Battle of the Planets 

A five-member superhero team called G-Force fights to defend Earth and its space colonies from the threat of the planet Spectra.

Stars:

Alan Young, Keye Luke, Ronnie Schell

Cast

Series cast summary:
Alan Young	...	7-Zark-7 / ... 85 episodes, 1978-1980
Keye Luke	...	Colonel Cronus / ... 85 episodes, 1978-1980
Ronnie Schell	...	Jason 85 episodes, 1978-1980
Janet Waldo	...	Princess / ... 85 episodes, 1978-1980
Casey Kasem	...	Mark 85 episodes, 1978-1980
Alan Dinehart	...	Chief Anderson / ... 85 episodes, 1978-1980
Takayo Fischer	...	Additional Voices 85 episodes, 1978-1980
David Jolliffe	...	Additional Voices 85 episodes, 1978-1980
Alan Oppenheimer	...	Additional Voices 85 episodes, 1978-1980
William Woodson	...	Additional Voices / ... 85 episodes, 1978-1980

Storyline

Zoltar and his evil minions constantly attempt to either destroy or conquer the planet Earth. His efforts in this regard are constantly battled by G-Force, a group of five teenagers with high-tech vehicles, weapons, and a thing for bird-like costumes. Each member of the defense team has incredible, cerebrionic-enhanced superpowers. These teenaged orphans have pledged their lives to defend Earth and the Federation from Zoltar, ruler of the planet Spectra. G-Force's missions are coordinated from Center Neptune on Earth by their computerized assistant, 7-Zark-7.

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Plot Keywords:

outer space | 

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-Y7

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tiny Harper is the only member of G-Force whose last name is mentioned on-screen.

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Quotes

[opening narration]
Narrator: Battle of the Planets! G-Force, five incredible young people with superpowers! And watching over them from Centre Neptune, 7-Zark-7! Watching, warning against surprise attacks by alien galaxies from beyond space. G-Force! Fearless young orphans, protecting Earth's entire galaxy. Always five, acting as one. Dedicated! Inseparable! Invincible!

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Alternate Versions

Re-released as G-Force: Guardians of Space (1987) with a different translation.

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Connections

Referenced in 100 Greatest Cartoons (2005)

User Reviews

Great big slices of American cheese!

Having run madly around the school playground as a member of G-Force, I have fond memories of this series. I was lucky enough to discover some UK re-runs recently and I must say it doesn't disappoint. This had to be one of the most bizarre cartoon series ever. Sub-anime cartoon action, with a core of good Vs evil morality and a strange taste in feathery superhero costumes.

Basically, our five brave orphan heroes spend their day chilling and waiting to be called into action - when they are, it's off in the Phoenix zap about and save our galaxy from another lacklustre take-over attempt by Spectra - embodied be the Evil Zoltar.

Intros from soothing robot narrator 7-Zark-7 (and his robot dog 1-Rover-1) push the plots along, and somehow our heroes save the day by flying about a bit, throwing some banter about and coaxing this weeks traitor back to the good guys before wherever they are explodes. Zoltar then promptly escapes to pester the good peoples of Earth and her colonies another day.

You will not find a better example of 70's haircuts, camp villains, naff plots and creaky cold-war style American morality. It's a winner!

A few things to treasure... One: All the computers still work on ticker-tape in the future... fantastic! Two: Camp bad-guy Zoltar not only had all the best lines, but some of the most fulsome lips in the cartoon universe. Three: Possibly the most melodramatic opening spiel in tevevision history (even beats the A-team!) Four: 7-Zark-7's ongoing romance with 'Susan' the sexy computer voice that delivered the mission at the start of the show.

In the UK, you can catch 'Battle of the Planets' on Bravo, usually in the dead of night. On reflection, perhaps this is a good thing - the children of today might not be able to handle the sheer drama and tension.

And yes, I did have a crush on Princess. And I still do.

Details

Country:

Japan USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

G-Force

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gallerie International Films Ltd., Tatsunoko Production

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1