YAY GATCHAMAN! For those of you that weren't around during the 1970's, Gatchaman was a pretty cool anime that really drew in a lot of young people growing up. The series had enough popularity that it eventually got dubbed in English in the 1990's, and that means that some of us got to watch this Gatchaman growing up! It wasn't the best show by today's standards, but at the time it was pretty damn awesome. It shouldn't come as a surprise that when some of us heard that Gatchaman would be making a return to the TV screen, we set about singing the Gatchaman theme song and shouting "GO, BIRD!" at random strangers.
Having only recently caught up with the series myself, I've found myself applauding the reboot, Gatchaman Crowds. The story is pretty familiar to just about everyone that has ever watched an anime involving any kind of task force. A newbie recruit joins the team, and proves their grit through a variety of trials and tribulations. In this particular case, however, newbie Hajime Ichinose has to be the strangest little girl that I have ever met. Unlike many modern day representations of strong female protagonist/main characters, Hajime comes off as weird and ditzy. Because of this, Gatchaman Crowds' first episode will probably elicit one of four possible reactions from you:
1. You'll like it a lot and keep watching well into the Second Season: Gatchaman Crowds Insight
2. You'll laugh a little, shake your head in bemusement and continue trying the show
3. You'll laugh a little, shake your head in bemusement and quit the show on the spot
4. You'll cuss in the language of your choosing, and then throw out your monitor for showing you something so strange
If you happen to be a person that can freely choose which of the above reactions you'll have while watching, I strongly recommend Reaction #2. There is no fighting the fact that the main character has all kinds of quirks. However, it is these very quirks that make Hajime such a strong, and in some instances, overwhelming female lead. Her perspectives on everyday problems is certainly eye opening, and vibrantly optimistic. Gatchaman Crowds teaches viewers that everyone has their own hang ups and problems, but by coming together we can make life that much more happy and worthwhile.
The animation for this series is perfect for the story that it is trying to tell, and really aids in generating a whimsical mood. There are also a lot of bright colors, and eye catching designs can be found in both the backgrounds and character designs. From the opening themes animations alone, it is immediately evident that Tatsunoko Productions, the folks who created Gatchaman, has a keen eye for detail. Over the course of the series, as each character goes through their own changes and transformations, the opening credits also evolve in order to showcase these differences as the series progresses.
In truth the only really bone to pick that I have with Gatchaman Crowds is that 3D is not my favorite medium. Tatsunoko does an stellar job of making 3D more accessible for viewers in this series, but even then I personally found it to be unappealing. That said, the brilliant colors, and metallic details in both characterization and movement really came through because of the 3D models employed in the show. This careful blend of 3D and drawn animation made for an interesting and diverse cocktail of animated mastery.
Gatchaman Crowds is a series that anyone can come to love. The story, while classic and tied to the roots of the old series, does an amazing job of breaking down certain stereotypes and common tropes of anime. The bright color pallets are all carefully chosen and oriented in a manner that doesn't distract or aggravate the eyes. The voice acting is solid, and engaging. But really it's the characters that keep viewers engaged, and Hajime Ichinose is especially endearing. If you haven't already seen Gatchaman Crowds, I highly recommend that you go watch it now.
Having only recently caught up with the series myself, I've found myself applauding the reboot, Gatchaman Crowds. The story is pretty familiar to just about everyone that has ever watched an anime involving any kind of task force. A newbie recruit joins the team, and proves their grit through a variety of trials and tribulations. In this particular case, however, newbie Hajime Ichinose has to be the strangest little girl that I have ever met. Unlike many modern day representations of strong female protagonist/main characters, Hajime comes off as weird and ditzy. Because of this, Gatchaman Crowds' first episode will probably elicit one of four possible reactions from you:
1. You'll like it a lot and keep watching well into the Second Season: Gatchaman Crowds Insight
2. You'll laugh a little, shake your head in bemusement and continue trying the show
3. You'll laugh a little, shake your head in bemusement and quit the show on the spot
4. You'll cuss in the language of your choosing, and then throw out your monitor for showing you something so strange
If you happen to be a person that can freely choose which of the above reactions you'll have while watching, I strongly recommend Reaction #2. There is no fighting the fact that the main character has all kinds of quirks. However, it is these very quirks that make Hajime such a strong, and in some instances, overwhelming female lead. Her perspectives on everyday problems is certainly eye opening, and vibrantly optimistic. Gatchaman Crowds teaches viewers that everyone has their own hang ups and problems, but by coming together we can make life that much more happy and worthwhile.
The animation for this series is perfect for the story that it is trying to tell, and really aids in generating a whimsical mood. There are also a lot of bright colors, and eye catching designs can be found in both the backgrounds and character designs. From the opening themes animations alone, it is immediately evident that Tatsunoko Productions, the folks who created Gatchaman, has a keen eye for detail. Over the course of the series, as each character goes through their own changes and transformations, the opening credits also evolve in order to showcase these differences as the series progresses.
In truth the only really bone to pick that I have with Gatchaman Crowds is that 3D is not my favorite medium. Tatsunoko does an stellar job of making 3D more accessible for viewers in this series, but even then I personally found it to be unappealing. That said, the brilliant colors, and metallic details in both characterization and movement really came through because of the 3D models employed in the show. This careful blend of 3D and drawn animation made for an interesting and diverse cocktail of animated mastery.
Gatchaman Crowds is a series that anyone can come to love. The story, while classic and tied to the roots of the old series, does an amazing job of breaking down certain stereotypes and common tropes of anime. The bright color pallets are all carefully chosen and oriented in a manner that doesn't distract or aggravate the eyes. The voice acting is solid, and engaging. But really it's the characters that keep viewers engaged, and Hajime Ichinose is especially endearing. If you haven't already seen Gatchaman Crowds, I highly recommend that you go watch it now.