Review: ADV Gatchaman Box Set 5

Released by: ADV Films
Release Date: February 21, 2006
Price: $44.98 suggested retail price; sale prices may vary
Contains: Episodes #49-60 + bonus disc
Languages: Japanese, English subtitles, English dub
Region: 1 (US)
Extras:

• Episode commentary by John Tyson (Red Impulse)
• Episode commentary by Leraldo Anzaldua (Ken) and Andy McAlvin (Nambu)
• Profile of Ryu: Text character bio of Ryu the Owl
• Character Sketches: Ryu, the G-5 and his weapons
• Model sheets from the episodes on the disc
• Audition footage of Victor Carsrud (Ryu's voice actor)
• Interview with Victor Carsrud
• Gatchaman publications gallery: Gatchaman in Europe
• Clean opening and closing animation
• Gatchaman karaoke
• Gatchaman manga: "The Secret of the Monster Mecha Factory"

Roger!
--Ryu

The menu formatting hasn't changed from the previous boxes, so the same issues exist. This box theme is dedicated to Ryu, with the DVD label design in his uniform colors and the DVD extras comprising his information and design sketches. Because Ryu's bodysuit colors are pretty close to Joe's, be careful not to mix up the volumes (I know I did a double-take). The box cover features the Battle of the Planets comic art (issue 2) and the art in the DVD jackets made previous appearances as Top Cow BotP comic covers.

I thought the highlight of the Extras disc was the interview with Victor Carsrud (Ryu). The rest of the content mirrors that of the previous box sets.

Episodes: From Box Set 4 onward, the series is hitting its stride, with quality stories and animation all around. Highlight episodes of Box 5 include:

Volume 9:
#50: "Trachodon, the Dinosaur Skeleton" This episode never ran as Battle of the Planets, but in G-Force it was known as "The Skeleton Curse". While the art and animation are clunky in spots, the episode contains some funny gags as well as the series' only naked shower scene (and it's Ryu).
#51-54: The Red Impulse Saga Ken's reunion with his father, the death of the Red Impulse captain and the aftermath made up the dramatic climax to Gatchaman's first season, and it's clear the staff at Tatsunoko worked hard (all four episodes are excellent).

Volume 10:
#56: "Bird Missile of Bitterness" This episode never appeared in Battle of the Planets, but was known as "The Bird Missile" in G-Force. Jun's "old flame," stunt racer Koji Yabane, reappears as leader of a gang of Blackbird bikers, with predictable results. This episode contains a controversial scene where Joe expresses his belief that Jun isn't taking her job seriously enough.
#58: "Hell's Mecha Buttha": A personal favorite, this episode contains a surreal mecha attack, excellent art and fantastic fight scenes including the world's creepiest battle between Ken and Joe and some man-eating statuary. Don't miss it!

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