When I was a child growing up in the 1970's, I remembered watching a series called BATTLE OF THE PLANETS. I later learned that it was a edited version of a Japanese animated series titled SCIENCE NINJA TEAM GATCHAMAN (the translation of the title from the Japanese) and had my interest peaked by the existence of the original. In the 1990's on the Cartoon Network, I got to see another attempt to adapt the original GATCHAMAN called G-FORCE: GUARDIANS OF SPACE. But recently, I got the chance to finally see the original GATCHAMAN in its unaltered form (except for the dubbed English dialog) and the original is far superior to the two American adaptations.
If you are familiar with both early American adaptations of GATCHAMAN, you know the series' premise. If not, here's how it went. In the 21st. Century, the nations of Earth are under constant attack by Galactor, a ruthless terrorist organization led by Berg Katse (who actually the stooge of a being known only as Leader X). Using super-advanced machinery and technology, they were able to commit acts of mass destruction at will in attempt to conquer the world. The only thing that stood between the Galactor Organization and world conquest was five youths known as the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (or G-Force if you prefer).
The Gatchaman squad were Ken the Eagle aka Gatchaman (G-1), the leader of the team; Joe the Condor (G-2), the rebellious second in command; Jun the Swan (G-3), the pretty demolitions expert; Jinpei the Swallow (G-4), the youngest member of the team; and Ryu the Owl (G-5), the team strongman and pilot of their aircraft the God-Phoenix. All five clad in colorful superhero-type uniforms (birdstyles) which feature glider wing like capes that allow them to soar through the air and distinctive helmets with beak-like visors which vaguely resemble the heads of birds. All five were trained in a superhuman form of martial arts which allows them to perform tremendous superhuman feats. And four of the team utilize special vehicles that when combined with the God-Phoenix turn it into a super weapon.
The Science Ninja Team were led behind the scenes by Dr. Nambu, a scientist from the International Science Organization (ISO) who developed their distinctive weaponry and vehicles. They also were occasionally aided in their fight against Galactor by the Red Impulse squadron, a trio of pilots whose commander turned out to be the father of one of the Science Ninja Team's members.
But what separate the original series from its two American adaptations were two major things. One was the massive violence and scenes of mass destruction and loss of life which was edited out in BATTLE OF THE PLANETS and restored in part in G-FORCE. The other was the in depth characterization of not only the heroes of the series, but the villains and supporting characters in each of the episodes. A thing that would become more common in the action-adventure series that would come out in the 1990's but was light years ahead of what was going on in animation stories during the 1970's.
In conclusion, if you want to enjoy this classic series it's best to watch the original series in either the original Japanese or the current dubbed English version. Because the original GATCHAMAN is obviously the best of the bunch.
If you are familiar with both early American adaptations of GATCHAMAN, you know the series' premise. If not, here's how it went. In the 21st. Century, the nations of Earth are under constant attack by Galactor, a ruthless terrorist organization led by Berg Katse (who actually the stooge of a being known only as Leader X). Using super-advanced machinery and technology, they were able to commit acts of mass destruction at will in attempt to conquer the world. The only thing that stood between the Galactor Organization and world conquest was five youths known as the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (or G-Force if you prefer).
The Gatchaman squad were Ken the Eagle aka Gatchaman (G-1), the leader of the team; Joe the Condor (G-2), the rebellious second in command; Jun the Swan (G-3), the pretty demolitions expert; Jinpei the Swallow (G-4), the youngest member of the team; and Ryu the Owl (G-5), the team strongman and pilot of their aircraft the God-Phoenix. All five clad in colorful superhero-type uniforms (birdstyles) which feature glider wing like capes that allow them to soar through the air and distinctive helmets with beak-like visors which vaguely resemble the heads of birds. All five were trained in a superhuman form of martial arts which allows them to perform tremendous superhuman feats. And four of the team utilize special vehicles that when combined with the God-Phoenix turn it into a super weapon.
The Science Ninja Team were led behind the scenes by Dr. Nambu, a scientist from the International Science Organization (ISO) who developed their distinctive weaponry and vehicles. They also were occasionally aided in their fight against Galactor by the Red Impulse squadron, a trio of pilots whose commander turned out to be the father of one of the Science Ninja Team's members.
But what separate the original series from its two American adaptations were two major things. One was the massive violence and scenes of mass destruction and loss of life which was edited out in BATTLE OF THE PLANETS and restored in part in G-FORCE. The other was the in depth characterization of not only the heroes of the series, but the villains and supporting characters in each of the episodes. A thing that would become more common in the action-adventure series that would come out in the 1990's but was light years ahead of what was going on in animation stories during the 1970's.
In conclusion, if you want to enjoy this classic series it's best to watch the original series in either the original Japanese or the current dubbed English version. Because the original GATCHAMAN is obviously the best of the bunch.