Under construction -- Forgive the sorry state of this page...
Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman (Science Ninja Team Gatchaman) was an animated television show produced by Tatsunoko Productions for a few years in the 1970s and early '80s, featuring a team of five youths in bird suits protecting the world against a worldwide organization of terrorists.
Sounds terribly original, doesn't it? The typical five-man team, united against danger... However, in 1972, Gatchaman broke ground with the concept, being the first animated series to come out of Japan using this type of cast ensemble. In doing so, the writers were free to bring together a number of different personality types and depict not only the battle between good vs. evil, but the personal dynamics among the members of the team -- good and bad. Only since Gatchaman has this team become stereotypical: the leader/hero, the loose cannon, the capable female (or, in some cases, the damsel in distress), the kid/mascot, and the big guy.
This show was eventually released in various forms in the United States, as well as the UK, France, and other countries in the 1970s, where it gained a following of fans who appreciated the characters and the storyline (edited though it was).
These pages are dedicated to these fans: to finding the resources they may be looking for, and maybe to satisfy a nostalgic craving for a childhood memory long forgotten. Enjoy...
Jennifer Nolan | jnolan@bit-net.com