Gatchaman Volume 1: The Legend Begins - Ain't it Cool
- Ain't it Cool
- Scott Green
- 06/01/05
- click here
Gatchaman
English dub of episodes 1-3 uncutTo be released by ADV June 14th
Gatchaman, aka Battle of the Planets aka G-Force aka Eagle Riders is a welcome addition to the older anime available in North America. Barring the nostalgia afflicted, there may be a little less urgency for Gatchaman than some of never released grails like Rose of Versailles or Ashita no Joe, but giving Gatchaman a new look, the sci-fi adventure series it is clearly on of the gems of anime's past. Though it isn't exactly an example of an unrepresented genre, Gatchaman is a rewarding chance to support some quality anime archeology.
Given the age distribution of anime fans, plenty of fans have probably heard of the series, but not many remember in it's original context. As new material, from an opening theme starts with 'roaring engines, ninja of science' to episode titles like 'The Giant Mummy That Summons Storms' there are plenty of reasons to smile in anime equivalent of the fresh or non-self conscious experience that would be called silver age in comics.
Though Gatchaman is a work of the 70's, it holds up better than Voltron or many of series of the 80. The fashion and hair look past expiration, but the animations remains engaging. It looks odd rather than dated in the way a classic Godzilla movie looks of a time. Gatchaman is directed well enough to stand up as technical tools improve. Its storytelling is likewise smarter than many of its descendants. For example, the hero team has a trump, get out the death trap maneuver, but it is anything but predictable, but it is used sparingly enough that the end of episodes aren't overly predictable.
The serial follows the feud between the evil Galactor and the benevolent International Science Organization over energy recourses. The ISO's combatants in the battle is the science ninjas, Gatchaman , a team who is sometimes five, and some times one (what ever that means) comprised of Ken, the team's driven leader and 'Eagle' or 'White Shadow', his darker rival Joe the 'Condor', Jun the high kicking techie beauty 'Swam', Jinpei the ninja-minded kid 'Swallow', and Ryu the large, unwieldy 'Owl'
With caped suited super heroes in bird helmets, plenty of strange vehicles, such as a tank that jumps over rhinos as it rolls across the savannah in the opening and stranger formations, such as a whirl wind attach that is commenced by the team forming a cheer-leader type standing human pyramid then spinning the formation there's plenty of material in vein of the campy incarnation of Batman. Through the oddity there is a focus on over-arching serial plot, with plenty of cliff hangers and building rivalry. There is also an interesting dynamic of character personalities that was later distilled into simpler roles by later anime series.
Despite the odd concepts Gatchaman throws against the wall, it is carried out well enough that it not really MST3K material. The exception is a number of instances of almost comically strange dialogue. Some it is part of the series, such as a caretaker/uncle who disciplines his nephew by saying that if he isn't good his missing father will never return. Part comes from some of the liberty in the dub. There are some quirky lines and inflections that suggest double entendres which play into the less traditionally heroic aspects of the character.
Posted on Wednesday, June 01, 2005 (Archive on Friday, July 01, 2005)