Watch Battle of the Planets

TV-Y7
1978
1 Season
7.6 (2,092)

In the late 1970s, a new anime show called Battle of the Planets was introduced to audiences in the United States. This action-packed sci-fi series, produced by Tatsunoko Productions, follows five young heroes as they protect the galaxy from the evil forces of Zoltar. The main characters are members of G-Force, a top-secret organization dedicated to defending the Earth from intergalactic threats. The team includes Mark, Jason, Princess, Keyop, and Tiny, each with their unique skills and abilities. For instance, Mark is the team leader and a skilled pilot, while Princess is a master of martial arts. One of the show's most notable aspects is the fact that it underwent significant edits to appeal to American audiences. The show's original Japanese version, Gatchaman, was known for its violence and mature themes, which were toned down for its American release. Additionally, new names, costumes, and character designs were created for the American version, which gave it a distinct look and feel. Despite these changes, Battle of the Planets proved to be a huge hit with American audiences. The show's popularity was helped by its all-star voice cast, which included particularly iconic voice-over actors like Casey Kasem, Janet Waldo, and Alan Young. The show's episodes typically follow a similar structure. In each episode, Zoltar and his minions come up with a new scheme to conquer the Earth, and it's up to G-Force to stop them. This often involves plenty of aerial battles, as the team pilots their spaceship, the Phoenix, into battle against Zoltar's monstrous robotic creations. As the team battles their way through each episode, they often uncover new secrets about Zoltar's true motives and origins. For instance, early in the show, we learn that Zoltar is actually a menacing alien who has infiltrated Earth's government, making him particularly dangerous. Battle of the Planets is also known for its distinctive and memorable soundtrack. The show's theme song, composed by Hoyt Curtin, is particularly iconic, and it's become a beloved piece of pop culture history in its own right. This unique soundtrack adds to the show's overall sense of adventure and excitement, making it a truly immersive viewing experience. As the eighties drew to a close, Battle of the Planets slowly faded from the public consciousness. However, it remains a beloved classic among fans of anime and sci-fi, thanks to its imaginative storytelling, memorable characters, and thrilling action sequences. Its influence can be seen in countless other shows and movies that followed in its wake, and it continues to hold up as a great example of what makes the genre so popular among fans.

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Seasons

85. The Conway Tape Tap

May 12, 1980

Spectra steals the Conway Tapes. Mark and Princess find themselves trapped on a spy ship and taken to Planet Spectra. A terrifying serpent from Planet Spectra attempts to wipe out G-Force once and for all!

84. G-Force in the Future

May 5, 1980

A scientist that has discovered a secret energy formula is escorted by Mark to scout a location in the arctic as a possible site for a Future World. It turns out to be a dangerous and mind-bending adventure into the future.

83. Strike at Spectra

April 28, 1980

G-Force stages a daring raid against Planet Spectra, only to learn that they may have fallen in a deadly trap. Jason must overcome the injury that has blurred his vision in order to save his team.

82. G-Force Defector

April 21, 1980

Jason is in near a fatal accident with a pedestrian and is unable to join G-Force, leaving them seriously disadvantaged as they face one of Zoltar' attacks. Will this be the end of Jason' career with G-Force?!

81. Rockets Out of Control

April 14, 1980

Earth launches a rocket ship to explore a distant planet, but Zoltar intervenes -- sending the rocket out of orbit and headed crashing back towards Earth! Only G-Force can stop the rocket.

80. Vacation On Venus

April 7, 1980

G-Force jets to space to the far off Planet of Venus for what seems to be a pleasant vacation. It soon turns into a dangerous mission as the team encounters Zoltar and his men.

79. Charioteers of Changu

March 31, 1980

Villainous robot Charioteers from Planet Spectra are trying to steal the secrets of Chanku. Princess is sent to the Himalayas to investigate.

78. Save the Space Colony

March 24, 1980

A space colony on the Planet Zebor is attacked by Zoltar and his men. It is suspected that Spectra attacked the colony to lure G-Force onto the planet.

77. Invasion of the Space Center, Part 2

March 17, 1980

Spectra' missiles make their mark and hit the research center, leaving Princess, Mark, and Chief Anderson trapped inside. Jason and Keyop must save them before it' too late.

76. Invasion of the Space Center, Part 1

March 10, 1980

Secret agents from Planet Spectra invade and plant an electronic targeting device in the heart of main complex for Earth. Can G-Force find the transmitter device before Zoltar launches missiles?

75. The Awesome Armadillo

March 3, 1980

Colonel Two replaces Zoltar and takes over command of Spectra, planning a new attack against G-Force. The awesome Armadillo from outer space wreaks havoc on Earth.

74. Island of Fear

February 25, 1980

Keyop investigates Witch's Island, which he suspects to be a Spectra base and incredibly close to their own. Is Center Neptune doomed, leaving Zoltar left to be master of the universe?

73. Tentacles from Space

February 18, 1980

G-Force encounters a villainous new adversary who tests their powers to the limit. Meanwhile, a beautiful spy from Planet Spectra steals a valuable formula which G-Force must recover to save the Earth.

72. Cupid Does It to Keyop

February 11, 1980

A beautiful girl has been kidnapped, and Keyop takes it upon himself to rescue her. But Keyop' affection for the girl is used as bait in a trap from the usual suspects.

71. Super Space Spies

February 4, 1980

Zoltar has set up a base on a distant planet called Paradise Island. G-Force must travel there before he and his minions attack and pollute the water reservoirs of Earth.

70. Spectra Space Spider

January 28, 1980

A giant Space Spider from Planet Spectra spins a deadly web as it attempts to conquer Earth. Will G-Force find a way to penetrate the spider' cosmic cobweb?

69. Mission to Inner Space

January 21, 1980

Spectra attacks a mining base filled with plutonium. G-Force must stop Zoltar before he drills into the Earth's core and hits magma, causing a devastating earthquake.

68. Panic of the Peacock

January 14, 1980

Leader X helps Zoltar in personally creating a superior new weapon called the Brain-Warp Device. Mecha peacocks begin using it to attack tourists. Meanwhile, Mark is kidnapped and his memory is suppressed!

67. Defector to Spectra

January 7, 1980

One of Center Neptune' most trusted agents turns out to be a defector. Will G-Force find a way to stop their "friend"from selling out to Planet Spectra?

66. The Duplicate King

December 31, 1979

G-Force flies to a distant country to protect a king and prevent his collection of jewels from getting into the hands of Zoltar. However, the palace soon turns into a terrifying trap and imposter in the king' place.

65. The Awesome Ray Force

December 24, 1979

An evil scientist that works for Zoltar creates a powerful weapon to use against G-Force. The Photon Energy Beam causes the members of G-Force to revert to their civilian clothing.

64. Peril of the Praying Mantis

December 17, 1979

Spectra has launched a new assault on Earth, and Tiny is nowhere to be found to help G-Force! The short-handed team must attempt to fend off a Giant Praying Mantis without him.

63. Museum of Mystery

December 10, 1979

Princess has lost her shoe and can't transmute. Zoltar has the shoe and is trying to replicate her. Spectra captures Princess and she' powerless without G-Force.

62. Space Safari

December 3, 1979

Spectra has established a base on Planet Lukadia, and their missiles are pointed towards Earth. G-Force shoots down Zoltar, but has the forest rigged with traps.

61. Invasion of the Locusts

November 26, 1979

Planet Spectra sends a giant swarm of deadly locusts to devour the Earth' food supply. Can G-Force combat the locusts and save the World from mass starvation?

60. The Alien Bigfoot

November 19, 1979

G-Force goes on a dangerous mission into the Himalayas to investigate reported sightings of a giant Bigfoot, but what they find could be even more dangerous.

59. Rage of the Robotoids

November 12, 1979

G-Force finds itself the unwilling victims of evil robotoids, bent upon their destruction. Will G-Force escape the terrible plot Zoltar has planned for them?

58. Peril in the Pyramids

November 5, 1979

An ancient Egyptian pyramid is stolen and transported to an alien planet. G-Force goes on a mission to unravel the mystery and recover the important monument.

57. Silent City

October 22, 1979

One of the island cities of Planet Exor is surrounded by an impenetrable wall of radiation created by a Zoltar bombing raid. Can G-Force handle the radiation?

56. Raid of the Space Octopus

October 15, 1979

Spectra is doomed unless it has Earth as a supply base. Zoltar attacks Earth's power plants with a Space Octopus, leaving G-Force' to plane malfunction.

55. The Great Brain Robbery

October 8, 1979

An evil brain creature from planet Spectra takes over the body of a robot and threatens to destroy Earth. Can G-Force find a way to stop this menacing creature?

54. Zoltar Strikes Out

October 1, 1979

A baseball stadium becomes the setting for a diabolical scheme concocted by Zoltar and his men. G-Force finds Spectra' secret base underneath the ballpark.

53. Decoys of Doom

September 24, 1979

Humanoids are made in the spitting image of G-Force as decoys to lure Spectra into a trap. Mark swaps places with his decoy and is captured by Spectra.

52. Attack of the Alien Wasp

September 17, 1979

Mark spots Col. Chronos while flying his jet, whom Mark believed to be dead, and follows him back to a secret base. Spectra's Earth headquarters is revealed.

51. Giant Space Bat

September 10, 1979

A giant space bat is on the loose and G-Force must stop it. Mark discovers an astronaut whose secret could save them all, if only he could remember.

50. Secret Island

September 3, 1979

Many planes and ships have been disappearing in the Bermuda Triangle. G-Force is sent to Shipwreck Island in the Triangle to investigate.

49. Giant from the Planet Zyr

August 27, 1979

An alien giant from Spectra steals a laser beam from a team of Earth' leading scientists because it is able to cut through its planet' indestructible metal.

48. Fastest Gun in the Galaxy

August 20, 1979

An ex-con - and excellent marksman - is recruited by planet Spectra to operate its newest weapon, a vehicle-mounted gun. G-Force goes to Spectra to investigate.

47. Mammoth Shark Menace

August 13, 1979

Remote-controlled robot sharks from planet Spectra are releasing a poisonous pollutant into the ocean and killing the entire ecosystem of fish in it.

46. Raid of the Red Scorpion

August 13, 1979

From the generator labs to the factories, Zoltar plans on destroying Earth's entire energy capabilities. G-Force must stop Scorpion Mecha from its rampage.

45. The Sky Is Falling!, Part 2

August 6, 1979

Will G-Force arrive in time to stop Zoltar from enacting his evil plan of using an X-3 missile and flooding the Earth with radiation?

44. The Sky Is Falling!, Part 1

July 30, 1979

Can Princess activate the electron neutralizer missiles in time to save G-Force from the new doomsday weapon created by Zoltar and his servile followers?

43. Peaks of the Planet Odin

July 23, 1979

Chief Alvin and his men are in cahoots with Zoltar to capture Col. Chronos and overtake the planet of Odin in return for a menacing new weapon.

42. Keyop Does It All

July 16, 1979

G-Force matches wits with the evil forces of Spectra, as they work desperately to uncover a bomb that threatens to destroy the entire Intergalactic Federation.

41. Raid On a Nearby Planet

July 9, 1979

Planet Vega has been attacked by planet Spectra. G-Force must stop Spectra' powerful Ray Machine before Spectra occupies and takes over the planet.

40. The Capture of the Galaxy Code

July 2, 1979

The entire galaxy is at stake as G-Force takes on a secret mission to ensure delivery of the central mechanism of the dynastrol computer.

39. Giant Gila Monster

June 25, 1979

Mark is separated from G-Force when the last known survivor from an alien planet eludes Earth' authorities, forcing Mark to fly on a dangerous mission.

38. Seals of Sytron

June 18, 1979

G-Force flies to the remote island of Sytron to protect the top secret fuel that is mined there. But planet Spectra has other ideas for the precious resource.

37. Raid On Riga

June 11, 1979

G-Force goes to Riga to defend it, but are badly defeated due to poor planning. Mark has lost his confidence and must regain it before it' too late.

36. Victims of the Hawk

June 4, 1979

G-Force is sent on a mission to rescue a married couple that has been kidnapped by aliens from Spectra. What has Zoltar done that makes them appear inhuman?

35. Prisoners in Space

May 28, 1979

Spectra gains control of a maximum security prison on Barracuda Island. Zoltar promises the prisoners freedom in exchange for joining Spectra.

34. The Space Rock Concert

May 21, 1979

G-Force attends a rock concert by the Dirty Name 5. Spectra kidnaps the band and comes up with an evil plan to use sound as a weapon against Earth.

33. The Fierce Flowers, Part 2

May 14, 1979

Princess is being held captive by the carnivorous flowers and they seem to be indestructible. G-Force must find a way to rescue her and destroy the flowers.

32. The Fierce Flowers, Part 1

May 7, 1979

Mysterious spores from outer space grow into giant carnivorous flowers, endangering the people of Earth. Princess gets captured by the frightening flowers.

31. Orion, the Wonder Dog of Space

April 30, 1979

Orion, the wonder dog of space, joins G-Force to combat invaders from Spectra. Can G-Force, with the help of Orion, stop Spectra from melting the North Pole?

30. Siege of the Squids

April 23, 1979

A swarm of squid destroys a cargo ship off the coast of Portugal. Spectra is suspected of being behind the attack as the ship was carrying a precious mineral.

29. Demons of the Desert

April 16, 1979

G-Force flies to the Arabian Desert to help their young friend, the Young Sheik of Abura, and are forced to defend themselves from a mysterious U.F.O.

28. Curse of the Cuttlefish Part 2

April 9, 1979

Princess and Keyop have been captured by Spectra' spies. Zoltar continues his disastrous search for the Conway Tapes as they hold the defense codes for Earth.

27. Curse of the Cuttlefish Part 1

April 2, 1979

A giant sea monster from planet Spectra attacks Earth' sister planet, Arturus. G-Force is ordered to go undercover to infiltrate the planet.

26. The Galaxy Girls

March 26, 1979

A mask-wearing woman tries to kill Jason and Chief Anderson. Could this be Zoltar' sister? And can G-Force stop her and her menacing minions?

25. The Ghostly Grasshopper

March 19, 1979

A typhoon causes mass destruction, but was "manmade."G-Force investigates the suspicious activities and a possible Zoltar connection.

24. Race Against Disaster

March 12, 1979

G-Force is on watch as Jason and his old friend, Lucy, compete in an interplanetary race starting in Africa. Will they be able to evade all of the obstacles thrown at them by Zoltar and his minions?

23. The Bat Ray Bombers

March 5, 1979

Tiny is suspended from G-Force due to falling asleep on the job. He finds out a mysterious sea monster is terrorizing the planet and tries to redeem himself by facing the threat alone.

22. The Fiery Lava Giant

February 26, 1979

A Lava Giant appears out nowhere and attacks the colonized asteroid of Space Island. G-Force must split up and use their individual vehicles to lure the Lava Giant towards the sea, or else!

21. The Musical Mummy

February 19, 1979

Three of earth's top scientists mysteriously vanish, giving G-Force a new mission to protect the remaining population of scientists left on planet Earth.

20. Magnetic Attraction

February 12, 1979

Planet Spectra unleashes its newest weapon, an enormous black ball, and none of G-Force's weapons can destroy it. They must come up with a plan to, somehow, stop it before it destroys the Earth.

19. The Sea Dragon

February 5, 1979

The diabolic planet Spectra strikes at a new defense base on planet Aquatica with a monstrous sea dragon. Can the super powers of G-Force cope with this awesome new weapon that appears indestructible?

18. Mad New Ruler of Spectra

January 29, 1979

A genius scientist, Professor Doriarity, is recruited by planet Spectra to build an army of cyborg horses in return for him being ruler of Spectra. G-Force must rescue the mad genius before the power and greed overtake him.

17. Whale Joins G-Force

January 22, 1979

Zoltar sends a mecha whale to Earth to attack Bay City, the main storage city for marine fuel. G-Force must save all the whales in the sea before are threatened with extinction by this mechanical monster.

16. The Alien Beetles

January 15, 1979

In what is Zoltar' most fiendish idea yet, he powers a swarm of giant mecha beetles from outer space by harnessing the life force of humans' energy. Four young boys, including Keyop, are captured and G-Force must save them before it' too late.

15. Microfilm Mystery

January 8, 1979

Metamorphosis 1 is created to assist 7-Zark-7 as his master computer, but Zoltar has plans to steal the machine as it has the blueprints to all of Center Neptune' computers.

14. The Thing With 1,000 Eyes

December 18, 1978

An alien presence has infiltrated the planet of Riga and G-Force must travel there to investigate. This amorphous creature with 1,000 eyes is being bred to destroy the Riga and Earth. Can G-Force stop it before it' too late?

13. Perilous Pleasure Cruise

November 11, 1978

G-Force flies to the frozen North to rescue a famous scientist who has fallen into the clutches of the evil Zoltar. There, they must battle a new and awesome weapon from planet Spectra.

12. Beast With a Sweet Tooth

December 4, 1978

A giant beetle mecha is sent from planet Spectra to eat up all of the sugar cane crops. G-Force must track down the pest before the world' supply of sugar is depleted.

11. Space Rocket Escort

November 27, 1978

G-Force must escort a new plane, called the FY-9, to the planet Riga. Can they get it safely to the planet before space pirates steal the powerful plane and use it for their own evil plot?

10. Swarm of Robot Ants

November 20, 1978

After a blackout in the city, G-Force heads out to find that a swarm of ants is attacking the Solar Fusion Plant. A new enemy is on the horizon as Commandeer Antof has struck a bargain with Zoltar, giving him Earth if he destroys G-Force.

9. Jupiter Moon Menace

November 13, 1978

In exchange for returning to his exiled planet, Commander Typhon aids Zoltar in his quest to take over the Earth by giving him a new weapon that produces meteor showers. Can G-Force stop this ultimate weapon?

8. Fearful Sea Anemone

November 6, 1978

Fearing attack from a mecha sea anemone, the team is used as bait to defend construction of a secret base somewhere in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. What will happen when Zoltar captures one of the team members?

7. Ace from Outer Space

October 30, 1978

Mark has been specially selected to test the XF-97 aircraft, but is attacked by Captain Doom's metal whip while in flight. The team heads to planet Ergos in search of the source of metal before other weapons can be constructed with it.

6. Big Robot Gold Grab

October 23, 1978

G-Force is sent out to get back all the bars of gold that Zoltar stole from the Intergalactic Federation. While searching for the stolen gold, some of the team is captured and taken to a secret Spectra base.

5. Ghost Ship from Planet Mir

October 16, 1978

Ships keep being destroyed on planet Mir as someone doesn't want a new supply station built there. G-Force gets lured into a trap by ghost ships and must figure out who is behind it all before it' too late.

4. The Space Serpent

October 9, 1978

A mysterious space serpent has begun attacking the oil refineries, causing earthquakes. Debbie is upset at Mark after he fails to save her father, Dr. Harland, from dying in an earthquake. G-Force exacts revenge for his death.

3. The Space Mummy

October 2, 1978

G-Force learns that several mysterious plane crashes have been occurring on a planet that 7-Zark-7 has discovered. Mark goes undercover and finds out that giant mummy is bringing down the planes. They must destroy the mummy before it destroys them.

2. Rescue of the Astronauts

September 25, 1978

Two astronauts are kidnapped by a submarine upon discovering the secret location of the Spectra bases. G-Force is called in to rescue them and see what they have discovered.

1. Attack of the Space Terrapin

September 18, 1978

Zoltar leads Spectra to overtake the universe by using a powerful robot collective called the Space Terrapin. The G-Force must battle these evil forces to protect the Earth's most valuable mineral, Vitalumis.

Description

The main characters are members of G-Force, a top-secret organization dedicated to defending the Earth from intergalactic threats. The team includes Mark, Jason, Princess, Keyop, and Tiny, each with their unique skills and abilities. For instance, Mark is the team leader and a skilled pilot, while Princess is a master of martial arts.

One of the show's most notable aspects is the fact that it underwent significant edits to appeal to American audiences. The show's original Japanese version, Gatchaman, was known for its violence and mature themes, which were toned down for its American release. Additionally, new names, costumes, and character designs were created for the American version, which gave it a distinct look and feel.

Despite these changes, Battle of the Planets proved to be a huge hit with American audiences. The show's popularity was helped by its all-star voice cast, which included particularly iconic voice-over actors like Casey Kasem, Janet Waldo, and Alan Young.

The show's episodes typically follow a similar structure. In each episode, Zoltar and his minions come up with a new scheme to conquer the Earth, and it's up to G-Force to stop them. This often involves plenty of aerial battles, as the team pilots their spaceship, the Phoenix, into battle against Zoltar's monstrous robotic creations.

As the team battles their way through each episode, they often uncover new secrets about Zoltar's true motives and origins. For instance, early in the show, we learn that Zoltar is actually a menacing alien who has infiltrated Earth's government, making him particularly dangerous.

Battle of the Planets is also known for its distinctive and memorable soundtrack. The show's theme song, composed by Hoyt Curtin, is particularly iconic, and it's become a beloved piece of pop culture history in its own right. This unique soundtrack adds to the show's overall sense of adventure and excitement, making it a truly immersive viewing experience.

As the eighties drew to a close, Battle of the Planets slowly faded from the public consciousness. However, it remains a beloved classic among fans of anime and sci-fi, thanks to its imaginative storytelling, memorable characters, and thrilling action sequences. Its influence can be seen in countless other shows and movies that followed in its wake, and it continues to hold up as a great example of what makes the genre so popular among fans.