News
Japan's d-rights Collaborate on Nelvana's Battle of the Planets/Gatchaman Reboot
posted on by Karen Ressler
Canadian media company Corus Entertainment confirmed on Tuesday that its subsidiary Nelvana will be working with Japanese production company d-rights on production of a new Battle of the Planets (Gatchaman) animated series. The company announced the series in November as a collaboration with the Beyblade team.
In addition, Corus unveiled the tentative title Battle of the Planets: Phoenix Ninjas. The series will be aimed at boys ages 6 to 11. Nelvana's co-head Andrew Kerr stated, "The series will be new, but will feature the same big action stories and compelling characters."
Corus plans to launch the reboot in Fall of 2017.
Tatsunoko Production's first Science Ninja Team Gatchaman anime premiered in October of 1972 and earned an average rating of 21%. It was only planned for two quarters (kūru or cours) of a year, but was extended to two full years and 105 episodes. It has since spawned anime films as well as later television and video series. The first anime projects in the Gatchaman franchise were adapted, with varying degrees of faithfulness, into English under the names Battle of the Planets, G-Force, and Eagle Riders.
In Japan, the franchise inspired a spinoff series called Gatchaman Crowds last year. The franchise also inspired a live-action film starring Tori Matsuzaka, Gō Ayano, Ayame Gōriki, Tatsuomi Hamada, and Ryōhei Suzuki last year. NTV ran Ohayō Ninja-Tai Gatchaman, an anime series of one-minute flash short in 2011. The second Gatchaman Crowds season, tentatively titled Gatchaman Crowds insight, is planned for this year with returning characters.
Thanks to Liam for the news tip.
