Gatchaman Vs Battle of the Planets

[samurainoir]

I think both versions have validity... I loved BoTP as a kid after all, but there is certainly something to be said about seeing the original version as an adult.

[samurainoir]

Alex Ross interview, and a clip of him watching Gatchaman for the first time as an adult.

[WannabeMego]

Without Question...Gatchaman.

Once you see the Original Series, unedited, you can't go back.

I was lucky enough to see some of the original series back in the late 70's/early 80's...even without subtitles...it was awesome.

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[samurainoir]

Without Question...Gatchaman.

Once you see the Original Series, unedited, you can't go back.

I was lucky enough to see some of the original series back in the late 70's/early 80's...even without subtitles...it was awesome.

I wish I had been fortunate enough to see the original series 1 back in the day... concurrent to the original airing of Battle of the Planets, I visited Hong Kong and watched episodes of the third series, Gatchaman Fighter.

I came home to Canada and told all the kids at school about these episodes that involved new weapons, vehicles, the combining phoenix and Mark standing atop the wedge shaped Phoenix brandishing a sword to slice the enemy at the end of every episode. Of course no one believed me. I swear I was like Big Bird telling everyone about Snufflupagus.

[Bruce Banner]

Although I grew up with and love BOTP, it's only when you see uncut Gatchaman that you finally get to appreciate the full characterization and story arcs of the show as the creators originally intended, including the rather adult themes which some of the episodes dealt with.
Truly fantastic series.

[MIB41]

I've never seen the original Gatchaman series in it's entirety to offer an informed opinion, but I do know I love the Battle of Planets incarnation and enjoyed Seven Zark Seven as the narrator. He offered a kind of guide through this amazing world for me as a kid. Cheesy? Sure. But he was a fun contrast to the rest of the show that was often so serious. Some day I would like to sit down and see the original as intended though. I certainly would never question the love on display for that original version.

[emeraldknight47]

I've never seen the original Gatchaman series in it's entirety to offer an informed opinion, but I do know I love the Battle of Planets incarnation and enjoyed Seven Zark Seven as the narrator. He offered a kind of guide through this amazing world for me as a kid. Cheesy? Sure. But he was a fun contrast to the rest of the show that was often so serious. Some day I would like to sit down and see the original as intended though. I certainly would never question the love on display for that original version.

What Tom (MIB41) failed to mention in his eloquent response was that "Battle of the Planets" was airing locally here in Louisville on good ol' WDRB (home to Presto the Magic Clown, Rocket Robin Hood, reruns of Spidey '67 and Ultraman) at just about the same time he and I first started forging our friendship, in middle school, if memory serves. I remember, very keenly, getting home from school, getting homework out of the way, then settling in to watch BotP only to call Tom after almost every episode, both of us gushing about how cool what we had both just seen really was. In was an integral part of what made us the friends we are now.

Great to hear from Alex Ross about his love for the characters and show and you can see that love proudly on display is every rendering he's ever done of them. I'm SOOOO jealous of that display case behind him filled with Gatchaman goodness and that (looks to be life-size) statue of Mark behind him. Great, great stuff and great, great memories...

[MIB41]

^^^ Well said my friend! Not only is Chris my brother-by-another-mother, but he's also backup for my increasingly faulty hard drive of a brain that has definitely seen better days. BOP was definitely part of that narrative that we delved into daily that was one ingredient (amongst many) that forged our bond as friends. And I can say, with complete confidence, this is the ONLY animated feature that ever offered us an ongoing story (like the comics) where we could examine the plot points all the way to it's ultimate conclusion. It was nice to see something like that which had such continuity come full circle. That's why I remain perplexed why such a feat has never been remastered (in this version) and released to a generation that knew it in this way. The commercial releases that were made available many years ago were so poor in quality it wasn't worth the investment. Hopefully one day they will allow this incarnation to see the light of day in the manner it was introduced to us.