This was posted on the BOTP Mailing List... http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/01/25/imagi-animation-is-out-of-money-and-temporarily-shutting-down/ This is *not* a good sign...

Yeah, I saw that too. I really, really hope that Imagi can somehow get the funding to stay afloat! I'm really worried about the fate of the Gatchaman movie.

Yikes! That's not good to hear

It's really a shame when an Animation company has to shut down. We're in hard times folks :/

Hi all! You know, I may be in the minority here, but I have to admit that I'm rather ambivalent about whether the Imagi Gatchaman movie is made or not. Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't want to see the studio go under. I'd hate for all those people to lose their jobs. It's just that, from what little we've heard regarding their Gatchaman effort, I'm not overly excited about the project. Basically, what it comes down to is that I suspect that what they're likely to produce will bear more resemblance to the Gatchaman OAVs than the Gatchaman TV series. I can see why this would happen. The OAVs are a lot easier to take the time to watch than a 105 episode series. People who aren't intimately familiar with the TV series think that they're a good shorthand for what the series was all about. They're also pretty and flashy, and for a lot of people, that's more imporant than story depth and characters. Why do I think this? Well, some of it has to do with what few concept images we've seen from the movie, which all look OAV inspired. Do these uniforms look more like the TV series or the OAVs to you? OAV God Phoenix anyone? There's also comments made by people involved with the film, such as never-officially-announced-as-Director Jun Falkenstein's "You already have the characters looking like they do in the actual show, why do more of the same?" and the lack of understanding of what fans think of the OAVs that led Imagi Creative Director Felix Ip to have to ask "Tell me more about what u like and don't like in 94 version redesign." Hey, at least he asked. Add to this the fact that the film has been pushed back to at least two years beyond its original release date of "late 2008," and gone through a complete change in production staff, and it really doesn't make me confident that Imagi will do a good job with the property. Hey, maybe I'll be wrong and they'll pull it off. Felix Ip seems to think so, when he said recently, "there's great breakthrough in both story and design, very cool." (Perhaps that "great breakthrough" is that they finally bothered to watch the TV series...) Okay, I'll certainly follow the production if it ever really gets under way, and when and if the film ever comes out, I'll certainly go see it. But, honestly, I won't be shedding any tears if this film never comes to pass. James

My biggest concern is how quiet things have been with this film of late - and the revolving production staff door. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if Jun Falkstein is even part of the project any more, since nothing "official" ever came out about her being on-board and we've heard nothing from her in months. If she's out, and a third director is brought in, I don't think it bodes well... I do hope that Imagi survives as a studio and that the movie is made. If the movie comes to fruition, I hope it comes somewhere within our expectations, but I think the only way that'll be achieved is if they hire someone who is a fan of the anime genre and the original Gatchaman series. Anything short of that and I think we're going to have a completely CGI version of the Speed Racer film (no offense to anyone who liked the Speed Racer movie... Personally, I barely made it through the first 45 minutes before I turned it off...)

Hopefully a studio more in touch with the series buys the rights to produce it... I have to admit I've had the same fears as Tats. If they're going to produce it then take the time to watch the original. Why can't these studios learn from the remake flops of the past...

Hi all! Here's a little more news regarding Imagi's shutting down that's a bit more hopeful. http://io9.com/5139671/cool-your-boot-jets-astro-boy-still-zooming James

Thank you, James! That certainly is more hopeful. And it's good to see that they're still shopping Gatchaman around and looking toward the future. And if Astroboy is successful, then that will just increase the potential for Gatchaman...

James, I'm right there with you on the "meh" front. I am finding it difficult to get excited about this movie. From the trailer I saw, it did look interesting, but not ... exciting. I'd honestly love to see the US take it on and produce a movie (and then a series perhaps) ... Live action preferably. I love the recent explosion of comic movies and am quietly confident they could actually pull it off! Then again they could completely balls-it-up like they did with Knight Rider ... Oh how lazy the writing staff are on that series right now ... I'm interested to see if this ever gets finished ... I doubt it ... but I suppose we all need something new to hold on to. Hey, anyone got any contacts in hollywood .... Someone go and pitch a series to them... I dare you. :grin: SJ

not so much Holly wood..... But Ive got friends really into making fan films, which yours truely has been in. I could ask them to shift from Star Wars to Gatchaman

Thanks TJ and James for giving us the updates. While I'm not sure about the way the they will do the Gatch movie, I still hope to see one on the big screen. IMO I liked the TMNT movie, so there is hope.

Thanks for the information James. I must confess with the economy the way it is the Gatchaman movie looks doubtful. Perhaps they could co-produce with another studio to get it made. I would really like to see it made as it could be a movie that would be fun for both parents and kids.

Originally posted by SJ_SwanJun I'd honestly love to see the US take it on and produce a movie (and then a series perhaps) ... Live action preferably. I love the recent explosion of comic movies and am quietly confident they could actually pull it off!

There has been some really good ones lately, but also some really bad ones... not much of a middle ground. James, I can see what you mean about it looking like the OVA version.

Originally posted by veritas But Ive got friends really into making fan films, which yours truely has been in.

Ooh, really? What roles did you play, and are any of them on the internet?

I chuckled at that promo art. With the perspective, Ken looks like he has a freakishly pointy chin. Anyway, sad to see an Animation company in such trouble. I think the popularity of Yatterman 2008 shows they don't need to drastically re-do character designs to cater to a modern audience just because it's old. A couple small tweaks, sure, but not a drastic change.

Originally posted by lborgia88

Originally posted by veritas But Ive got friends really into making fan films, which yours truely has been in.

Ooh, really? What roles did you play, and are any of them on the internet?

TENCLO was the best one, I could only get a week off work so I couldnt have much of a role, mainly Imp officer in the back ground with a couple of lines, most close ups towards the end. The emperors new clones Some other filmy friends are working on a Fan film based on the Xwing books, I'll be a female pilot, bit of a wise guy, like Wes Janson in the books. Back OT. I want the film made, but I want it to be right! I dont want another OVA.

Hi all!

I think the popularity of Yatterman 2008 shows they don't need to drastically re-do character designs to cater to a modern audience just because it's old. A couple small tweaks, sure, but not a drastic change.

My thoughts exactly! You look at the new Yatterman and you can easily recognize it for what it is. For me, that's the route I'd like to see taken with a Gatchaman remake. There's no need for them to reinvent the wheel! Casshern Sins, on the other hand, changed the look a bit too much for my tastes. Of course, they changed the basic premise of the series as well, so... James

Hi all! Another update, from yesterday evening. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117999218.html?categoryId=19&cs=1 James

Originally posted by veritas

Originally posted by lborgia88

Originally posted by veritas But Ive got friends really into making fan films, which yours truely has been in.

Ooh, really? What roles did you play, and are any of them on the internet?

TENCLO was the best one, I could only get a week off work so I couldnt have much of a role, mainly Imp officer in the back ground with a couple of lines, most close ups towards the end. The emperors new clones Some other filmy friends are working on a Fan film based on the Xwing books, I'll be a female pilot, bit of a wise guy, like Wes Janson in the books. Back OT. I want the film made, but I want it to be right! I dont want another OVA.

That was great! I'm still laughing. Were you the imperial officer who said "I dunno" to the Emperor, or the one who was bickering with the other officer about whether there were life forms on the escaping ship? Your friends are very talented! This seems to be a more direct link to the film itself. http://backyardproductions.co.uk/2008/10/the-emperors-new-clones-movie/

I love the film, Veritas! That's great! You have quite the stage presence. Thanks for the new information, James! I'm glad that Imagi is still functioning! Hopefully we'll get more of a glimpse into what's happening soon, and ITA that I would prefer it to be as close as possible to the original series.

Originally posted by tatsunokofan Hi all! Another update, from yesterday evening. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117999218.html?categoryId=19&cs=1 James

Thanks for passing on this bit of promising news about Imagi! Sometimes, I just have to laugh, though. I haven't followed the progress (or lack thereof) of a movie this closely since 1999, when the first sites about the upcoming Lord of the Rings movies began appearing -when I experienced moments of both "whee!" and "oh no!" frequently -which was pretty much how I experienced all three films too. It can almost be rather draining, worrying that a: it won't get made at all, or b: it will, but they'll do it all wrong. Sometimes I think it would be easier to be one of those happy people out there who will have no idea there's a Gatchaman movie in the works at all until trailers begin preceding other movies they go to see (assuming this occurs). Fandom can be a bit stressful, I suppose, but it's worth it!

It can almost be rather draining, worrying that a: it won't get made at all, or b: it will, but they'll do it all wrong.

Yes, I never want to feel the way I did leaving the midnight showing of Phantom Menace. PS - In Tenclo, I was meant to be the one arguing , and saying I dunno, but I couldnt be there for all the filming so I only got to say, I dunno, stand in the back ground a lot, smirk with the emperor, smirk at a colleague getting hit and say I dunno and then get killed at my coltrol console.

That must have been a lot of fun! I've never done any acting of any kind, but I'd jump at the chance to be in a film like that. For some reason, even though I always liked the Star Wars movies as a kid, I never had a strong emotional attachment to them so Phantom Menace didn't affect me so badly. Plus, I could handle Anakin-the-annoying-little-kid alright, but I really had problems with him in the second and third films! I was laughing, while watching TENCLO, when Anakin kept whining "it's not fair!"

Kudos, Veritas! Your acting was brilliant! I especially enjoyed your facial expressions! My son and I watched the video, and we were cracking up! What a great movie!

thanks guys, the real work was done by Darren and Co at back yard. I have emailed my film friends about a gatcha fan film... I know some one with a Katse costume : )

I'm lost!! Veritas, which part of the movie are you in? I started watching the film from the beginning (not realizing there were 8 parts!)... I'm up to part 4. I love the scene where the Clones are introduced and it's discussed how they're clones, but none of them look alike... It was a "technicality" and to make the clones look the same, they dressed them the same. LOL! That's such a Galactor mentality! I could soooo see the Captain of the Week giving Katse this reasoning!!! Great movie, Veritas! The time, effort, and talent that went into the production is amazing. Your friends should be very proud of their work!

Watched part of it veritas... will have to catch the rest later. B/H is getting angesty to leave for awhile.

You'd think they'd get off their butts and just make the darn movie in stead of fluffing around. Just being an impatient Condor with an itchy trigger finger.

Originally posted by Joeswench You'd think they'd get off their butts and just make the darn movie in stead of fluffing around. Just being an impatient Condor with an itchy trigger finger.

ITA Joeswench --Another impatient Condor

Originally posted by Condorfan

Originally posted by Joeswench You'd think they'd get off their butts and just make the darn movie in stead of fluffing around. Just being an impatient Condor with an itchy trigger finger.

ITA Joeswench --Another impatient Condor

Cep might want to watch out.... Way to many Condors around here with itchy trigger fingers. While it's not being shot at this site, still the damage that could be caused would be tragicomedy.

Does a Condor need a Swan to bring about peace and civility... *grins*

Might help around here Ebony!