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 1970s 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 | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Adventure Science fiction |
| Original video animation | |
| Directed by | Akihiko Nishiyama |
| Written by | Hiroyuki Fukushima |
| Music by | Maurice White Bill Meyers |
| Studio | Tatsunoko Production Artmic |
| Licensed by |
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| Released | October 1, 1994 – April 1, 1995[1] |
| Runtime | 45 minutes (each) |
| Episodes | 3 |
| Alternative titles | |
| |
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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
|
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. | |||
Cast
The show has gotten two English releases. Note that some characters not directly credited in one English version or another, but have been deduced from additional voice credits/ prior roles of an actor, are in italics.
In 1997, Harmony Gold released the series with a dub recorded by co-publisher Urban Vision, with its former in-house dub producer Sky Quest Entertainment. This dub changed a few character names, but kept an overall faithful plot otherwise. This version was released on VHS and DVD, before Harmony Gold's license expired.
In 2013, Sentai Filmworks, licensed and redubbed the series using former ADV Films in-house dub producer Seraphim Digital. This dub keeps the original Japanese names, and uses the cast from Sentai's uncut dub of the original show. Dub director Charles Campbell used the alias names "Bentley Jet" and "Brando Austin" in the credits in addition to his real one.
Major cast
| Character | Japanese | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Quest Entertainment (1997) | Seraphim Digital (2013) | ||
| Narrator | George Manley | ||
| Ken Washio | Masaya Onosaka | Eddie Frierson
David Pires (young) |
Leraldo Anzaldua |
| Joe Asakura | Kouji Ishii | Richard Cansino | Brian Jepson |
| Jun | Michiko Neya | Lara Cody | Kim Prause |
| Jinpei | Rica Matsumoto | Jimmy | Luci Christian |
| Mona Marshall | |||
| Ryuu Nakanishi | Fumihiko Tachiki | Rocky Nakanishi | Victor Carsurd |
| Richard Epcar | |||
| Dr. Kouzaburou Nanbu | Ikuya Sawaki | Michael McConnohie | Andy McAvin |
| Berg Katse | Kaneto Shiozawa (male)
Ai Orikasa (female) |
Solaris | Edwin Neal (male)
Claire Hamilton (female) |
| R. Martin Klein | |||
| Leader X | Nobuo Tanaka | Lord Zortek | Charles Campbell |
| Ralph Votrian | |||
| Kentarou Washio | Unshou Ishidzuka | Bob Papenbrook | John Tyson |
| Director Anderson | Yonehiko Kitagawa | Michael Forest | Marty Fleck |
| President Kerry Beoluke | Shigezou Sasaoka | Jeff Winkless | Mark Laskowski |
| Dr. Kirkland | Masaharu Satou | Clifton Wells | Lowell Bartholomee |
| Dr. Kessler | Takehito Koyasu | Kirk Thornton | Leraldo Anzaldua |
| Blackbirds | Shin'ichirou Miki | ||
Minor cast
| Episode | Character | Japanese | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Quest Entertainment (1997) | Seraphim Digital (2013) | |||
| 1 | Turtle King captain | Kazuhiro Nakata | Barry Stigler | Rob Mungle |
| Turtle King crew | Isshin Chiba | David Millbern | ||
| Joe Asakura's father | Hirohiko Kakegawa | |||
| Joe Asakura's mother | Kyouko Terase | |||
| Professor | Tomohisa Asou | Frank Catalano | Charles Campbell | |
| Flight attendant | Naoki Ishii | |||
| Newscaster 1 | Dave Mallow | Charles Campbell | ||
| Newscaster 2 | Ralph Votrian | Charles Campbell | ||
| Newscaster 3 | Mona Marshall | Kim Prause | ||
| Newscaster 4 | Melora Harte | Kim Prause | ||
| 2 | Dr. Donaldson | Takeshi Aono | Tom Weiner | David Wald |
| Alan | Kouji Tsujitani | Steve Apostolina | David Matranga | |
| General Clintos | Daisuke Gouri | Steve Kramer | Charles Campbell | |
| Count Los Mandos | Hirohiko Kakegawa | Ralph Votrian | David Matranga | |
| Commander Mühlen | Toshihiko Nakajima | Christopher Carroll | Brian Jepson | |
| Duke Rector | Bill Timoney | Edwin Neal | ||
| Jupiter ninjas | Junko Iwao | Blake Shepard
Claire Hamilton | ||
| U.N. army commander | Steve Kramer | Charlie Campbell | ||
| U.N. army operator | Takashi Nagasako | David Pires | Leraldo Anzaldua | |
| Submarine captain | Hisao Egawa | Christopher Caroll | Charles Campbell | |
| Submarine operator | Isshin Chiba | David Pires | Blake Shepard | |
| 3 | Commander Pollack | Hidekatsu Shibata | Mike Reynolds | Lowell Bartholomee |
| Secretary General | Tomomichi Nishimura | Simon Prescott | Wendel Calvert | |
| Captain Braddock | Mike Reynolds | Charles Campbell | ||
| Devil Snake captain | Ryuuzaburou Ootomo | Tony Pope | George Manley | |
| Galactor operator | Isshin Chiba | Christopher Carroll | Blake Shepard | |
| Galactor minions | Issei Miyazaki | Art Metrano | Charles Campbell
Lowell Bartholomee | |
Staff
| Version | Job | Person | Episodes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English (Seraphim Digital) | Voice Director | Charles Campbell | 1-3 | |
| English (Seraphim Digital) | Script Adaption | Charles Campbell | 1-3 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | Voice Director | Steve Kramer | 1-3 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | Script Adaption | Steve Kramer | 1-3 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | Casting Director | Melora Harte | 1-3 |
Extras
| Version | Actor | Episodes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| English (Seraphim Digital) | Blake Shepard | 1-3 | |
| English (Seraphim Digital) | Brian Jepson | 1-3 | |
| English (Seraphim Digital) | Brittany Deans | 1-3 | |
| English (Seraphim Digital) | Charles Campbell | 1-3 | |
| English (Seraphim Digital) | David Matranga | 1-3 | |
| English (Seraphim Digital) | Leraldo Anzaldua | 1-3 | |
| English (Seraphim Digital) | Lowell Bartholomee | 1-3 | |
| English (Seraphim Digital) | Mark Laskowski | 1-3 | |
| English (Seraphim Digital) | Wendel Calvert | 2 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | Art Metrano | 3 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | Christopher Carroll | 2, 3 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | Dave Mallow | 1, 2 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | David Millbern | 1, 3 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | David Pires | 2 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | Frank Catalano | 1 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | Melora Harte | 1 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | Simon Prescott | 3 | |
| English (Sky Quest Entertainment) | Steve Kramer | 2, 3 |
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.[9]
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.[10][11][12]
References
- ガッチャマン. Tatsunoko Production (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- "Gatchaman Collection DVD". Anime News Network. 2002-01-12. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
- "Gatchaman Collection". Mania. Archived from the original on 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- "Sentai Filmworks Adds Gatchaman, DiGi Charat, Godannar Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- "Crunchyroll to Host Gatchaman Video Series Online". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- "Twitter / SentaiFilmworks: @GeoffreySOliver In answer". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
- "ROBOTECH.COM – The Official Robotech Web Site!". Robotech. Archived from the original on 2007-07-14. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
- "Gatchaman OVA (2013)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- "Science Ninja Team: Gatchaman". Ex.org. Archived from the original on 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- "Gatchaman: Soundtrack". imdb.com.
- "Maurice White, Bill Meyers – Gatchaman Original Soundtrack Vol.2". discogs.com.
- "Original Animation Video "Gatchaman" Original Soundtrack". vgmdb.net.
Further reading
- G-Force: Animated (TwoMorrows Publishing: ISBN 978-1-893905-18-4)
External links
- Gatchman (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Gatchman at IMDb
- Harmony Gold Entertainment Catalog
