Gatchaman (OVA)

Gatchaman (ガッチャマン) is a three-part original video animation (OVA) based on the popular 1970s anime Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.[2] It was released in Japan and the United States during the mid-1990s. This version of Gatchaman is set in the year 2066 where the evil leader of the nation of Hontwall is threatening to take over the planet. Scientists from the International Science Organization are disappearing and only five teenage heroes, the Science Ninja team, can stop the disaster.[3] The OVAs were licensed by Urban Vision through Harmony Gold USA and were released on VHS and DVD. At Anime Boston 2013, Sentai Filmworks had announced that they have rescued the OVA series along with the original 1970's series for a DVD re-release in October.[4] The series was made available for streaming through Crunchyroll.[5]

Gatchaman
Logo of Gatchaman OVA.
ガッチャマン
GenreAdventure
Science Fiction
Original video animation
Directed byAkihiko Nishiyama
Written byHiroyuki Fukushima
Music byMaurice White
Bill Meyers
StudioTatsunoko Production
Artmic
Licensed by
Sentai Filmworks (current)
Urban Vision (former, expired)
Released October 1, 1994 – April 1, 1995[1]
Runtime45 minutes (each)
Episodes3
Alternative titles
  • Gatchaman 94
  • Techno Ninja Gatchaman

The series was originally dubbed by Harmony Gold and Urban Vision, however, Sentai Filmworks produced a new English dub in 2013 for their DVD and Blu-ray re-release to match the uncut TV series dub.[6]

Plot
# Title Original Airdate
1"The Dragon King"
Transcription: "Gatchaman Vs. Turtle King" (Japanese: ガッチャマン VS タートルキング)		October 1, 1994 (1994-10-01)
An enormous dragon-shaped warship decimates a city with plasma beams and giant robotic arms. Its target is the Mantle Plan, a network unifying the world's energy resources. As the sinister ship heads for its next target a team of specialists rise to the rescue: the Gatchaman. Piloting their ship, the Phoenix, the Gatchaman launch a counterattack. Once inside the enemy ship they come face to face with the Galactor's entire army of assassins.[7]
2"The Red Specter"
Transcription: "Secret Red Impulse" (Japanese: 謎のレッドインパルス)		January 1, 1995 (1995-01-01)
The Gatchaman are in trouble and receive help from a mysterious group known as Red Impulse. While cruising near a strange island a submarine is vaporized by a large blast. 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 the Gatchaman struggle against the Galactor's Jupiter Death Brigade and the evil Black Bird Battalion, before decisively defeating them. Battered by combat, the Gatchaman appear to be on the brink of defeat when, out of the sky, a new force appears led by a mysterious warrior in red.
3"The Final Countdown"
Transcription: "Final Count 0002" (Japanese: ファイナルカウント0002)		April 1, 1995 (1995-04-01)

The Gatchaman have to confront Solaris in a final battle to save the earth. The huge mechanical devices installed at each of the Galactor's bases are infiltrating the Earth's interior, disrupting weather patterns and transforming the Earth's landscape into an environment hostile to the human race. In the midst of these disasters Joe is beginning to regain his childhood memories and must deal with the realization that he may be descended from the blood of his enemies. Joe decides to use his knowledge of the Galactor society to help save the human race. Joe single-handedly infiltrates the Galactor headquarters and manages to transmit its coordinates to the Gatchaman moments before he is 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 in which both the Gatchaman and the Red Impulse will pay the ultimate price. In a post-credits scene, it turns out that the Gatchaman team survived thanks to a miracle.

Character variations

Team variations in different versions
GatchamanBattle of the PlanetsG-ForceEagle RidersOVA (Harmony Gold Dub)RankBird UniformWeaponMechaJapanese voice actorVoice actor (BOTP)Voice actor (G-Force)Voice actor (Harmony Gold OVA Dub)Voice actor (Eagle Riders)Voice actor (ADV TV/Sentai OVA dub)
Ken WashioMarkAce GoodheartHunter HarrisKen the EagleG1EagleRazor boomerangAirplaneKatsuji MoriCasey KasemSam FontanaEddie FriersonRichard CansinoLeraldo Anzaldua
Joe AsakuraJasonDirk DaringJoe ThaxJoe the CondorG2CondorPistolRace CarIsao SasakiRonnie SchellCam ClarkeRichard CansinoBryan CranstonBrian Jepson
JunPrincessAgatha June ("Aggie")Kelly JennarJune the SwanG3SwanYo-yoMotorcycleKazuko SugiyamaJanet WaldoBarbara GoodsonLara CodyHeidi Noelle LenhartKim Prause
JinpeiKeyopPee WeeMickey DuganJimmy the FalconG4SwallowBoloDune BuggyYoku ShioyaAlan YoungBarbara GoodsonMona MarshallLuci Christian
Ryu NakanishiTiny HarperHoot Owl ("Hooty")Ollie KeeawaniRocky the OwlG5OwlPistolGod PhoenixShingo KanemotoAlan DinehartJan Rabson/Gregg BergerRichard EpcarPaul SchrierVictor Carsrud

Other character variations across different versions
GatchamanBattle of the PlanetsG-ForceEagle RidersOVA (Harmony Gold Dub)Voice actor (Gatchaman)Voice actor (Gatchaman OVA)Voice actor (BOTP)Voice actor (G-Force)Voice actor (Eagle Riders)Voice actor (Harmony Gold OVA dub)Voice actor (ADV TV/Sentai OVA dub)
Dr. Kozaburo Nambu-hakaseChief AndersonDr. Benjamin BrightheadDr. Thaddeus KeaneDr. Kozaburo NambuTōru ŌhiraAlan DinehartJan Rabson/Gregg BergerIkuya SawakiMichael McConnohieGreg O'NeillAndy McAvin
ISO Director AndersonPresident KaneAnderson / Cmdr. Todd (some episodes)AndersonDirector AndersonTeiji ŌmiyaMichael RyeJan Rabson/Gregg BergerYonehiko KitagawaMichael ForestMarty Fleck
Red Impulse / Kentaro WashioCol. CronosRed Impulse / Kendrick GoodheartRed Impulse / Harley HarrisRed Spectre / Kentaro WashioKeye LukeCam ClarkeUnshō IshizukaBob PapenbrookJohn Tyson
Berg KatseZoltarGalactorLukanSolarisMikio TerashimaKeye LukeBill CapizziKaneto ShiozawaR. Martin KleinEdwin Neal
Sosai (Leader) XO Luminous One / The Great SpiritComputorCybercomLord ZortekNobuo TanakaKeye LukeJan Rabson/Gregg BergerNobuo TanakaRalph VotraisPeter SpellosWinston Parish
Gel SadraMallanoxMasaru IkedaR. Martin Klein
Sylvie Pandora-hakaseDr. Francine AikensDr. Sylvie PandoraMiyuka IedaLara Cody
AnnouncerHideo Kinoshita/Shūsei NakamuraWilliam Woodson (Main) / Alan Young (Zark)Norm PrescottGeorge Manley

Other notable changes
Variations Gatchaman (Japanese) Battle of the Planets Guardians of Space Eagle Riders OVA (English, Harmony Gold) Gatchaman (English)
Identity change command Bird, go!‡ Transmute! G-Force, transform! Eagle Mode, now!
Ken Eagle One, transform!
Joe Shapeshift, Condor!
June Swan Mode, now!
Jimmy Falcon Tracker, transform!
 Bird, go!
Enemy planet Selectol Spectra Galactor Vorak Galactor Selectol
Enemy civilization Galactor (Gyarakutā) Spectra Galactor Vorak Galactor Galactor

‡The original Japanese-language version of Gatchaman contains a small number of words in English.

Cast
Character Original Japanese (1994) English Dubbed [Urban Vision] (1997) English Dubbed [Sentai/Seraphim] (2013)
Ken Washio/Ken (G-1)[1] Masaya Onosaka Eddie Frierson Leraldo Anzaldua
Joe Asakura/Joe (G-2)[1] Kouji Ishii Richard Cansino Brian Jepson
Jun the Swan/June (G-3)[1] Michiko Neya Lara Cody Kim Prause
Jinpei the Swallow/Jimmy (G-4)[1] Rica Matsumoto Mona Marshall Luci Christian
Ryu the Owl/Rocky (G-5)[1] Fumihiko Tachiki Richard Epcar Victor Carsurd
Dr. Kouzaburou Nanbu[1] Ikuya Sawaki Michael McConnohie Andy McAvin
Sosai X/Lord Zortek[1] Nobuo Tanaka Ralph Votrian Charles Campbell
Berg Katse/Solaris[1] Kaneto Shiozawa R. Martin Klein Edwin Neal
Red Impulse/Kentaro Washio/Red Spectre[1] Unshō Ishizuka Bob Papenbrook John Tyson
Chief Anderson[1] Yonehiko Kitagawa Michael Forest Marty Fleck
Dr. Donaldson[1] Takeshi Aono Tom Wyner David Wald
Dr. Kirkland[1] Masaharu Satō Clifton Wells Lowell Bartholomee

Design

In the OVA series, the characters' designs and ages were changed along with other elements as part of 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 originally had long green hair but has short brown hair in the OVA, has developed physically and has worked as a model in the past. Jinpei is renamed as Jimmy and given more of a "street kid" look while his position on the team becomes "hacker". Ryu is now the oldest at 25, he was originally 17, and his hairstyle is changed to a blonde and purple mohawk. The GodPhoenix was also redesigned and appears to be larger than the original. The Red Impulse squadron had only three members in the original series while in the OVA continuity there are more.[8]

Music

The film's soundtrack was composed and produced by Maurice White and Bill Meyers, with additional music by Bob Sakuma from the original TV series. The ending theme "Let's Fly" was performed by Lance Matthew.[9][10][11]

References
  1. ガッチャマン. Tatsunoko Production (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  2. "Gatchaman Collection DVD". Anime News Network. 2002-01-12. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  3. "Gatchaman Collection". Mania. Archived from the original on 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  4. "Sentai Filmworks Adds Gatchaman, DiGi Charat, Godannar Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  5. "Crunchyroll to Host Gatchaman Video Series Online". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  6. "Twitter / SentaiFilmworks: @GeoffreySOliver In answer". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  7. "ROBOTECH.COM – The Official Robotech Web Site!". Robotech. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  8. "Science Ninja Team: Gatchaman". Ex.org. Archived from the original on 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  9. "Gatchaman: Soundtrack". imdb.com.
  10. "Maurice White, Bill Meyers – Gatchaman Original Soundtrack Vol.2". discogs.com.
  11. "Original Animation Video "Gatchaman" Original Soundtrack". vgmdb.net.

Further reading
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.