F-Zero: GP Legend (TV series) (2024)

For the video game of the same name, see F-Zero: GP Legend (video game).

F-Zero: GP Legend (F-ZERO ファルコン伝説 Efu Zero Farukon Densetsu, literally "F-Zero: Legend of Falcon /-Falcon Legend")^?) is a TV anime series based on Nintendo's F-Zero franchise. It is a reboot of the franchise taking place in the year 2201. Lifeforms from all across the galaxy come to compete in the new racing tournament called F-Zero.

The anime aired on TV Tokyo in Japan. In North America, the show was licensed and modified by 4Kids Entertainment.^[1] At first it aired on the FoxBox only as a sneak peek after the results for its voting poll, "You Pick It, We Play it!" and it was chosen on Sept 4, 2004 aside from Mew Mew Power and One Piece; it premiered officially on Sept 18. The show aired for a short time on the Fox network before it was canceled.

It should be noted that the anime and its related properties are not connected to previous installments, as it is an original take on the F-Zero series. Some elements are simply borrowed, such as names, locations, machines, and so forth, but the characters, plot, lore, and timeline are all vastly different.

Plot overview[]

Police detective Ryu Suzaku (named Rick Wheeler in the English Dub) suffers a fatal car accident while in pursuit of an escaped criminal named Zoda. Ryu dies, but is revived in the year 2201 by Mobile Task Force members Jody Summer and Dr. Stewart. The Task Force tries to keep prize money out of the hands of unsavory people like the Dark Million Organization run by Black Shadow. That organization is responsible for cryogenically evolving Ryu's old enemy Zoda. Now Ryu joins the Task Force to help take down Zoda and the rest of Dark Million. While pursuing his objectives, Ryu will unexpectedly meet up with the legendary racer and bounty hunter named Captain Falcon .

Major characters[]

Mobile Task Force[]

A secret division of the Galaxy Police, who are assigned to thwart the plans of the Dark Million Organization:

• Rick Wheeler (リュウ スザク Ryū Suzaku^?): The protagonist of the series.^[1] Rick was killed in an accident while chasing Zoda. He was revived 150 years later and joined the Elite Mobile Task Force. He is revealed to be the chosen Savior who will play an integral role in defeating Black Shadow. During the final battle, Captain Falcon tells him that the name of "Captain Falcon" is a title given only to the best, that "only the one who can exceed Falcon can become Falcon" and that from then on, Rick is Captain Falcon. After Black Shadow's defeat and Captain Falcon's sacrifice shortly thereafter, Rick is the new Captain Falcon.
  • Voice actor: John Campbell
  • Seiyū: Toshiyuki Morikawa

• Captain Falcon (キャプテン ファルコン Kyaputen Farukon^?): Arguably a second protagonist to Rick,^[1] he is shrouded in mystery. When not racing, he works at a bar that he owns under the name Bart Lemming (Bert Lemming in the English dub). He's actually Andy Summer, Jody's brother, who apparently died in the accident that revolved around Zoda several years prior to Rick's awakening. He fights constantly against Black Shadow and the Dark Million Organization, and often lends a hand to the Task Force. In the middle of the series, "The Legend of Falcon" is told to Ryu Suzaku (Rick Wheeler in the dubbed version) by Dr. Stewart. According to the legend, Captain Falcon and Black Shadow are incarnations of light and dark, and in the manner of Yin and Yang, they can't defeat each other on their own. Also, in the beginning of the Universe, after the Big Bang, six powerful objects called "Reactor Mights" were created, and the one who controls them all gains unimaginable power. It is also revealed that Ryu Suzaku is "The Savior" of the Universe and is destined to finally tip the scales in Falcon's favor. In the end, Falcon and Ryu team up to destroy Black Shadow's Dark Reactor with their collected Reactor Mights, and both Falcon and Shadow are thrown into the exploding reactor. When an enraged Black Shadow flies through the air to attack Falcon, he jumps out of the Blue Falcon and uses a devastating Falcon Punch to destroy Black Shadow. Captain Falcon is then apparently consumed by the galaxy-sized explosion. His helmet is later recovered from the debris of Black Shadow's base and is then donned by Ryu, who becomes the new Captain Falcon.
  • Voice actor: David Wills
  • Seiyū: Hideyuki Tanaka

• Jody Summer (ジョディ サマー Jodi Samā^?): The strict leader of the Elite Mobile Task Force, Jody comes down hard on anyone who messes up the mission, including even Lucy Liberty when the latter wants to join the team. Despite her strong commanding presence, Jody wants Rick Wheeler to be on her team. It is revealed early in the series that she is a cyborg due to an accident she and her brother, Andy, were in years ago that revolved around Zoda.
  • Voice actor: Veronica Taylor
  • Seiyū: Kikuko Inoue

• Jack Levin (ジャック レビン Jakku Rebin^?): A ladies' man who starts off as a rival against Rick, but later becomes his friend, even getting him out of trouble when Rick messes up.
  • Voice actor: Marc Thompson
  • Seiyū: Kazuki Yao

• Dr. Stewart (ドクター スチュアート Dokutā Suchuāto^?): Dr. Stewart (Full name: Robert Stewart) is Jody's second in command, and a talented surgeon as well as F-Zero pilot. Captain Falcon entrusted him to pass on the Legend of Falcon to Ryu Suzaku.
  • Voice actor: Dan Green
  • Seiyū: Nobuo Tobita

• Lucy Liberty (ルーシー リバティ Rūshī Ribati^?): Another female member of the Elite Mobile Task Force who works as Dr. Clash's apprentice.
  • Voice actor: Amy Birnbaum
  • Seiyū: Nana Mizuki

• Dr. Clash (クラッシュ Kurasshu^?) / Clash: The Task Force's mechanic.
  • Voice actor: Marc Diraison
  • Seiyū: Isshin Chiba

• Mr. EAD / EAD: Member of the Mobile Task Force. He develops a soft spot for Kate Alen.
  • Voice actor: Wayne Grayson
  • Seiyū: Yasunobu Iwata

• John Tanaka: Director of the Galaxy Police. He is also a big fan of Kate Alen, albeit in a more comical and obsessed manner.
  • Voice actor: David Lapkin
  • Seiyū: Isshin Chiba

The Dark Million Organization[]

An evil organization who plots to win the F-Zero prize to fund their plans for universal domination. Among the major members are:

• Black Shadow: The main villain of the series and leader of the Dark Million Organization. Black Shadow is a man of huge size, incredible strength, devious intelligence, supernatural powers and a sad*stic personality. He hatches the grand scheme of taking the Reactor Mights for himself and not until the very end does his plan fail. The Reactor Mights are the key to fulfill his beloved dream: To create the Dark Matter Reactor which will make the Universe implode and be born anew as a cosmos filled with evil. He is shown to be incredibly patient and cunning, as insults or apparent setbacks are only met by his insane evil laugh, to his minions' perplexion. He rarely takes much physical action in his plans, mostly issuing orders and working behind the scenes, though when he must, he brings out his monstrous machine, the Black Bull. He also has mysterious powers that border on the magical, like sending rays from his body that cause pain to nearby people, to impersonating people by taking their shape. Black Shadow remains in control in the entire series until the very end, when Ryu and Captain Falcon manage to overload and destroy the Dark Reactor. Shocked and furious at his sudden defeat, he jumps out of his machine in the middle of the explosion to attack Falcon, but he is finally defeated when the Falcon Punch is unleashed upon him and he is utterly obliterated. He was also revealed to have two other disguises, as Deathborn and Don Genie.
  • Voice actor: Eric Stuart
  • Seiyū: Norio Wakamoto

• Zoda (ゾーダ Zōda^?): (Full name: Zoda Stawberry). A criminal from Ryu's time. He was the cause of Rick's accident 150 years prior to Rick's awakening. He was also cryogenically frozen and later awakened then transformed into an alien-like being by Black Shadow and his Dark Million Organization. He doesn't appear to like Black Shadow or Miss Killer that much. Later in the series, Zoda is able to transform into a stronger being known as "Hyper Zoda" after having a Reactor Might implanted in his stomach, first shown in episode 32 when he battles with Ryu and Falcon. It is revealed that Zoda was actually created in a biolab during the present time and sent back to the past to get rid of Ryu, as part of Black Shadow's plan. Eventually, Black Shadow double-crosses him and throws him into the Dark Matter Reactor to exploit the power of his Reactor Might. After the Dark Matter Reactor's destruction at the hands of Ryu and Captain Falcon, Zoda miraculously survives the ordeal and shows up for the race in the epilogue, to Baba and The Skull's dismay.
  • Voice actor: Jamie McGonnigal
  • Seiyū: Shinpachi Tsuji

• Haruka Misaki (Luna Ryder / Miss Killer): Black Shadow's right-hand woman who is actually Rick's old girlfriend. She was also frozen with Zoda during the latter's bank robbery, as Haruka wanted revenge for what happened to her boyfriend. Upon awakening, Black Shadow brainwashed her. She usually wins when she races, which is one reason why Black Shadow values her. Zoda doesn't appear to like her. Later on, she recovered her memories, which force Black Shadow to turn against her. She is later saved by Captain Falcon. In the series epilogue, she is revealed to at least be engaged to Rick who has taken on the role of Captain Falcon by then, and ends up working in the Falcon House in place of Bart Lemming and Clank Hughes.
  • Voice actor: Amy Birnbaum (Episode 1-2), Caren Manuel (Episode 8-15)
  • Seiyū: Sayuri Yoshida

• Deathborn: Member of the Dark Million Organization and the head of the F-Zero Committee. A cybernetic mystery, he is never seen talking, has inhuman strength and seems to be one Black Shadow's most secretive minions. When he is last seen, Ryu and Captain Falcon pursue him in hopes of him leading them to Black Shadow. Captain Falcon, however realizes that Deathborn is actually none other than Black Shadow. In his first appearance, he is seen sitting in a dark observation room watching the F-Zero racers, as a reference to a trailer for F-Zero GX though it is not connected to the anime.

• Don Genie: A powerful and wealthy figure who has an interest in munitions, and also has a fortress on the planet Cryton. In truth, Don Genie is simply another disguise for Black Shadow.
  • Seiyū: Chafurin

• Octoman: Member of the Dark Million Organization.
  • Voice actor: Eric Stuart
  • Seiyū: Takeshi Yamato

• Bio Rex: Member of the Dark Million Organization.
  • Voice actor: Marc Thompson
  • Seiyū: Takayuki Fujimoto

• Baba: Member of the Dark Million Organization, as their spy.
  • Voice actor: Sean Schemmel
  • Seiyū: Yasunobu Iwata

• The Skull: Member of the Dark Million Organization.
  • Voice actor: Andrew Rannells
  • Seiyū: Takayuki Fujimoto

• Pico: A hitman with a sniper rifle who works for Dark Million.
  • Voice actor: Sean Schemmel
  • Seiyū: Kenichi Mochizuki

• Blood Falcon: Member of the Dark Million Organization and a clone created from Captain Falcon’s DNA.
  • Seiyū: Banjou Ginga

Other Characters[]

• Samurai Goroh: Leader of a band of space pirates. He first encountered Ryu when the latter was looking for medicine for sick children, which had been stolen by a villainous gang of thieves whose leader was impersonating Goroh. After working together to defeat them, Goroh ties up Ryu and makes off with the loot, though not after leaving him with the medicine he needed. Goroh also serves as an ally to Ryu.
  • Voice actor: Marc Thompson
  • Seiyū: Yasunobu Iwata

• Lisa Brilliant: Member of Samurai Goroh's space pirates. She is also Samurai Goroh's wife.
  • Voice actor: Lisa Ortiz
  • Seiyū: Mayumi Asano

• Michael Chain: Leader of a street gang. He threatened a young man named Truman into capturing top F-Zero Racers, in exchange for the safety of his new girlfriend Dream. His plans were thwarted by Rick Wheeler, Lucy Liberty, Super Arrow, and Mrs. Arrow. He would later appear impersonating Jack Levin's former persona, the Death Reaper.
  • Voice actor: Dan Green
  • Seiyū: Tomoyuki Shimura

• Clank Hughes: The young son of Roy Hughes / Mighty Gazelle, from the planet Heru, whose talent as a genius hacker eventually grants him a spot on the Mobile Task Force. He also works as an assistant for Bart Lemming in the Falcon House. In the epilogue, he is shown taking Ryu's place as the pilot of the Dragon Bird .
  • Voice actor: Amy Birnbaum (child)
  • Seiyū: Rika Komatsu (child), Isshin Chiba (adult)

• Antonio Guster: Member of Samurai Goroh's space pirates. Due to his reckless nature, he ended up clashing with Goroh and eventually sided with Dark Million to get revenge. Ultimately, the two went their separate ways following an explosive race.
  • Voice actor: Marc Diraison
  • Seiyū: Takeharu Ōnishi

• Kate Alen: A famous singer who also performs at the opening ceremonies for F-Zero. Zoda tried to get her to join the Dark Million Organization with the help of Octoman and Bio-Rex. This was thwarted by the Mobile Task Force. She develops a soft spot for Mr. EAD.
  • Voice actor: Karen Neill
  • Seiyū: Ai Maeda

• Silver Neelson: The oldest F-Zero Racer, who continues to race despite losing his rival and friend, Anthony Ropkin, many years prior.
  • Voice actor: Sean Schemmel (old), Marc Diraison (young)
  • Seiyū: Bin Shimada (old), Kenichi Mochizuki (young)

• Mighty Gazelle / Roy Hughes: Roy Hughes was a close friend of Jody's brother, and a spy for the Galaxy Police. He was also the father of Clank until his death at the hands of Zoda. His brain was placed inside a robotic body, resulting in his transformation into the cyborg known as Mighty Gazelle.
  • Voice actor: Wayne Grayson
  • Seiyū: Takayuki Fujimoto

• Super Arrow: The Superhero F-Zero Racer with his talking pet cybernetic bird, Zuck.
  • Voice actor: David Wills
  • Seiyū: Yuuichi Nagashima

• Mrs. Arrow: Super Arrow's wife and sidekick.
  • Voice actor: Lisa Ortiz
  • Seiyū: Yuka Komatsu

• James McCloud: The stoic leader of a band of mercenaries called Galaxy Dog. He is hired by the Galaxy Police director John Tanaka to train the Mobile Task Force as a drill instructor. He shares his name with Fox McCloud's (of the Star Fox series) father. Unknown to Rick, Jody and the others, he also trained members of Dark Million Organization.
  • Seiyū: Shinichiro Miki

• Beastman: A beast hunter. He temporarily joined the Mobile Task Force in order to pursue specific members of the Dark Million organization, and Leon out of vengeance.
  • Seiyū: Yasunori Matsumoto

• Leon: A teenager who can transform into a wolf-like beast. Though pursued by Beastman, he tries to live a normal and peaceful life, unlike his ancestors. He temporarily works at the Falcon House and develops a crush on Lucy, who he is last seen saving from her overturned machine.
  • Seiyū: Kenji Nojima

Music[]

Opening Theme

"The Meaning of Truth (オープニング)" by HIRO-X

• Intro Version 1 (eps. 1-39)
• Intro Version 2 (eps. 40-50) (the new version reveals Zoda's transformation as well as a link between Miss Killer and Haruka doing their introduction)

Ending Theme

1. "Resolution" by Maeda Ai

• Version 1 (eps. 1-39)
• Version 2 (eps. 40-50)

2. "Forever" by Maeda Ai (ep. 51)

All the original songs were on TV Tokyo.

There are remixes of Mute City and Big Blue's songs that play during the anime.

Lost Media[]

The entirety of the anime was dubbed in English, according to David Wills, the voice actor for Captain Falcon, but it is unlikely that they will be released in any format. Additionally, a 16th episode of the anime's english dub run was supposed to air, and had even appeared on a TV schedule, but ultimately never did.

References[]

External links[]

F-Zero GP Legend Episodes