Hi all! Well, it's been longer than I had anticipated since I've had time to put together a decent update for the latest Gatchaman Crowds news. Sadly, long enough now that much of this is a bit dated, what with the show being on the air now, and its 5th episode having just aired. Regardless, I figured people might still be interested in what was being said, so... As I just mentioned, Gatchaman Crowds is now airing weekly in Japan. The series is being simulcast online, with English subtitles, on Crunchyroll. The Crunchyroll Gatchaman Crowds page can be found here: http://www.crunchyroll.com/gatchaman-crowds The latest episodes are available only to their paid subscribers for the first week after they premiere, but they change to a free-to-view status after that week. So, the first four episodes of the 12 episode run for the series are available for anyone view. If you haven't watched them yet, you should check them out. It starts off a little weak, but does improve within a few episodes. Okay, it pales in comparison to the original, but you probably already figured that. If you don't wish to wait a week to watch the latest episodes, and don't want to subscribe to Crunchyroll, subtitled versions of the episodes have also been appearing within a few hours on various Torrent sites, as well as a few direct downloads. A quick internet search will help you find them. The "Daisuke Namikawa and Mamoru Miyano's Gatchaman Crowds Radio" show has also been running regularly each week, with the 6th episode having aired on Thursday. The show featured Mr. Namikawa (The voice of Joe in Gatchaman Crowds) and Mr. Miyano (The voice of Berg Katze in Gatchaman Crowds) chatting about the series and generally having a good time. The latest episodes can be heard about 12 hours after they are broadcast here: http://hibiki-radio.jp/description/gatchaman_crowds The earlier episodes can be easily found on YouTube. The Gatchaman Crowds website has been updating regularly the Story section with short episode synopses and a few photos after each episode has aired. Their Goods section has also been updated, listing Gatchaman Crowds-related merchandise I've already told you about. More interesting are the couple of updates they've done in their Characters section, where they have added write-ups for the girl previously listed only as "???," whose name has now been revealed as Load Galax, and adding a section for "President X," as they refer to Sosai X. Here is what they have to say about these two characters: Load Galax http://www.ntv.co.jp/GATCHAMAN_Crowds/character/rui.html The other form taken on by Rui when she works with GALAX or the HUNDRED. The origin of the name LOAD comes from the enormous amount of information accumulated by President X, meaning that "The person who reads the information = The person who is LOAD." It is Rui's idea that no one leader is needed, and it is meant to be different from the title "Ruler = LORD." President X http://www.ntv.co.jp/GATCHAMAN_Crowds/character/presidentx.html The incomplete artificial intelligence developed by Rui Ninomiya in cooperation with the hackers of the world. In order to complete the system needed to "update the world," Rui allows President X to deal with any problems presented by GALAX users, and it is growing. The monthly anime magazines in Japan had coverage of the series in their August issues, with Animedia and New Type each dedicating two pages to the show. Animage had the least, with just a short blurb about the post-transformation looks for Hajime, Sugane, and Joe, and brief episode synopses for episode #'s 2~5. The same type of episode synopses appeared in Animedia. While they won't really illuminate anything about the show if you've already watched the episodes, they did predate the episodes when the magazine hit stores in early July. Anyway, in case you're interested, here's the synopses that appeared in the August issue of Animedia: Episode #2 - "Asymmetry" Writer - Toshiya Ono Director - Takaaki Wada Storyboards - Takaaki Wada Art Director - Takashi Kurahashi Sugane Tachibana is not satisfied with the interference caused by Hajime during the attack on the unidentified object MESS, which was a candidate for extermination. He is swayed by Hajime's behavior to not prejudge what's right and wrong emotionally, but instead to touch on her idea to view things from various perspectives. On the other hand, for his own pleasure, a mystery man has happily begun secret maneuvers to make people fight. Episode #3 - "Futurism" Writer - Shinsuke Onishi Director - Koichiro Kuroda Storyboards - Hiroyuki Kakudo Art Director - Takashi Kurahashi The genius Rui Ninomiya has created the huge SNS (Social Networking Service) GALAX and the artificial intelligence President X to continue the various activities to update the world. One day, a situation occurs that cannot be dealt with by human powers, and Rui is forced to make the decision to exercise forbidden powers. Episode #4 - "Kitsch" Writer - Toshiya Ono Director - Mamoru Enomoto Storyboards - Mamoru Kurosawa Art Director - Takashi Kurahashi Despite the trust in the usefulness of GALAX that is spreading steadily among the people, Rui is tormented by the urge to accelerate the world by direct means. Just then, the mysterious phantom causes a brutal incident in front of Rui's eyes, showing the ways in which it can harm people. Episode #5 - "Collaboration" Writer - Toshiya Ono Director - Takahiro Majima, Yu Yonezawa, Jimmy Stone Storyboards - Hiroyuki Kakudo Art Director - Takashi Kurahashi Hajime and the others happen to be present at the scene of a large-scale accident. As people use GALAX to help resolve the situation, Hajime rescues a mysterious being, and a fateful encounter with the beautiful person who directs the being is carried out. The main body of Animedia's coverage of Gatchaman Crowds was an interview with series Planner Takao Kudo, where he discussed the character of Rui. Here's what Mr. Kudo had to say: A Beautiful Girl Or a Beautiful Boy!? The Charisma Of the Gigantic SNS Is Twice As Appealing. Just before this production is broadcast, we'll look at this super advanced child. The name is Rui Ninimiya, who runs the gigantic SNS (Social Networking service) GALAX, which has 200 million users around the world! His brain is top notch, and he can speak 3 languages. Rui's home is the top floor of the high-rise apartment Toyosu. It is one celebrity-like article. "However, Rui is surprising, and the room is rough to pass through. He enjoys bottled jellybeans, and is often chided by President X, the artificial intelligence that is the brains of GALAX, to 'Please have a proper diet.' (Laughs)" (Planning Composition; Takao Kudo) The gap between the celebrity environment and the common life is twice as appealing. Therefore, Rui's shape when going out is very pretty. "Rui likes pretty and beautiful things, just like the Hajime, the lead character of the story. He disguises himself as a woman just because 'it is pretty.' This is also how he runs GALAX, with the belief that the politics and the human spirit of today are not beautiful, he wants to use GALAX to move people forward into a world where they help each other. In the third episode, Rui begins to move in earnest, the same time as the guy with the wild, purple hair...... The 1st episode is the introduction of Hajime and the Gatchaman Team, and the 2nd and 3rd episodes are focused mainly on the school lives and private lives of Hajime and Sugane. I want you to notice the art design of Hajime's room and Gatchaman Base. They are a from a combination of the hands of Takashi Kurahashi & Yumi Hosoka, who were in charge of the art in Nakamura's production's 'Mononoke' and 'Tsuritama.' The base reflects an alien culture, and has psychedelic objects. Of course, events related to Rui and GALAX will be continuing behind the scenes, so please watch carefully." So what is Rui really going to do? A mysterious element has been added, and it would be a shame to spoil it......! The magazine also had a sidebar where Mr. Kudo spoke a little about the new suits: What is the Form of Gatchaman After Transformation? "The mark called Bird Signal is somewhere on their bodies, as well as multiple G-marks. The form of the suit otherwise appears to take on features from the tastes and personalities of the individuals. Sugane has the power to control distance, which he combines with his Iaijutsu swordplay in battle. Using wither his sword or the wings that come from his back, he can slice through or defend himself against an enemy. Joe fights with the power of flame, and can fly by shooting flames from his feet. Hajime's ability is......, please confirm it by watching it on the air!" And, lastly, Animedia had a few very brief comments by Kenji Nakamura, answering a few questions about the show: Chief Director Kenji Nakamura's Special Comment Q. What is the theme of the production in a single word? A. It is "Tomorrow." Q. What is it that you most want people to see? A. To look at the way the characters are thinking, and then find those with whom you can relate to, and those with whom you cannot. Q. What is the highlight of the opening part? A. All of it! The August New Type had some familiar write-ups on the Hajime, Sugane, and Joe, but the majority of their article was made up of an interview with Kenji Nakamura. [img]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/tatsu

Thanks, James. Personally I'm looking forward to every Friday now. I really enjoy Crowds because aside from being extremely fond of Katse v2.0 and his mannerism (Miyano should be given an award for his voice acting - especially when he pretended to be X in ep.5), this show also raises some interesting questions. Rui's dilemma in episode 5 is a prime example of that. No. 26 was quite a jerkass, but Rui strikes me as someone blinded by his idealism. He's so stubborn, he comes across as quite childish. He's trying so hard to prevent the Hundred from using Crowds selfishly, his actions endanger the lives of the ones in need, but he is too proud to do anything about it apart from attempting to fix everything on his own, which, ironically, makes him exactly one of the heroes he denounces so much. His aim is much too high and it doesn't leave any space for compromise. I do believe spending some time with Hajime would do him good. It's a bit of a pity that Crowds don't have more in common with original Gatchaman, but that is about the only complaint I have about it. (okay. That, and the fact that it's only 12 episodes long). I do believe this anime is a really great work in its own right. To me it's a highlight of the week. (also, it's a pity no one really discusses it here, even though there is so much to discuss. After all both series deal with contemporary issues. Original Gatchaman has environmentalism, Crowds have social networking)

I've been watching every episode, on Crunchyroll, and I'm hooked too. Yes, very interesting conversation between Rui and #26, with Rui arguing that the world won't be "updated" until ordinary people take action themselves, in concert with others, instead of relying on heroes or leaders, and #26 pointing out that he and the other hundred that make up the "CROWDS" could fix the world more effectively by just eliminating incompetent politicians, irresponsible corporations, criminals -and with #26 thinking that Rui must be motivated by the desire to get all the credit for himself. It really seems to parallel what Hajime was discussing (and disagreeing about) with Paiman and Sugane, questioning why the Gatchaman have to always stay secret. It's interesting to me that Hajime seems to agree with #26, that "the world will never change if revolutionaries just sneak around." Rui is clearly soured on heroes and leaders, but I don't think #26, who is all about power, can comprehend any one honestly wanting to give "power to the people" and stay anonymous and behind the scenes. Hajime, though, can see the role of leaders and heroes, I think, as a way to inspire ordinary people to take action -they shouldn't stay apart from society and secret. I mean, no one is a bigger fan of GALAX than her. Yet her motives are worlds apart from those of #26. Oh, and I was laughing so hard watching Paiman ride around the apartment, sitting on the roomba. But, I think I can see how very easy it could be for a totalitarian entity like"Galactor" to be born from Rui's GALAX (created with the best of intentions) if it's taken over by Katse and #26, with them controlling "X." It sure seems like JJ knows more about what's happening than he's letting on (and about what the MESS really are about). Maybe he's seen this cycle happen, over and over, on other worlds? I'm guessing he intends Gatchaman, ultimately, to be the ones who will ultimately oppose GALAX/X/Katse/"Galactor" (whatever it ends up being called), and that he had reasons for recruiting Hajime.

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Yep...I've been watching, too! I keep wishing for some glimmer of the Gatchaman we all know and love...but I haven't found much. I do like the weird vibe some of the images have- especially Katze and the Crowds. What is it with the giant eyeball disguises, though? Those are creepy enough to become a Galactor mecha! I am finding it hard to identify with the characters, though. Hajime is a bit annoying and the others suffer from a lack of personality (or maybe we just don't know their stories, yet). On a different note, Paiman on the roomba was pretty, awesome, wasn't he? LOL The storyline will keep me watching, though...it is very interesting!

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Haven't watched any of it, but your theory is interesting, James, that Crowds could be taken as a prequel to the original Gatchaman. Will Crowds have to be added to Gatchfanfic? I anticipate someone writing fics with it soon.

Originally posted by Becky Rock I anticipate someone writing fics with it soon.

There are already a couple of them at fanfiction.net, in the Gatchaman section.