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Eagle Riders is an American animated television adaptation of the Japanese anime series Gatchaman II and Gatchaman Fighter, which have been combined together. The rights to the English language version of Eagle Riders is owned by Saban Entertainment.[1][2] All 65 episodes aired in Australia, but in the United States only 13 episodes were aired.[3]


Premise[]

Earth is under siege from the alien menace known only by the name Cybercon and its legion of android forces, the Vorak. The Global Security Council convenes to address this problem, and calls upon Dr. Thaddeus Keane for assistance. They remember the aid they had received from Keane's special force, the Eagle Riders, in years past. Keane assures them that the Eagle Riders are still together, still strong, and armed with brand new weapons.

Adaptations and changes[]

Both series were heavily edited when it came to the adaptation process, with controversial elements removed, as well as the entire soundtrack being replaced. As with previous English adaptations of Gatchaman, character names and terms were also changed in the localization.

One notable example of the changes made to the series is the removal of Mallanox (Gel Sadra)'s origin and transformation, which happened in the premiere episode of the original Gatchaman II. The character was also changed from female to male, though her correct gender and origin were reinstated in later dub episodes.

Another change, made to segue the two series together, involved the finale of Gatchaman II and the first episode of Gatchaman Fighter being merged, as well as the death of Gel Sadra being cut. Instead, Mallanox is said to have been transformed into a new form, named Happy Boy (originally, the Gatchaman Fighter villain Count Egobossler).

The final eight episodes of Gatchaman Fighter were never translated, due to the objectionable content involved. Instead, the 15th episode of Gatchaman Fighter served as the series finale.

Team variations across different versions[]

The re-naming of the various characters and terms in Eagle Riders are highlighted as follows (in correspondence to their Gatchaman equivalents, among others):

Gatchaman Eagle Riders Rank Bird Uniform Weapon Mecha Japanese voice actor Voice actor (Eagle Riders)
Ken Washio Hunter Harris G1 Eagle Razor boomerang Airplane Katsuji Mori Richard Cansino
Joe Asakura Joe Thax G2 Condor Pistol Race Car Isao Sasaki Bryan Cranston
Jun Kelly Jennar G3 Swan Yo-yo Motorcycle Kazuko Sugiyama Heidi Noelle Lenhart
Jinpei Mickey Dugan G4 Swallow Bolo Dune Buggy Yoku Shioya Mona Marshall
Ryu Nakanishi Ollie Keeawani G5 Owl Pistol God Phoenix Shingo Kanemoto Paul Schrier
  • Although he was obviously the Swallow, Jimmy called himself the Falcon.
  • The Eagle Riders adaptation used different terms for some of the uniforms: Hunter Harris was referred to as a Hawk rather than Eagle, Joe Thax was a Falcon, and Kelly Jenar became a Dove (as opposed to Swan). The remaining two members, however, kept their original bird themes.

Other character variations[]

Gatchaman Eagle Riders
Dr. Kozaburo Nambu Dr. Thaddeus Keane
ISO Director Anderson Anderson
Red Impulse /
Kentaro Washio
Harley Harris
Berg Katse Lukan
Sosai (Generalissimo) X Cybercon
Galactor Vorak
Gel Sadra Mallanox
Dr.Sylvie Pandora (Gatchaman II) Dr.Francine Aikens
Sammie Pandora Nancy Aikens
Dr. Rafael Professor Andro
Count Egobossler Happy Boy
Mechandol Olaf
Kempler Vax
Engineer Kamo Uncle Avery

Other notable changes[]

Variations Gatchaman (Japanese) Battle Of The Planets Guardians Of Space Eagle Riders OVA (English) Gatchaman (English)
Identity Change Command Bird, Go!‡ Transmute! G-Force, Transform! Eagle Mode, NOW!
Ken Eagle One, Transform!
Joe Shapeshift, Condor
June Swan Mode, Now!
Jimmy Falcon Tracker, Transform!
Rocky (Unknown)
Bird, Go!
Planet/Civilization Selectol (planet) Gyarakutā (civilization) Spectra Galactor Vorak Galactor Selectol (planet) Galactor (civilization)

‡The original Japanese language version of Gatchaman contains a small amount of words in English.

Production staff[]

Owned and distributed by: Saban Entertainment

Executive Producer: Eric S.Rollman

Producer and Story Editor: Rita M. Acosta

Writer (ADR Script): Marc Handler.

Voice Directors: Richard Epcar, Steve Kramer, Heidi Noelle Lenhart, and Michael Sorich

Production Assistant and ADR Coordinator: Gregory C. Ireland

Sound Operation: Clive H.Mizumoto, Xavier Garcia

Sound Effects Editors: Keith Dickens, Martin Flores, Zoli Osaze, Ron Salaises, and John Valentino

Re-Recording Mixers: Michael Beirenger, Mark Ettel, R.D. Floyd, and Wayne T. O'Brien

ADR Recording: Carl Lange, Kevin Newson, David W.Barr

Foley Artists: Susan Lewis, Kalea Morton, and Taryn Simone

Audio Assistants: Brian Densmore, Andrew Kines, and Don Sexton

Music Composers: Shuki Levy, Kussa Mahchi

Executive In Charge Of Music: Ron Kenan

Music Supervisor: Lloyd Michael Cook II

Music Editors: Barron Abramovitch, Bill Filipiak

Music Engineer: Barron Abramovitch

Second Engineers: James Dijulio, Frank Bailey-Meier

Music Assistants: Jeremy Sweet, Tim Gosselin

Offline Editor: Terry Marlin

Video Traffic Coordinator: Jerry Buetnner

Online Editors: Michael Hutchinson, Harvey Landy (Hollywood Digital Inc.), John Bowen, and David Crosthwait (Modern Videofilm)

Telecine: Lee Ann Went (Varitel Inc.), Greg Hamlin (Film Technology, LA)

Post Production Supervisor: John Bryant

Post Production Coordinator: Francesca Weiss

Executive In Charge Of Production: Dana C.Booton

Voice cast[]

Hunter Harris: Richard Cansino

Joe Thax: Bryan Cranston

Kelly Jenar: Heidi Noelle Lenhart

Mickey Dugan: Mona Marshall

Ollie Keeawani: Paul Schrier

Dr.Thaddeus Keane: Greg O'Neill

Dr.Francine Aikens: Lara Cody

Auto: Dena Burton

Mallanox: R. Martin Klein

Cybercon: Peter Spellos

Misc. (uncredited): Joshua Seth[4], Bob Bergen[5], Julie Maddalena, Richard Epcar

References[]

  1. ^ "RIAP Writes". EX. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  2. ^ "RIAP Writes". EX. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  3. ^ "Editor's Note". EX. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  4. ^ "Joshua Seth biography". Film Reference. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
  5. ^ "Interview with Derek Stephen Prince". Film Reference. Retrieved 2009-06-07.

Further reading[]

External links[]

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