It's that time of year when kids go back to school, so the question came up of the ninjas' schooling. In BOTP it's stated that Mark and Tiny went to the Space Academy, and in Gatchaman II/Eagle Riders it's stated that Ken/Hunter went to the 'Flight Academy'. But other than that we know nothing about how the ninjas were educated. A lot of fics suggest that they were home-schooled by Nambu, but that may not be the case. What do you think their schooling was like? What were the ninjas' best subjects? My guesses for best subjects: Ken: General Science and Geography Joe: Auto Shop Jun: Chemistry Jinpei: Biology (especially the modules on bugs and dinosaurs) Ryu: Home Ec Go for it!

I always kind of figured they were home-schooled. They'd have had a lot of suspecious absences from public school. Also, home-schooling would have allowed time for subjects they needed for what they were doing. Since I'm a BotP girl, I'll go by those characters for best subjects. Mark-Geography, political science, science Jason-Math, shop Princess-Chemistry, psychology, technology (computer) Keyop-Technology (computer), science (biology) Tiny-Math, cooking (home-ec)

Gatch team: Everyone except Jinpei: Forbidden to even go near the door of the Home Ec classroom. Whatever's on the ceiling (and never coming off) becomes legendary in the school, and numerous contradictory stories of what happened circulate. Ken: Basic science, mathematics, aeronautics. Some history or social studies. Joe: Shop (especially auto shop), gonna go with basic maths and science. Jun: Chemistry, electronics, computers. Jinpei: If it will let him make messes, he's into it. Ryu: Solid 'B' average in all classes. And I mean a real 'B', not one given him because he showed up. BotP: Mark: After the basics, all those command courses that result the spontaneous generation of the 'stick up the ass' that afflicts people in charge. Jason: Shop, gunnery, general sciences. Princess: Chemistry, electronics, nuclear physics -- anything that will make a mecha go boom. Keyop: Pretty much the same as Jinpei. Tiny: Piloting large aircraft that are strapped to his bum. (To borrow a common descriptor from Ghost Owl.)

UW - That Home Ec class piece is a riot. Ah, yes, I remember that phrase from Ghost Owl's excellent ep reviews. Hmmm... GoS. There's a comment made in the Robot Ants ep that Pewee had been going to school at some point. That's really early in the war (ep 10), so it makes sense. Ace -Geography, Science, and Speech. Also numerous visits with counselors regarding his impulsive nature. Dirk -auto shop, science, physics. Particularly physics that apply to triggers and BRB. Also visits to counselors. Fewer visits then Ace re: his impulsive nature, but a fair amount of grief counseling. Agatha 'Aggie' June -Chemistry, physics, accounting 101. Although she still allows a certain Eagle to run up tabs. (Her canon cooking skills are never referred to, although only Pewee is shown cooking.) Pewee -science (esp. anything to do with bugs), home ec, computers. (He's seen messing with a computer in Ep. 2, where the astronauts are captured.) Won the physical fitness award in school sometime before the time the war started. Hootie -Geography, physics, math. (He's a pilot and navigator. And a darn good one.)

I made an attempt at Report Cards...I'm sure Nambu grounded them for some of these grades! Name: Ken Washio Chemistry C+ Physics A+ Home Economics D- Gymnastics/P.E. A+ Utoland History/Politics A+ Technology B Persuasive Literature A+ Accounting F Flight Class A+

Name: Ryu Nakanishi Chemistry F Physics A+ Home Economics C Weightlifting/P.E. A+ Utoland History/Politics C- Technology B Persuasive Literature D Accounting C Flight Class A+

Name: Joe Asakura Chemistry B Physics A+ Home Economics B Shooting Range/P.E. A+ Utoland History/Politics F Technology B Persuasive Literature D- Auto Shop A+ Flight Class D-

LOVE the Seal, Springie! But... boarding school? Oh yeah. For the Doctor's sanity.

Name: Jinpei Nambu Chemistry C- Physics B Home Economics B+ Gymnastics/P.E. A+ Utoland History/Politics D- Technology A+ Persuasive Literature C Accounting A Biology A+

Name: Jun Nambu Chemistry A+ Physics A+ Calculus A+ Home Economics D- Gymnastics/P.E. A+ Utoland History/Politics A+ Technology A+ Explosive Wiring A+ Persuasive Literature A+

Springie, those are great. Although I am not too sure I would agree on some of those marks.

Originally posted by clouddancer Springie, those are great. Although I am not too sure I would agree on some of those marks.

I have to agree. Joe (and to a lesser degree, Jason) has shown that he knows logic and strategy even if he doesn't always employ them. That means he probably did better in History and English than most of us have given him credit for. That being said, I've taught and raised many boys/young men, who can get A's on the exams because they know the material, but don't do well in the class because they don't do the homework. This could be the case for any of the Condors. However, I don't see them getting F's; I can't see Nambu or Anderson tolerating that.

Springie, those are awesome!!!! And I love the crest!!!!

I figured that Joe wouldn't care enough to try in some of those subjects...so he'd flunk out on purpose...I would think politics would get on his nerves...

Good point, Springie! BTW, I wasn't very clear in my above post, nice work on the crest.

Glad you liked it! When I was searching for ideas, i knew the mascot had to be an Eagle...and then I found this, and it said "Rendezvous with Destiny"- it made me laugh (since Mark used the word rendezvous a lot!) So I just used it!

Great entries! And I like what you did, Springie! Apart from not knowing what their educational background had been, and apart from thinking, myself, that they were home-schooled, due to their identities, I cannot help wondering whether they kept on studying even during the war! I think that longer years are required to acquire the kind of expertise they show, especially where Ken and Jun are concerned. And, Jinpei, being at such a young age, must surely have been compelled to continue his studies, even if there's nothing that could show this. Maybe, Nambu kept providing them with private lessons between one battle and another!

would be nice to see some behind the scenes footage of the Gatchaman Team during their home schooling sessions. just the thought of all the situations they would get into gets my imagination going.

I love the report cards, Springie! I'm especially at Ken's F in accounting -perfect! It's great fun to imagine them in a typical school and classroom setting, navigating all the tricky social aspects of school in addition to the academics -school dances, cafeteria cliques, peer pressure etc. Then again, if they were home-schooled or if Dr. Nambu arranged for them to meet with tutors at the ISO or something like that, they might have been lucky to be spared the misery that high school can be! I'm inclined to think this was the case, as I have trouble imagining how they could work all their Ninja training around a standard high school schedule, but I can well believe they might have attended a school when they were younger (especially Joe and Ken, who were with Dr. Nambu first).

Springie! You crack me up!

I have always imagined they went to a type of special school, something like a school of performing arts, where teachers and administrators would not notice absences because so many students were out "performing" or out at state wide, county wide or country wide competitions. The kids would get a few hours of training in before classes and then head off to school. When classes were completed they would do a few more hours of training. Our team would then perhaps have another hours work with tutors in a "specialty" subject.

Originally posted by lborgia88 It's great fun to imagine them in a typical school and classroom setting, navigating all the tricky social aspects of school in addition to the academics -school dances, cafeteria cliques, peer pressure etc.

I tried that once in a fic... and of course, it was a very silly one. I encourage others to try it... there's a lot of potential in that idea!

'Prom Night'? The one where Zoltar and Mala also act like brats?

This pose was CD's suggestion...it fits perfectly with this thread! I made it fit in with an old "School girl Jun" pic I did...

Ooooo, Springie. Thank you, thank you so much. I love it.

Very nice, Springie!

That's lovely, Springie! Joe's pose and facial expression are so his!! I wonder what Ken is telling Jun?! They seem to be planning something!!

They look great in their school uniforms, Springie -definitely ready to "rendezvous with destiny"! Joe seems to be smirking slightly and Jun looks like she's considering giving him a punch -not sure if Ken's dissuading her or egging or on though! Maybe Joe just asked her why she's bothering to take Home Ec again this year...

I love the pics... wish my school had a uniform like that (I went to a bumpkin public school), Jun looks so pretty! I went to uni next to a small airport, where they had a civil aviation course in partnership with the university. The civil aviators were actually based at the airport but did a lot of subjects with the regular uni students (Engineering Maths and physics mainly). They all wore a white shirt, black trousers pilots hat uniform. We girls found them much more handsome and dashing than the grubby engineers we were usually stuck with! I think the Australian Defence Force acadamy is a similar set up. I always sort of imagined that was the sort of schooling the team would have had. I sort of cant get my head around them just finishning school at 16 and not doing anything else.

Originally posted by PalyNerdI sort of cant get my head around them just finishning school at 16 and not doing anything else.

I always imagined, since they were bright enough, that at 16, 17 and 18 (since we don't really know when in Ken's 18th year the war began) that they were taking university level credits - 3 years MAY have been long enough to get a degree (specialty) in some field or another. If they were smart enough they could even have been doing some University level classes as early as 15 (maths or sciences maybe?)

I would imagine that after the war, they would all be given honorary degrees from a University!

Thanks for the sweet comments, guys! I liked the way this one turned out, because it seemed so much like their personalities...and LB, that is perfect! I can just imagine Joe making a smart remark like that, especially if he is unhappy about going to school! This pic could definitely use a caption or speech bubbles!

Springie, sorry I'm late to the party here, but that is a wonderful picture! I love the red color on the uniforms, and the way Ken is leaning back to talk to Jun makes my 'hsipper heart jump for joy! I love it!

Originally posted by Springie This pic could definitely use a caption or speech bubbles!

Oh, you're so good, LB!!

Way to go LB.

You are so good with these, LB! :

LOVE it, LB!!! You are so good at adding details! Perfect! Here's what goes on in ninja class...watch out!

Springie, I love that little animation you found.

Isn't it cute? It just makes me giggle...I wish I knew how to animate like that!

Springie's pics are a great inspiration! And I'm dying laughing here at the ninja animation! That is so great!

It would be fun to learn how to do that. Maybe it is something I should learn considering I can't draw.

That animation is so cute!! You're right, CD, it would be awesome to learn how to do them!!

LOL, I can totally see Jinpei doing that ninja animation... or Ryu, given the shape of him! And the bug-out eyes are perfrect for either of those characters!