Well, their episode guide has arrived. Yes, after 14 months of work, my Eagle Riders Episode Guide is finally complete! It includes detailed descriptions of all 65 Eagle Riders episodes, as well as screenshots for every show. I owe a huge thanks to Sosai X, without whom I could never have done this. I hope everyone enjoys this site! Eagle Riders Episode Guide

Ooh, I've been looking forward to this, TJ. Fans of Eagle Riders and all things Gatch-related are in your debt! Thanks to Sosai X too! Off to see...

Oh TJ...you have outdone yourself! The ER summaries are just gorgeous! Thanks for all of your hard work on them! (And thanks for your hard work, too, Sosai X!)

Thank you... I couldn't have done it without Hunter, Joe, Kelly, Mickey and Ollie.

You finally have it done!!!! Whoo hoo!!!!

These look great TJ. You did a lot of hard work. Thank you for your effort. And thank you Sosai X as well.

They look really good TJ, thanks to you and Sosai X for all your hard work.

I am glad you are all enjoying it!

I'm enjoying the way that you've worked humor into your episode descriptions. In some ways, this show just has to be mocked, a little, and you've done it well!

Originally posted by lborgia88 I'm enjoying the way that you've worked humor into your episode descriptions. In some ways, this show just has to be mocked, a little, and you've done it well!

Well yes, there are definitely some ridiculous things in these episodes. And not all of it is due to ER! Some of it is Tatsunoko's fault (such as the Owl eating a fish THROUGH his visor... yeah...) as well. Pretty much I just typed up what was going through my mind when I watched the eps. I think I might have let my Swan bias slip in there occasionally too... especially when it comes to the Eagle and the Condor. Just a *little*...

Wow... this page is excellent! Great job, I appreciate all your efforts!

Wow! You did it TJ! I can belive I get to see my favvies animes again! Thank you TJ! I was missing them so much! And those Ego pics! #swoon# It's the best gift I could get!!!!

She did a great job, didn't she? Great to see you back, Amy! How is school going?

Originally posted by lborgia88 She did a great job, didn't she? Great to see you back, Amy! How is school going?

You mean University? It's a lot different from what I was used to! New classmates, new proffessors, new schedule! But I'm getting used with! I've missed you guys a lot!

Yeah, starting university was a big change for me too. I was far from home, knew exactly one person, and had to work a lot harder than in high school. But, unlike high school, I didn't have to get up at 6 AM every day, and that was a great thing for me! We've missed you too.

Originally posted by lborgia88 We've missed you too.

I'm happy to hear that!

Great to see you back Amy, I hope this means you have figured out your schedule and will be around more.

Originally posted by amyltrer Wow! You did it TJ! I can belive I get to see my favvies animes again! Thank you TJ! I was missing them so much! And those Ego pics! #swoon# It's the best gift I could get!!!!

Glad you are enjoying it, Amy! I tried to put in lots of Happyboy screenshots for you!

Welcome back, Amy!! We've missed you! I'm glad that things are going well for you at University. It was a bit of a change to get used to when I first went too... But once you figure out the balance between classes, work, and partying, it's not so bad! (oh, wait, did I say that?? I'm not responsible for any corruption this may encourage!!!)

Originally posted by Hinotori I'm not responsible for any corruption this may encourage!!!)

Isn't that the motto of this board?

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by Hinotori I'm not responsible for any corruption this may encourage!!!)

Isn't that the motto of this board?

If it isn't it should be! TJ you've done a great job on ER as per your usual standard of excellence! I love how you worked the humor in. There's a question that has been puzzling me. Why wasn't ER released as further adventures of BOTP or G-Force? People would have certainly been more familiar with either of those shows. BTW Welcome back Amy!

Originally posted by Condorfan There's a question that has been puzzling me. Why wasn't ER released as further adventures of BOTP or G-Force? People would have certainly been more familiar with either of those shows.

I'm sure James could give you a better answer, but I'll take a stab in the dark at this one. Eagle Riders was done by Saban. BOTP was still owned by Sandy Frank at the time, and G-Force by someone else. (I'm fuzzy on who owned G-Force and I think Sandy Frank was somehow involved in there too...) So my guess is, they simply didn't have the rights to use BOTP or G-Force names. Also, they would have had to explain how/why Joe/Jason/Dirk was 'missing' at the beginning of the series.

Hi all!

Eagle Riders was done by Saban. BOTP was still owned by Sandy Frank at the time, and G-Force by someone else. (I'm fuzzy on who owned G-Force and I think Sandy Frank was somehow involved in there too...)

That, pretty much, is the answer. The rights for BotP, G-Force, and all related characters were held by Sandy Frank (As the rightsholder for Gatchaman outside of Japan, Sandy Frank always had a hand in the rights for G-Force, but his direct involvement in the series initially was pretty much limited to getting a share of any merchandising, the option to sell the series outside of the U.S., and the ability to sell the series to home video domestically. Domestic TV distribution and merchandising rights (Outside of Sandy Frank's cut) were first held by Turner Program Services, but by the early 1990s they had sold them to the Hearst Corporation. By the mid-1990s, Hearst's rights for the show expired, and all domestic rights reverted to Sandy Frank. Sandy Frank has held all rights to G-Force and its characters ever since). For Saban to have advertised the show as the "further adventures of BOTP or G-Force," or to have used any of the character names involved with either of those two shows, they would have had to license them from Sandy Frank. Not wanting to do this, Saban simply ignored that BotP and G-Force ever existed. James

Yikes, now I'm actually imagining Gatch II, given the "BOTP conversion." Yes, they would have had to explain why Jason was missing in the first few episodes (Quit the team in a fit of "hot-headed" pique after ep. 85, and then went missing?) I guess they could have said that Gel Sadra was actually Mala, having ousted her brother from power on Spectra in a coup, and now wearing a new, masked uniform. It could have been explained that Zark had requested a transfer to Pluto, to be with Susan, and his duties were being taken over by the new God Phoenix's robot autopilot. So many possibilities!

Originally posted by lborgia88 Yikes, now I'm actually imagining Gatch II, given the "BOTP conversion." Yes, they would have had to explain why Jason was missing in the first few episodes (Quit the team in a fit of "hot-headed" pique after ep. 85, and then went missing?) I guess they could have said that Gel Sadra was actually Mala, having ousted her brother from power on Spectra in a coup, and now wearing a new, masked uniform. It could have been explained that Zark had requested a transfer to Pluto, to be with Susan, and his duties were being taken over by the new God Phoenix's robot autopilot.

Oh, LB, you're scaring me! It all fits so well! I think that the robot piloting the new Phoenix would actually be 8-Zark-8 (or perhaps 9-Zark-9). Just think ! Zark's child/grandchild would be living out his predecessor's dream to actually go on missions with the G-Force team! I wonder if there would have to be a Ready Room in Gateway City? Or would it be 'Center Poseidon'? Would they bring over the old ping pong table?

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by lborgia88 Yikes, now I'm actually imagining Gatch II, given the "BOTP conversion." Yes, they would have had to explain why Jason was missing in the first few episodes (Quit the team in a fit of "hot-headed" pique after ep. 85, and then went missing?) I guess they could have said that Gel Sadra was actually Mala, having ousted her brother from power on Spectra in a coup, and now wearing a new, masked uniform. It could have been explained that Zark had requested a transfer to Pluto, to be with Susan, and his duties were being taken over by the new God Phoenix's robot autopilot.

Oh, LB, you're scaring me! It all fits so well! I think that the robot piloting the new Phoenix would actually be 8-Zark-8 (or perhaps 9-Zark-9). Just think ! Zark's child/grandchild would be living out his predecessor's dream to actually go on missions with the G-Force team! I wonder if there would have to be a Ready Room in Gateway City? Or would it be 'Center Poseidon'? Would they bring over the old ping pong table?

Oh god, not more zarks!

You know, I was also thinking... what about Pandora? If she's Mala's mother, then she's also Zoltar's mother... is she really a Spectran defector? Or maybe just an Earth Scientist who interacted with Mala and developed a psychic connection with her...

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by lborgia88 Yikes, now I'm actually imagining Gatch II, given the "BOTP conversion." Yes, they would have had to explain why Jason was missing in the first few episodes (Quit the team in a fit of "hot-headed" pique after ep. 85, and then went missing?) I guess they could have said that Gel Sadra was actually Mala, having ousted her brother from power on Spectra in a coup, and now wearing a new, masked uniform. It could have been explained that Zark had requested a transfer to Pluto, to be with Susan, and his duties were being taken over by the new God Phoenix's robot autopilot.

Oh, LB, you're scaring me! It all fits so well! I think that the robot piloting the new Phoenix would actually be 8-Zark-8 (or perhaps 9-Zark-9). Just think ! Zark's child/grandchild would be living out his predecessor's dream to actually go on missions with the G-Force team! I wonder if there would have to be a Ready Room in Gateway City? Or would it be 'Center Poseidon'? Would they bring over the old ping pong table?

They have Jun's Snack for that! Of course with Zark huffing around saying : Kids, the beverages they drink are carrot juice with lot of vitamins bla bla bla.... And the Luminous one decided to have a new look!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun You know, I was also thinking... what about Pandora? If she's Mala's mother, then she's also Zoltar's mother... is she really a Spectran defector? Or maybe just an Earth Scientist who interacted with Mala and developed a psychic connection with her...

Hmm, maybe as Mala's half Spectran/half Earthling sister? That would explain why Dr. Pandora looks the same age as Mala.

Not bad, LB... I think we should try and get the rights from Sandy Frank to do this....

I've got it now -it can be written into the storyline that it's an age-old Spectran tradition to have a sibling as a junior co-ruler, which is what Mala was to Zoltar. Now that she's ousted him and seized power for herself, she needs to track down and recruit her long-lost half sister on Earth, in order to both satisfy the Luminous One, and cement her rule over the Spectrans. And, um, let's see, it can be said that Spectran siblings can communicate telepathically, but because Dr. Pandora is only half-Spectran, the link is there but it's weaker. I'm thinking about this way too much!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Not bad, LB... I think we should try and get the rights from Sandy Frank to do this....

It could be fun to a fic that involved re-writing a Gatch II episode to be a "BOTP II" episode... No, wait -I have to finish my current fic first!

Oh LB... you may have something there... must not think about it... too involved in current fic....

Keep going, girls!!!

Okay, okay! It's in my Fic Ideas file.

How long is that file now TJ? What is it, take one off the top and add 5 more to the bottom?

you are my hero

Originally posted by tatsunokofan Hi all!

Eagle Riders was done by Saban. BOTP was still owned by Sandy Frank at the time, and G-Force by someone else. (I'm fuzzy on who owned G-Force and I think Sandy Frank was somehow involved in there too...)

That, pretty much, is the answer. The rights for BotP, G-Force, and all related characters were held by Sandy Frank (As the rightsholder for Gatchaman outside of Japan, Sandy Frank always had a hand in the rights for G-Force, but his direct involvement in the series initially was pretty much limited to getting a share of any merchandising, the option to sell the series outside of the U.S., and the ability to sell the series to home video domestically. Domestic TV distribution and merchandising rights (Outside of Sandy Frank's cut) were first held by Turner Program Services, but by the early 1990s they had sold them to the Hearst Corporation. By the mid-1990s, Hearst's rights for the show expired, and all domestic rights reverted to Sandy Frank. Sandy Frank has held all rights to G-Force and its characters ever since). For Saban to have advertised the show as the "further adventures of BOTP or G-Force," or to have used any of the character names involved with either of those two shows, they would have had to license them from Sandy Frank. Not wanting to do this, Saban simply ignored that BotP and G-Force ever existed. James

Thanks for the help James and TJ! Who owns BOTP now? I thought Sandy Frank's rights had expired a few years ago.

Originally posted by clouddancer How long is that file now TJ? What is it, take one off the top and add 5 more to the bottom?

You know, maybe I will actually get to it first...

Hi all!

Who owns BOTP now? I thought Sandy Frank's rights had expired a few years ago.

Sandy Frank still owns Battle of the Planets, lock, stock, an barrel. The name, the charcters, and anything that was added to the show when it was brought to the U.S. are Sandy Frank creations and belong to him. The same holds true for G-Force. What you're thinking about are the rights to Gatchaman. From what I heard last, which was from just a couple of months ago, Sandy Frank was still in negotiations with Tatsunoko to get an extension on his contract for the non-Japanese rights to the series. James

Originally posted by clouddancer How long is that file now TJ? What is it, take one off the top and add 5 more to the bottom?

Something like that... I get ideas faster than I can write the stories. But at least I know that if the ideas ever dry up, I will have a source!