Anthony Ropkin

### Occupation

F-Zero Pilot (Pre-2132 until sometime in 2312, awoke from coldsleep in 2202 and kept racing)

### Machine

(Unknown name and unknown number, for both past and present machines)

## Biographical information

### Age

Unknown, was in cold sleep for 70 years until 2202

### Date of death

2132 (But he was placed into coldsleep and awoke in the year 2202)

## Appearances

### Debut

F-Zero Farukon Densetsu (Anime) Lap 14 - Iron Man Silver Neelsen

Anthony Ropkin is a minor character in the F-Zero Farukon Densetsu anime. He was an F-Zero pilot from 70 years prior to the events of Lap 14 - Iron Man Neelsen, having suffered an accident on the track and was revived by coldsleep in the present time (2202, as of the episode). He was Silver Neelsen’s rival and close friend.

## History

### **F-Zero Farukon Densetsu (Anime)**

#### **Pre-2132**

Anthony Ropkin had become an F-Zero pilot, winning several races while competing with his rival and friend, Silver Neelsen. Though Silver had won other races, Anthony always beat him in the competition. He had an unmarked and unnamed machine at this time, all red, in contrast to Silver's old blue machine with no name and no number.

#### **2132**

After Silver Neelsen suffered a track accident during a practice run before an actual race, Anthony had been left wondering where his rival was during the race. Coincidentally, Anthony would suffer an accident of his own. An oil slick coming from a wrecked machine on the track caused Anthony's own machine to skid across it, causing a fire. His machine then crashed into a barrier, and Anthony would then end up in coldsleep for 70 years, until he awoke again.

#### **2202**

Unbeknownst to a now-older Silver, Anthony kept racing, and had even been winning races that the Elite Mobile Task Force hadn't been part of. Between the present day old Silver Neelsen teaching Jack Levin how to become a better pilot, Silver caught sight and sound of a TV broadcasting Anthony's latest victory.

Anthony approached Silver in a different location as the sun set, allowing the two to catch up on old times. Anthony recollected on what had happened to himself, and revealed he didn't challenge Silver until he (Anthony) could improve his skill against him. The two rekindled their friendship and raced together once more. They ended up in a draw for third place, and Anthony, in friendly banter, declared he would beat Silver the next time.

Despite this, he has not made an appearance outside of Lap 14, and is an exclusive character to the anime.

## Trivia

* Anthony had a red machine in both the past and present.
	+ However, they are different machines, and the present day machine is a red recolor of the Golden Fox.
		- Neither of Anthony's machines have a given name nor machine number.
* The Mobile Task Force's inability to find any data on Anthony in the present day is not fully explained and is actually odd. His appearance had never changed from the flashbacks, and his name was even spoken during one of his victories. There is the slight possibility that the Elite Mobile Task Force needed more information other than "F-Zero" and "Anthony" as terms, to truly determine his identity.
* How Silver Neelsen did not catch on sooner to the fact his rival had been wearing the exact same outfit and helmet since the old days is never explained either. There may be a possibility that Silver may have somehow not seen or been a part of the races with Anthony in them, however.
* Given his presence in the photograph from the first F-Zero Grand Prix, Anthony had been a pilot prior to the year 2132. It is not known how long ago (from that point) exactly that may have been, however.

## References

1. ↑ [1]F-Zero Farukon Densetsu (Anime) Lap 14 - Iron Man Neelsen (Subbed)