"It takes more than a race to make a leader." - Taro Kitano
Taro Kitano is a member of the Metal Maniacs and former leader of the Scorchers in the World Race. He is voiced by Kevan Ohtsji.
Appearance
Taro Kitano is a Japanese man with long, black hair. In World Race, he had a ducktail haircut, whereas in Acceleracers he had a ponytail. He wears samurai-style chainmail with two sets of shoulder plates. He also dons combat boots with spiked padding.
Personality
Contrasting some of his fellow members, Taro is calm, cool and collected in stressful situations. He is somewhat of a second-in-command to Tork Maddox. He proves to be determined and laser-focused, completing the Water Realm in record time after exiting through the Racing Drones’ portal in their headquarters.
Descriptions
"Taro Kitano found a home within the Metal Maniacs after spending time on his own. His drive and perfectionism are only matched by the Teku’s, Karma Eiss. Their attraction to each other becomes a rivalry on the road." - Meet the Drivers v2[1]
“Formerly a loner, Taro Kitano found himself a home when he joined the Metal Maniacs. In this rough-and-tumble group, Taro has ironically discovered a place to relax. A cool and arrogant perfectionist, Taro is drawn to Teku driver Karma Eiss as a kindred spirit. But because they are on different teams, their mutual attraction is expressed in a special form of rivalry on the road.” - Meet the Drivers v1[2]
”Strong and silent, Taro Kitano’s samurai code of ethics gives him the focus he needs to excel.” - World Race Interactive Garage[3]
“Taro Kitano is a racing driver who has already won several international events. His code of ethics worthy of the samurai allows him to achieve excellence. When offered to lead the Scorchers for the World Race, Taro took a look at the '70 Road Runner and he made his choice without difficulty.” - World Race comic description[4]
Biography
Before World Race
He skied down Mount Everest twice, giving him fame and fortune.
World Race
Ring of Fire
Taro first appears in Tezla's complex, he walks away from Vert Wheeler in one scene. While testing his car's ability. Vert uses his jump jets which surprised Taro. On Highway 35, Vert and Taro race each other but Vert accidentally uses the grappling hook and attaches it to a rock. When the grappling hook's wire reached its limit, Deora II and the '70 Plymouth Road Runner spun. Taro leaves Vert behind and Vert later leaves too. Taro is one of the ten drivers racing in the first leg. He and Kurt Wylde were about to go for a jump but Kurt alarms him that they don't have enough speed. Vert Wheeler makes it to the loop and makes the jump. After Taro and the other drivers make the jump, Vert and Taro end up hitting their cars and fall off the track, Kurt Wylde, Banjee Castillo and Brian Kadeem pass the two. Zed-36 detonates a bomb next to the track and explodes after Banjee and Brian pass it. Taro uses his car's ability to run through the lava scorching between the tracks, Lani Tam tries to do the same but ends up on a rock. Taro goes to save Lani when she alarmed drivers. Vert goes too. They both use their grappling hooks to haul the rock up. Vert tells Lani to grab the hook so he can pull it out with her on. Vert's plan was successful and Lani was back on the track. Kurt wins the race afterwards. After the leg, Dr. Tezla gives Kurt, Brian, Banjee, Vert, and him the leadership for their teams.
The Greatest Challenge
Prior to The Greatest Challenge, Taro recruits two new drivers, Everest and Vesuvius. Taro is one of the twenty-two drivers in the second leg. Taro spins out seconds after entering the portal, Mark Wylde hits his car accidentally.
Acceleracers
Appearances
Films
World Race
Acceleracers
Comics
- 1/35 = The Right Choice
- 4/35 = Lava Run
- 29/35 = Burn Rubber
- 32/35 = Scorched Zed
- 35/35 = Keep On Rolling
Gallery
Quotes
"I'm gonna pass you." - Taro's iconic catchphrase when overtaking another driver.
Trivia
- Taro entered in the most number of realms out of the Metal Maniacs, for a total of 9 realms (Storm Realm, Swamp Realm, Lava Realm, Water Realm, Metro Realm, Ice Realm, Neon-Pipeline Realm, Junk Realm and Cosmic Realm), tying with Kurt Wylde.
- Taro and Shirako Takamoto are the only two characters in Acceleracers to be of Japanese background.
- Taro is the only Metal Maniac not to have any form of facial hair (Monkey and Tork have Goatees, Porkchop has a mustache, and Wylde has sideburns) although he has a slight five’o’clock shadow.
- He and Lani Tam are the only two drivers in the AcceleRacers series who drives their licensed car, the ‘70 Plymouth Road Runner and '55 Chevy Nomad respectively.
- According to series creator Jeff Gomez, Taro was named after a karate sensei that trained him in the '70s and '80s.[5]
- Taro Kitano placed second in the 2021 Acceleracers Wiki Character Bracket, behind Vert Wheeler and after Nolo Pasaro.[6]
External links
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlQeLod_ccI
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwbgqrokHUU
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ItrWT5v8EQ
- ↑ (Rough translation from French)https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8qhk582bpa4csjb/AACyxPfzfevEa2ZvEuYY3unXa?dl=0&preview=Episode29.pdf
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Acceleracers/comments/8ybyoh/jeff_gomez_creator_of_hot_wheels_highway_35/e29zcln?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
- ↑ https://twitter.com/acceleracerwiki/status/1415810773054599174?s=21
| Metal Maniacs |
|---|
| Members: Tork Maddox - Taro Kitano - Porkchop - Mark Wylde - Monkey - Sparky |
| Vehicles: Power Bomb - Piledriver - Flathead Fury - Rivited - Hollowback - Rollin' Thunder - Spine Buster - Rat-ified - Jack Hammer - Jaw Jammer - Old Smokey - ‘70 Plymouth Road Runner |
| Team - Gallery |
| Scorchers |
|---|
| Members: Taro Kitano - Vesuvius - Finn Serpa - Harrison Lau - Everest - Wayne Casper - Jet Blaney - Krakatoa |
| Vehicles: 70 Plymouth Road Runner - 1/4 Mile Coupe - Red Baron - 57 Thunderbird - Dodge Charger R/T - 63 Corvette - Muscle Tone |
| Team |
| Acceleracers Characters |
|---|
| Teku Nolo Pasaro - Vert Wheeler - Kurt Wylde - Shirako Takamoto - Karma Eiss - Tone Pasaro |
| Metal Maniacs Tork Maddox - Taro Kitano - Mark Wylde - Porkchop - Monkey - Sparky |
| Racing Drones Gelorum - RD-L1 - RD-S1 - RD-W1 - Motorcycle Drone - Brian Kadeem |
| Silencerz Major Wheeler - Banjee Castillo - Soldiers - Scientists |
| Acceledrome Crew Dr. Peter Tezla - Gig - Lani Tam - Alec Wood (formerly) - Dan Dresden (formerly) |
