Originally conceived as a Japanese manga in the early 1960s by legendary anime artist, Tatsuo Yoshida, Mach GoGoGo, the story of a young race car driver, Go Mifune, was inspired not only by Yoshida's earlier manga, Pilot Ace, but also, according to interviews with the artist, two big-screen American films: Viva Las Vegas and Goldfinger (I call the Bond film "American" because it was largely financed with U.S. funds). Anyone looking at the character who would become known as "Speed Racer" can see the obvious stylistic nod to Elvis Presley (including his black pompadour and even his red sport coat and skinny tie in early episodes), as well as the Bondian tilt in not only the design of the Mach 5 (just like the Aston Martin, with all its technical marvels), but also in the scope and framework