G-Force coming to the big screen

[TheVileOne]

You mean GODPHOENIX right? Or did they say it with an S?

 

[Frank]

Thanks for the link Frank, great video. And holy crap a re-mix of the original theme!

Once again, I say here and now. If the movie does NOT have a version of the original theme in it, it is OFFICIALLY DEAD to me.

Also, I think the design in animation in the '94 OVA looks AWESOME. I wish they would make a new series with this style, just with more plot and character development.

One other thing I want to note. The '94 OVA's Godphoenix plane has a similar outline to the one in the poster for the new CG animated movie.

I wouldn't be suprised if they borrowed stuff from the '94 OVA. They added chin pieces to the helmets for the movie just like in the OVA.

 

[TheVileOne]

Speaking of which, know anyone who sells the OVA's?

 

[3dman27]

You mean GODPHOENIX right? Or did they say it with an S?

like i said it soUnded MORElike GOSPHEONIX than GODPHEONIX to me

 

[TheVileOne]

I think Munroe not writing this movie is a good thing. And I hope Dini can come up with a better plot than the video game-lite stuff we got in TMNT.

TMNT wasn't a bad movie, but it definitely could've used some script polishing, and expanding the stronger ideas. The Ralph/Leo rivalry really worked the best.

The movie could push the Ken/Joe rivalry quite well. Since Joe is basically the rebellious hotshot. And Ken is the type to get physical if his comrades don't listen to his leadership.

The other thing is that Galactor's threats would you know KILL people, in terrible ways.

 

[Frank]

Speaking of which, know anyone who sells the OVA's?

Not off the top of my head. I got mine almost 10 years ago from a store here in philly that sold anime bootlegs on VHS lol.

 

[TheVileOne]

The OVA's were released and even dubbed in the US by Urban Vision (Vampire Hunter D, Ninja Scroll). Can't find them anywhere though.

 

[TheVileOne]

IESB talks with director Kevin Munroe:

http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content& task=view& id=3351&Itemid=99

Imagi Animation has released the first posters for their two next big animated projects, Gatchaman and Astroboy. Plus, Gatchaman director Kevin Munroe talks about the film.

Gatchaman and Astroboy are coming in 2009 from Imagi Animation. Gatchaman director Kevin Munroe recently talked about the making of the film.

He says about the challenges he has faced making this film, “The challenge is really just making an entertaining movie first. That doesn’t mean forgetting the property’s roots, but you have to make sure the film works and can stand on its own. And we’re not just making Gatchaman for contemporary youth, but also a broad audience, the same audience that enjoyed The Matrix and Batman Begins. Gatchaman’s characters are relevant because they are real, and don’t depend on a “timely” adaptation. Themes such as teen angst, family and faith transcend generations, and that’s what we’re looking at with Gatchaman.”

Story-wise, Munroe says, “We’re doing an original story of Gatchaman and Galactor’s first invasion of Earth. Adding a mythology to why they are, where the conflict of Katse and Galactor came from, and explaining Gatchaman’s super powers.”

OK well he did use the Japanese name from Gatchaman for Berg Katse, the main leader for Galactor and Sosai X. Just FYI, in Battle of The Planets he was called Zoltar, and in G-Force he was called Gallactor.

Also I don't get Munroe saying they are adding all that, because as far as I know everything he is talking about was revealed in the series.

Also, typically CG animated films that are marketed as more adult, darker, or more mature in the way he is suggesting don't really have a good track record or are very successful. Look at Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, which granted was a piece of crap and shared no familiarity with the much loved property.

There's Advent Children which was a ton of fun and was a true sequel to FF7. HOWEVER, had this movie been given a wide release in the US do you guys really think it would've made a ton of money?

Basically my prediction for this movie is that it would make even less than TMNT did in the US, which was about $55 million.

They are apparently set on making this movie Gatchaman, not G-Force, Battle of The Planets, and Eagle Riders. Gatchaman is the best and original version, but the popularity and nostalgia for this show is for the American versions. The fanbase is very segmented basically, and I think it will be more of a detriment to the movie than a benefit.

Warner Bros./Weinstein Co. to distribute Gatchaman feature:

Warner Bros. and the Weinstein Company to distribute Imagi Gatchaman movie

From a new press release from the Imagi Web site:

IMAGI ANIMATION STUDIOS ENTERS INTO GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
WITH WARNER BROS. PICTURES AND THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

Hong Kong (September 27, 2007) – Warner Bros. Pictures, The Weinstein Company and Imagi Animation Studios agreed upon principal terms for the worldwide distribution of the feature films Gatchaman and AstroBoy. The announcement was jointly made by Jeff Robinov, President, Production, Warner Bros. Pictures; Harvey Weinstein of The Weinstein Company; Imagi Co-CEOs Douglas Glen and Francis Kao; and brokered by The William Morris Agency.

The new pact builds on the success of TMNT, Imagi's first theatrical motion picture, also distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and The Weinstein Company. TMNT opened in March 2007 at the top of the U.S. box office.

"Imagi is breaking new ground with big action pictures done entirely in CG animation," said Robinov. "It's an exciting new genre, with the potential of attracting big mass market audiences."

"TMNT had the kind of beautifully choreographed action sequences you'd expect from Hong Kong animators," said Weinstein. "The next two films will confirm Imagi's reputation as the world's leading action hero animation studio."

"We are delighted to be allied with the marketing and distribution power of Warner Bros. Pictures and The Weinstein Company," said Glen. Added Kao, "We're making Hollywood-style movies with Hong Kong-style excitement and stories that are fusions of Western and Asian themes."

I didn't know TMNT was that successful. And while I liked TMNT, I only thought 1 or 2 action sequences in it were pretty good. I would hope in Gatchaman they will be better.

 

[3dman27]

i thought galactor was an orgaiazation like HYDRA not an individual

 

[TheVileOne]

Yup that's true. However in G-Force they named Berg Katze Gallactor in the G-Force version:

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

The main Gatchaman villains and their names in all the series versions.

I like the idea that the all powerful villain, Sosai X is basically super-intelligent but acts like a child.

 

[xisaacx]

ugh i love the series, and the comic and got all the toys, i hope they dont ruin this **** .i mean its awesome they are making all these movies, but i dont want some people who just wanna jump on the bandwagon jocking something im a big fan of.

 

[TheVileOne]

Well you are a fan of Battle of the Planets not Gatchaman, which is different. They are doing Gatchaman, which is the original Japanese version of the series, not what became the comics and toys.

Also, Munroe said in the interview that the Gatchaman kids have super powers. I wanted to note that in the versions they NEVER had super powers. They were just extremely competent, well trained, and BA teens. Whatever powers or supernatural abilities they had came from their bird style suits.

Is Munroe hinting though in this version that Joe, Ken, Jun, Junpei, and Ryu will now have super powers though?

 

[Hypestyle]

hmm.. we'll see how it turns out.. I'm looking forward to it, though a part of me wants to see the BOTP version..

 

[TheVileOne]

You want 7 Lark 7?

 

[3dman27]

Well you are a fan of Battle of the Planets not Gatchaman, which is different. They are doing Gatchaman, which is the original Japanese version of the series, not what became the comics and toys.

Also, Munroe said in the interview that the Gatchaman kids have super powers. I wanted to note that in the versions they NEVER had super powers. They were just extremely competent, well trained, and BA teens. Whatever powers or supernatural abilities they had came from their bird style suits.

Is Munroe hinting though in this version that Joe, Ken, Jun, Junpei, and Ryu will now have super powers though?

maybe he meant the suits give them thir powers through nanotechnology

 

[TheVileOne]

I guess, his answer was a little vague. My first impression was that the kids have some sort of super powers without their suits now.

I always just liked the idea of the kids just being really talented, skilled, well-trained, even without the suits.

There are a lot of missions where they are separated or by themselves and they have to make due without their suits and they have little protection.

 

[kane9321]

I watched it when i was a kid..didnt like it that much though

 

[Glaken]

As someone who loved BOTP as a kid, I was sorely disappointed when I watched the same episodes as an adult UNTIL I watched the Gatchaman episodes directly translated. I fell in love again all over. It's so funny to see the differences in how watered down the American version was. I've got the DVD with the OVA on it too and it's great. I found it at Sam Goody's or FYE a couple of years ago. I'm stoked about this movie and can't wait to see more stuff from it. I just hope they have some GOOD action figures to support it too. The ones that came out a few years ago by Diamond were nice but I haven't been able to find the 2nd series and get Joe & Ryu (Jason & Tiny). I'd love to see them do it in a 3 3/4" scale with vehicles too. One problem being a Gatchaman fan in the US is that there is such a sparse availability of fan items and they are all import and VERY expensive. I hope they'll do it right.

Anyway, don't talk down BOTP too much, sure it's lame now, but it's kind of a bait & switch, see it as a kid and have fond memories, track down the real thing as an adult and appreciate it even more. I can't wait to see this version though.

Next up from my childhood... SPACE GIANTS!!!!!!

(I don't think there's any way to make that cool now)

 

[Red Mask]

maybe he meant the suits give them thir powers through nanotechnology

It was a combination of high-tech weapons and ninjitsu.

 

[TheVileOne]

As someone who loved BOTP as a kid, I was sorely disappointed when I watched the same episodes as an adult UNTIL I watched the Gatchaman episodes directly translated. I fell in love again all over. It's so funny to see the differences in how watered down the American version was. I've got the DVD with the OVA on it too and it's great. I found it at Sam Goody's or FYE a couple of years ago. I'm stoked about this movie and can't wait to see more stuff from it. I just hope they have some GOOD action figures to support it too. The ones that came out a few years ago by Diamond were nice but I haven't been able to find the 2nd series and get Joe & Ryu (Jason & Tiny). I'd love to see them do it in a 3 3/4" scale with vehicles too. One problem being a Gatchaman fan in the US is that there is such a sparse availability of fan items and they are all import and VERY expensive. I hope they'll do it right.

I totally agree with this. Seeing the original version uncut, plus the new dub by ADV was amazing. And the problem is most people in the US don't know this version.

I remember the Diamond figures as well, but those were for BOTP and made around the same time as Alex Ross did the modern comics.

Hot Toys, this company: www.gleassociates.com/employment.html has the license to produce toys and action figures for this movie, but I think they are 1/6 scale collectibles and not for the mass market. Hopefully someone like Mattel, Hasbro, or Marvel Toys will get the mass market license for Gatchaman.

Anyway, don't talk down BOTP too much, sure it's lame now, but it's kind of a bait & switch, see it as a kid and have fond memories, track down the real thing as an adult and appreciate it even more. I can't wait to see this version though.

I know. BOTP was revolutionary in making anime popular and accessibly in the US. And without BOTP we wouldn't be seeing the original Gatchaman versions we have now. So I'm thankful for that. And I'm happy that this new movie is going to be in the style of the original Gatchaman.

The problem is very few people in the US actually know Gatchaman, and darker PG-13 style animated movies and CG animated movies don't have a good track record of success.