Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

By yours truly

When I was a kid, I watched it in the 70's as BATTLE OF THE PLANETS. It was also aired as G-FORCE, and the sequel series (GATCHAMAN II) was aired here as EAGLE RIDERS, I think.

I remember seeing it as G-Force in the mid-90s in Cartoon Network's early days. I may have seen it under another name [Battle of the Planets] in the mid-80s when local television stations showed a surprisingly large amount of Japanese cartoons.


A Gatchaman movie could be interesting - it has some great story elements that should adapt well provided that remain within the spirit of the show. Although personally, I'm currently more interested in how the Uslan Cyborg 009 project turns out.

From Anime News Network

[quote][i] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IMAGI TO GIVE NEW LIFE TO ASTRO BOY CG ANIMATION FEATURE FILM

September 12, 2006- Imagi Animation Studios announces that it has optioned rights from Tezuka Productions Company Limited of Japan to produce a new CG-animated feature-length motion picture based on the renowned anime franchise Astro Boy for theatrical release in 2009.

The new Astro Boy feature will be based on an original story developed by Imagi’s US studio. Physical production will take place at Imagi’s state of the art Hong Kong animation studio. Along with its current CG-animation productions Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Gatchaman, Imagi will continue its technical and creative leadership in bringing comic book heroes to the big screen.

“Imagi is a world class producer of CG feature animation and has a unique talent for bringing 2D comic characters to life in stunning 3D worlds,â€

Don't forget about Voltron (Lion Force) [2008 I think] and Cyborg 009 [sometime 2008/9 if I remember correctly].

Cartoon Network was showing the latest Astroboy series a couple years ago - then they dropped it all together - a real shame too, it seemed pretty good.

With any luck this new Astroboy movie will make to theaters stateside.

While I have not seen the TMMT, what I did see looked great. I think that the move to take cartoons into a CGI world with a real feel but a truly animated look is a great idea. Too many times comics make a shaky to bad transition to "live action" when it could be done TMMT style.

I too grew up with Battle of the Planets/G-Force and would love to see this, and at least now when someone says...you can tell that was done with CGI, it won't be because it's startling against real backdrops...

Now, when is James Cameron going to dust of Mazinger??

How about a Lupin the Third film directed by Spielberg? He's said in a few interviews that Castle of Cagliostro is one of his favorite movies - not anime movies, just movies - so I could see it.

Holy crap, this is exceeding expectations already.

^^^

Yeeeaah.......

I pretty much expect Imagi to go all-out with Gatchaman and Astro Boy. I liked the way they went with TMNT, and I guaran-freakin'-tee you they'll live up to Gatchaman's expectations...though what they're aiming for seems to be a Star Wars-killer type of deal.

Now Astro Boy...I'm liking where they're headed. It seems it'll be the tribute Astro Boy 2000 wanted to be.

Edit: whoops

studios troubled Gatchaman remake now has a ten second clip.



From Super Hero Hype:

I'm most certainly going to like this. I thought TMNT was pretty great too.