Gatchaman (OVA)

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Gatchaman


caption =
ja_name = ガッチャマン
ja_name_trans = Kagaku ninja tai Gatchaman
genre = Adventure, Science FictionInfobox animanga/OVA
title =
director = Akihiko Nishiyama
studio = Tatsunoko Production
licensor =
licensor_en = flagicon|United States Urban Vision expired now Harmony Gold USA
licensor_other =
episodes = 3
released = October 1, 1994 – April 1, 1995Infobox animanga/Other
title = Alternative titles
content =
* Gatchaman 94
* Tecno Ninja Gatchaman

nihongo|"Gatchaman"|ガッチャマン was a 90's Original video animation of the popular 1970's anime cartoon "Gatchaman" . It was released on video in 3 volumes and released in 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.

Plot

Other notable changes

English Cast

*Ken - Eddie Frierson
*Joe - Richard Cansino
*June - Lara Cody
*Jimmy - Mona Marshall
*Rocky - Richard Epcar
*Dr Nambu - Michael McConnohie
*Chief - Michael Forest
*Kirland - Clifton Wells
*Solaris - Robert Klein
*President Beolute - Jeff Winkless
*Kesslor - Kirk Thornton
*Commander - Barry Stiger
*Lord Zortek - Ralph Votrais

Japanese Cast

*Fumihiko Tachiki as Ryu the Horned Owl (G-5)
*Kouji Ishii as Joe Asakura the Condor (G-2)
*Masaya Onosaka as Ken Washio the Eagle (G-1)
*Michiko Neya as Jun the Swan (G-3)
*Rica Matsumoto as Jinpei the Swallow (G-4)
*Ikuya Sawaki as Dr. Kouzaburou Nanbu
*Kaneto Shiozawa as Berg Katse
*Nobuo Tanaka as Sosai X
*Takeshi Aono as Donaldson

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 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. [ [http://www.ex.org/2.6/19-anime_gatchaman.html Science Ninja Team: Gatchaman ] ]

Availability

The OVA was released in Japan

*Volume 1, "Gatchaman Vs. Turtle King": 10/1/94" [ [http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/works/archive/ova_gatchaman.html 作品データベース ] ]
*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" [ [http://www.tatsunokousa.com/gatchamanova.html Gatchaman ] ]

References

Further reading

* "G-Force": Animated (TwoMorrows Publishing: ISBN 9781893905184)

External links

* [http://www.chronicsite.com/gatchaman/ "Gatchaman" - Home of the White Shadow]
* [http://www.fairlight65.com/ "Fairlight's Gatchaman Battle of the Planets Fansite"] Screenshots, chararcter bois, and downloads.
* [http://gatchonline.com/versions/versions.htm Gatchaman Gatchaman Online and "Gatchaman", "BotP", & G-Force]
*
* [http://www.harmonygold.com/gatchaman/ Harmony Gold Entertainment Catalog]
* [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-02/crunchyroll-to-host-gatchaman-video-series-online Crunchyroll to Host Gatchaman Video Series Online]