Highway 35

I was pleasantly surprised at the evident effort that went into the design of this film: although it is pretty obviously computer generated, it has something of a hand-drawn look. The action is pretty much constant, and there is just enough story to hold it together. My six-year-old "Hot Wheels" fan, (recently graduated from Thomas the Tank Engine), ate it up.

Plot summary: a sort-of-mad scientist opens a portal to "Highway 35," a futuristic orange-paved race track built ages ago by the "Accelerons." The scientist picks a handful of racing pros and at least one 16-year-old skater dude. The racers travel through volcanoes, ice-caves, deserts, and other assorted dangers in search of the "Wheel of Power."

Both Hot Wheels Highway 35 and Acceleracers were such amazing movies and made 4-5 year old me so happy and wanting more and more of the car models. I personally, for some reason I don't know, prefer Highway 35. But Acceleracers is still very good and gives me so much nostalgia, even at 20 years old now. Definitely worth a watch, even if you are an adult that grew up with Hot Wheels, even if it wasn't around the early 2000's. It is not perfect in any way, but still so amazing for being a kid's series. Though Acceleracers in particular, even watching now, got disturbing and uncomfortable at times, it was dark in a good way. Especially dark for being something aimed towards children. That being said, even if you're an adult, you can still find enjoyment from it. Highly recommend both to kids and even adults who love Hot Wheels!

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!

They have this listed as a TV series. I saw it on DVD as a movie, and a pretty long one at that for a cartoon feature. The plot, if you can call it that, is that Doctor Tesla has discovered Highway 35, a series of inter-dimensional racetracks that lead to the Wheel of Power. It's the new millennium's version of Speed Racer. The good doctor believes the Wheel "is a source of immeasurable power". He proceeds to recruit a group of international drivers who he arms with high tech cars in the hopes they will navigate the route to get him the Wheel. There's more but whatever. It's a good enough excuse to send a bunch of hot cars on layouts that could be on Mars (and that do look suspiciously like high-end Hot Wheels layouts). The graphics are really well done and there's dimension to the various drivers, once you watch it enough to be able to tell them apart with their helmets on. Hot Wheels has (incredibly) blown this great marketing opportunity, as it is virtually impossible to pick up Highway 35 cars anywhere. But my 3 year old loves it, so take a ride on Doc Tesla's Highway 3-5. 9 out of 10, docked a point only for running too long. Beware of the absolutely dreadful "Acceleracers" sequels to this wonderful animation.

I grew up watching this movie. It's nothing more than a fun kid's movie selling hot wheels to kids. Plenty of cool environments and lots of unique cars make this movie a fun ride. Not as much a movie for adults, kids into toy cars will certainly be into hot wheels world race. Check it out!