Common Sense Media Review
Animated series is an ad for Hot Wheels cars.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
HOT WHEELS: ACCELERACERS is an animated series comprising five DVDs that together tell the story of how two driving gangs, the Metal Maniacs and the Teku, help mysterious Dr. Tezla (voiced by Michael Donovan) battle the Racing Drones for supremacy, and the coveted Wheel of Power. The action mostly takes place in a series of Racing Realms, in which the rival gangs must outrace and evade the Racing Drones to win Accelechargers, which provide the winning team's cars with special powers. With the Racing Drones' actions being directed by evil Gelorum (Kathleen Barr), the Maniacs and Teku have to work together to succeed.
Is It Any Good?
For little boys who love to build car race tracks and zoom their toy cars into crashes along the back of the couch, this DVD will be right up their alley. Lots of revving, engine tinkering, and spectacular crashes and monsters fill each episode. If the specifics of the Wheel of Power transfer of ownership evade them, it probably doesn't matter, as a Teku-Metal Maniac conflict is bound to pop up and keep the action moving along, and there's always another race track that needs to be sped down.
For parents of those kids, though, it's worth noting that the animated AcceleRacers are gang members prone to verbal and physical fights, and that car crashes appear to be something that everyone walks away from (just madder than before.) Loud techno music takes precedence over dialogue, and while loyalty is displayed toward fellow racers, it's the kind of blind loyalty that leads to fights.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why the Metal Maniacs and the Teku don't work better together. What is the thing they have in common, and why do they spend so much time worrying about their differences?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 8, 2005
- On DVD or streaming : January 1, 2003
- Cast : Kathleen Barr , Lisa Ann Beley , Michael Donovan
- Director : Andrew Duncan
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Mattel Entertainment Inc.
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 60 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 6, 2026
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