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.
Episodes Season Gatchaman Fighter · 0/48 Gatchaman II · 0/52 Gatchaman · 0/105 0/48 watched · 1979
S03E01 New Dark Clouds 1979-10-07 24m
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. more
S03E02 Debut! Gatcha Spartan 1979-10-14 24m
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. more
S03E03 A Tainted Oasis 1979-10-21 24m
S03E04 The Challenge of the Iron Commandos 1979-10-28 24m
S03E05 Charge! The Terrible Soldiers 1979-11-04 24m
S03E06 Burn! Gatchaman Fencer 1979-11-11 24m
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. more
S03E07 Steal the Giant Iron Beast 1979-11-18 24m
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. more
S03E08 The Desperate Outlaw Squad 1979-11-25 24m
S03E09 Fear of the Extinction Ray Gun 1979-12-02 24m
S03E10 Danger! Gatchaman Base 1979-12-09 24m
S03E11 The Saturn Limited Express Z-Press 1979-12-16 24m
S03E12 The Order to Destroy the Mantle Base 1979-12-23 24m
S03E13 Violence?! The Decisive Battle of Agrika 1980-12-30 24m
S03E14 Destruction by Fire! Egobossler's Palace 1980-01-06 24m
S03E15 Hell's Burning Ambition 1980-01-13 24m
S03E16 A Deadly Butterfly Dances in the Dark 1980-01-20 24m
S03E17 Horror of the Evil Smoke City 1980-01-27 24m
S03E18 The Spectacular Crash of G-1 1980-02-03 24m
S03E19 Don't Touch the Super Stuff! 1980-02-10 24m
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. more
S03E20 Appearance! Terror of the Triple Iron Beast 1980-02-17 24m
S03E21 Angry Joe! Fright of the Flaming Bird 1980-02-24 24m
S03E22 Order to Blast the Satellite 1980-03-02 24m
S03E23 The Evil of Mechaland 1980-03-09 24m
S03E24 A Warrior's Pride 1980-07-16 24m
S03E25 Sky Riders from Hell 1980-03-23 24m
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. more
S03E26 G-1 Enraged! A New Way to Kill 1980-03-30 24m
S03E27 The Mystery of Egobossler's Birth 1980-04-06 24m
S03E28 Desperate Fight! Valley of Betrayal 1980-04-13 24m
S03E29 Cruelty! The Separation of Brother and Sister 1980-04-20 24m
S03E30 The Creeping Alien 1980-04-27 24m
S03E31 Runaway! The Great Train Chase 1980-05-04 24m
S03E32 Mystery of the Space Pulse 1980-05-11 24m
S03E33 A Promise Kept 1980-05-18 24m
S03E34 Egobossler's Strategy 1980-05-25 24m
S03E35 The Shadow of Death Approaches G-1 1980-06-01 24m
S03E36 Hypershoot Crisis 1980-06-08 24m
S03E37 Revive Gatchaman 1980-06-15 24m
S03E38 Bracelet of Friendship 1980-06-22 24m
S03E39 Downfall! Count Egobossler 1980-06-29 24m
S03E40 Surprise Attack of the Mecha Waterspout 1980-07-05 24m
S03E41 Collapse! Gatchaman Base 1980-07-12 24m
S03E42 The Death of Chief Nambu 1980-07-19 24m
S03E43 The Destruction of Gallatown 1980-07-26 24m
S03E44 The Space Devil Draws Near 1980-08-03 24m
S03E45 Threat of the Antimatter Planet 1980-08-10 24m
S03E46 G-1 Desperate for High Power 1980-08-17 24m
S03E47 Earth Extinction! 3 2 1 1980-08-24 24m
S03E48 Gatchaman Eternal 1980-08-31 23m
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. more 
Katsuji MoriKen Washio, the Eagle (voice)
Isao SasakiJoe Asakura, the Condor (voice)
Kazuko SugiyamaJun, the Swan (voice)
Yoku ShioyaJinpei, the Swallow (voice)
Nobuo TanakaLeader X (voice)
Tōru ŌhiraDr. Kouzaburou Nambu (voice)
Aiko KonoshimaFemale Berg Katze (voice)
Masako NozawaSeiji Nakanishi (voice)
Kyoko TeraseJoe's mother (voice)
Teiji ŌmiyaDirector Anderson (voice)