New Gatchaman CG Film!

[tecnowraith]

I am surpised this has not be mentioned yet:

Imagi Animation Studios, in association with Tatsunoko Production of Japan, will produce a new CG-animated feature-length motion picture for theatrical release based on the long-running anime franchise "Gatchaman" (better known in Western countries for edited and dubbed versions under the title of "Battle of the Planets").

The new film will be written and directed by Kevin Munroe, who is currently writing and directing Imagi's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" CG-animation that is being distributed by Warner Bros. in the U.S. and The Weinstein Company internationally. The announcement was made today by Francis Kao, CEO and Vice Chairman of Imagi International.

"We will push the wow factor to a new level with Gatchaman, a groundbreaking anime that has devoted fans worldwide, including myself," Kao said. "With the visual impact available through state-of-the-art CG animation, I think the film not only can satisfy fans, but will also appeal to moviegoers looking for something new and exciting. I am thrilled to work on this excellent franchise with Tatsunoko."

Gatchaman centers around five young superhero ninjas who must defeat the nefarious terrorists known as Galactor, who are threatening to capture Earth's resources. With 205 TV episodes, one feature film, and three direct-to-video films, Gatchaman has over 30 years of history.

In addition to its success in Japan, the series has fans in the U.S. from various domestic re-edited versions of the show, including "Battle of the Planets," "G-Force," and "Eagle Riders."

"Growing up as a kid, Gatchaman was the first influence that pushed me into the world of animation, comics and writing," Munroe said. "I'm honored to get the chance to bring Gatchaman to the big screen the way it was always meant to be - huge action mixed with the real human drama. Gatchaman is a great next step after TMNT, in terms of storytelling and visual scope and also for Imagi as a player in the animation world."

Imagi Animation Studios is now producing its own feature length movies, including the first CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, which will be distributed by Warner Bros. domestically March 30, 2007 and The Weinstein Company internationally. Imagi has also produced CG-animated TV series, such "Zentrix," which was released in Europe and Asia, "Digital Monster X-Evolution" with Bandai and Toei of Japan, and NBC's "Father of the Pride" for DreamWorks.

[superkong 500]

Great,but Iam waiting for a live action version. If done right it would wupp all superhero movie asses.

[TheVileOne]

Wait, a US theatrical CG movie?

If it's Gatchaman wouldn't it have the Japanese names and character personalities and not the Americanized English ones?

[3dman27]

Originally Posted by TheVileOne

Wait, a US theatrical CG movie?

If it's Gatchaman wouldn't it have the Japanese names and character personalities and not the Americanized English ones?

mabe not i watch the english language gatchaman via anime network in DEMAND and the heroers have american AND japanesse names ken the eagale condor joe ryu the owl etc

[TheVileOne]

Originally Posted by 3dman27

mabe not i watch the english language gatchaman via anime network in DEMAND and the heroers have american AND japanesse names ken the eagale condor joe ryu the owl etc

Ok, but that was just ADV who did the original unedited stuff into English.

Back in the 70's and 80's they sort of hacked up and edited Gatchaman into Battle of The Planets and made it more kid/American friendly. They gave all the characters English names, and they toned down some of their more questionable personality traits.

The villain was no longer a tranny either.

[superkong 500]

Originally Posted by TheVileOne

Ok, but that was just ADV who did the original unedited stuff into English.

Back in the 70's and 80's they sort of hacked up and edited Gatchaman into Battle of The Planets and made it more kid/American friendly. They gave all the characters English names, and they toned down some of their more questionable personality traits.

The villain was no longer a tranny either.

Yep they did,they had to market the show to the young audience,and the american version as it is still has some dark toned episodes.Btw what do you guys think if someone like say peter jackson or spielberg decided to produce or even direct a live action battle of the planets movie? I think that if done well and serious it could be in the same league with the spiderman movies and batman begins etc.

[TheVileOne]

No way would a live action Hollywood Gatchaman movie ever be in the league of the Spider-man or Batman movies.

As far as a live action one, it's currently in production . . . in Japan. The Japanese are making one, and I believe a prolific director might be doing it. I think possibly Miike, but don't quote me on that.

http://www.chronicsite.com/gatchaman/index.html

Great site and resource for all of Gatchaman including it's US adaptations and changes.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33008

News and concept art pictures for the production including the following:

Teaser poster/logo:

[xwolverine2]

woah! wtf is this!!!

[deathshead2]

Originally Posted by xwolverine2

woah! wtf is this!!!

Concept art for the CG Gatchaman.

[deathshead2]

Miike isn't doing the live action movie. He'll be working on some other anime based movie next.

[Hush]

They just did Transformers wonderfully Im sure they can do freakin Gatchaman!

[TheVileOne]

Wonderfully isn't the word I'd use for Transformers.

And either way, in AMERICA, Transformers > Gatchaman, Battle of The Planets, and G-Force.

[Hush]

Well i mean it was done faithfully enough that i think we could be safe with a Gatchaman adaptation.

[TheVileOne]

hahaha, that's funny.

I don't quite remember Anthony Anderson in old school Transformers.

[Hush]

He has a very limited role in the movie. Thats a slight nitpick, i just think we can afford to have faith in Gatchaman movie after several well done adaptions of comics and some cartoons.

[TheVileOne]

I strongly disagree.

Jazz didn't do a damn thing but get killed. The comedy and human characters in Transformers were atrocious. The robots had no personality save for Megatron and Optimus.

Gatchaman, even if it is faithful in this CG-animated form, I'm not sure it can be successful.

People in the US don't know Gatchaman. If they know anything it's either Battle of The Planets from the 70's or G-Force from the 80's. The audience of the show is segmented at best. Not quite the juggernaut Transformers has been for quite a while.

[Hush]

All of the above is true to an extent and that really is opinion about the human characters and comedy, some of it, though you are right about it not being the juggernaut that transformers was, im trying to say that simply it could be adapted live action and be GOOD, not amazing, GOOD.

[TheVileOne]

It will be adapted live action and be good, and faithful. But it will be by the Japanese, not Hollywood.

I have no faith at all in Hollywood making a decent live action Gatchaman movie. They'd probably get Tim Story, McG, or a Michael Bay type as the director.

[xwolverine2]

Originally Posted by TheVileOne

It will be adapted live action and be good, and faithful. But it will be by the Japanese, not Hollywood.

I have no faith at all in Hollywood making a decent live action Gatchaman movie. They'd probably get Tim Story, McG, or a Michael Bay type as the director.

you know... i could actually see MCG doing something like this... michael bay no and tim story cant direct ANYTHING but barbershop type comedies.

kurt wimmer

[3dman27]

gatchaman as a movie?
i'd give it a fair chance

[TheVileOne]

Well, I mean, how much of a chance? Even Ninja Turtles didn't make over about $55 million.

[deathshead2]

Originally Posted by TheVileOne

Well, I mean, how much of a chance? Even Ninja Turtles didn't make over about $55 million.

Yeah but it made a total of 94 million wordwide on a 40 budget. Sense the same company is doing Gatchaman it will most likely be just as cheap. Besides think of it as a new property. Just becasue no ones heard of it deson't mean it won't do well. If anything everybody will think its something new.

[TheVileOne]

Originally Posted by deathshead2

Yeah but it made a total of 94 million wordwide on a 40 budget. Sense the same company is doing Gatchaman it will most likely be just as cheap. Besides think of it as a new property. Just becasue no ones heard of it deson't mean it won't do well. If anything everybody will think its something new.

That's not THAT impressive.

Also look at Thunderbirds.

"New" property or not, the market has proven that more adult/mature animated movies don't play that well with mainstream audiences. The attempts were mostly failures.

[xwolverine2]

ninja turtles sucked butt.......

i seriously hope they derive from anything near that crap

[TheVileOne]

Kurt Wimmer did one decent, little sci-fi movie and suddenly he was some sort of God. Then he does that Utraviolet crap which tanked.

Yeah, not sure I give him Gatchaman, I'll leave it to the Japanese.

Gatchaman is really just one of the earlier Power Ranger/sentai type of animated shows. As a big budget, live action Hollywood movie, I don't think it can work.