Battle of the Planets
Battle of the Planets is an American adaptation of the Japanese anime series Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (1972). Of the 105 original Gatchaman episodes, 85 were used in the Battle of the Planets adaptation, produced by Sandy Frank Entertainment. The adaptation was generally faithful to the plot and character development of the original Gatchaman series, but significant additions and reductions were made in order to increase appeal to the North American television market of the late 1970s, as well as avoid controversy from parents; these included the removal of elements of graphic violence and profanity.
| Battle of the Planets | |
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| Based on | Science Ninja Team Gatchaman by Tatsuo Yoshida |
| Developed by | Sandy Frank |
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| Theme music composer | Hoyt Curtin |
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| No. of episodes | 85 (list of episodes) |
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| Animator | Tatsunoko Production |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
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| Network | First-run syndication |
| Release | September 12, 1978 – May 12, 1980 |
It was the most successful anime series in the United States during the 1970s, airing on 100 network affiliates during after-school hours by 1979. As of June 2013, Sentai Filmworks have licensed the Gatchaman franchise. An oft-delayed CGI film based on the franchise, Gatchaman, last slated for a 2011 release from Warner Bros., was officially canceled in June 2011. However, a live-action Gatchaman feature film was released in Japan in August 2013. As of 2018, the series has been made available for streaming on Hidive.