The classic Japanime series,
"Gatchaman", helped spawn the "five-member hero team" formula later followed by everyone from
"Voltron" in the 80s to
"Power Rangers" in the 90s. Now, Imagi Animation Studios are producing a big-screen, CG-based feature version of
Gatchaman, to be directed by
Kevin Munroe (
TMNT).
The IESB's ROBERT SANCHEZ visited Munroe and co-director
Tom Tanaka, and was surprised to find the production so far along. Although the film was announced only a few months ago, Munroe and his team have been working on
Gatchaman since early 2006, most recently testing 3-D models of the characters and performing range of motion tests. Tanaka said that they are going for more realistic characters than the humans of
TMNT.
"I try to describe it to people, it’s not cartoon-ey and it’s not photo-real," added Munroe. "It’s really pushing the Western style of animation, something very cool and different."
The directors said that their
Gatchaman is an origin story, which delves into territory previously unexplored in the TV series.
"So this is, we’re actually the prequel to the TV show in a sense," said Tanaka.
As Munroe described it, the world in the 22nd century "has gotten worse in terms of politics and economy," and the very animated, neon-soaked Utoland Island "has been created as a beacon of hope...and the Gatchaman become the symbol of that hope," especially when the earth is rocked by an alien invasion.
The directors are working closely with scripter
Paul Dini (
"Batman: The Animated Series"), whom Munroe calls "a phenomenal writer" and "a great collaborator...I wouldn't want to do this movie without him."
Gatchaman is aiming for a 2009 release.
P. Ryan Anthony
