|
|
by Charles Tan Last year was a time when malls were flooded with anime merchandise via Gundam model kits. Just when you thought the same phenomenon could not happen again, destiny proves you wrong. This time, it takes on the form of Tamiya’s mini-4WD (4 Wheel Drive) kits. Highly popularized by the television show Let’s & Go, mini-4WD has reached its focal point here. Combining model kit building and artistic skills as well as a racing enthusiast’s customization and love for speed, mini-4WD is an anime-related hobby entering the fray. The Anime Series Let’s & Go Propaganda on TV has always existed, whether through the ads or the shows themselves. Anime is no exception. While Gundam is one living proof of this, another good example is Let’s & Go, a story about kids and their love for mini-4WD racing. Let’s & Go seems to be the perfect title for a show that deals with racing. In the original series, the names of the main protagonists are Retsu and Go Seiba. A pun on Retsu will turn it into Let’s, because the Japanese have no 'l' in their alphabet and 'r' is often substituted for it. Hence the namesake Let’s & Go, named after the two brothers of the story. Several personalities with their own stylish and individualized mini-4WD machines appear in the series, promoting Tamiya’s existent toy line. Similar to robot or mecha shows, these machines eventually get worn out or are destroyed, warranting an upgrade or a new vehicle. Also, as a touch of flair for dramatics and tension, the mini-4WD machines in the series do some of the most ridiculous maneuvers not possible in reality. The cars themselves even act as if they were operated by remote control (the villains of the story do have remote controls but the actions of the heroes are stupendous). Once you get over these impossibilities, the story turns out to be actually interesting and intriguing. Much like the model kit franchise, once a show is a success, various sequels follow suit and give the investors a reason to churn out several new kits. Let’s & Go is also subjugated to this as several sequels advertise the new line of mini-4WD kits of Tamiya. The first sequel to the original series is Let’s & Go Max which introduces an entirely new cast of characters and a fresh set of vehicles. Again, the series derives its name from a pun on Let’s & Go in the form of the protagonists Retsuya and Gouki. Not so recently was another sequel, Let’s & Go WGP (World Grand Prix). This time, the original cast of characters is reunited and is pitted against a slew of new and old villains alike. Everyone gets new cars and their foes are not limited to those native to Japan but to other countries as well. Currently, Let’s & Go is alive and popular in its manga incarnation, Let’s & Go Max, which combines characters from the various series and introduces new mini-4WD machines.
|
||
|
____________________________________________________ All works are copyrighted and trademarks of their respective owners. Our deepest apologies if we fail to mention them. If there are any copyright violations incurred, do not hesitate to inform us. The use of any material here without proper permission from the magazine and their respective authors is strictly prohibited. Distribution of P.Otaku Bytes is free. We are a non-profit organization. |
||||
