GATCHAMAN CGI Animated Movie Trailer
Unfortunately Gatchaman is a CGI animated film that we will never get to see. The film was being developed by Imagi Studios, which recently shut down it's Los Angeles CGI animation division. This is the same studio that made the great CGI animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, and then they committed suicide by making that craptastic film Astro Boy. They should have known that was going to flop, there was no audience for it, no one cared to see it, and it didn't look like it would be good. Even though I was looking forward to it, I think Gatchaman would have ended up ultimately failing as well. There just isn't a big enough market out there for it. The Japanese TV series was produced in 1972, it was eventually brought to the states in the 80's and retitled Battle of the Planets. It wasn't one of my favorite shows growing up so there's not real nostalgia there for me. The official Imagi website is still up and says the movie is still coming in 2011, but we'll just have to wait and see.
The original Gatchaman story revolves around five young superhero ninjas engaged by the International Science Organization to oppose a group of technologically advanced villains, known as Galactor, from trying to take control of the Earth's natural resources. To do so, the ninjas battle various giant monsters deployed by Galactor to capture rare resources.
The footage makes the film look like it could have been fun. I'm sure when this trailer was put together it was still a work in progress and not fully complete. There are a few little fun things in the trailer I enjoyed, but ultimately I'm not sure if it is enough to win people over. Watch it below and let me know what ya think!