Cinematographer

Demon on Wheels
By Andrew Takeuchi
May 2, 2008, 04:35

“The Brothers have a real sink or fly daring when it comes to aesthetic choice,” says David Tattersall, BSC, in describing the unique look directors Andy and Larry Wachowski were after for their live action resurrection of the classic animated series Speed Racer.

Originally broadcast in the late 1960s and early ‘70s, Speed Racer was the English language adaptation of the Japanese anime series Mach GoGoGo. Created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the series was one of the first anime programs to find success in the West. The easy translation of the series for American consumption was in part due to Yoshida’s affinity for American popular culture. Inspired by Viva Las Vegas and Goldfinger, Yoshida gave his characters Western physical attributes, including Speed’s Elvis-style black hairdo and racing neckerchief as well as sports cars loaded with gadgets straight out of the James Bond franchise.

Unlike domestically produced animation of the era, Speed Racer was an action program with fast cars, fist-fights and plot lines that often involved corporate conspiracies and dark family secrets. US audiences welcomed the show eagerly and it enjoyed a long run in syndication, but in other countries, such as Germany, the program was considered too violent and pulled from broadcast.

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