Speed Buggy
A talking dune buggy solves mysteries with teenage friends.
Speed Buggy is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera that aired for one season on CBS from September 8, 1973, to December 22, 1973. The show follows an orange anthropomorphic dune buggy named Speed Buggy, who, alongside teenagers Debbie, Mark, and Tinker, solves mysteries while participating in racing competitions around the world. Despite its short run, the series gained a fan base through frequent reruns on all three major American television networks and has been released on DVD.
Quick Facts
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- Genre
- Comedy / Mystery / Adventure
- Creator
- William Hanna / Joseph Barbera
- Director
- Charles A. Nichols
- Company
- Hanna-Barbera Productions
- Producer
- Iwao Takamoto
- Voices
- Mel Blanc / Michael Bell / Arlene Golonka / Phil Luther Jr.
- Theme Music Composer
- Hoyt Curtin
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Network
- CBS
- First Aired
- 1973-09-08
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Speed Buggy was developed under the working titles Speed Bug and Speed Buggs before the final name was settled on. The concept was inspired by the 1968 Walt Disney Pictures film The Love Bug and the Speed Racer anime franchise. Several storylines originated from another Hanna-Barbera series, Josie and the Pussycats. Iwao Takamoto served as producer but was less involved due to his trust in storyboard and animation artist Bob Singer. The series was executive produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera and directed by Charles A. Nichols.
Reader's Guide
Speed Buggy lasted for one season with sixteen episodes. Despite its cancellation, it was broadcast on CBS, ABC, and NBC after its original run as those networks had purchased syndication rights. The series acquired a fan base due to its frequent rotation on American television, often replacing quickly-cancelled new cartoons. Critical response was generally positive; some critics enjoyed its shared themes with Josie & the Pussycats and Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, while others found it unmemorable and derivative. The complete series was released on DVD as part of Warner Bros.' Archive Collection on a four-disc set. The show has been rerun on USA Network's Cartoon Express and on Cartoon Network since its launch in 1992.
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