Characters
Speed Racer
At 18 years old, Speed Racer is one of the youngest competitors on the international racing circuit. Speed is a smart, courageous, resourceful, not to mention handsome, teenage race car driver with the fastest, most futuristic car in the world, the fabulous Mach 5. His ambition is to be the greatest race car driver in the world and he plans on becoming number one through fair play. Honest to a fault, Speed would never cheat to reach his goal.
Speed Racer is a true modern-day hero. This never-say-die driver would rather lose a race than intentionally harm someone in the process of winning. On the other hand, Speed has no sympathy for those unscrupulous racers who are hurt as a result of their own malicious style of driving -- which usually includes trying to run Speed and every other race car driver off the road. Coming up against the most colorful line-up of villains ever to invade the Formula 1 racing circuit, Speed Racer faces danger at every turn of the wheel.
Speed is helped by a great pit crew headed by his dad, "Pops" Racer, a world famous race car designer.
Speed also has to look-out for his younger brother, Spridle and his pet monkey, Chim-Chim. The two are always performing shenanigans and eating vast quantities of candy. Speed is the perfect older brother -- and always has an eye on Spridle. Speed is himself a younger brother, too -- but his older brother, Rex Racer, ran away from home at the age of 18. Where could Rex be? Speed's ultimate drive is to find his long-lost brother, who appears to be forever masked in mystery! No matter the situation, though, Speed can always be found with a winning smile for his girlfriend, Trixie.
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Rex Racer aka Racer X
In the world of Formula 1 racing, the absolute best, and least understood driver of them all is the mysterious Racer X. But that was before Speed Racer entered the circuit. When the once unbeatable Racer X competes, everyone knows there will be trouble. Rumors abound about a "jinx" which follows Racer X to every competition. Whenever he's in a race, there's bound to be a terrible crash. A rivalry, based on mutual admiration, exists between Speed Racer and the secretive Racer X. With Speed behind the wheel of the fabulous Mach 5, he can always be counted on to take the checkered flag.
Ironically, Racer X is not only Speed's greatest competitor, he is also his secret protector! For in reality, Racer X is actually Rex Racer -- Speed's older brother who left the family to follow his own course and now works undercover as a top secret Interlope agent. Racer X guards his "secret identity" at all costs, in fact if Speed Racer dares ask if he's really his older brother, Racer X will punch Speed in the gut, knocking him out cold! Isn't he just the nicest older brother?
If you find yourself ready to compete in a race against this man of mystery and intrigue, there are just a few pieces of advice you should remember. For starters, how will you be able to identify Racer X? If not by his ultra-cool mask, then surely by his leading edge vehicle, The Shooting Star. And as Racer X has been known to say to Speed: "YOU MUST NOT ENTER THE RACE!"
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Trixie
This 17 year old girl is spunky and full of attitude. Trixie's usually arriving in her helicopter just in the nick of time and won't back down in the face of danger. She's got spunk enough to keep up with Speed's high octane adventures and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Whether it's to Speed or any of the ruthless villains that they come up against. She's been known to throw more than one surprised criminal for a loop, and you can bet she'll do it again and again!
Trixie's Speed's girlfriend. She's supportive and will wave her checkered flag for Speed any time. She often rides right alongside Speed and has an astute understanding of all the technological wonders aboard the Mach 5. She's, wouldn't you know, crazy about Speed. She gets jealous easily when other girls catch Speed's eye, or even appear to! Trixie, like Speed, is also a well-trained, fearless martial artist. Even when the bad guys have the advantage in numbers, you can count on Trixie to keep her cool.
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Sparky
Sparky is Speed's closest friend and an ace mechanic who knows the Mach 5 better than anyone -- except the designer and Speed's father, Pops Racer. When the Mach 5 is pushed beyond even its impressive limits, Sparky's the guy who can convince it to go that extra mile.
Being handier with a wrench than with his fists can sometimes be a problem for Sparky -- which occasionally leads to his capture by enemy interlopers who are after secret engine plans. It's not surprising to find Sparky kidnapped by thugs who want to keep him from helping Speed during a race. You may not always find Sparky at Speed's side, but he's always there in spirit or behind the scenes, ready to make things happen (for better or worse).
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Spridle and Chim Chim
For comic relief there's none better than Speed's younger brother, Spridle, and his pet "chimp," Chim Chim. Spridle and Chim Chim are an inseparable team. Bound together by a common quest: candy! And while they may be obsessive when it comes to sweets, they also have great admiration for Speed Racer. And as luck would have it, the candy-crazed couple have a way of popping up at just the right time to pull Speed out of a jam so that he can go on to save the day. They have the disconcerting habit of sneaking on board the Mach 5 and behaving like stowaway stooges. These two whirlwinds pack a slapstick punch that's more powerful than the Ritz Brothers. Of course, Spridle and Chim Chim will do almost anything for candy. And this leads to fighting between themselves over whatever sweet bribes they manage to collect for their role in helping out Speed Racer. It's amazing how this pint-sized pair will face-off against seemingly insurmountable foes. Muscle-bound thugs (or gun-toting gangsters) can't stop them, because they're hyper from sugar! The only time Speed Racer minds is when Spridle and Chim Chim get into trouble because of their candy cravings. And Mom Racer is a little miffed about the dental bills, but otherwise, Spridle's a good kid -- and Chim Chim's a good chimp.
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"Pops" Racer
Sure he's Speed's father -- hence that last name -- Racer. But Pops Racer is also the world's foremost automotive engineer, having designed and built the amazing Mach 5. Pops can always be counted on to be as loud and overbearing as any well-meaning father has the right to be... But his love for Speed and his faith in his son's ability as a topnotch race driver brings out the kinder and gentler side of his personality.
His balanced relationship with Speed is especially significant, since his strong overprotective nature caused his first hard-driving son, Rex, to run away from home when he was Speed's age. Better be careful with this one, Pops!
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"Mom" Racer
What can you say about Mom other than the fact that she's always there for her family and she makes darn good muffins... 'nuff said!
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