fourth television adaptation of the franchise, and is executive produced by Lions Gate Entertainment, Larry Schwarz, and Ken Katsumoto. It is the first Nicktoon not to be based on an original property. Animation Collective produced the series, while the Flash character animation was handled by the now-defunct Collideascope Studios as their very last project. The last episode of Season 1 features the voice of NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon, who plays Turbo McCalister. This series was partly made to promote the live-action film, and the pilot movie premiered on Nicktoons Network on May 2, 2008, a week before the feature film adaptation was released in theatres. However, both projects were produced independently from one another and featured different generations of "Speed Racers", though both featured a Mach 6. Five three-part specials aired on Nickelodeon from March 14, 2009 to April 11, 2009. A second season began airing on March 24, 2011. The animation, layout, and 3D effects were outsourced to Toonz Entertainment in India for this season. After his death, Peter Fernandez's roles were replaced by Greg Abbey.
CreatorsTatsuo Yoshida, Larry Schwarz
The Beginning (1)
May 2, 2008
Speed arrives at the Racing Academy and meets all of the main cast. With no race car of his own, Conor lets him use a junky, spare one for the Qualifying Race, known as "LOST HERO". Having destroyed the car, his key, which was left to him by his mysterious father, glows, and leads him to find the Mach Five's hood disassembled from the other pieces of the car.
The Beginning (2)
May 2, 2008
Speed and his friends rebuild the Mach 5 and test it out. However, Annalise, under Zile's orders, destroys it in a match against X. Spritle reveals a shocking surprise to Speed; that he is Speed Racer's son and is X's long lost brother.
The Beginning (3)
May 2, 2008
Speed and his friends discover the secret plans to build the Mach 6 and its unique engine from the remains of the Mach 5. Speed uses the new car to race once again against Annalise, and wins.
The Low Price of Fame
May 9, 2008
Speed takes advice from X on how to deal with the fame of being Speed Racer's son from his classmates. A crazy stalker student named Mitch spreads a rumor that Speed will have a rivalry race with his brother, X, which spirals into a real race. When Annalise sees X not taking this seriously, she stands up and sabotages Speed's car so X can win.
Be Cruel To Your School
May 16, 2008
Speed and X must work together as a team in order to win a multi-school racing tournament. Meanwhile, Zile plans to ruin Speed and X's teamwork during the tournament and destroy the Mach 6.
The Note
May 23, 2008
Speed gradually receives mysterious notes signed by his father, but he suspects that they could be false. When he receives another letter asking for Speed to come meet him, Speed goes to figure out who the imposter is. Meanwhile, Zile plans to have his birthday party. At the end of the episode, Speed receives a real note from their father.
The Fast Track (1)
Jun 27, 2008
Thanks to Joel the lab technician, Zile takes over the virtual track to mess up Speed's race at the Redwood Rally so he doesn't survive. After Speed suspects whats going on, he decides to investigate, but in the process, Speed, Annalise and the Mach 6 all get sucked into the virtual track.
The Fast Track (2)
Jul 4, 2008
While Speed and Annalise are still stuck in the virtual track, they must put their differences aside to survive. Meanwhile, Conor, Lucy, and X must find a way to get them out before the track eats itself up due to the virus, or they'll be stuck there forever. Two vehicles from the original show- the Mammoth Car (from episodes 7 and 8) and the X3 make cameos in this episode.
The Fast Track (3)
Jul 11, 2008
Speed and Annalise make it out of the track. Delighted, Zile finds out Joel installed the virus, and decides to promote him to make the track more deadly for Speed and the Mach 6. One thing Zile is not aware of is that the Mammoth Car, the X3, and Jungle Conor invade the real world to wreak more havoc. Meanwhile, the Jungle Conor kidnaps Annalise.
Honor Code
Jul 25, 2008
Speed is faced with expulsion when it appears he cheated in a race. Knowing that he was framed, Speed sets out to find the real culprit. Meanwhile, Chim-Chim has mysterious glitches.
The Dance
Aug 1, 2008
Annalise’s cousin, Elsa, arrives at the campus as an exchange student, in order to seduce Speed into giving out information about the Mach 6… just in time for the school dance. Lucy is suspicious of the girl's motives in wanting to date Speed. Meanwhile, with no date of his own, Conor takes drastic measures.
Top Car
Aug 8, 2008
Ronald Multon, an esteemed car designing prodigy and old rival of Conor's, comes to the school as a guest lecturer. Furious that Ronald is in fact a complete hack, and stole all of his ideas, Conor challenges him to a design face-off, where they both bet each of their cars.
Video Essay
Sep 5, 2008
In this clip show showcasing the last 12 episodes, Speed must complete Professor Nguyen's assignment about what he learned since joining the academy. NOTE: This was the first episode of TNG where John Holt both directs and writes, and also the first episode were the animation was not out-sourced.
Comet Run (1)
Sep 19, 2008
Trillionaire Dickie Ranford challenges anyone who dares face him to a three-day race inside the virtual track, against his new eco-car, which will run on only one tank of gasoline for the entire run. Speed competes, as winning Ranford's industry will finally enable him to finish refining the Mach 6. Zile also participates, intending to beat Ranford at his game and crush the Mach 6
Comet Run (2)
Sep 26, 2008
By the second day of the race, both the Mach 6 and Chim-Chim get smashed by a canyon avalanche overnight. Speed uses his wits to go forward by using the natural elements to their advantage. At first, they think Zile tricked them into going the wrong direction. But they soon discover that it was Ranford who caused the avalanche and wrecked their car... and that his Eco-car is only keeping the emissions building up inside the front hood and he is actually storing leaded gasoline in Ranford Cola bottles to use for later, proving him a complete fraud.
Comet Run (3)
Oct 3, 2008
Speed shares the secret of the eco-car to Zile, who reluctantly lets Speed pass ahead of him so he can beat Ranford for him. At the finish line, Speed wins first place, and Ranford's car breaks down, earning him last place, but costing him his secret, and his reputation. When Speed starts planning his future with the industry, the press shares that Ranford industries went bankrupt and that the only things left were 2500 desks, chairs, staplers and a six pack of Ranford cola.
Plot for Teacher
Oct 10, 2008
Damien Russ, a classic legendary racer, and the last person to see Speed Racer before his disappearance, visits the school to promote a drink he is sponsoring. Professor Winn uncharacteristically shows disdain toward Russ, as her past connection with Speed Sr. is revealed. Speed and his friends suspect Damian of trying to get control of the Mach 6 and kill Speed, but his business partner wants to destroy the Mach 6. The episode's name is a pun on the song Hot For Teacher .
Knight Racer
Oct 17, 2008
In a parody of Knight Rider, Zile appoints Speed to test out a Zazic Industry-made vehicle named VIC, which has the ability to speak and operate its own functions. Zile also secretly intends to use VIC to destroy Speed and the Mach 6 for good. Meanwhile, Conor and Annalise compete during School Spirit Week.
Money Problems
Jan 19, 2009
Spritle steps down from his post as headmaster when it appears he smuggled profits from other racing schools into his bank account, and he is replaced with a stricter professor who makes harsh new policies. Speed goes to clear his uncle’s name. In the midst of investigating the case, Conor is expelled. Zile receives a call from a mysterious woman...
The Great Escape (1)
Jan 30, 2009
Conor invents a new camouflage defense mechanism for the car, which activates unexpectedly when Speed and Chim-Chim walk inside, leaving them invisible. Zile launches a heist to steal the Mach 6 at night, but cannot see the car, and captures Conor instead. Meanwhile, X and Annalise's relationship becomes strained.
The Great Escape (2)
Feb 6, 2009
The camouflage feature malfunctions, Speed is caught sneaking around trying to save Conor, and the entire gang makes a retreat. They leave the Mach 6 behind, but to Zile’s disappointment, there is a force field around it, and it becomes invisible again. A suspicious Spritle calls the police, where the gang doubles back to save the Mach 6. His plan now exposed, Zile flees the campus and leaves Annalise in charge of Zazic Industries.
The Great Escape (3)
Feb 20, 2009
The news of Zile being a traitor is now widespread among the campus. Annalise continues to carry out Zile's plan by taking X-ray shots of the Mach 6 during a race, under the shadowy woman's orders. Annalise also breaks up with X for good. Meanwhile, Zile and Stan keep having to move out of their luxurious global hideaways whenever Stan gives away their location.
The Secrets of the Engine (1)
Feb 27, 2009
During the final days of the term, Dr. Chezko, an engineer and old friend of Speed Racer's, arrives with a chamber that will finally run the Mach 6 on purely natural energy - its final piece - and asks Speed's permission show it off to the academy. Zile, returning undercover as a janitor, works with Annalise to steal the chamber and embarrass Speed by replacing it with a double. Meanwhile, Spritle plans a family bonding trip to his camping retreat for the break.
The Secrets of the Engine (2)
Mar 6, 2009
Zile and Annalise steal the Chezco chamber and keep it hidden until they can meet with the head of the committee; Speed and X sneak into Zile's tower. Once they do, Conor and Lucy both return to help Speed and X regain the Chamber. But once they do, Zile and Annalise do whatever they can to get it back.
The Secrets of the Engine (3)
Mar 13, 2009
Before Speed can activate the chamber he must go a speed of 820 miles per hour. After he does this the chamber won't work until they make a special cloth. When Chesko and Conor do this Speed enters the Mid winter race. Speed realizes that the chamber will only work when it has air, so he chooses to use the air in his car to power the engine. He wins the race and returns to the track with only a little air left. In the end, Chezko turns out to be Speed Racer Sr.'s engineer, Sparky. X decides to go pro, which would mean leaving the school. Speed Racer Sr. finally reveals himself to his son, Speed. This episode features the voice of NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon, who plays Turbo McCalister.
This is Speed Racer
Mar 20, 2009
A special episode that recaps the important events of the first season. It also hints at what will happen in the upcoming episodes of Speed Racer: TNG.
