Battle of the Planets/Gatchaman Gets Reboot by Beyblade Team

Corus to launch action remake in Fall 2017 with Japanese, global partners

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Canadian media company Corus Entertainment announced on Thursday that it isremaking Gatchaman, the classic science-fiction hero anime franchise known in English as Battle of the Planets, with the Beyblade team. It plans to launch the reboot in Fall of 2017. Colin Bohm, Vice President and Head of Corus Kids, outlined the plans in the company's boys' action slate during its Annual Investor Day presentation:

We're developing a reboot of a classic anime property from my youth, called Battle of the Planets. We're putting the Beyblade team back together for this one, and working with our Japanese Beyblade partners on a fresh take on this iconic anime property. We feel this property has tremendous potential.

Why? Well, three simple reasons. First, it is a rare anime property that has a superb legacy both in the East as well as in the West. Broadcasters, licensees, and retailers know and affectionately remember this brand. Second, the brand's DNA, […] as you will see in the clips shortly, lends itself perfectly to a full line of merchandisable figurines, vehicles, and role-play toys. Finally, with the winning Beyblade team behind it, including key global toy partners, all the right partners are lined up and ready to go well in advance of the anticipated 2017 launch date.

Bohm then played a clip with the following transcript:

In the beginning, there was an iconic Japanese anime series that took the world by storm: Battle of the Planets, also known as G-Force andGatchaman. Different titles, all featuring the Phoenix Ninjas. Now reimagined for audiences today. Battle of the Planets, launching Fall 2017.

Tatsunoko Production's first Science Ninja Team Gatchamananime premiered in October of 1972 and earned an average rating of 21%. It was only planned for two quarters (kūru orcours) of a year, but was extended to two full years and 105 episodes. It has since spawned anime films as well as later television and video series. The first anime projects in theGatchaman franchise were adapted, with varying degrees of faithfulness, into English under the names Battle of the Planets, G-Force, and Eagle Riders.

In Japan, the franchise inspired a spinoff series calledGatchaman Crowds last year. The franchise alsoinspired a live-action film starring Tori Matsuzaka, Gō Ayano, Ayame Gōriki, Tatsuomi Hamada, and Ryōhei Suzuki last year. NTV ran Ohayō Ninja-Tai Gatchaman, an anime series of one-minute flash short in 2011. The second Gatchaman Crowds season, tentatively titledGatchaman Crowds insight, is planned for next year with returning characters.