of imagi studio's gatchaman us-distribution deal, live-action tvcs and retro-anime videos

Gatchaman, scheduled for release in early 2009, originated in Japan in the early 1970s as the television series "Science Ninja Team Gatchaman." Aired in the U.S. as "Battle of the Planets" and "G-Force," it soon became a widely popular syndicated TV series.

Featuring some of the most ambitious action sequences ever seen in animation, Gatchaman is set in a future world grappling with environmental and technological issues. The story focuses on five reluctant heroes whose remarkable genetic code makes them Earth's only hope of defeating extra-terrestrial invaders. Kevin Munroe (TMNT) is the director, with Lynne Southerland producing. [via SHH / hi-res poster image]

- peep the rest of the official press-release about Imagi Studios's GATCHAMAN CG-movie [tagged] getting a US-distribution deal HERE

- meanwhile Paul Dini (of Batman: Animated / LOST) has been signed to collaborate on the screenplay! [read more via SHH] = how cool is that?

- now, imagine if GATCHAMAN was filmed LIVE instead of CG:


GATCHAMAN-TVC.01:

/// CLICK HERE FOR MORE
GATCHAMAN-TVC.02:

"In 2000, NTT East produced two animated and two live-action television commercials for their ISDN service featuring a more updated version of Gatchaman, featuring members of the J-Pop boy group SMAP. [wiki]

the SMAP X Gatchaman TVC continues with this cartoon-trailer:


Classic Japanese-cartoon opening to jog your memory:


G-FORCE classic US-cartoon opening (circa 1986):

[video source]


PRESS-RELEASE OF GATCHAMAN DISTRIBUTION DEAL (circa Sept-27th 2007)

"Warner Bros. Pictures, The Weinstein Company and Imagi Animation Studios agreed upon principal terms for the worldwide distribution of the feature films Gatchaman and AstroBoy. The announcement was jointly made by Jeff Robinov, President, Production, Warner Bros. Pictures; Harvey Weinstein of The Weinstein Company; Imagi Co-CEOs Douglas Glen and Francis Kao; and brokered by The William Morris Agency.

The new pact builds on the success of TMNT, Imagi's first theatrical motion picture, also distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and The Weinstein Company. TMNT opened in March 2007 at the top of the U.S. box office.

"Imagi is breaking new ground with big action pictures done entirely in CG animation," said Robinov. "It's an exciting new genre, with the potential of attracting big mass market audiences."

"TMNT had the kind of beautifully choreographed action sequences you'd expect from Hong Kong animators," said Weinstein. "The next two films will confirm Imagi's reputation as the world's leading action hero animation studio."

"We are delighted to be allied with the marketing and distribution power of Warner Bros. Pictures and The Weinstein Company," said Glen. Added Kao, "We're making Hollywood-style movies with Hong Kong-style excitement and stories that are fusions of Western and Asian themes." [via SHH]