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Gatchaman


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Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman ( 科学忍者隊ガッチャマン )

Fuji TV/Tatsunoko Productions, 1972-1974

ADV Films, 2005

Directed by Hisayuki Toriumi (Uchuu no Kishi Tekkaman, Area 88)

Created by the late Tatsuo Yoshida (Mach Go Go Go, Shinzo Ningen Casshan)

Running Time: 22 minutes per episode

Rated TV-PG for graphic violence, mature situations and mild language.

"They're sometimes five, and sometimes one...the White Shadow that steals close without showing its true form."

A new threat appears all over the world in the form of the terrorist group known as the Galactor. To combat the forces of Galactor, well-renowned scientist Kouzaburou Nambu unleashes the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, a team of five young heroes skilled in the art of ninjutsu and dressed in unique bird-like costumes.

Story: A-

For nearly three decades, this classic anime series has been presented to American audiences as the severely edited incarnations Battle of the Planets and G-Force. Then, just a few years ago, when Rhino Video released the first BOTP DVD, they included the original uncut episodes in very small increments.

Today, thanks to the folks at ADV Films, you can now experience Gatchaman the way it was meant to be. Lay witness the adventures of Ken, Joe, Jun, Jinpei and Ryu, as they battle Galactor and thwart their evil plans. You'll also see how the show became an inspiration to today's anime and tokusatsu shows.

Animation: B

Yes, the animation is old and a bit outdated, but it still looks cool, even after over 30 years. From the funky bird outfits to the legendary God Phoenix, Gatchaman has it all. Character designs by Yoshida. Mechanical designs by Mitsuki Nakamura (Mach Go Go Go, Hurricane Polymar).

Soundtrack: A

Dare-da?! Dare-da?! Dare-da?!

Bob Sakuma's jazzy orchestral score remains one of the most memorable anime soundtracks of all-time. As a matter of fact, some of the tracks were also used in the 1994 OAV remake. And let's not forget the groovy theme "Gatchaman no Uta."

Sub vs. Dub

Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman features Katsuji Mori (Garma in Mobile Suit Gundam, Nephrite in Sailor Moon) as Ken, Isao Sasaki as Joe, Kazuko Sugiyama (Ten in Urusei Yatsura) as Jun, Yoko Shioya (Tetsuro in The Guyver) as Jinpei, the late Shingo Kanemoto as Ryu, Toru Ohira as Dr. Nambu, Mikio Terashima (Zanzibal in Choudenji Machine Voltes V) as Berg Katse, and Nobuo Tanaka as Sosai X.

After decades of horrible dubs, Gatchaman gets an English dub that's actually tolerable. Featured voices include Leraldo Anzaldua as Ken, Brian Jepson (Tetsuya in Mazinkaiser) as Joe, Kim Prause (Rin in Maburaho, Aya in Super GALS!) as Jun, Luci Christian (Kaname in Full Metal Panic!, Yukari-chan in Azumanga Daioh) as Jinpei, Victor Carsrud (Matsuzaki in Samurai Gun) as Ryu, Andy McAvin (Kimura in Azumanga Daioh, Mardukas in Full Metal Panic!) as Dr. Nambu, Edwin Neal as Berg Katse, and Winston Parish as Leader X.

DVD Extras: B+ (Boxed Set)

Each DVD features gorgeous artwork by famed comic artist Alex Ross (Marvels), textless closing animation sequences, and commentary by the English staff and cast. But for the most bang for your buck, get the boxed set ($22.99 at Best Buy, including a $5 gift card).

The box features an awesome painting by Ross and an extra DVD with the following features (many of which are rather useless):

- Profile: Ken Washio the Eagle

- Character sketches for Ken

- Interview with Leraldo Anzaldua (Ken)

- Audition Footage: Ken (English dub)

- Episode Sketches

- Interview with ADR Director Charles Campbell

- The Origin of Tatsunoko Productions: A Mini-Documentary

- And We Were Watching - an article on what was on U.S. TV while Japan had Gatchaman.

- Unused Ending Credit Sequences

- Gatchaman Modellock Commercial - featuring one of the earliest Gatchaman toys.

The Bottom Line

If you have Battle of the Planets or G-Force on DVD, it's time to trade them in for Gatchaman. Still an awesome anime, not to mention one of the best spy thrillers ever made.

Links

ADV Films' Official Gatchaman Homepage

Reference

Anime News Network

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Hmm... I just skimmed... and haven't clicked the links...

but is this the whole series? I always thought it was like boku discs (and thus bucks, from my browsing of the bootlegs on ebay and such).

I loved Battle of the Planets as a kid...but I want to start at the beginning and get the whole (original Japanese) original treatment and story (supposedly more mature) and all that...

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but is this the whole series? I always thought it was like boku discs (and thus bucks, from my browsing of the bootlegs on ebay and such).

Box 1 has the first 12 episodes. Since Gatchaman is 105 episodes long, you might be looking at 18 discs total just for the series alone (not counting the bonus discs on the boxed sets).

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A7,

Why don't you just drop the SubvsDub bit. Your clearly bias so why even bother wasting the time typing and further slamming Dubs. :rolleyes:

If I get this series I'll pay the 200 or so bucks for it when ADV re-issues it 2 years from now. Like they did with RT & EVA(state side).

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Bought it today at Best Buy (I didn't get the Gift Card though :angry:) while looking for a last minute Fathers Day gift. I got home and compared the first episode from disc one with Rhino's BOTP volume one and the visuals were obvious. ADV really took the time to restore and present this in a very excellent way. I liked the art of Alex Ross (the Norman Rockwell of comics IMHO) on the box ironcly from the cancled BOTP comics by Top Cow. I got to the extras disc later on and just saw that Toy/Model commercial. Very weird. I'll peak at the other stuff at another time. Props for ADV for finally giving us Gatchman fans what we want let's just hope the other volumes don't fail us or get delayed.

Edited by gerwalk25
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Bought it today at Best Buy (I didn't get the Gift Card though :angry:) while looking for a last minute Fathers Day gift. I got home and compared the first episode from disc one with Rhino's BOTP volume one and the visuals were obvious. ADV really took the time to restore and present this in a very excellent way. I liked the art of Alex Ross (the Norman Rockwell of comics IMHO) on the box ironcly from the cancled BOTP comics by Top Cow. I got to the extras disc later on and just saw that Toy/Model commercial. Very weird. I'll peak at the other stuff at another time. Props for ADV for finally giving us Gatchman fans what we want let's just hope the other volumes don't fail us or get delayed.

Thanks. This is exactly what I was waiting to hear. Will get it tomorrow.

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