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One of the most groundbreaking anime of all time, Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, recently got a terrific Blu-ray release. Here in the west, you might know the show by its alternate names, Battle of the Planets and G-Force. Debuting in the ’70s, this was a fun and surprisingly bleak series with hard-fought victories against various monsters. In case you missed it, you can pick up the entire 105-episode run at Amazon for $65, a huge discount from its original $150 launch price.
Normally $77, this collection includes 15 discs of episodes, original video animations, and the Gatchaman movie. Most of the discs feature the incredibly realistic art of comic book legend Alex Ross, and one disc is dedicated to extra features. All episodes are available in their original 4:3 aspect ratio–and mercifully–these aren’t the infamously edited versions that were broadcast in the US. Gatchaman may have had a formulaic monster-of-the-week setup as a team of bird-themed heroes took on an evil organization, but it helped popularize the Sentai genre of TV.
Thanks to shows like Gatchaman, the foundation for series like Power Rangers would established. While the main plot was pure anime fun, Gatchaman would also see characters frequently die on both sides, with the bleakness of these violent battles being reflected in the gritty artwork. Final Fantasy illustrator Yoshitaka Amano was responsible for the terrific character designs and Mitsuki Nakamura’s mecha designs have proven to be elegantly timeless over the decades.
You can also check out these deals on the original Voltron ($30) and the complete Thundercats series ($55) for a few more classic anime series.
