Peter Fernandez passed away this week. Many in my age bracket have been talking about him as he is remembered for his voice work in Speed Racer from the 60′s. I also remember his name in the credits for the barely remembered Marine Boy. From what I can recall, Marine Boy was on just prior to Speed Racer at 6am on Saturday mornings. I guess that many kids were still sleeping while I was glued to the aquatic adventures of Marine Boy, Cli Cli and Marina. I was mesmerized by Oxygum and the electric boomerang. I wanted a red wetsuit with jet boots and a dolphin side kick. I have a recollection of painting a picture of Marine Boy on a piece of scrap wood. Couldn’t say why it was a painting and why on scrap wood, but I know I was sitting in the back yard in the summer sun when I was doing it. Marine Boy was hard to play until we had a pool dug into our yard. Speed Racer was easy if you had a bike. Getting the pool was an important part of being able to live out my deep sea adventures as the son of a marine scientist. My sister had to play Marina. The youngest sister had to be the dolphin.
Cartoons aren’t the same anymore. At least not for me and that’s the way it should be. I just hope that kids these days have the same kind of appreciation and fondness for the characters and heroes that they get to grow up with. Marine Boy came out 43 years ago. Peter Fernandez was about my age when he voiced Dr Mariner. I have taken this moment to remember him and his contribution to childhood imagination. It’s important to remember. It’s important to be a child with dreams and heroes.
