"Battle of the Planets" (1978) TV series 1978-1985

Director:

David E. Hanson

Writers:

William Bloom (writer) (1978)
Kevin Paul Coates (writer) (1978)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

18 September 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A five-member superhero team called G-Force fights to defend Earth and its space colonies from the threat of the planet Spectra.

Plot Keywords:

Leader | Superhero | Robot | Friend | Manga

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 1 of 10)

Alan Young

...

7-Zark-7 / ... (unknown episodes)

Also Known As:

G-Force (USA) (informal alternative title)

Runtime:

Argentina:30 min

Country:

Japan | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | USA:TV-Y7 | Australia:PG (DVD rating)

Company:

Gallerie International Films Ltd.

Trivia:

Most footage comes from an existing Japanese anime show known predominantly as "Gatchaman", but the show content was tweaked for an American audience, including a reduction in violent scenes. To offset the removed content, the character of 7-Zark-7 was added and had a role that tied the altered story together.

Quotes:

[opening narration]
Narrator: Battle of the Planets! G-Force, five incredible young people with superpowers! And watching over them from Centre Neptune, 7-Zark-7! Watching, warning against surprise attacks by alien galaxies from beyond space. G-Force! Fearless young orphans, protecting Earth's entire galaxy. Always five, acting as one. Dedicated! Inseparable! Invincible!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Samurai Jack: Aku's Fairy Tales (#1.13)" (2001)

japanese import popular in the era of SPEED RACER and STAR BLAZERS

Japanese animation has long been popular in america. With the recent rise in the popularity of POKEMON, I look in on a broadcast trend that usually goes in cycles. (sometimes not) Before the wildly popular POKEMON shows like this blazed a trail. In the late 1970's several shows followed after SPEED RACER in popularity one was this program while another was STAR BLAZERS and yet another the live action SPACE GIANTS. Popular with college students and young children this show was a outer space action series about a 5 person strike force who flew a special aircraft which turned into a flaming phoenix. Redubbed in english, this program ran in the major and lesser tv markets in north america. For US syndicator SANDY FRANK a new title sequence was added along with dialouge using english voice actors, this proved profitable. The appeal of japanese animation is the style of the artwork used and often the contnet. During this era cells were being used but alot of "hand" work still went into them. This proved a alternative to "huckleberry hound" and other popular yet mainstream usa offerings.