Science Ninja Team Gatchaman

Name: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Released: 1972-10-01
Rating: 8.4
Cast: Katsuji Mori, Isao Sasaki, Kazuko Sugiyama, Yoku Shioya, Shingo Kanemoto

ENDED3 Seasons205 Episodes★ 8.4

Science Ninja Team Gatchaman is an animated action-adventure series on Fuji TV that ran from 1972 to 1980, ending after 3 seasons and 205 episodes.

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NetworkFuji TV

First AiredOct 1, 1972

Last AiredDec 30, 1980

GenreAnimation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Runtime30 min

Created ByTatsuo Yoshida

Original Title科学忍者隊ガッチャマン

LanguageJapanese

CountryJapan

ProductionKing Features Entertainment, Tatsunoko Production

Science Ninja Team Gatchaman is a five-member superhero team that is composed of the main characters in several anime created by Tatsuo Yoshida and originally produced in Japan by Tatsunoko Productions and later adapted into several English-language versions. It is also known by the abbreviated name Gatchaman. The original series, produced in 1972, was eponymously named Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman and is most well known to the English-speaking world as the adaptation titled Battle of the Planets. The series received additional English adaptations with G-Force: Guardians of Space and ADV Films' uncut 2005 release. Tatsunoko also uses the official translation Science Commando Gatchaman, as shown in numerous related products and media. Because the English-language versions are notoriously inconsistent not only with one another but also with the original Japanese series, viewers most familiar with the English versions often experience some confusion upon re-examining the series after a long hiatus. The original 1972 Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman series was followed by an animated film, two sequel series, Gatchaman II, and Gatchaman Fighter. In the 90's, episodes from both series were dubbed into English by Saban as Eagle Riders. In 1994, the original series was remade as a condensed OVA series.

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Cast

Katsuji Mori

Ken Washio, the Eagle (voice)

Isao Sasaki

Joe Asakura, the Condor (voice)

Kazuko Sugiyama

Jun, the Swan (voice)

Yoku Shioya

Jinpei, the Swallow (voice)

Shingo Kanemoto

Ryu Nakanishi, the Horned Owl (voice)

Nobuo Tanaka

Leader X (voice)

Hisayoshi Yoshizawa

Red Impulse (voice)

Tōru Ōhira

Dr. Kouzaburou Nambu (voice)

Aiko Konoshima

Female Berg Katze (voice)

Masako Nozawa

Seiji Nakanishi (voice)

Kyoko Terase

Joe's mother (voice)

Teiji Ōmiya

Director Anderson (voice)

Seasons & Episodes3 seasons · 205 episodes

0% complete

A surviving fragment of Sosai X mutates into Sosai Z and recruits megalomaniac Count Egobossler to create an army to conquer the world. To combat this new threat, the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman once again return with newer weapons and a new ship - the Gatchaspartan. But with the new weapons comes a heavy price: the more Ken the Eagle uses his weapon Gatchafencer as part of the Gatchaspartan's ultimate weapon, the weaker he gets as the weapon mysteriously and slowly drains his life force.

E1New Dark Clouds

Oct 7, 197924m

Weeks after the dust settles from Sosai X's destruction, a tiny fragment of the alien revives and begins to rebuild itself into Sosai Zed. Using the remains of an old shipyard, Zed builds a vast mechanical pyramid fortress and levitates it over the ocean. Meanwhile, the rest of the world quits rebuilding from the wreckage of the thwarted Solar Shift Plan and go back to what they do best: waging war. We meet Count Egobossler, successful ruler of a growing number of territories, and an aspiring megalomaniac. Egobossler meets Sosai Zed, who decides to use Egobossler's brilliant military tactics to his own advantage, and the two strike a deal. In the wake of Chief Anderson's death in Gatchaman II, Nambu is promoted to Chief Administrator of the ISO. The Kagaku Ninjatai cope with the unusual peace. Feeling useless during peacetime, Joe wallows in boredom and self pity while Nambu tries to find a way to recharge him after his near-destruction in G-II.

E2Debut! Gatcha Spartan

Oct 14, 197924m

Egobossler's first attack, backed up by one of Zed's giant mechs, completely startles out heroes. Ken, Jun, Jinpei and Ryu rush to the scene of the battle (leaving Joe behind to quietly expire). The mech is too powerful, and the New Godphoenix is completely trashed in the first skirmish with Egobossler. Fortunately, Chief Engineer Saburo Kamo is waiting in the wings with brand new mechs. With only one problem: the new vehicles need five operators to combine. It's up to Joe, who upon hearing the phrase, "Gallactor has returned," will crawl on his final strength to rejoin the team. TheGatchaspartan saves the day.

E3A Tainted Oasis

Oct 21, 197924m

E4The Challenge of the Iron Commandos

Oct 28, 197924m

E5Charge! The Terrible Soldiers

Nov 4, 197924m

E6Burn! Gatchaman Fencer

Nov 11, 197924m

Ken asks the same question viewers have probably been asking since the beginning: "Enough battling the little guys--why can't we meet Egobossler head on?" The Team does, but fails miserably. This episode ends in a very disturbing role reversal scene with Ken--now beyond reason--raging at a laughing Egobossler, and Joe finally having to bring all his strength into play to drag Ken back into the Gatchaspartan.

E7Steal the Giant Iron Beast

Nov 18, 197924m

The Kagaku Ninjatai continue their tries at direct confrontation by stealing aboard Zed's tower and facing him directly. This doesn't work either (can we say "outnumbered"?), though they do get in a few good punches.

E8The Desperate Outlaw Squad

Nov 25, 197924m

E9Fear of the Extinction Ray Gun

Dec 2, 197924m

E10

E10Danger! Gatchaman Base

Dec 9, 197924m

E11

E11The Saturn Limited Express Z-Press

Dec 16, 197924m

E12

E12The Order to Destroy the Mantle Base

Dec 23, 197924m

E13

E13Violence?! The Decisive Battle of Agrika

Dec 30, 198024m

E14

E14Destruction by Fire! Egobossler's Palace

Jan 6, 198024m

E15

E15Hell's Burning Ambition

Jan 13, 198024m

E16

E16A Deadly Butterfly Dances in the Dark

Jan 20, 198024m

E17

E17Horror of the Evil Smoke City

Jan 27, 198024m

E18

E18The Spectacular Crash of G-1

Feb 3, 198024m

E19

E19Don't Touch the Super Stuff!

Feb 10, 198024m

Mercenary scientist Professor Gordon develops an indestructible material called Neophryte and decides to sell it to the highest bidder. So he summons agents from both Gallactor (Egobossler's first officer, Kempler) and the ISO (the Gatchaman, naturally) to meet alone on a spot he specifies. Of course Kempler doesn't come alone, but much to both his and Ken's surprise, neither does Ken. While the Gallactors and the rest of the Kagaku Ninjatai take part in a snarling standoff outside, Gordon, Kempler and Ken negotiate. Kempler offers money, while Ken refuses to haggle, stating honor and decency as his reasons (and knowing as Gordon does that once he withdraws his protection, Gallactor will simply take what they want by force). Worried about his father, Gordon's son finally ends the standoff and uncovers the compound for both sides to fight over. Joe uses a bazooka loaded with Neophryte to blow a hole in the monstermech that appears at the end.

E20

E20Appearance! Terror of the Triple Iron Beast

Feb 17, 198024m

E21

E21Angry Joe! Fright of the Flaming Bird

Feb 24, 198024m

E22

E22Order to Blast the Satellite

Mar 2, 198024m

E23

E23The Evil of Mechaland

Mar 9, 198024m

E24

E24A Warrior's Pride

Jul 16, 198024m

E25

E25Sky Riders from Hell

Mar 23, 198024m

One of Egobossler's old friends and colleagues Oncain, is also the last man on Earth who knows Count Egobossler's deep, dark secrets. The Kagaku Ninjatai get to Oncain first and try to convince him to stay away from Egobossler, but the man will have nothing of it. He invites the Team to go fox-hunting and with his two children, Michael and Mary, and as they're distracted, arranges to meet with Egobossler. The inevitable showdown with Egobossler and his special Skyrider command is spectacular, but even Ken and Joe at their best can't prevent Ego from gunning down his man. Joe comes round the corner just in time as Ego shoots Oncain right before Michael and Mary's eyes (triggering a flashback where you almost see the faces of Joe's parents). In the final scene, Joe kneels down and has a little heart-to-heart talk with Michael. You don't hear what he says, only Michael's reactions.

E26

E26G-1 Enraged! A New Way to Kill

Mar 30, 198024m

E27

E27The Mystery of Egobossler's Birth

Apr 6, 198024m

E28

E28Desperate Fight! Valley of Betrayal

Apr 13, 198024m

E29

E29Cruelty! The Separation of Brother and Sister

Apr 20, 198024m

E30

E30The Creeping Alien

Apr 27, 198024m

E31

E31Runaway! The Great Train Chase

May 4, 198024m

E32

E32Mystery of the Space Pulse

May 11, 198024m

E33

E33A Promise Kept

May 18, 198024m

E34

E34Egobossler's Strategy

May 25, 198024m

E35

E35The Shadow of Death Approaches G-1

Jun 1, 198024m

E36

E36Hypershoot Crisis

Jun 8, 198024m

E37

E37Revive Gatchaman

Jun 15, 198024m

E38

E38Bracelet of Friendship

Jun 22, 198024m

E39

E39Downfall! Count Egobossler

Jun 29, 198024m

E40

E40Surprise Attack of the Mecha Waterspout

Jul 5, 198024m

E41

E41Collapse! Gatchaman Base

Jul 12, 198024m

E42

E42The Death of Chief Nambu

Jul 19, 198024m

E43

E43The Destruction of Gallatown

Jul 26, 198024m

E44

E44The Space Devil Draws Near

Aug 3, 198024m

E45

E45Threat of the Antimatter Planet

Aug 10, 198024m

E46

E46G-1 Desperate for High Power

Aug 17, 198024m

E47

E47Earth Extinction! 3 2 1

Aug 24, 198024m

E48

E48Gatchaman Eternal

Aug 31, 198023m

The Team searches for Zed in his tower, and are thrown around like playthings. When they finally meet up, they discover what happened to Egobossler: his corpse is pinned against a wall in Zed's main chamber, run through by his own sword. At this point, Joe picks up on Zed's vital signs (as Rafael had designed him to) and tracks the alien to his last refuge, where the Kagaku Ninjatai battle to destroy him... and fall. Chief Nambu's mysterious pendant (an unanalyzed device he'd instructed Kamo to give to the Team before the last battle) comes into play then, activating the Gatchaspartan and swallowing the fallen ninjas with light... The final scene is of an enormous firebird breaking free of Zed's exploding tower and flying around the Earth, leaving us to analyze the wide open ending. (Chances are high, though, that they aren't dead--they're still under contract, after all.

About Science Ninja Team Gatchaman

Science Ninja Team Gatchaman is an animation, action & adventure, sci-fi & fantasy series on Fuji TV. The show first aired on Oct 1, 1972 and currently has 3 seasons and 205 episodes. Science Ninja Team Gatchaman has ended. It has a rating of 8.4/10 based on 98 votes. The cast includes Katsuji Mori, Isao Sasaki, Kazuko Sugiyama, Yoku Shioya, Shingo Kanemoto. Created by Tatsuo Yoshida.