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Eagle Riders

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Eagle Riders
Created bySaban Entertainment
Based onGatchaman II and Gatchaman Fighter
by Ippei Kuri
Written byR.D. Smithee
Marc Handler
Dayna Barron
Melora Harte
Michael Sorich
Richard Epcar
Ronni Pear
Steve Kramer
Tom Wyner
Winston Richard
Voices ofDena Burton
Richard Cansino
Lara Cody
Bryan Cranston
R. Martin Klein
Heidi Lenhart
Mona Marshall
Greg O'Neill
Paul Schrier
Peter Spellos
Theme music composerShuki Levy
Kussa Mahchi
Jeremy Sweet
ComposersShuki Levy
Kussa Mahchi
Country of originUnited States
Japan
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes65 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerEric S. Rollman
ProducerRita M. Acosta
Production companiesSaban Entertainment, Inc.
Saban International N.V.
Original release
NetworkFirst-run syndication, Network Ten
ReleaseSeptember 9, 1996 –
January 1, 1997

Eagle Riders (also known as Saban's Eagle Riders) is an American animated television adaptation of the Japanese anime series Gatchaman II and Gatchaman Fighter, which have been combined together. The rights to the English-language version of Eagle Riders is owned by Saban Entertainment.[1][2] All 65 episodes aired in Australia on Network Ten; but in the United States, only 13 episodes were aired.[3]

Premise

The Eagle Riders.

Earth is under siege from the alien menace known only by the name Cybercon and its legion of android forces, the Vorak. The Global Security Council convenes to address this problem, and calls upon Dr. Thaddeus Keane for assistance. They remember the aid they had received from Keane's special force, the Eagle Riders, in years past. Keane assures them that the Eagle Riders are still together, still strong, and armed with brand new weapons.

Adaptations and changes

Both series were heavily edited when it came to the adaptation process, with controversial elements removed, as well as the entire soundtrack being replaced. As with previous English adaptations of Gatchaman, character names and terms were also changed in the localization.

One notable example of the changes made to the series is the removal of Mallanox (Gel Sadra)'s origin and transformation, which happened in the premiere episode of the original Gatchaman II. The character was also changed from female to male, though her correct gender and origin were reinstated in later dub episodes.

Another change, made to segue the two series together, involved the finale of Gatchaman II and the first episode of Gatchaman Fighter being merged, as well as the death of Gel Sadra being cut. Instead, Mallanox is said to have been transformed into a new form, named Happy Boy (originally, the Gatchaman Fighter villain Count Egobossler).

The final eight episodes of Gatchaman Fighter were never translated, due to the objectionable content involved. Instead, the 15th episode of Gatchaman Fighter served as the series finale.

Team variations across different versions

The renaming of the various characters and terms in Eagle Riders are highlighted as follows (in correspondence to their Gatchaman equivalents, among others):

Gatchaman Eagle Riders Rank Bird Uniform Weapon Mecha Japanese voice actor Voice actor (Eagle Riders)
Ken Washio Hunter Harris G1 Eagle Razor boomerang Airplane Katsuji Mori Richard Cansino
Joe Asakura Joe Thax G2 Condor Pistol Race Car Isao Sasaki Bryan Cranston
Jun Kelly Jennar G3 Swan Yo-yo Motorcycle Kazuko Sugiyama Heidi Noelle Lenhart
Jinpei Mickey Dugan G4 Swallow Bolo Dune Buggy Yoku Shioya Mona Marshall
Ryu Nakanishi Ollie Keeawani G5 Owl Pistol God Phoenix Shingo Kanemoto Paul Schrier
  • Although he was obviously the Swallow, Jimmy called himself the Falcon.
  • The Eagle Riders adaptation used different terms for some of the uniforms: Hunter Harris was referred to as a Hawk rather than Eagle, Joe Thax was a Falcon, and Kelly Jenar became a Dove (as opposed to Swan). The remaining two members, however, kept their original bird themes.

Other character variations

Gatchaman Eagle Riders
Dr. Kozaburo Nambu Dr. Thaddeus Keane
ISO Director Anderson Anderson
Red Impulse /
Kentaro Washio
Harley Harris
Berg Katse Lukan
Sosai (Generalissimo) X Cybercon
Galactor Vorak
Gel Sadra Mallanox
Dr. Sylvie Pandora (Gatchaman II) Dr.Francine Aikens
Sammie Pandora Nancy Aikens
Dr. Rafael Professor Andro
Count Egobossler Happy Boy
Mechandol Olaf
Kempler Vax
Engineer Kamo Uncle Avery

Other notable changes

Variations Gatchaman (Japanese) Battle Of The Planets Guardians Of Space Eagle Riders OVA (Harmony Gold dub) Gatchaman (English)
Identity Change Command Bird, Go!‡ Transmute! G-Force, Transform! Eagle Mode, NOW!
Ken Eagle One, Transform!
Joe Shapeshift, Condor
June Swan Mode, Now!
Jimmy Falcon Tracker, Transform!
Rocky (Unknown)
Bird, Go!
Planet/Civilization Selectol (planet) Galactor (civilization) Spectra Galactor Vorak Galactor Selectol (planet) Galactor (civilization)

‡The original Japanese-language version of Gatchaman contains a small amount of words in English.

Production staff

  • Owned and distributed by: Saban Entertainment
  • Executive Producer: Eric S. Rollman
  • Producer & Story Editor: Rita M. Acosta
  • Writer (ADR Script): R.D. Smithee, Marc Handler
  • Voice Directors: Richard Epcar, Steve Kramer, Heidi Noelle Lenhart (uncredited), Michael Sorich
  • Production Assistant & ADR Coordinator: Gregory C. Ireland
  • Executive in Charge of Sound Operations: Clive H. Mizumoto
  • Sound Operations Manager: Xavier Garcia
  • Sound Effects Editors: Keith Dickens, Martin Flores, Zoli Osaze, Ron Salaises, John Valentino
  • Re-Recording Mixers: Michael Beirenger (uncredited), Mark Ettel, R.D. Floyd, Wayne T. O'Brien
  • ADR Recordists: Carl Lange, Kevin Newson, David W. Barr
  • Foley Artists: Susan Lewis (uncredited), Kalea Morton, Taryn Simone
  • Audio Assistants: Brian Densmore, Andrew Kines, Don Sexton
  • Music by: Shuki Levy, Kussa Mahchi
  • Executive in Charge of Music: Ron Kenan
  • Music Supervisor: Lloyd Michael Cook II
  • Music Editors: Barron Abramovitch, Bill Filipiak
  • Music Engineer: Barron Abramovitch
  • Second Engineers: James Dijulio, Frank Bailey-Meier
  • Music Assistants: Jeremy Sweet, Tim Gosselin
  • Offline Editor: Terry Marlin
  • Video Traffic Coordinator: Jerry Buetnner
  • Post Production Audio: Advantage Audio
  • Sound Effects Editor: Robert Duran
  • Dialogue Editor: Robbi Smith
  • Music Editor: Marc S. Perlman
  • Audio Transfer: J. Lampinen
  • Re-Recording Mixers: Fil Brown, Ray Leonard, Mike Beiriger, Jim Hodson, Mellisa Gentry-Ellis
  • Online Editors: Michael Hutchinson, Harvey Landy (Hollywood Digital Inc.), John Bowen, David Crosthwait (Modern Videofilm)
  • Telecine: Lee Ann Went (Varitel Inc.), Greg Hamlin (Film Technology, LA), Larry Field (Editel), Brent Eldridge (Ame, Inc.)
  • Post Production Supervisor: John Bryant
  • Post Production Coordinator: Francesca Weiss
  • Executive in Charge of Production: Dana C. Booton
  • ©1996 Saban Entertainment, Inc. and Saban International N.V. Underlying property © Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Voice cast

References

  1. ^ "RIAP Writes". EX. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  2. ^ "RIAP Writes". EX. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  3. ^ "Editor's Note". EX. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  4. ^ "Joshua Seth biography". Film Reference. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
  5. ^ "Interview with Derek Stephen Prince". Film Reference. Retrieved 2009-06-07.

Further reading