Gatchaman (ガッチャマン?) was a 1990s original video animation of the popular 1970s anime cartoon Gatchaman. It was released on video in 3 volumes and released in Japan and the United States by Urban Vision. In the new Gatchaman remake the setting is the year 2066 the world is under threat from the country of Hontwall and its evil leader is threatening to take over the planet. International Science Organization scientists are disappearing and only five teenager heroes, the Science Ninja team can stop this disaster. | # | Title | Original Airdate | | 1 | "The Dragon King"
"Gatchaman Vs. Turtle King" (ガッチャマン VS タートルキング) | October 1, 1994 | | An enormous dragon-shaped warship decimates a city with searing plasma beams and giant robotic arms. Its target: The Mantel Plan, a network unifying the world's energy resources. As the sinister ship heads for its next target, a brave team of specialists rise to the rescue... the Gatchaman! Piloting their prized ship, the Phoenix, the Gatchaman launch their counterattack. But once inside the enemy's mammoth ship, they come face to face with the Galactor's entire army of assassins.[2] | | 2 | "The Red Specter"
"Secret Red Impulse" (謎のレッドインパルス) | January 1, 1995 | | Gatchaman are in trouble and receive help from the mysterious group known as Red Impulse. While cruising near a strange island, a submarine is vaporized by a blast of unbelievable force. Summoned to avenge the attack, the Gatchaman Group comes upon the secret undersea headquarters of the Alien Galactor. In a fierce air and undersea battle, Gatchaman struggle against the Galactor's mighty Jupiter Death Brigade and the evil Black Bird Battalion. Battered by combat, Gatchaman seem on the brink of a disastrous defeat when out of the sky a new force appears led by a mysterious warrior in red. | | 3 | "The Final Countdown"
"Final Count 0002" (ファイナルカウント0002) | April 1, 1995 | | Gatchaman has to confront Berg Katse in a final battle to save the earth.The huge mechanical monsters and devices installed at every base of the Galactor are infiltrating the Earth's interior and causing disruptions in the weather patterns and transforming the Earth's geographical landscape into an environment hostile to the Human race. Amongst all of these disasters Joe is beginning to regain his childhood memories and must deal with the reality that he may be spawn from the blood of those he hates so much. In a desperate attempt to deal with his shattering reality - Joe decides he must use his knowledge of the Galactor society the help the Human race. Joe single handedly infiltrates the Galactor Headquarters and manages to transmit its coordinates to the Gatchaman moments before being captured by Solaris and his henchman. Meanwhile, the Gatchaman group teams up with Red Impulse to attack the Galactor's home base - it's a brutal fight to the death and when all is said and one, both the Gatchaman and the Red Impulse will pay the ultimate price | [edit] Characters The re-naming of the various characters and terms in Gatchaman OVA are highlighted as follows (in correspondence to their Gatchaman equivalents, among others): [edit] Other character variations across different versions | Gatchaman | Battle of the Planets | G-Force | Eagle Riders | OVA (Dub) | | Dr. Kozaburo Nambu | Chief Anderson | Dr. Benjamin Brighthead | Dr. Thaddeus Keane | Dr. Kozaburo Nambu | | ISO Director Anderson | President Kane | Anderson/Cmdr. Todd (some episodes) | Anderson | Director Anderson | Red Impulse /
Kentaro Washio | Col. Cronos | Red Impulse | Harley Harris | Red Spectre | | Berg Katse | Zoltar | Galactor | Lukan | Solaris | | Sosai (Leader) X | O Luminous One /
The Great Spirit | Computor | Cybercom | Lord Zortek | | Galactor | Planet Spectra | Planet Galactor | Vorak | Galactor | Gel Sadra
(Gatchaman 2) | | | Mallanox | | [edit] Other notable changes Gatchaman
Identity change command | Battle of the Planets
Identity change command | G-Force
Identity change command | Eagle Riders change command | OVA change command (English) | | Bird, Go! | Transmute! | G-force Transform! | Eagle Mode, NOW! | | Ken | Eagle One Transform | | Joe | Shapeshift, Condor | | June | Swan Mode, Now | | Jimmy | Falcon Tracker Transform | | [edit] English cast [edit] Japanese cast [edit] Design In the OVA series, the characters' designs and ages were also changed, along with other elements, in the process of "updating" the series for modern audiences: - Ken, who had long hair in the original series, was given short hair.
- Joe was redesigned with more of a "bad boy" image, given a tattoo, and made a smoker. His car was also updated to a Shelby Cobra.
- Jun, who originally had long green hair, has short brown hair in the OVA. She is also a lot more physically developed, and works as an assistant manager and swimming instructor at a hotel, and had also worked as a model in the past.
- Jinpei, who was renamed Jimmy, was given more of a "street kid" look, while his position on the team became "hacker".
- Ryu was now the oldest at 25 (as opposed to 17) and his hair was changed to a blonde and purple sort of mohawk.
- The GodPhoenix was also redesigned, and appears to be larger than the original.
- The Red Impulse squadron was only three members in the original series, while in the OVA continuity, there are more members.[4]
[edit] Availability The OVA was released in Japan - Volume 1, "Gatchaman Vs. Turtle King": 10/1/94
- Volume 2, "Secret Red Impulse": 1/1/95
- Volume 3, "Final Count 0002": 4/1/95
The video was released in the US distributed by Urban Vision - Gatchaman OAV Vol 1, "The Dragon King": July 29, 1997
- Gatchaman OAV Vol 2, "The Red Specter": August 26, 1997
- Gatchaman OAV Vol 3, "The Final Countdown": September 16, 1997[5]
[edit] References [edit] Further reading [edit] External links |
