Bakusou Kyodai Let's & Go!! - A thorough review of the ultimate machine and the story of brotherly love

Bakusou Kyodai Let's & Go!! - Looking back on the legendary Mini 4WD anime

In the mid-1990s, the Mini 4WD boom swept across Japan. At the center of it all was the anime series "Let's & Go!!" that aired on the TV Tokyo network. This work tells the story of brotherly love, friendship, and growth through the small machines known as Mini 4WDs, and it gave dreams and hope to many children. In this article, I would like to take a closer look at this legendary anime, its appeal, its background, and its value that has not faded even when viewed today.

■Overview of the work

"Let's & Go!" aired for a total of 51 episodes from January 8th, 1996 to December 23rd of the same year. It was written by Koshita Tetsuhiro and directed by Amino Tetsuro. It was produced by XEBEC, with TV Tokyo, Yomiuri Advertising, and Shogakukan Shueisha Productions in charge, and the copyright belongs to Koshita Tetsuhiro, Shogakukan, and ShoPro.

This anime depicts the Mini 4WD-loving brothers, Retsu and Gou Hoshina, as they evolve their machine, Saber, inherited from Dr. Tsuchiya, and take on various races to grow as a person. The story begins when the brothers enter the Great Japan Cup (GJC) Winter Race and are disqualified due to an accident. However, that race made their name known overnight, and they continued to participate in many races, meeting and competing with rivals such as Ryo Takaba, Tokichi Mikuni, Futoshi Kurosawa, and Makoto Kohiro, and growing as a person.

■ Story and Characters

The story centers around the brothers Retsu and Gou Hoshima. Retsu evolves his Sonic Saber, which focuses on cornering, while Gou evolves his Magnum Saber, which focuses on straight lines. The brothers' personalities are reflected in their machines, and one of the highlights is seeing how their machines evolve along with their growth.

Retsu is a fifth-grader at Furin Elementary School, and is a caring older brother figure. The line "What will you do, Retsu?" in episode 38 shows his parents' trust in him. Also, in episode 51 at SGJC, the note "You deserve to come in last, Bae" could be seen as a blow of an older brother's love for his younger brother. Meanwhile, Gou is a younger brother in class 3, fourth grade at Furin Elementary School, and his trademark is the goggles on his head. In contrast to the calm and collected Retsu, he also shows a clumsy side. It's also typical of Gou to get carried away when flattered. The inside of his favorite vest is packed with Mini 4WD parts.

In addition, many other unique characters appear, such as Ryo Takaba, a steady racer who received a machine from Dr. Tsuchiya, Fujiyoshi Mikuni, the heir to the Mikuni Group and a skilled racer, and J, who has received special training in Mini 4WD since childhood. Through racing and interacting with them, Retsu and Go grow as people.

■ The Mini 4WD boom and the influence of anime

"Let's & Go!!" is said to be one of the factors that sparked the Mini 4WD boom. The original manga, which was serialized in Shogakukan's "Monthly CoroCoro Comic" from the June 1994 issue to the October 1999 issue, also gained popularity, and together with the anime, it spread the appeal of Mini 4WD to children all over the country.

In the anime, the Mini 4WD race scenes were depicted so realistically that children were fascinated with wanting to build and race machines like them. The story also had a high level of detail, including the evolution of each character's machine, their race strategies, and their friendships and rivalries, making it enjoyable for both children and adults.

■ Production staff and cast

Many talented staff members were involved in the production of this anime. Series composition was handled by Hiroyuki Hoshiyama, character design by Akio Takami, mechanical design by Kikaku Design Kobo Sensen, Takeshi Takakura, and Taku Sakuragawa. Art direction was Chitose Asakura, color design by Mitsuko Sekimoto, cinematography by Yukio Sugiyama, and editing by Naoyuki Masaki. Additionally, music was handled by Goji Tsuno, Hiroshi Imaizumi, and Masakazu Uehata, and sound direction was by Hideyuki Tanaka.

The cast is also impressive, with Yuriko Fuchizaki as Retsu Hoshina and Haruna Ikezawa as Go Hoshina. Many other talented voice actors also participated, including Chie Kamishiro as Tokichi Mikuni, Urara Takano as Ryo Takaba, and Kumiko Watanabe as J.

■Episodes and subtitles

The 51 episodes in total depict different races and character development in each episode. Here are some highlights:

• Episode 1: "Mini 4WD Brothers Appear! Run Saber!"
• Episode 2: The Winter Race: A Turbulent Final!!
• Episode 3: The Mysterious Full-Cowl Machine!
• Episode 4: Stormy Brothers Showdown! A Fast-Flying Downhill Race!
• Episode 5: "Rematch! Tridagger X: Battle in the Underground Waterway!"
• ...
• Episode 51: The Glorious Podium! The Victorious Mini 4WD

Each episode depicts the tension of the race and the growth of the characters, and develops a story that draws the viewer in. In addition, many of the subtitles for each episode reflect the content of the race and the feelings of the characters, creating excitement even before watching.

■ Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes were also important elements that enhanced the appeal of this anime. Below are the main songs.

• OP1 "Winning Run! ~I want to be the wind~"
• Period: Episode 1 - 25
• Lyricist: Chika Watanabe
• Composition and Arrangement: Michihiko Ota
• Vocals: Yukio Yamagata
• OP2 "FLESH & BLOOD ~Two Feelings~"
• Period: Episodes 26 - 51
• Lyrics and composition: GORYO
• Song: G-CRISIS
• ED1 "Yo! Brother"
• Period: Episode 1 - 12
• Lyricist and composer: Little Boogieman
• Sung by: Boogie Man
• ED2 "I can't even get hurt"
• Period: Episodes 13 - 25
• Lyricist: Natsu Akiyama
• Composer: Riichi Minami
• Arrangement: Michiaki Kato
• Vocals: Miyuki Kajitani
• ED3 "Target Boy of Love"
• Period: Episodes 26 - 39
• Lyrics: Japanese poem Peng Peng, Georgi, Hartman, Langhoff, Richie Balmoriar & Robin Rex
• Composer: Georgi, Hartman, Langhoff, Richie Balmoriar & Robin Rex
• ED4 "Even at the End of the Dream"
• Period: Episodes 40 - 51
• Lyricist: JILL
• Composer: Mitsugu Watanabe
• Sung by: PERSONS

These songs not only enhanced the atmosphere of the anime, but also left a strong impression on viewers. In particular, the opening theme "Winning Run! ~I Want to Be the Wind~" is still loved by many fans as a song that evokes the speed of Mini 4WD and the bond between brothers.

■ Related works

"Let's & Go!!" continued to have sequels and developed into a series. The related works are introduced below.

• "Let's & Go!! WGP"
• "Bakusou Kyodai Let's & Go!! MAX"

In these sequels, more advanced machines and new characters appeared, and the story deepened even further. In particular, "WGP" depicted the Hoshina brothers taking on races around the world, conveying the appeal of Mini 4WD from an international perspective. In "MAX," new rivals and friends appeared as the brothers grew up, and the story unfolded in a more dramatic way.

■ Its appeal remains unchanged even today

"Let's & Go!!" is a work from the 1990s, but its appeal has not faded even when viewed today. This is probably because the story of brotherly love, friendship, and growth depicted through the universal toy of Mini 4WD resonates with people of all ages. The realism of the racing scenes, the individuality of the characters, and the strength of the music also support the appeal of this anime.

Furthermore, this anime not only gave children dreams, but also offered an opportunity to learn creativity and ingenuity through the Mini 4WD toy. The joy of building one's own machine and challenging oneself to race can be said to have enriched the minds of children.

Conclusion

"Let's & Go!!" is a legendary anime that led the Mini 4WD boom, and its charm is still loved by many fans today. The story of brotherly love, friendship, and growth resonates across the ages, and it has given children dreams and hope through the Mini 4WD toy. This anime is not just entertainment, but also has educational value that enriches children's minds. I hope that this work will continue to be loved by many people in the future.