Gatchaman (film)
Live-action adaptation of the classic 1970s anime.
In 2013, director Toya Sato brought the classic 1970s anime *Science Ninja Team Gatchaman* to life as a live-action tokusatsu superhero film. Set in the year 2050, the story finds half of Earth occupied by the mysterious organization Galactor, which threatens to wipe out humanity. Meanwhile, the International Science Organization discovers unusual stones with hidden powers. Only about one in eight million people—called "Receptors"—can tap into this energy. Dr. Kozaburo Nambu assembles five such Receptors into the Gatchaman team, tasking them with defeating Galactor.
The cast includes Tori Matsuzaka as Ken Washio, Gō Ayano as Joe Asakura, Ayame Goriki as Jun Ohtsuki, Tatsuomi Hamada as Jinpei Ohtsuki, and Ryohei Suzuki as Ryu Nakanishi. Gorō Kishitani plays Dr. Nambu, with Ken Mitsuishi as Dr. Kirkland, Eriko Hatsune as Naomi/Berg Katze, and Shidō Nakamura as Iriya. Other roles are filled by Hiromi Shinjo, Yumiko, Koji Kawamoto, Gregory Pekar, Nahana, Alexander Clemmens, Manoj Mantri, Dilara Islam Tina, Leigh Carmichael, Thad Gilbert, Burney, and several younger actors portraying the characters as children. Additional minor roles include ISO agents, announcers, and archive footage of Junpei Takiguchi as Dokurobei.
The film’s theme song, "Niji wo Matsu Hito," was performed by the rock band Bump of Chicken. Critics praised the hero costumes and fight scenes. On IMDb, the movie holds a 5.1 rating. In Japan, it opened in fifth place, earning ¥119,201,780 (about US$1,171,977), and by its third weekend had grossed ¥401,196,315 (roughly US$3,944,512). The Japanese magazine *Eiga Geijutsu* ranked it among the ten worst Japanese films of 2013.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Toya Sato
- Writer
- Yusuke Watanabe
- Based On
- Science Ninja Team Gatchaman · Tatsunoko Production
- Starring
- Tori Matsuzaka / Gō Ayano / Ayame Goriki / Tatsuomi Hamada / Ryohei Suzuki
- Music
- Nima Fakhrara
- Studio
- Django Film
- Distributor
- Toho
- Released
- 24 August 2013
- Runtime
- 113 minutes
- Country
- Japan
- Language
- Japanese / English
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
By the year 2050 AD, a mysterious organization called Galactor has occupied half of the Earth and threatens to exterminate the human race. The International Science Organization uncovers mysterious stones that bear unusual powers; approximately one in eight million people, known as a 'Receptor', can harness their power. Dr. Kozaburo Nambu gathers five such Receptors to form the Gatchaman team, tasked with defeating Galactor.
The cast includes Tori Matsuzaka as Ken Washio, Gō Ayano as Joe Asakura, Ayame Goriki as Jun Ohtsuki, Tatsuomi Hamada as Jinpei Ohtsuki, and Ryohei Suzuki as Ryu Nakanishi, with Gorō Kishitani as Dr. Nambu. The film also features Ken Mitsuishi, Eriko Hatsune, Shidō Nakamura, and others in supporting roles.
The movie opened in Japan in fifth place with ¥119,201,780 (approx. US$1,171,977) and had earned ¥401,196,315 (approx. US$3,944,512) by its third weekend. Japanese magazine Eiga Geijutsu ranked the film as one of the 10 worst Japanese films of 2013.
Reader's Guide
Gatchaman (2013) represents a live-action reinterpretation of a beloved 1970s anime, aiming to bring the classic story to a new generation. The film is noted for its hero costumes and fight scenes, which received praise, but its critical reception was mixed. It holds a 5.1 ranking on IMDb and was listed by Eiga Geijutsu as one of the 10 worst Japanese films of 2013. Commercially, it opened modestly in Japan, earning over ¥400 million by its third weekend. The film's significance lies in its attempt to translate the iconic anime's themes of teamwork and resistance against a powerful enemy into a modern tokusatsu format, though it did not achieve widespread acclaim. Its legacy is tied to the enduring popularity of the Gatchaman franchise and the challenges of adapting animated properties to live action.
Did You Know?
- The film is based on the classic 1970s anime television series Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.
- The theme song 'Niji wo Matsu Hito' is performed by the Japanese rock band Bump of Chicken.
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