Source: NTV (Nippon Television Network) promotional materials Official Site: ntv.co.jp/GATCHAMAN_Crowds (Japan) GATCHAMAN CROWDS (??????????, Gatchaman Kurauzu, 2013) updates the classic anime GATCHAMAN (???????????, Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman, 1972-1974) with a new twelve episode series from Tatsunoko Production, NTV and VAP.
STORY
The year is 2015 in Tachikawa, a large city of 180 thousand in western Tokyo. A MESS, mysterious existence, is sweeping over and only the GATCHAMAN CREW (G-CREW), composed of talented humans and aliens who are selected by the CHAMBER, can protect the Earth and its inhabitants with their hidden special powers.
CHARACTERS
Hajime Ichinose (G-101) Bubbly and bursting with energy, this 16-year old GATCHAMAN is the heroine. Hajime is an artsy high school girl who is into all things pretty and cute. Just when she was starting to crave more excitement in life, she gets recruited by J.J. Robinson to become part of the G-CREW. Sugane Tachibana (G-96) Sugane is a 19-year old high school senior who is wise beyond his years. A champion of justice, he has been part of the G-CREW for 5 years and is a samurai at heart. Joe Hibiki (G-89) Serious government employee by day and dart aficionado by night, Joe is a 10-year veteran of the G-CREW. O.D (G-12) O.D is 1.9 meters tall and is the G-CREW life of the party. He claims to be an unfortunate GATCHAMAN who doesn’t possess the ability to transform. O.D does not participate in regular G-CREW missions.
Utsu-tsu (G-99) This 15-year old is a year behind Hajime in the same high school, but has a completely opposite personality. Shy and with very low self-esteem, Utsu-tsu barely speaks to her fellow G-CREW and prefers to tend to the flowers over at the park where she volunteers. PAI-MAN (G-3) This tiny alien creature measures only 33 cm in height but is actually the oldest GATCHAMAN. He fully admires J.J. Robinson and puts utmost faith and importance on the latter’s predictions. PAI-MAN claims to be the leader of GATCHAMAN at Tachikawa “CAGE” and gives orders to the other G-CREW members. J.J. (J.J. Robinson) J.J. Robinson is a CHAMBER member who has witnessed the rise and fall of life in the universe over aeons. As guardian of the Earth, he recruits talented people to become part of the G-CREW and guides them with his predictions. Under J.J. Robinson’s tutelage, the G-CREW use their special NOTE powers to protect the Earth from evil forces that otherwise can’t be overcome using only the scientific capabilities currently available in the world.
Rui Ninomiya Rui is a self-taught genius who can speak Japanese, Chinese, and English. Frustrated that the world is too slow, Rui sets out to speed up the passage of time and “update” people by using his ability to hack and write code. President X President X is a work-in-progress artificial intelligence created by Rui with support from other brilliant hackers from around the world. It runs the SNS named “GALAX”, also developed by Rui, and is successfully increasing the site’s users. Berg-Katze Berg-Katze is 2.15 meters tall and claims to be from outer space. He is a phantom figure whose actions and intents are completely shrouded in mystery.
PRODUCTION INFO
Key art. © Tatsunoko Production © 2013 NTV ? VAP ? Tatsunoko Pro.Episodes: 12 Duration: Approximately 30 minutes Cast Hajime Ichinose: Maaya Uchida Sugane Tachibana: Ryota Oosaka Joe Hibiki: Daisuke Namikawa PAI-MAN: Aya Hirano Utsu-tsu: Kotori Koiwai J.J. Robinson: Katsuji Mori Rui Ninomiya: Ayumu Murase Berg-Katze: Mamoru Miyano President X: Sakura Tange Staff Staff Director: Kenji Nakamura Series Composition: Toshiya Ono Character Design: Kinako Animation Director: Yuichi Takahashi Production: Tatsunoko Production Distribution: NTV
For more information on GATCHAMAN CROWDS please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan:
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