Cartoon Car Toons!

Remember this animated TV series from the 60s? Probably some are familiar with it. Actually, I never saw one or any of the episodes from the Speed Racer. Although it was a long time a go, I was quite fascinated with Speed Racer’s car - the Mach 5! It is also known as the “Mach Go” or simply “Mach” in the Japanese version of the series. The best thing about the Mach 5 is the gadgets that are geared on it. Take for example the steering wheel with several buttons - each has their own corresponding functions.

That’s what I want to share with you - the functions of every button on Speed Racer’s Mach 5’s steering wheel. Because of my deep curiosity, I researched on the Speed Racer and his Mach 5 on the internet and this is what I found! I’m sure this is going to be fun and I think the 60s rock too! If you want to know all the information about the Speed Racer, just visit this URL.

The buttons and their corresponding functions:

• Button A: “Releases great powered jacks to increase the car’s speed so anyone can swiftly make any needed repairs or modifications.” The auto jacks can also be used to “jump” the car short distances at high speeds.
• Button B: Toggles special grip tires for traction over rough terrain at the same time, 5,000 horsepower is provided similarly to each wheel by supplementary engines.
• Button C: Used for traveling over greatly forested environment. A combined pair of great revolving saws protrudes from the front of the Mach 5 to cut away many troubles.
• Button D: Releases a powerful transparent cover which seals the cockpit into an air-tight chamber. The cover is bullet- and crash-proof. The cockpit becomes a water-tight chamber which then allows the car to be completely submerged under water.
• Button E: Controls special illumination lights “which can be controlled singularly or in tandem”, and which allows the driver to see more clearly than with ordinary headlights. When used with the “night shades” attached to Speed’s helmet, his vision is enhanced with infrared light. The original Japanese version severely interprets this as the “illuminating eyes”. Button E was later modified to activate mini-wings that would slide out from under the car to assist Speed in long jumps.
• Button F: Used when the Mach 5 submerged in any flooded situation. An oxygen container supplies the cockpit with breathable air; a periscope that can then be lifted to inspect the surface of the water. Everything that is viewed through a relay in a video screen with a 100-pound auxiliary supply of oxygen can last up to thirty minutes.
• Button G: Unleashes a homing robot from under the hood of the car. The homing robot can bring pictures or tape recorded messages to an intended party. The robot also can carry handwritten messages, X-ray film, and other types of code. It has been used as a means of self-defense by flying at opponents. The bird-like device is controlled by a built-in remote control within the cockpit. A detached button sends the robot “home.”

Who among you guys can still remember the Japanese animated series ‘Thunderbirds 2086’? Oh come on. I see no hands? Unbelievable!

If you can’t remember any single episode, I’ll help you recover from your amnesia.

The animated series was based on the Supermarionation Thunderbirds series by Gerry Anderson. It has been shown in 24 episodes 25 years ago. There were 17 vehicles and they were the main characters that feature diverse expertise and functions.

Can’t still remember? I’m going to hit you with this Saturn body kit or maybe I should try my Saturn radiator!

For those who, until now, are in denial, here are the 17 main character vehicles to help you recuperate from those cobwebs which have formed in your brain.

Thunderbird 1 - Aircraft like a space shuttle has the capacity to fly and merge with Thunderbirds 2 and 3 to be a bigger craft piloted by Captain Dylan Beyda.

Thunderbird 2 - Big cargo hauler has the capacity to fly and Captain Jesse Rigel and Captain Jonathon Jordan Jr. were in charged for this vessel.

Thunderbird 3 - APC like mobile that aids in monitoring all conditions, has the capacity to split in half and join together with TB1 and TB2 to move in isolated parts of the globe. In charged was Captain Grant Hanson, the oldest among the team.

Thunderbird 4 - Yellow submarine that typically make its approach to the disaster spot once it had been launched from the Arcology. The pilot was Captain Kallan James, the rose among the thorns.

Thunderbird 5 - It is a huge ground-tunneling vessel carried by TB2 into its mission.

Thunderbird 6 - The biggest vessel, considered as a floating city manned by IRO personnel.

Thunderbird 7 and 8 - Speedy interceptor aircraft; has the capacity to be stored either within TB1 or TB2 and can be used as drones. TB 8 has the VTOL ability.

Thunderbird 9 - Walker-robot in charge of repairing and doing upgrade work.

Thunderbird 10 - Fast spacecraft and usually used for fast travels.

Thunderbird 11 - An armored high-speed ground vessel carried by TB3.

Thunderbird 12 - Looks like a bulldozer that can move heavy objects.

Thunderbird 13 - Carried by TB4, this one is a smaller submarine and help outs TB4 to get into places that is out of its capacity

Thunderbird 14 - This one is a deep-water bathyscaphe that can travel underneath depths.

Thunderbird 15 and 16 - Small road vehicles carried by TB3 and helps the team through drone operations

Thunderbird 17 - Huge spacecraft; it can even accommodate almost all TB vessels apart from the TB6.

In charge for the designation of missions is no other than Commander Jared Simpson (played by Jeff Tracey). His nephew was Skipper Simpson, who dreamt to be part of the Thunderbird team and idolizes the group so much.

The mystery on this series was the process of picking those five people to handle the most important antagonists and they will also be the same five people dispatched every time there will be tasks to be accomplished.

Of course, you are so familiar with Roger Rabbit, right? The lucrative and almost insane character of among Disney’s characters and cartoons. After they released “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” in the big screen, a real presentation of Roger Rabbit was built in the Disneyland theme park. Now, you can also see the crazy bunny out of the movie screen because Disneyland made him real. Now, the rabbit has its own land. You can visit his territory as well which is located at the Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland with a famous name Hollywoodland.

And because Mickey Mouse celebrated his sixtieth birthday, Disney made a recognizable place for him - where else but in the Disneyland. In the Magic Kingdom just behind the Fantasyland this new kingdom was made and it was named after Mickey Mouse - the Mickey’s Birthdayland. Roger Rabbit as well as Baby Herman and Judge Doom are some of the hilarious cartoon characters who welcomed the viewers of the new kingdom. Disney was planning a major extension of this land on Tokyo Disneyland and much closer to the Disney-MGM Studios. However, because of the financial disaster that happened to the Euro Disney Resort, the plan was postponed.

So instead of pursuing Hollywoodland, they combined both Mickey’s Birthdayland and the “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” concept and they formed Mickey’s Toontown in 1993. This was behind Disneyland’s Fantasyland. And in 1996, Mickey’s Birthdayland was re-opened and is now operating under the Mickey’s Toontown Fair. This was again cancelled but the same concept was built in Disneyland Tokyo. It was a replica of Mickey’s Toontown which opened last 1996.

Roger Rabbit also has his own land in Disneyland. The famous bunny land was called Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin. It is considered a dark ride and is located in Disneyland Anaheim in California. It is also found in Tokyo Disneyland and it is based in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan which is just a stone’s throw away from Tokyo. The ride which you will be experiencing is based from the movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” which was released in 1988.

These versions were all found at Mickey’s Toontown. In January 26, 1994, a new Disneyland version opened. This was also the year when Mickey’s Toontown opened. In Tokyo, Japan, a new version also opened last April 15, 1996.

So if you are one among the screaming fanatics of Roger Rabbit, why don’t you try visiting these amusement parks in the various locations of one and only Disneyland? The crazy rabbit is waiting for you there.

The Transformers are soon to resurface the earth, probably next month. The Autobots and Decepticons in this movie portray the original individuality of the characters from the original animated film. But the real thing or the latest movie is great as far as I can see! With all the special gadgets and precise detailing of the robots make the movie more interesting to watch. The story is unquestionably awesome. But what makes the movie more interesting? I think we have the same thing in mind! One of the greatest aspects of the movie is they used cool cars like the Pontiac Solstice, the Search and Rescue H2 and, of course, the Chevy Camaro - all in the side of the Autobots. The effects were made with such finesse with the precise detailing of parts such as the Hummer cold air intake etc.

And speaking of Autobots, Bumblebee has emerged as the lead character of the movie aside from the Autobot’s wise leader Optimus Prime. Bumblebee is a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Concept car and then soon turned into a 2009 Camaro concept car after being damaged and repaired. He is the friendliest Autobot and is dedicated to save humans from the evil Decepticons!

But don’t you know that the original car alternate of Bumblebee is a Volkswagen Beetle? Oh yes, I’m not kidding! I’ve seen the animated movie before and you’ll wonder how Bumblebee turned out to be an awesome Camaro from a simple cutie Beetle. I guess Chevrolet cars make a lot of difference after all - a great big difference. What do you think about that?

Anyway as far as I know, the Beetle was also featured in the film as a cameo in a yellow body paint job as a tribute to the original alternate car of Bumblebee!

Rude Dog and the Dweebs was aired in 1989 and it was one of the most popular animated TV shows in the US. I have seen this in Cartoon Network back in my grade school years. Anyway, Rude Dog was created to promote a certain line of sports wear. This show was a big hit during the 80s. Rude Dog and the Dweebs are as colorful as the clothes they advertise. Rude Dog, a cool and punky pooch, leads an assorted bunch of dogs called the Dweebs namely the stuttering Caboose, the uptight Brit Winston, a Jack Nicholson-influenced Reggie, Southern-accented Barney, an Ed Wynn voice-like Sach, and Tweek the friendly Chihuahua . Rude Dog owns and manages an auto shop and is assisted by his friend dweebs. And if you can still remember, Rude Dog has a Brooklyn accent and surely has an inamorata – his beloved girlfriend Gloria.

The cartoon show features a 1956 pink Cadillac owned and driven by Rude Dog. You’ll notice that the graphics are plain and simple with neon and bright color accents but the pink Cadillac is the most detailed among all the things you’ll see in the show. Maybe an animated Cadillac cold air intake is in the pink Cadillac too! Rude Dog and the Dweebs often cruise around the city with the pink Cadillac and they usually encounter troubles in all their adventures. But they end up fine as Rude Dog leads the Dweebs with his street smart antics.

It is a branded that cats and dogs clash when they cross each other’s paths that’s why in the story, Rude Dog and the Dweebs have their own arch-enemy - the ferocious Seymour! Along with this vicious cat is the ever-present dog catcher named Herman with his assistant Rot. Every episode, Rude Dog and the Dweebs help each other run the auto shop. And every episode, they always make sure that they escape and outwit the evil plots of Seymour, Herman and Rot.

This is one of the coolest cartoon shows during its time and I bet kids from today’s generation will definitely love this show as much as the kids of the 80s did!

Who would forget the ever famous union of all the cute cars in an animated movie? Of course, I am talking about the Saturn, BAFTA and Academy Award nominated, Golden Globe winner animated film Cars. It was released under the Pixar Animation Studios and was presented by Walt Disney Pictures and was distributed under the Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. It was released in June 9, 2006 in America and on July 28, 2006 in the United Kingdom. It was the 7th Disney and Pixar feature film which was under the contract signed by the two before the Pixar became a part of Disney.

The famous kid-oriented film was directed by the same director of both ‘A Bug’s Life’ and ‘Toy Story’ - John Lasseter. The film is about a world that was surrounded and being manipulated by cars. It features the voices of the following stars:

• Owen Wilson
• Bonnie Hunt
• Paul Newman
• Cheech Marin
• Tony Shalhoub
• John Ratzenberger
• George Carlin
• Larry the Cable Guy

Car racers also came a part of the said film namely:

• Richard Petty
• Mario Andretti
• Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
• Michael Schumacher
• Notable cameos
• Bob Costas as “Bob Cutlass,”
• Darrell Waltrip (NASCAR broadcaster former Winston Cup champion)
• Leno as “Jay Limo”
• Tom and Ray Magliozzi which was the hosts of the weekly Car Talk in NPR as Rusty and Dusty Rust-Eze.

The MPAA rated the film rated G and was first shown in May 26, 2006 in Concord, North Carolina at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

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