Much like OBOTECH, GACHAMAN helped form the minds of many an 80s youth, though what part of the country you lived in determined for many what version of GATCHAMAN you saw. In the Baltimore area, we were some of the lucky ones; we got to see both Battle of the Planets and G-Force, which constantly confused me and my friends. How could one of them be so badass and the other suck so bad when the characters were obviously the same? I chalked it all up to that damned annoying robot, whatever it’s name was. Either way, looks like the average US fan will finally have the chance to see the original storylines for the first time on TV. If you’re lucky enough to have the Anime Channel on your cable or satellite, that is.

ANIME NETWORK BRINGS ORIGINAL, UNCUT GATCHAMAN SERIES TO U.S. VIEWERS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

Houston, TX, June 7, 2004?Anime Network, the first channel in North America dedicated to anime, has signed a deal with Sandy Frank Entertainment to bring all 105 episodes of the original Gatchaman series to television viewers and anime fans alike. This marks the first time that the complete, unaltered original series will be aired for American fans. The announcement was made today by Kevin Corcoran, president of Anime Network.

Considered a true classic and one of the preeminent anime series of all time, Gatchaman began more than 30 years ago and has become one of the longest-running drama series in anime history. The series, which spawned G-Force and Battle of the Planets (named among the all-time, top-10 animated series in the U.S. by Wizard magazine), the much-edited versions that aired in the U.S. in the 1970s and 80s, follows the adventures of five teenagers who come together and change into superheroes to save the world from monsters and intergalactic evil. The complexity of the characters and their everyday struggles, including sometimes just getting along with each other, has helped the anime genre attract more adults than children.

?We are happy to have completed our first acquisition agreement with Sandy Frank Entertainment and are extremely excited to bring this compelling and much-loved series to Anime Network fans in its original, unaltered version,? stated Corcoran. ?This type of quality programming helps our network grow the popular anime genre with audiences of all ages.?

?Gatchaman is a ground breaking series that has made anime history,? added Phil Oldman, senior vice president, Sandy Frank Entertainment. ?Anime Network is dedicated to bringing audiences the best programming available and we are thrilled that Gatchaman will be a part of that effort.?

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