"Hot Wheels Highway 35 World Race" (2003) TV series 2003-????

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Writers:

Jeff Gomez (writer)
Fabian Nicieza (writer)

Seasons:

unknown

Release Date:

1 July 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Sci-Fi | Sport

Plot:

A young teen driver joins an other-dimensional car racing which the mystic Wheel of Power is the prize.

Plot Keywords:

Car Racing | Car | Racing | Automobile Racing | Based On Toy

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Kathleen Barr	...	Gelorum (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Lisa Ann Beley	...	Karma Eiss (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Dexter Bell	...	Nolo Pasaro (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Brian Drummond	...	Kurt Wylde (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Andrew Duncan	...	Mitch "Monkey" McClurg / ... (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Andrew Francis	...	Vert Wheeler / ... (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Adrian Holmes	...	Tork Maddox (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
David Kaye	...	Deezel "Porkchop" Riggs (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kasper Michaels	...	GIG (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Michael Donovan	...	Dr. Peter Tezla (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kirby Morrow	...	Shirako Takamoto (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kevan Ohtsji	...	Taro Kitano (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Mark Oliver	...	RDL3 / ... (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Will Sanderson	...	Markie "Wylde" Wylde (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Venus Terzo	...	Lani Tam (3 episodes, 2005-2006)

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Mattel

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Despite the fact that all 35 cars were modeled and are used, the same isn't true for all 35 drivers. In the scene where Tezla tells the drivers about the Wheel of Power the Esmeralda character model appears both in front of and behind Vert without having time to cross the intervening distance.

Quotes:

Taro: I'm gonna pass you.
Kadeem: You're going to try!
[they tie]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Troldspejlet: (#37.3)" (2007)

Definitely a hot ride!

I love this movie. Its not complex, its not confusing, and its not going to win an Oscar. What it is though is a straight forward action movie centered around the fastest cars in the world and the race to be the fastest driver in the world.

Its all five episodes on one disc without any noticeable commercial break spots (such as when Vert is approaching the lava flow on the Episode 1 disc). The World Race is more than a race to see who's the fastest driver in the world. It is also a place that reflects life. Team Building, betrayal, and redemption all occur on Highway 35. The action never lets up and actually intensifies in the later episodes when a double-blind is pulled on one of the drivers, a new menace is presented, and the World Race turns into one big, fast free-for-all that culminates in a battle at the mecca for racers.

The animation is gorgeous and is by Mainframe, responsible for ReBoot and Beast Wars/Machines: Transformers. The sensation of speed is incredible and many times when the cars make a shock-destroying landing the sense of mass is conveyed perfectly by the screen shudder. Though it isn't long enough for all 35 drivers to be given a roll the drivers that are presented are interesting though only a hand full outside of the 5 team leads are given many lines, not counting Rick Handy's "Whoa", of course.

The DVD contains all 5 team videos, a video for Smash Mouth's "Hot" and a section with all 35 cars w/vital statistics, along with a short driver biography. Kind of like the ones that come in the mini comics.

Believe me, this movie is about the race and the race only! With an interesting story, and someone who actually says Taro's line ("I'm going to pass you.") to the Scorcher's leader and does it. Its in a class all to itself, a World Class!