If you are thinking about watching the movie, which was done by the Wachowski Brothers, then you may as well get some of the backstory to complement your Speed Racer movie viewing experience. The movie does a nice job of of integrating some of the past with a present in the Speed Racer universe, but it is short-lived and knowing some of the following characters and/or storylines may help you.

The Japanese version of Speed Racer is entitled Mach GoGoGo. It was created in the 1960's and made the jump to American television in the 1970's, where it was named Speed Racer. The show starred a James Bond/Elvis Presley type race car driver named Go Minfune and showcased his exploits in trying to defeat a shady, masked character named Racer X.

The Mach 5 car is a technological breakthrough in terms of racing cars. There are a number of functions available to Speed Racer that can be accessed through a series of buttons in his cockpit. Labeled 'A' through 'H', Speed Racer has the ability to create bulletproof cockpit, transform his Mach 5 into a submarine, change the tread on his tires, and even raise the car so repairs can be made (or jump short distances). With all these functions at his fingertips, he should be the best racer on the planet.

Speed Racer has a little brother, Spritle, who has a pet chimpanzee called Chim-Chim. Chim-Chim is a little adorable troublemaking monkey that you can't really stay mad at. Sparky, or Wilson Sparkolemew, is the racing company's mechanic. Pops is a wrestler turned racing car owner and Speed Racer's father. Trixie is Speed's girlfriend and often conveniently flies over the races in a helicopter being his lookout. Trixie comes from an affluent background, but her backstory isn't as explored as Speed Racer's family is.

Racer X is Speed Racer's arch-enemy...well, sort of. Racer X drives car 9, or the "Shooting Star". Racer X's identity is mysterious, but Speed Racer believes it to be his older brother, Rex Racer, who wrecked the Mach 1. The Mach 1 was the first race car Pops had built. After wrecking the car and receiving degrading criticism from Pops, Rex changed his identity to Racer X to continue his career. Most everyone in the Speed Racer universe agrees that Racer X is the best racer anyone has ever seen (yes, even Speed Racer agrees depending on his mood), but he often comes in second in order to defend Speed Racer from the number of bad guys he encounters.

Speed Racer was the first anime series that achieve phenomenal success and continues to grow a following from both young and old enthusiasts. The Wachowski Brothers' version should prove that they just didn't hit big with that other popular trilogy...