Review: ADV Gatchaman Box Set 6

Released by: ADV Films
Release Date: April 18 2006
Price: $44.98 suggested retail price; sale prices may vary
Contains: Episodes #61-72 + bonus disc
Languages: Japanese, English subtitles, English dub
Region: 1 (US)
Extras:

• Episode commentary by Kim Praus (Jun) and Luci Christian (Jinpei)
• Episode commentary by Brian Jepson (Joe) and Winston Paris (Sosai X)
• Profile of Berg Katse: Text character bio of Berg Katse
• Character Sketches: Berg Katse
• Model sheets from the episodes on the disc
• Audition footage of Berg Katse
• Interview with Edwin Neal (Katse)
• Gatchaman publications gallery: Gatchaman in France
• Clean opening and closing animation
• Gatchaman karaoke
• Gatchaman manga: "Science Ninja Team Number G-6"

You impudent science ninja team scum!
--Berg Katse

The menu formatting hasn't changed from the previous boxes, so the same issues exist. This box theme is dedicated to Katse, with the DVD label design in a blue-violet yet still using the bird-head emblem from the hero uniforms (wouldn't the Galactor demon head be more appropriate?) and the DVD extras comprising his information and design sketches. The box cover features a brand new Alex Ross painting and the art in the DVD jackets made previous appearances as Top Cow BotP comic covers.

Some thoughts about the extras: There were only three or four Katse-related sketches, sadly due to few original resources. And while watching the interview with Edwin Neal, I couldn't help but think he'd look good in a Katse suit and some "passion pink" lipstick.

Episodes: From Box Set 4 onward, the series is hitting its stride, with quality stories and animation all around. Highlight episodes of Box 6 include:

Volume 11:
#62: "The Snow Demon King Blizzarder" Dr. Nambu constructs robot doubles of the entire team as bait for the latest Galactor mecha (what this does to the innocent bystanders who attend the ceremony to honor the Science Ninja Team is just a shame, though), but Ken thinks these robots need a human touch.
#64: "The Christmas Present of Death" Also known as "A Deadly Gift" in G-Force but not run in Battle of the Planets, this episode shows children, in rather brutal fashion, why they shouldn't accept gifts from strangers.
#66: "The Devil's Fashion Show" The Science Ninja Team travel to a country whose chief exports are fashion trends and roller derby, and somehow you know our heroes are going to borrow from those exports in their upcoming battle. Excluded from Battle of the Planets and called "When Fashion Was Fatal" in G-Force, this episode has some excellent fight scenes mixed in with some of the corniest groaners in Gatchaman. Bird Rollers, anyone?

Volume 12:
#67: "Mortal Blow! Gatchaman Fire" You know it's going to be a bad day when Condor ("Shoot It Now") Joe doesn't want to engage the latest mecha. And you'd be right: the Godphoenix is destroyed! Can the crew bounce back?
#68: "The Particle Iron Beast Micro Saturn": The Science Ninja Team travel to a creepy ghost city that appears to have been hit by nuclear weaponry... or has it? This is an eerie and atmospheric episode.
#70: "Death Girls Unite!" Joe once again proves unlucky in love when a pretty girl he "rescues" turns out to be the leader of a squadron of deadly mannequin robots.
#71: "The Invincible Leader X": This is a landmark episode for those fans who've wondered about Berg Katse's true identity. Known as "The Alien Bigfoot" in Battle of the Planets, this episode contains the climactic scene where Ken pulls Katse's mask off and catches a glimpse of long blonde hair....

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