In today's episode of Boing Boing tv, Xeni visits with John Gaeta, the Academy Award-winning Visual Effects supervisor of the Matrix trilogy, to learn more about his digital craft in the new film Speed Racer. This latest Wachowski brothers project reinterprets the classic 1960s Japanese anime series of the same name, and opens in theaters nationwide on May 9.

Gaeta explains how he used VR "bubbles" and a mysterious team known as the "world unit" to create the film's "poptimistic photo-anime" feel. The live action Speed Racer is saturated in a candy-colored palette so rich, audiences may just leave the theater with a contact sugar high.

View interactive samples of the digital building blocks behind the movie in a related online feature in VRMAG, "Speed Racer Uncovered."

And Gaeta adds a special message for Boing Boing tv viewers, who are already well accustomed to all things digital -- "For optimal viewing experience, see Speed Racer at a digital cinema or IMAX theater." He's not kidding, with a feature like this, analog projection just doesn't do the work justice.

(Special thanks: John Gaeta; Andy and Larry Wachowski; and David Pescovitz)

What happens when a young elven hero goes on a hellacious drug binge and high tails it out into the desert? Today's installment of Boing Boing tv's 8-Bit Cinema provides a possible answer, melding the three worlds of Rad Racer, Legend of Zelda, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. RIP, Dr. Thompson.

In part two of today's episode, "Sometimes I Feel Like This:", an animated short by Eric Henry.

In today's edition of Boing Boing tv, we continue our ongoing series of conversations with automotive engineering guru and multiple land speed record-holder Gale Banks, known to many as the godfather of speed. Today -- Banks shares insight on diesel and the DIY revolution.

Banks is an advisor to the Automotive X Prize, and the guy Jay Leno calls when he wants to double the muscle of an 810-horsepower racecar.(special thanks, Ruth and Coop)

See also:

Extreme Diesel Truck Racing

Car Hacking with Gale Banks

In today's episode of Boing Boing tv, we visit the workshop of automotive engineering guru and multiple land speed record-holder Gale Banks, known to many as the godfather of speed. Who knew encryption played a role in high-performance engine design? We take an up-close look at diesel racing trucks capable of speeds over 220 mph -- and we peek at the software that commands their guts. Banks is an advisor to the Automotive X Prize, and the guy Jay Leno calls when he wants to double the muscle of an 810-horsepower racecar.(special thanks, Ruth and Coop)

See also: Extreme Diesel Truck Racing.