Can anyone explain why?

[spidl]

Why do the networks keep greenlighting these racing shows? There seems to be a new one every year. They all try to be "extreme" yet follow the same formula. Does anyone watch these shows? I just don't see the appeal.

[Jeff Harris]

Why? Good question. Racing-oriented cartoons have been a part of the animated landscape for over forty years, since the days of Speed Racer, Wacky Races, Hot Wheels, and Tom Slick. However, in this modern era and for the the sake of argument, I think I'll blame NASCAR.

The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing seems to be the last "untainted" sport in North America in the eyes of entertainment types. Networks and corporate entities give the sport millions of dollars. A NASCAR race is literally ads on wheels. Where else could you see Lowe's take on Home Depot or Pepsi outrace Coke? Also, each event is an advertiser's dream. Seriously, who could have forseen a Justice League, Star Wars, or Batman Begins-themed race? Ratings are through the roof on cable and broadcast television in recent years, so it's no wonder entertainment entities are greenlighting racing-oriented products, from movies to television shows to cartoons.

However, racing-themed programs rarely do well. NASCAR Racers bombed miserably on Fox Kids. Recent shows like Dragon Booster and F-Zero haven't done well either, probably because they lack the excitement of NASCAR events and the entertainment people really crave. Maybe Pole Position came a decade too early. The current cycle of Hot Wheels DTV series seems to be doing alright, but it's not making a cultural impact of the likes of Speed Racer or Wacky Racers. Perhaps Oban: Star Racers and IGPX will bring a sense of entertainment and excitement for racing fans and animation fans as well.

Okay, this probably didn't answer your question, but hey, it's at least a start.

[Daikun]

Okay, this probably didn't answer your question, but hey, it's at least a start. Actually, that's probably a better answer than anything most people could ever think up. Most people would usually just post a dollar sign and leave it at that. It would probably be hard to think in-depth at a topic like this without becoming sarcastic.

[Rook]

what about lacrosse? hell if they can do an anime about tops and metal beeds than they sure as hell could do a cartoon about a foot-field game.

[Rover_Wow]

Why? Good question. Racing-oriented cartoons have been a part of the animated landscape for over forty years, since the days of Speed Racer, Wacky Races, Hot Wheels, and Tom Slick. However, in this modern era and for the the sake of argument, I think I'll blame NASCAR.

The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing seems to be the last "untainted" sport in North America in the eyes of entertainment types. Networks and corporate entities give the sport millions of dollars. A NASCAR race is literally ads on wheels. Where else could you see Lowe's take on Home Depot or Pepsi outrace Coke? Also, each event is an advertiser's dream. Seriously, who could have forseen a Justice League, Star Wars, or Batman Begins-themed race? Ratings are through the roof on cable and broadcast television in recent years, so it's no wonder entertainment entities are greenlighting racing-oriented products, from movies to television shows to cartoons.

However, racing-themed programs rarely do well. NASCAR Racers bombed miserably on Fox Kids. Recent shows like Dragon Booster and F-Zero haven't done well either, probably because they lack the excitement of NASCAR events and the entertainment people really crave. Maybe Pole Position came a decade too early. The current cycle of Hot Wheels DTV series seems to be doing alright, but it's not making a cultural impact of the likes of Speed Racer or Wacky Racers. Perhaps Oban: Star Racers and IGPX will bring a sense of entertainment and excitement for racing fans and animation fans as well.

Okay, this probably didn't answer your question, but hey, it's at least a start.

And in my mind, car races (or dragon races, in DB's case) don't sustain well over a whole series. They're more suited for single ep storylines (Hey Arnold!'s "Grand Prix" and All Grown Up!'s "Rats Race" come to mind), unless there is some background to the whole racing premise.

(BTW, does anyone else here find DB's slogan "Release the Dragon!" a bit... erotic? Over here, the word dragon has a somewhat dirty undertone to it.)

As for why racing cartoons are being greenlighted these days? Either they're trying to make it the next big thing, or it's just a current fad like Flash cartoons (like Buzz on Maggie and Foster's). Probably the latter since the current batch of racing toons do have marginal audiences (but DB's on cable in the US so it's not a problem for that show... anyone care to check how it's doing on Canada's CBC?).

[Jeff Harris]

what about lacrosse? hell if they can do an anime about tops and metal beads than they sure as hell could do a cartoon about a foot-field game.Don't forget the foot-field game that's popular in my neck of the woods, field hockey.

In Japan, they tend to make animated shows, OVAs, and films about EVERYTHING imaginable, let alone every sport. They even have an anime about American-style football as well as tennis, soccer, table tennis, basketball, baseball, racing, and others. I never thought I'd see an anime based on Go. I think the reason why they haven't made a lacrosse anime is because it hasn't caught on in the land of the rising sun yet.

But that doesn't mean that they aren't trying. Like I said, the Japanese have made anime featuring almost every subject.

[Anthonynotes]

Hmmm... always did want to see a "Wacky Races" revival, though guess with Winchell's passing, wonder who they'd get to voice Dick Dastardly...

[NozeNuggets]

Come to think of it, how about an all-new Wacky Races a la NASCAR? Old characters, and some new ones (even a new comic relief villain)?

[Dudley]

Hmmm... always did want to see a "Wacky Races" revival, though guess with Winchell's passing, wonder who they'd get to voice Dick Dastardly...
THey technincally did. It was a segment of some early 90's live-action show. They took out all the original WR characters, except Dick Dastardly, and replaced them with HB animal characters (Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McDraw, and the like).
I forgot what it's called, Wacky Races 5000, maybe?