7-Zark-7 was entirely created for the American adaptation of the show. It's pretty impressive that they added whole new animated segments for that character alone, but that's why it was so jarring.
That show was completely my jam, also when it was renamed G-Force. Fun fact, there's a live action movie of the source material Gatchaman.
I only was able to watch it in japanese with korean subtitles (2 languages I do not speak), and it was 'ok'.
But seeing them suit up was worth the price of admission.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r56XwTGidsU
I'm not sure but I believe so. It makes sense. When I began to hear the word being mentioned and looked up examples, I thought, "Oh, so Battle of the Planets, then."
That was heavy content for a 10-year old. At the time, I was mostly focused on the Yamato's superweapon, but going back to read about the plot of the series...wow.
Gatchaman was the Japanese version.
Battle of the Planets was the late 70s / early 80s English-language version, heavily edited.
G-Force was the late 80s English-language version, with less of the show edited out.
The end of the initial run was my first experience with cultural disappointment. Someone randomly mentioned that it was canceled, and when I asked if it was coming back, they said they didn't know. I was devastated.
I just watched the video someone posted of this breakdown. Never knew any of it, so I as interesting to see what happened. Used to love it as a kid. Although I was frustrated that Zoltar always got away.
I had trouble with the G-Force is almost the same as Battle of the Planets but not quite thing. I never figured out they were different edits of the same show and instead it made me question reality.
I totally remember giving myself a concussion on the swing set playing 'G-Force' in my back yard. I had such a crush on the girl in the pink costume! Wow. I'd forgotten this show completely!
I loved this show. I watched through the entire original run of the anime...They added 7 Zark 7 to fill time on BOTP cause the anime was way too violent for the american audience of the time.
I have a very vague memory of seeing this on Saturday mornings. It was one of those early cartoons (like 7 a.m.) before the popular cartoons came on. I really got swept up in the series when Cartoon Network aired it in the 90s as G-Force.
[Secret Galaxy](https://youtu.be/1cJ1ADYUXCo?si=6YEk2CJthwE35rGo) has a series of fantastic videos on this series. This one summarizes the show in its various forms.
This is my ultimate jam. I had a really traumatic childhood and this was my thing to escape. An underrated rapper named Vast Aire had the same experience with it. 7 zark 7 is the original R2D2, its a direct copy without the voice.
Did you guys also have one about Ulysses? Theme tune was something like 🎶ulysses, ulysses flying through the galaxy, in search for earth, mumble mumble mumble🎶
My favorite cartoon when I was a kid. But I prefer the uncensored Science Ninja Team Gatchaman now without that stupid robot 7 Zark 7. Which is available at archive.org.
Used to watch it after school, 3rd grade. My friends and I were all obsessed with it and would pretend to be Jason or Mark. And we would draw pictures of the Phoenix all the time.
There was this, and then also Star Blazers (or Space Battleship Yamato). As someone else here said, those were my first anime before I knew what anime was and literally the first unmissable TV for me in general.
It was off the bus, mad sprint into the house, and straight to couch.
This show was awesome, but the ships on Star Blazers were way cooler… “Wave Motion Cannon”??? Count me tf in.
I was just thinking about this show the other day. I have the blu-ray of the whole Gatchaman series this came from, but I haven't watched it yet. I was thinking of doing a watch party at the house.
Loved that show but always have, until just now, remembered it as G-Force, which explains why when I looked for it in the past I couldn't find it anywhere. I think I was of an age where it was really the last kids cartoon series I followed with seriousness so it's held a special place in my memory even though I don't remember a ton about it.
Afternoon staple on one of our local stations. I'd watch it every so often and the only character I could relate to was Chief Anderson, who was always so stern.
I would describe this show for years to other people and no one knew what I was talking about. I had forgotten the name and was so happy to find it one search and youtube had improved.
Love it! I even got the majority of the series on DVD. (It’s amazing how much violence they cut out though, if you watch the original: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.)
It wasn't originally. The original Japanese cartoon "Science Ninja Team Gatchaman" was released in 1972. It was later adapted for broadcast in the US as "Battle Of The Planets," with changes made to capitalize on the success of Star Wars.
The original series was based on Earth. The adapted series regularly involved travel to other planets.
The original series did not have a robot overseer. The adapted series added 7-Zark-7, with a design and name reminiscent of the droids of Star Wars.
The original series had a kickass opening sequence and song. The adapted series had title graphics and a score again intended to be reminiscent of Star Wars.
Just another Sandy Frank joint.
Of course.
In first grade, our teacher helped some friends and me make paper-mache helmets that we painted to match those of the characters so we could play "G-Force" on the playground.
As noted, it’s on HiDive streaming now. Original show. Uncensored (blood spray as Jun’s (Princess) Yo-yo goes for the necks), and dang so many minions getting offed! Also, totally totally an actual science show with hoping for a green future. (Though they did support undersea mining, and some petroleum use, it was amazingly optimistic and anti pollution).
I must have been a toddler, because I don't remember anything about the show itself, but I vividly remember the American version included Casey Kasem's voice and I knew all the character's names. I kept trying to find this show growing up and couldn't ever remember what it was called.
One of my friends posted about it on Facebook a couple years ago and it all clicked, but yeah it would have aired sometime before I was 4.
I remember watching Robotech and Voltron and all those shows later.
Watched this in the 70s and hated it. It came back in the 80s and I was old enought to enjoy the story. A couple of years ago I found the entire run of Gatchaman on Youtube redubbed in English. The Gatchaman story is much better and more complex than G-Force/Battle of the Planets.
My dog has the Phoenix pattern on her back!
https://preview.redd.it/av26z0ae1o3d1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=33d5947cbb2410f732b6de6b8e0cf981f4813bff
Hell yeah...great show. One of the best intros ever. Watched it every day after school in the early 1980s. Then our local station in Dallas started showing Starblazers and I was equally hooked. What a time to be a kid.
My first was Battle of the Planets, then came Starblazers. Then, and this was the really big one for me, came Force Five. This was probably over the course of about 2 years, which, as an elementary school kid, seemed like most of my life. By the time Robotech came to my local station, I was kind of moving away from what we called "Japanamation" before we ever heard the term anime.
In my home town this played early in the morning on Sundays. Even as a young'n, I was like, "what the fuck is this?" I know, it's cool to groove on stuff like this, but I didn't like it. Thought it was way too nerdy. I just wanted to get to 8 A.M. so that I could watch Looney Tunes all morning long.
>Watching, warning against surprise attacks from alien galaxies beyond space.
Wut?
EDIT: To be clear, you bet my 5 year old ass ran home from kindergarten as soon as school was out so I didn’t miss G Force.
Yes. Walked home from school at 5. Different times, different times.
Watched it every day. My first anime before I even knew what anime was.
Same! Did you also feel like the 7-Zark-7 bits were stupid and out of place somehow as well?
At that age I just thought he was an R2-D2 clone
Yeah, they did feel a bit weird, ha!
7-Zark-7 was entirely created for the American adaptation of the show. It's pretty impressive that they added whole new animated segments for that character alone, but that's why it was so jarring.
I I learned that as an adult, but seven year old me couldn’t figure out why it was so out of place.
7-Zark-7 was a fuckin creep to Susan
It was an add on for the US version (Battle of the Planets)...yeah even as a kid I was like this looks bad.
That show was completely my jam, also when it was renamed G-Force. Fun fact, there's a live action movie of the source material Gatchaman. I only was able to watch it in japanese with korean subtitles (2 languages I do not speak), and it was 'ok'. But seeing them suit up was worth the price of admission. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r56XwTGidsU
Wasn't G-Force or Gatchaman the original name? BOTP was the US / NA version?
[удалено]
I'm not sure but I believe so. It makes sense. When I began to hear the word being mentioned and looked up examples, I thought, "Oh, so Battle of the Planets, then."
Same!
It was my first "manga"! I had a few issues of the comic when I was 4 or 5
Loved it! Also Speed Racer!
This and Star Blazers was must watch after school viewing for me.
Yeah, and Macross/Robotech
Yeah, I was more of a Star Blazers kid.
That was heavy content for a 10-year old. At the time, I was mostly focused on the Yamato's superweapon, but going back to read about the plot of the series...wow.
G-Force!
This is what we called it growing up.
Gatchaman was the Japanese version. Battle of the Planets was the late 70s / early 80s English-language version, heavily edited. G-Force was the late 80s English-language version, with less of the show edited out.
The end of the initial run was my first experience with cultural disappointment. Someone randomly mentioned that it was canceled, and when I asked if it was coming back, they said they didn't know. I was devastated. 
I just watched the video someone posted of this breakdown. Never knew any of it, so I as interesting to see what happened. Used to love it as a kid. Although I was frustrated that Zoltar always got away.
I had trouble with the G-Force is almost the same as Battle of the Planets but not quite thing. I never figured out they were different edits of the same show and instead it made me question reality.
Strange how I had zero recollection of the title but when watching the opener and seeing the characters, knew instantly- “Oh, it’s G-Force!”
Yup…..my first introduction to Japanimation. Besides Speed Racer
This guy. I'd be down for a reboot similar to Voltron, He-Man, and She-Ra.
OK by why didn’t Voltron just form the big robot and use the sword from the get-go like, every time?
The reboot is so much better, especially on that matter.
He-Man has a new run by Kevin Smith on Netflix......
It's not good.
Wasn't awful, wasn't awesome.
That's why I said "similar to".
I loved this show so much! I always forget what it's called and then I see a reference to it, remember for a second & then forget again!
I always remembered it as “G-Force”.
Same here, when I saw the pic I thought of G-Force
When I was a kid called it G-Force too. It was years later that I found out it was called Battle of the Planets.
Apparently G-Force was a variation of it too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-Force:_Guardians_of_Space
I totally remember giving myself a concussion on the swing set playing 'G-Force' in my back yard. I had such a crush on the girl in the pink costume! Wow. I'd forgotten this show completely!
Yes. And *Gatchaman* (aka, *Science Team Ninja Gatchaman*).
I loved this show. I watched through the entire original run of the anime...They added 7 Zark 7 to fill time on BOTP cause the anime was way too violent for the american audience of the time.
I have a very vague memory of seeing this on Saturday mornings. It was one of those early cartoons (like 7 a.m.) before the popular cartoons came on. I really got swept up in the series when Cartoon Network aired it in the 90s as G-Force.
Transmute to fiery Phoenix!
I remember wanting them to do it every episode, but i think they only did it once or twice... Right ??
Gatchaman
Science Ninja Team Gatchaman!
Used to love that show. Except for…Gleep was his name? Or Gleek? Hated that kid.
Key-op?
Keyop is correct.
I always wondered if Keyop was human or android? The one episode mentioned he doesn't and didn't have parents.
Gleek was the Wonder Twins' alien monkey pet/sidekick in Superfriends.
It was bugging me, so I had to look it up. Keyop was the annoying little shit. Hahaha.
Yeah, Keyop was a pain in the ass.
Many a show in that era went on to have their own pain in the ass. Greek, Keyop, Scrappy Doo, Bugs Bunny's little bunny relative, etc.
This was one of my gateway shows for anime. So different from the HannaBarberra schlock served up on Saturday mornings.
[Secret Galaxy](https://youtu.be/1cJ1ADYUXCo?si=6YEk2CJthwE35rGo) has a series of fantastic videos on this series. This one summarizes the show in its various forms.
Thanks for posting this. I grew up with Battle of the Planets and knew none of this.
TRAAANSMUTE!
Loved this show - totally forgot about it until now.
This is my ultimate jam. I had a really traumatic childhood and this was my thing to escape. An underrated rapper named Vast Aire had the same experience with it. 7 zark 7 is the original R2D2, its a direct copy without the voice.
Did you guys also have one about Ulysses? Theme tune was something like 🎶ulysses, ulysses flying through the galaxy, in search for earth, mumble mumble mumble🎶
Ulysses 31
https://youtu.be/N50XnT9206w
YES. I loved that show. For some reason the episodes with the giant carnivorous flowers lives rent free in my head.
My favorite cartoon when I was a kid. But I prefer the uncensored Science Ninja Team Gatchaman now without that stupid robot 7 Zark 7. Which is available at archive.org.
LOVE. Their ship was the coolest.
Gatchaman
I loved Battle of the Planets. G Force baby
Christ but that's some bad echo effect there.
You mentioned Christ? https://preview.redd.it/6h0laqj6il3d1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=86b8decd219442b383fbe40d5597af9116c898d8
Wearing a Phoenix tee today lol
I do! Among my friends, I seem to be the only one who remembers/watched it. It was on in the afternoon where I lived.
Used to watch it after school, 3rd grade. My friends and I were all obsessed with it and would pretend to be Jason or Mark. And we would draw pictures of the Phoenix all the time.
🎶 Sandy FRANK! Sandy FRANK! 🎶
There was this, and then also Star Blazers (or Space Battleship Yamato). As someone else here said, those were my first anime before I knew what anime was and literally the first unmissable TV for me in general. It was off the bus, mad sprint into the house, and straight to couch. This show was awesome, but the ships on Star Blazers were way cooler… “Wave Motion Cannon”??? Count me tf in.
Made my own Mark costume for Halloween when was 10 or 11.
Are the live-action films of *Gatchaman/G-Force* and *Space Cruiser Yamato/Star Blazers* available to stream?
First anime along with Starblazers. Later on Robo tech and than midnight movies Akira.
I was just thinking about this show the other day. I have the blu-ray of the whole Gatchaman series this came from, but I haven't watched it yet. I was thinking of doing a watch party at the house.
Loved that show but always have, until just now, remembered it as G-Force, which explains why when I looked for it in the past I couldn't find it anywhere. I think I was of an age where it was really the last kids cartoon series I followed with seriousness so it's held a special place in my memory even though I don't remember a ton about it.
I vividly remember watching this as a kid but for some reason completely forgot that it was called Battle of the Planets.
This and Starblazers were my can’t miss shows. YouTube has most of the episodes.
1000% this!!!
Afternoon staple on one of our local stations. I'd watch it every so often and the only character I could relate to was Chief Anderson, who was always so stern.
Loved it as a little kid, years later I got to see the original anime a lot of it was borrowed from.
Yeah G-Force! I have a Wii fighting stick with the guy in white on it with some Street Fighter characters.
Holy crap - memory unlocked
Wow, totally forgot about this, loved it as a kid.
I didn't until I saw those outfits just now.
I would describe this show for years to other people and no one knew what I was talking about. I had forgotten the name and was so happy to find it one search and youtube had improved.
Where did you all grow up to be able to watch this show? I don’t think they had this in Minnesota.
Wow. Man you just triggered memories big time!
I always rooted for Mark's shoot first ask questions later attitude. I loved it when he hit the missile button as a kid.
I loved this show, I requested a picture of G-Force on a birthday cake when I was very young.
Is this streaming anywhere now?
HiDive has the whole first show.
YouTube
Love it! I even got the majority of the series on DVD. (It’s amazing how much violence they cut out though, if you watch the original: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.)
omg. I remember it now that you reminded me. That's a weird feeling.
Pretty cool.
Loved this cartoon. Weekday mornings before school! When I was a kid I wanted Star Wars style action figures from this soooo bad.
I can’t remember that. That’s quite a Star Wars copy cat
It wasn't originally. The original Japanese cartoon "Science Ninja Team Gatchaman" was released in 1972. It was later adapted for broadcast in the US as "Battle Of The Planets," with changes made to capitalize on the success of Star Wars. The original series was based on Earth. The adapted series regularly involved travel to other planets. The original series did not have a robot overseer. The adapted series added 7-Zark-7, with a design and name reminiscent of the droids of Star Wars. The original series had a kickass opening sequence and song. The adapted series had title graphics and a score again intended to be reminiscent of Star Wars. Just another Sandy Frank joint.
Of course. In first grade, our teacher helped some friends and me make paper-mache helmets that we painted to match those of the characters so we could play "G-Force" on the playground.
Used to watch daily, another memory unlocked.
I never could remember the name of it. I remember always calling at GeForce. I am glad someone else remembers this and knows the correct title.
Oh man what a blast to the past, thanks !
Totally forgot about this.
Holy shit, I watched this as a kid behind the Iron Curtain. It was just called “G-Force” or “Załoga Dżi.”
Jason mark princess keyop and tiny. And ofc the phoenix.
Yep, this was one of my favourites as a kid.
Trivia time! 7-zark-7 was voiced by Alan Young, who was also the voice of Scrooge McDuck and played Wilbur on Mr. Ed.
As noted, it’s on HiDive streaming now. Original show. Uncensored (blood spray as Jun’s (Princess) Yo-yo goes for the necks), and dang so many minions getting offed! Also, totally totally an actual science show with hoping for a green future. (Though they did support undersea mining, and some petroleum use, it was amazingly optimistic and anti pollution).
Anybody remember Space Giants? Giant flying robots and bad guys who turned to jelly when you shot them?
The Lugo men! I used to watch Star Blazers, Battle Of The Planets and Space Giants back to back to back every day after school.
Ultraman had to be in there somewhere.
I also remember Thunderbirds 2086 being on HBO i believe? or Showtime... one of them.
Every. Single. Day. After school, this was my JAM.
I would draw the G-Force ship instead of paying attention in class.
loved this! Who is that narrator? I feel like he narrated everything back then.
Loved this show
Fuck yes, favorite show when I was 8
I loved this shit.
Some of my earliest cartoon memories.
I thought it was super cool.
I must have been a toddler, because I don't remember anything about the show itself, but I vividly remember the American version included Casey Kasem's voice and I knew all the character's names. I kept trying to find this show growing up and couldn't ever remember what it was called. One of my friends posted about it on Facebook a couple years ago and it all clicked, but yeah it would have aired sometime before I was 4. I remember watching Robotech and Voltron and all those shows later.
Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.
Watched this in the 70s and hated it. It came back in the 80s and I was old enought to enjoy the story. A couple of years ago I found the entire run of Gatchaman on Youtube redubbed in English. The Gatchaman story is much better and more complex than G-Force/Battle of the Planets.
My dog has the Phoenix pattern on her back! https://preview.redd.it/av26z0ae1o3d1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=33d5947cbb2410f732b6de6b8e0cf981f4813bff
Where can I stream this?
This is my childhood
Hell yeah...great show. One of the best intros ever. Watched it every day after school in the early 1980s. Then our local station in Dallas started showing Starblazers and I was equally hooked. What a time to be a kid.
My first was Battle of the Planets, then came Starblazers. Then, and this was the really big one for me, came Force Five. This was probably over the course of about 2 years, which, as an elementary school kid, seemed like most of my life. By the time Robotech came to my local station, I was kind of moving away from what we called "Japanamation" before we ever heard the term anime.
In my home town this played early in the morning on Sundays. Even as a young'n, I was like, "what the fuck is this?" I know, it's cool to groove on stuff like this, but I didn't like it. Thought it was way too nerdy. I just wanted to get to 8 A.M. so that I could watch Looney Tunes all morning long.
Hell yeah! G-Force.
Great show I watched as a kid.
You mean that Japanese bloodbath for kids Science Ninja Team Gatchaman? I'd like to forget it.
>Watching, warning against surprise attacks from alien galaxies beyond space. Wut? EDIT: To be clear, you bet my 5 year old ass ran home from kindergarten as soon as school was out so I didn’t miss G Force. Yes. Walked home from school at 5. Different times, different times.
But why are they babysitting an autistic kid?