This week is our final 'Honoree of the Week' before we begin the 'Episodes of the Week' discussions next week. And this week, we are remembering the Gatchaman Base. Gatchaman Base was the name of the Science Ninja Team's Base during the Gatchaman Fighter series. Yes, it's hardly an inventive name, but at least it's better than G-Spot... uh... G-Town. Gatchaman Base is the only Ninja Team Base to be above ground. In fact, Gatchaman Base was built inside of a mountain and underground. This base housed the individual parts of the Gatchaspartan and was a command base for the Science Ninja Team, among other things. A formal briefing with Nambu and Kamo. Nambu is participating remotely, as his new duties (replacing Director Anderson, who died toward the end of Gatchaman II) often kept him away. The Gatchaman base had control rooms, like this one: And even a communications station with a CB radio. (10-4 good buddy. This is Eagle Ken, a BTO breakin' the ol' needle.) (Okay, I had to throw this in: did you know that the CB slang for a 'VIP CB'er' is 'Ace'? I kid you not...) The Gatchaspartan launched in pieces from the top/side of the base. The Science Ninja Team had to take special elevators to get to their vehicles. It seems that Joe and Jun switched vehicle positions after awhile. And this is the 'runway' where the pieces of the Gatchaspartan would launch. Unfortunately I don't have screencaps of this, but the Gatchaman Base was destroyed toward the end of the Gatchaman Fighter series. Count Egobossler placed a nurse spy at ISO Headquarters who spilled water on Ken 'accidentally'. The water contained a sparkling tracking dust. When Ken returned to Gatchaman Base, Ego was able to track him. He sent out signals of a false emergency away from the base to lure the Science Ninja Team away, then attacked with everything he had, destroying the base, and even capturing Dr. Nambu in the process. So I guess in those last few episodes of Gatchaman Fighter, they had to dock at ISO Headquarters, or maybe back at the old G-Town...

Here are a few screencaps from the Destruction of Gatchaman Base episode... Have fun!

Thanks Boeke! Those are some great shots of the Base's destruction!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Thanks Boeke! Those are some great shots of the Base's destruction!

Yes ITA. Thanks to TJ and Reboekah for the great screenshots!

This is great. Thank you for the information and screen shots. I am looking forward to the info. James will be adding as well.

Thanks, TJ and Reboekah, for the info and images. I know the least about Gatch F, so this is especially interesting!

Hi all! A couple quick notes and corrections. The "Kamo holds an informal briefing at Gatchaman Base" photo was not at Gatchaman Base. This footage was taken from Gatchaman Fighter #47, and any effort to make it appear to be inside Gatchaman Base is the result of Eagle Riders' penchant for using footage from otherwise unused episodes to fill time. The same also applies to the photo captioned "There was also a medical center at the Gatchaman Base, where Ken was treated (many times) for Hypershoot illness." This scene was taken from Gatchaman Fighter #46. Only once was Ken receiving any sort of examination regarding his cellular disruption at Gatchaman Base, in episode #38. All other treatments and examinations were done at other I.S.O. locations.

So I guess in those last few episodes of Gatchaman Fighter, they had to dock at ISO Headquarters, or maybe back at the old G-Town...

G-Town is never mentioned in Gatchaman Fighter (As I mentioned back in the G-Town thread), and the I.S.O. Headquarters was destroyed a couple of episodes after Gatchaman Base (Following the death of Nambu episode and the destruction of Gallatown episode). For the few remaining episodes of Gatchaman Fighter after Gatchaman base is destroyed, the Ninja Team is not shown as having any sort of permanent base-of-operations. Instead, they are shown in several different I.S.O. bases, moving to wherever is necessary for the events of that episode. James

Wow they are fantastic. Its easy to forget how they pictured it to be in the series just from reading about it. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread!!! Way to go TJ and Rebeokah and Tats!

Originally posted by tatsunokofan The "Kamo holds an informal briefing at Gatchaman Base" photo was not at Gatchaman Base. This footage was taken from Gatchaman Fighter #47, and any effort to make it appear to be inside Gatchaman Base is the result of Eagle Riders' penchant for using footage from otherwise unused episodes to fill time. The same also applies to the photo captioned "There was also a medical center at the Gatchaman Base, where Ken was treated (many times) for Hypershoot illness." This scene was taken from Gatchaman Fighter #46. Only once was Ken receiving any sort of examination regarding his cellular disruption at Gatchaman Base, in episode #38. All other treatments and examinations were done at other I.S.O. locations.

Thanks, James, for clarifying this. I'll make the appropriate corrections to the first post.

It wouldn't have happened for long since the series basically ended a few eps after the Gatchaman base was destroyed.

Hi all! The third and final secret base used by the Science Ninja Team. Of all of their bases, Gatchaman Base really is the one with the least to say about it. Regardless, let's start with what little we learn about it from the series Planning Establishment. In it, there are only three references to the facility. Art Establishment drawing if Gatchaman Base The first, in the section giving the basic story premise, it says, "As before, to make their independent actions possible, a Gatchaman Base has been made from a submergible aircraft carrier, where all of the Science Ninja Team live." Then, in the section describing the main cast, we get a mention of it in Kens portion, where it states, "Moving into the new Gatchaman Base, he leads the rest of the Ninja Team." Lastly, in Kamo's portion, it says, "Under the authority of the ISO's Nambu, he has been placed as the Chief Engineer for the new 'Gatchaman Base.'" From this, we can tell that Tatsunoko had originally intended for Gatchaman Base to continue the trend of being an undersea base, but somewhere along the line it was decided to move it inside a gigantic cave hidden inside a seaside cliff. Regardless, the overall look of Gatchaman Base is meant to give overall the impression of an aircraft carrier, even though to was in an immobile land-based location. The information we gain from Ken and Kamo's descriptions did carry through intact, as Kamo was indeed in charge of Gatchaman Base, and Ken, along with the rest of the Science Ninja Team, did move into Gatchaman Base as their home for the majority of the series. When the series was airing, very little appeared in books and magazines regarding Gatchaman Base, as most of the attention was devoted to the G-Mecha, the Gatcha Spartan, or the new Ninja Team weapons. One of the few decent descriptions for it that I found was in the Gatchaman Fighter volume of the Perfect Memoir book series, where they described it as, "The new secret base of Gatchaman and the others, it is located in a deep large cavern inside a coastal cavern. When they receive news of the appearance of an Iron Beast mecha, the rocks making up the cliff slide apart, and the Gatcha-Mecha launch from this opening. The shape of Gatchaman Base is meant to resemble that of a gigantic aircraft carrier. When the 5 Gatcha Mecha launch, they rushing down the 5 step-like runways." All accurate, even though it really doesn't tell us a whole lot. So, for any other information, we have to look at the series itself to see what we can learn. Gatchaman Base is was built inside a cave located in the northern part of Irope (Episode #41). The Science Ninja Team was unaware of Gatchaman Base until they were taken there by Kamo. Once there, Kamo took the Ninja team to a Computer Room and gave them a quick introduction to their new vehicles and weapons, and the Science Ninja Team was off to battle Egobossler and his forces (Episode #2). For such a large facility, we only see a small portion of Gatchaman Base. For the most part, we only saw two areas inside the structure. One of these is the Command Room, to which Director Nambu communicates with the Science Ninja Team and most of the data regarding their activities are coordinated. It is here that the majority of the scenes inside Gatchaman base took place (Episode #'s 4 and up). Art Establishment drawing of the Command Room The latest in computer technology in evident in the Command Room... The equipment in the Command Room can also be used to tap into the signals from I.S.O. satellites, allowing them to take a detailed look at various stellar objects (Episode #22). This room also houses radio equipment (Episode #7). The second part of Gatchaman Base that we see a lot of is the hangar for the G-Mecha, as well as their runways. Art Establishment drawing of the Hangar Their vehicles are reached via elevator platforms that are accessed from the Command Room. This area was seen mostly in the stock footage of the G-Mecha launching (Episode #'s 2 and up). James

Hi all! Other locations within Gatchaman Base include the quarters of the Science Ninja Team members and guests like Nambu (Episode #10). A shooting range (Episode #10) The aforementioned Computer Room (Episode #2), An Armory filled with explosives (Episode #10) Also, Gatchaman Base has several laboratories (Episode #'s 10, 38, 41). Most of these rooms are accessible through the various hallways (Episode #10) In case of a fire, Gatchaman Base is equipped with a sprinkler system (Episode #10). Using equipment located at Gatchaman Base, it is possible to fly the Gatcha Spartan via remote control (Episode #12). Gatchaman Base also has equipment that can modify the Gatcha 1 so that it can be launched into outer space (Episode #22). Also housed there is a Mole Mecha capable of burrowing underground (Episode #2). James

Hi all! Gatchaman Base had several means of security, the most obvious being the wall of rock covering the cave entrance (Episode #2). Art Establishment drawing of the open cave It is also possible for the entire structure to be raised or lowered inside the cave, by means of the large pole that supports it from beneath (Episode #6). Anyone approaching the facility must pass a voice analysis before they are allowed to land there (Episode #10). When attacked, Gatchaman Base can defend itself by means of gun emplacements built into the wall of the cliff around it (Episode #41). Gatchaman Base itself also has a missile launcher mounted on the top of it's tower (Episode #41). If all these defenses should fail, there is an escape tunnel that can be used as a last-ditch means to evacuate (Episode #41). The greatest defense Gatchaman Base had was that its location was kept secret. However, this didn't stop Gallactor from trying to destroy it. On one occasion, Gallactor placed Director Nambu under a form of mind control with orders to destroy Gatchaman Base (Episode #10). Later, Gallactor managed to sneak a traceable chemical onto Ken, and the Ninja Team Leader unwittingly led Gallactor to the hidden location of Gatchaman Base. When the Science Ninja Team was away, Egobossler attacked with the Iron Beast Missiler, and succeeded in destroying Gatchaman Base. I hope this helps a little in understanding more about Gatchaman Base! James

Thank you, James -my knowledge of the Gatchaman Base has greatly increased! I'm curious about the images from the shooting range, in episode 10. In the image of the targets, it looks as though the team has misseed the targets every time, and only hit the wall. Surely Joe at least would have better aim than that, wouldn't he?

Hi all!

I'm curious about the images from the shooting range, in episode 10. In the image of the targets, it looks as though the team has misseed the targets every time, and only hit the wall. Surely Joe at least would have better aim than that, wouldn't he?

In the episode itself, Ken, Joe, and Ryu are so anxious about the information on Egobossler's Agrica Operation that Kamo is trying to decipher that they are unable to concentrate, hence why they missed the targets. Yes, it's ridiculous that they would miss all of their shots, but Akira Nakahara, the scriptwriter for the episode, was making a point with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. James

Ah, that clears it up a bit. I was thinking perhaps the guns had been sabotaged somehow, and that maybe that explained why mind-controlled Dr. Nambu, in the later images, seems to be trying to shoot Ken but clearly doesn't succeed in killing him.

James, you said that there was nothing to say about the Gatchaman Base, but then you have all of these incredible posts with the most awesome screenshots! I think this is your best presentation yet! I had no idea that the base raised and lowered on the pole, although it makes a lot of sense. I too thought it was amusing that the guys were all missing their targets in the shooting range, but I can see why the writers/animators did that.... I wonder if the Condor took a shot at them later, for showing him with such poor aim. I'm curious... why are Ken, Joe and Jun so startled to be woken up in their quarters? Was there an emergency call? I'm still surprised that they didn't have medical facilities on the base, but I guess since Nambu was officially Ken's doctor, the facilites had to be closer to Nambu's work location.

Aweeeesome as always, James ... I love all this information!!! One observation I have to make though, is ... wow... the KNT really have found the fountain of youth. They look so so much younger in these pictures than they do in the original series. Ken, especially ... It really doesn't really look as though the artists tried to hard with the characters in this final series. They all look like they're drawn fairly half-arsed. I'm not quite sure how I feel about Ken and Joe wearing white skinny jeans ... :snicker: SJ

Hi all!

you said that there was nothing to say about the Gatchaman Base, but then you have all of these incredible posts with the most awesome screenshots!

When there's nothing to say, make up for it with pictures...

I'm curious... why are Ken, Joe and Jun so startled to be woken up in their quarters? Was there an emergency call?

They were woken up by the detonation of explosives (Taken from the armory) that Director Nambu had set around Gatchaman Base.

I'm still surprised that they didn't have medical facilities on the base, but I guess since Nambu was officially Ken's doctor, the facilites had to be closer to Nambu's work location.

In realistic terms, there would have to be some sort of medical facilities in Gatchaman Base. It's just because we never saw them in the series that I wouldn't state that they are there, and certainly couldn't show any pictures of them.

It really doesn't really look as though the artists tried to hard with the characters in this final series. They all look like they're drawn fairly half-arsed.

The quality of the animation in Gatchaman Fighter tended to vary greatly from episode to episode. Some episodes looked absolutely gorgeous, while others looked like something that was done by the remedial studies class of an animation school. Episode #10 of the series, where many of these shots are from, is one of those episodes.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about Ken and Joe wearing white skinny jeans ...

Well, Joe is wearing light blue skinny jeans, so that makes it all better, right? ... Right? ... Maybe not... James

Originally posted by SJ_SwanJun I'm not quite sure how I feel about Ken and Joe wearing white skinny jeans ... :snicker:

Those skinny jeans mean you can see the shape of their legs and the muscles as they ripple under the material .... oooops I forgot this is meant to be a family show.

I remember skinny jeans being the height of fashion by about 1980-81 (and wide-legged jeans becoming the epitome of nerdiness) so I guess Dr. Nambu actually paid attention to cutting edge fashion when designing their civvies! I also remember how hard it was to get my feet through them, unless they came with little zippers on the cuffs, and since guys have even bigger feet... Maybe their jeans are made of stretchy denim.

Originally posted by clouddancer oooops I forgot this is meant to be a family show.

A family show with regular panty flashes.

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by clouddancer oooops I forgot this is meant to be a family show.

A family show with regular panty flashes.

I forgot about that... I guess rippling muscles would not hurt then.

Originally posted by clouddancer

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by clouddancer oooops I forgot this is meant to be a family show.

A family show with regular panty flashes.

I forgot about that... I guess rippling muscles would not hurt then.

God, this just gave me flashes to Platinum Blonde, Journey, and all those other guys who wore those tight jeans and had their "package" flopping down one side. Oh .... :shudder: Ick SJ

So wth the boys wearing tight white jeans...the artist attention to deal is shocking...not ahhh package outlines shown I've noticed...what a shame...Springie it looks like we'll hve to do some touch ups...*grins* I think I just hit gutter level

TJ- Ebony waves her arms to get her attention Did Ken notice the dust when he returned to base? It looks like Jun is talking to him and her looks at his shoulder to where the water stain is...

HAHA! Ebony, you rock... I love it when a fellow chickie has a mind as low in the gutter as I do.

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne TJ- Ebony waves her arms to get her attention Did Ken notice the dust when he returned to base? It looks like Jun is talking to him and her looks at his shoulder to where the water stain is...

Jun noticed that Ken's shirt was wet (she notices everything about Ken, of course) and he explained how it got that way. At that point the sparkly dust fell off, and Kamo noticed it. He had it analyzed, but by the time he figured out what it was, it was too late.

WOW. I now know an awful lot about the base to say Ive never seen fighter. Tight jeans, yeah I'd say 81ish. I got some for my 6th b'day and thought I was the DB's. I was so awesome I got a bit cocky and my mum sent me to bed, at my own party ! Stupid jeans for making me think I was all that.

But, Veritas ... you ARE all that!!

Hi all! Most of you are probably too young to remember that the entire tight pants thing really got started in 1977, with the release of "Saturday Nigh Fever" and the launch of the disco era. Don't believe me? Just take a look at this 1977 film of the Bee Gees performing their hit song, "Stayin' Alive." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCAjmuA1HDk So, with the tight pants worn by the characters, Tatsunoko was simply trying to keep the Ninja Team's civilian clothes up-to-date with then-current fashion trends. As a side note, if any of you haved ever watched the 1960s WWII drama "Combat!," you might recognize the set the Bee Gees are wandering through as the dilapidated remains of the French village set that was used frequently in that series. James

ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH My eyes My eyes!!! Creepy 70's bulge alert! :Grins: Ahhh, James. I totally realize the artists were keeping with fashion -- which for the most part I LOVE cause I am such a 70's chick -- but there are always those parts that make us cringe. TBH I don't think I can really see the boys in the current low-cut slouchy pants that the kids these days are wearing... Something about Mark or Jason doing that Monkey-sway in their walk as they try to hold up their pants because they're so low on the hips they keep falling down, just doesn't feel right. Now. Stick them in a sexy pair or Paper Denim jeans or a pair of Kenneth Coles -- yum yum. Mrrooowwwrrr Heh, as a Menswear chickie I can totally hook them up with some gorgeous English Laundry shirts to go with the Paper Denims (so my favourite brand on guys)... Hmmmm .... perhaps I may toy with some of our design sheets and dress the boys up in todays high-fashion... SJ

Originally posted by tatsunokofan Most of you are probably too young to remember that the entire tight pants thing really got started in 1977, with the release of "Saturday Nigh Fever" and the launch of the disco era.

Nova Scotia certainly lagged behind, at least where children's fashions were concerned. This is my older sister and me, in 1977. Aren't her pants lovely? So much of my clothes were hand-me-downs from her, but somehow I was mercifully spared ever having to wear those pants 3 or 4 years later! Thanks for the Bee Gees link. Those clothes! Barry Gibb's hair! But, back in those days, if my friends and I weren't listening to ABBA records or the Grease soundtrack, then it was the Bee Gees.

Hi all!

Ahhh, James. I totally realize the artists were keeping with fashion -- which for the most part I LOVE cause I am such a 70's chick -- but there are always those parts that make us cringe.

You and me both. Still, while you may have realized this, there does seem to be a trend on this subject that indicates that people think this fashion started in the 1980s, when it obviously didn't. What I suspect has happened is that people here didn't become aware of fashions until they hit their teens, which for many here (Though certainly not all of us, myself included) wasn't until the 1980s.

TBH I don't think I can really see the boys in the current low-cut slouchy pants that the kids these days are wearing... Something about Mark or Jason doing that Monkey-sway in their walk as they try to hold up their pants because they're so low on the hips they keep falling down, just doesn't feel right.

I can't comment on that Ken or Joe would think of such things, but Gatchapin certainly doesn't care for that style. In some of the episodes this week, he was trying to get some boys to pull their pants up, and in another he was trying to get them to wear their hats properly. Gatchapin, the Science Fashion Police. Of course, he's also Miss Manners, trying to get girls to stop texting while they're out with their friends. Gatchapin can be such a Zark at times... James

James ... I have tried to watch Gatchapin on the link you originally posted, but I am simply too stupid to work out how to find it to watch it. I really feel like I'm missing out on something... :wibble: It sounds like it is so much fun.

See, and here I thought Gatchapin was trying to sexually harrass the boys by playing with their pants, the way he was trying to harrass the girls by pulling at their skirts! For me, it's more the 'digital number' Adidas-style t-shirts I associate with the VERY early 80s. And the Science Ninja Team pull them off so well... What year did Tron come out, anyhow? I think that's when the 'digital numbers' became popular... Certainly Jun's hair in Gatch II and F reminds me of Olivia Newton's John's feather hair in the 'Physical' era.

Hi all!

James ... I have tried to watch Gatchapin on the link you originally posted, but I am simply too stupid to work out how to find it to watch it.

It's fairly easy (Heck, it has to be for little kids to use it). Simply go to the web page (http://www.fujitvkidsclub.jp/webchannel/index.html). The second row down (With the #2 in the far left column) are the Gatchapin episodes. Go to the episode highlighted in red and click on it. This will bring up a new window with a Play arrow in it. Click on the arrow. When you clock on the arrow, it will take you to a Login page, with two boxes that need to be filled in. In the upper box (With "ID" next to it), put in 15023448, which is the member ID number. In the second box (With "Password" in Japanese next to it, in case you wondered), type in gatchapin (Yes, it must be all lower case). Then click the red OK button at the botton of the page (The blue button is Cancel). This will take you back to the front page with the columns of different shows again. Again, Gatchapin is on the second row. Once again, click on the episode with the red highlight around it. This will once again open a new window with the Play button in it. Click on the play button, and a new window will open up. In that window is where you will see the episode. If you want to watch an episode over the weekend, all five of the episodes from that week are available to view, so none of them will have the red highlight found on the first page. You can pick any of them you wish, and the window with the Play button will appear. Once you have logged in on a weekday, you can watch any of the programs that have the red highlight around them without having to login again. On the weekend, you can watch any of the programs on the page without having to login more than once. Every time you leave the main page, you have to login again. I hope this helps! James

James if I could kiss you I would... Mwwwaaahhh I will check it out this afternoon at home -- if my internet works, that is... See ... I told you I'm stupid ... SJ

Hi all!

What year did Tron come out, anyhow? I think that's when the 'digital numbers' became popular...

Tron came out in 1982. I remember first encountering those pseudo computer-type numbers in the mid-1970s. They were being used by science fiction fans on fanzines and to decorate props for their costumes because they looked "futuristic." In actuality, that is OCR-A font, created in the late 1960s as a font that could be read by both human beings and by the earliest optical character recognition systems. James

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne TJ- Ebony waves her arms to get her attention Did Ken notice the dust when he returned to base? It looks like Jun is talking to him and her looks at his shoulder to where the water stain is...

Jun noticed that Ken's shirt was wet (she notices everything about Ken, of course) and he explained how it got that way. At that point the sparkly dust fell off, and Kamo noticed it. He had it analyzed, but by the time he figured out what it was, it was too late.

Thanks!!! Of course she notices everything about Ken...*grins*

Wow - in one thread I have learned tons and tons about the Gatchaman Base, relived my love/hate relationship with skinny jeans (i too applauded the addition of the ankle zippers), remembered all of the reasons why I don't like the Bee Gees, spent a short time thinking about rippling muscles and the crotch bulge issue in regards to animation quality, and discovered the number 3 on my favorite baseball t-shirt from 1983 was actually capable of being read by a computer. You are the most brilliant and versatile people I know!

well now this is the gatchaman fashion thread.... Just last weekend I had VH1 while tidying up and a certain video came on... Ive seen those slightly too high waisted super tight white trousers some where else... (piccie nicked from start of thread)

Bwahahahahahahahahaha!

OMG!!! Those white pants do look the same....did the boys have the same taylor?? Gee don't their legs look skinny in that screen shot!! I'm sending them off for more weights training!

Okay, I think we have a winner.... That's awesome, Veritas!

Nice find veritas