Speed Racer: The Next Generation

TV Kids Weekly, April
29, 2008

ORIGIN: The new animated series, geared toward
6- to 14-year-olds, builds on the legendary adventures from the original Speed
Racer, which launched
in the U.S. in 1967. The new animated series is premiering May 2 on Nicktoons
Network ahead of the theatrical release of the highly anticipated Speed
Racer film, directed
by Andy and Larry Wachowski of The Matrix fame, on May 9.

CREATOR: The original Speed Racer is a reversioning of the Japanese
anime show Mach GoGoGo, based on the manga created by Tatsuo Yoshida. Peter Fernandez
was largely responsible for the original U.S. adaptation and provided many of
the original voices. He also provides voice talent for one of the characters in
the new series.

DISTRIBUTOR: Lionsgate has the international rights
to the classic Speed Racer and Speed Racer: The Next Generation for television and home entertainment.

TV SHOW: The first season of Speed Racer:
The Next Generation
will consist of 26 half-hour episodes. It utilizes CGI for all racing scenes
and the backgrounds while using 2-D Flash for the characters.

SYNOPSIS: In the 90-minute premiere, “The
Beginning,” Speed, a teenager who had been orphaned as a baby, arrives at the
prestigious Racing Academy and tries to get acclimated as the new kid. He meets
friends and enemies, finds out he is the son of the famous driver Speed Racer
and begins to deal with his new brother, X, and uncle, Headmaster Spritle
(voiced by Peter Fernandez, the voice of Speed Racer in the original American version).
After finding parts of Speed Racer’s car—the Mach 5—in a junk yard,
Speed, with help from his new friends Conor and Lucy, rebuilds the legendary
vehicle, but wrecks it during an intense race. Dejected and in need of a new
car, Speed discovers his father’s schematics for a revolutionary gasless engine—the
Mach 6.

Throughout the
series, Speed must balance studying and racing, all while avoiding the evil
schemes of oil tycoon and school board member Zile Zazic and his racer daughter
Annalise. 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 Mach 6, the ultimate racing machine.

The 90-minute
premiere will launch the television series on May 2, and will then be released
on DVD by Lionsgate on May 6. The DVD will also include an interactive racing
game and the featurette, “Creating the Next Speed Racer.”

EXECUTIVE
PRODUCERS: John and
James Rocknowski, principals of Speed Racer Enterprises, and Larry Schwarz, a
principal of Animation Collective, in association with Lionsgate.

COMMISSIONING
BROADCASTER: Nicktoons
Network in the U.S.

MAJOR TOY
LICENSEES: Jada Toys
has licensed both Speed Racer brands—the original series and the new show—to
produce die-cast vehicles, battery-operated remote-control vehicles, pull-back
vehicles, vinyl figures and die-cast key chains. Jada Toys began rolling out
product in the first quarter of this year.

CADACO has
been tapped for crayon paper coloring sets, Creata-Clings, gel sticker making
sets, electronic and non-electronic board games, as well as outdoor toys
including the Wheel Racer. Rollout begins in the second quarter.

Awesome Toys
will design patented Regener8r’s Vehicles, action figures, novelty toy pens,
handheld games and sunglasses for both Speed Racer brands. Product will be available in
the second quarter.

IMT
Accessories will produce indoor and outdoor merchandise through its subsidiary
companies Monkey Business and Street Flyers. Monkey Business will design indoor
furniture including beds, storage and organizing units and tables and chairs;
as well as outdoor furniture, such as tables, chairs and umbrellas. Street
Flyers will produce bicycles and accessories, tricycles, skate boards,
scooters, skates, protective gear, fishing rods and pool accessories. IMT
Accessories, Monkey Business and Street Flyers will begin to roll out product
in Q2.

Rand
International will produce balls, sunglasses, flashlights and Rack Toys for
both Speed Racer
brands, also for the second quarter.

SNAP TV GAMES
has been tapped to create DVD Interactive Board Games.

OTHER
PRODUCTS:
Speed Racer: The Next Generation will stream on VOD. Plus, select video content from the series
will be available on Nicktoon’s online video player.

Southpole/Lot
29 will produce T-shirts, polos, tank tops, jerseys, novelty tops, jackets,
vests, jeans, overalls, sportswear and other apparel for both the classic and
new series. The company began to release apparel for the classic Speed Racer in November 2007.

Saramax
Apparel Group has licensed both Speed Racer brands for boy’s sleepwear and
underwear, pajamas, robes, blanket sleepers and boxer shorts; young men’s
boxers, robes and loungewear; girl’s 4-14 sleepwear and intimate apparel; and
infant sleepwear, apparel, bottles and frames. The rollout began in the first
quarter.

ES Originals
is on board for a range of kids’ footwear, as well as a variety of bags such as
backpacks, luggage and lunch bags, among others. The company will also create
small leather goods and all hosiery for the classic and new shows.

Star Ride Kids
will design T-shirts, sweatshirts, sportswear, swimwear, knit, woven, denim
garments and outerwear for boys 2-7 for a second-quarter launch. Hanes has been
tapped to produce children’s packaged underwear for both Speed Racer brands.

Bendon
Publishing International will produce activity books, workbooks, flash cards,
reward stickers, educational kits, board books, story books and fun activity
kits for both Speed Racer brands.

Attraction
Media & Entertainment will develop Simulation Ride Films for theme parks
based on both Speed Racer brands as well as explore licensing opportunities for other types
of attractions. The films will go into production in the next several months
and will be available for worldwide distribution shortly thereafter.

Advanced
Graphics has created life-size standees for both brands. Rubie’s Costume Co. is
designing a variety of costumes, masks and accessories for both brands, for a
third-quarter 2008 launch.

IDW Publishing
has licensed both brands for comic books and trade paperback collections
including reprints of older material as well as new material. Titles began
appearing on shelves in Q1.

Innovative
Designs has licensed both brands for stationery, portfolios, theme books,
composition books, memo pads, fat books, legal pads, assignment books, agendas,
die-cut memos, sticky notepads, binders, pencil cases, book covers, pencils,
pens, erasers, rulers, markers and magnets.

DecoPac has
created cake decorating kits and cupcake decorations for both brands.

STRATEGY
FOR ROLLOUT: “We’re
going to let the show build momentum for a couple months to generate a strong
base of viewers, so most of the merchandise will begin to be released in Q3 and
Q4 2008,” notes James Rocknowski, the president of Speed Racer Enterprises, on
the licensing and merchandising strategy.

Internationally,
TV sales are being handled by Lionsgate, which screened the first episode to
broadcasters at MIPTV. “The responses were fantastic,” says Craig Cegielski,
the executive VP of programming and sales for international TV at the
independent studio. “The kids’ channels all came to us, looking for this. They
know it’s coming and they were excited to see the footage that we were able to
show them.”

A pan-regional
deal with a kids’ channel is pending, Cegielski says, and at the L.A.
Screenings Lionsgate will be looking to shore up deals on territories not
covered by the global agreement. “We’ll be able to point to the success of the
series domestically as we clear any further territories that are needed.”