The Hunt for Fasty
Last updated on Jan 26, 2022
This is a really old and mostly known story (in some form), but I thought some of you might still be interested about it. And naturally, since I conducted these questions, I saw it fitting to include them in the Q&A section of this website as well, to preserve these messages.
Firstly, to those unfamiliar with this particular concept art, Trippo.jpg was a presumed concept art for the 1999 racing spin-off, Crash Team Racing, the last game to be developed by series creator Naughty Dog. The reason for this misbelief was that it was placed into the same category as Crash Team Racing characters by Bob Rafei on his personal website.
Of course, without further information provided, rumors of this character spread far and wide. For years, people were talking about a cut character that could be found on the NTSC-J version of Crash Team Racing. The character, allegedly named Fasty (despite the image name being Trippo), was a hippopotamus in an aviator suit driving a golden go-kart. Of course, these rumors were false and completely fake, but I still really wanted to know the truth behind this particular character.
Of course, without further information provided, rumors of this character spread far and wide. For years, people were talking about a cut character that could be found on the NTSC-J version of Crash Team Racing. The character, allegedly named Fasty (despite the image name being Trippo), was a hippopotamus in an aviator suit driving a golden go-kart. Of course, these rumors were false and completely fake, but I still really wanted to know the truth behind this particular character.
Charles Zembillas
Inititally, I contacted Charles Zembillas under one of his blog posts related to Crash Bandicoot. I was hoping he could tell me a bit more about it, but he was not involved with Crash Team Racing. Naturally, he recognised Bob Rafei's work, and redirected me to him.
The character art you linked to is by Bob Rafei. Looks like it was done around the time he was a student with me in the late 90s. I don't know what the character's name is. I wasn't involved with this project while it was being developed at ND. Sorry, that's about all I have to offer as far as what I know.
I wish you good luck with the new Crash site you're developing! Thanks for checking in and looking forward to its progress.
(Charles Zembillas, April 21, 2014)
Bob Rafei
Fast forward a few years, when I accidentally stumbled upon Bob Rafei's personal website. Naturally the topic popped in my mind as I saw this particular piece of concept art. I randomly remembered this topic and then decided to contact Bob Rafei, hoping that he would eventually reply.
I have seen your concept art of a possible character for Crash Team Racing called either Trippo or Fasty. He was a hippopotamus.
Could you perhaps tell me a bit more about the character? Was he modeled, or was he scrapped altogether? Did you decide not to use him, or was others responsible for the choice?
I'd really appreciate any information you can tell me about him. I am eagerly waiting for your reply.
(Wickon, May 7, 2017)
To the greatest of my surprise, Bob did actually answer my question in less than a day.
Thanks for the email. If I recall correctly Trippo was character design I did for a friend who was developing airfare search engine and was looking for a mascot of sorts, and not part of CTR designs. I should have placed it in another category, but honestly, I've been too busy with BRB projects
and family to keep up the site!
(Bob Rafei, May 8, 2017)
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
A similar character, Hasty, a moose appears in Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled. There is a removed driver called DriverFasty, who was most likely replaced with Hasty to avoid possible legal conflicts with artist Bob Rafei.
Conclusion
What these discoveries mean:
- The concept art of Trippo was not created for Crash Team Racing.
- Info on the web about Trippo or Fasty, as some websites name him, is just hogwash.
- Beenox likely based their own character, Hasty on this piece of art by Bob Rafei.