Speed Racer The Movie

For the 2008 film, see Speed Racer (2008). Speed Racer The Movie is an American compilation film produced by Streamline Pictures in association with Speed Racer Enterprises, containing three episodes from the original Speed Racer television series. It was released theatrically as The Speed Racer Show in select markets in 1992, before being re-released on VHS and LaserDisc in 1994, and later on DVD in 2001.

In addition to the Speed Racer content, the film included unrelated commercials contemporary to the show's broadcast era, as well as a Colonel Beep cartoon short. The home video release included a commentary track with Peter Fernandez and Corrine Orr, and a music video featuring a remix of the original theme song spliced with footage from the series, live action dancers and Speed and Racer X from The New Adventures of Speed Racer.

Episodes Included

 * Episode 26: "The Car Hater"
 * Episodes 7: "The Race Against the Mammoth Car (Part 1)"
 * Episode 8: "The Race Against the Mammoth Car (Part 2)"

Development
Owing to a partnership formed during their days at Harmony Gold, Speed Racer Enterprises' John Rocknowski sold the rights to make a Speed Racer animated movie to Carl Macek's Streamline Pictures in 1992. Streamline employee Jerry Beck was then tasked with making something that could be released in theatres from the existing material. He caught a break when he found the original 35mm animation prints, as that meant the film would look significantly better than the current TV broadcasts, which were sourced from 16mm. Beck intended the release to feel like an extra long TV episode that "the college crowd could either watch seriously or goof on," so he kept the commercial breaks, filled them with animated ads from Playhouse Pictures, and included a Colonel Beep short. Episode selection was decided by picking one of the more outlandish episodes and splicing them with Beck's personal favorites.

The film opened on June 9, 1992 at the Nuart Theatre in West Los Angeles. The premiere event included original voice actors Peter Fernandez and Corrine Orr. It then toured art house theatres and college campuses until Family Home Entertainment began releasing it on home video in 1994.