Force Five
Encyclopedia
Force Five was a syndicated
anime
cartoon
anthology during the late 1970s/early 1980s. In the US, this series was primarily shown only in New England and Virginia, though it did make brief appearances in other markets, such as Dallas, Texas and San Jose, California
on KICU-TV 36
. It was also shown in Toronto, Canada on CFMT channel 47
. It was produced by Jim Terry and his company American Way, and consisted of five imported Japanese giant robot serials (originally produced in the mid-1970s by Toei Animation
) in response to the popularity of the Shogun Warriors toy collection (in fact, Mattel
was one of the sponsors). Over 156 segments had English dialog written for the series by a team led by Mike Haller and Lynn Garrison
. These elements were the first attempt to market the Transformer concept but did not succeed. The Transformer success in 2010-2011 is basically an expanded production of the same themes.
In an anthology style, the five shows were broadcast simultaneously with one episode of each serial assigned a specific weekday. Additionally, all of the shows were edited into two hour movies and marketed on video tape by Family Home Entertainment. In the UK the video company Krypton Force released several of these cartoons, but under different series titles.
Force Five consisted of the following five series:
Great Mazinger
was supposed to be among the five shows, but the deal to pick up the series fell through, so Starzinger (Spaceketeers) was picked up instead of this. Gaiking
s instrumental version of its theme song was actually re-used to be the ending song for the series, rather than using an original song.
However when the series was aired in the early nineties in India on the channel Star Plus
(when it was still an English language channel) the order was slightly different:
In the Philippines on Star TV
, the order was:
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
anthology during the late 1970s/early 1980s. In the US, this series was primarily shown only in New England and Virginia, though it did make brief appearances in other markets, such as Dallas, Texas and San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
on KICU-TV 36
KICU-TV
KICU-TV, known as TV36, is an independent television station in the San Francisco Bay Area market. It shares its broadcast facility with sister station KTVU in Oakland but it is licensed to San Jose, where KICU was formerly located. It is owned by Cox Enterprises. It runs an independent schedule...
. It was also shown in Toronto, Canada on CFMT channel 47
CFMT-TV
CFMT-DT, channel 47, is a television station based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with rebroadcasters in Ottawa and London. The station broadcasts multicultural programming targeting European and Latin American communities throughout Southern Ontario. Part of the Omni Television group of stations...
. It was produced by Jim Terry and his company American Way, and consisted of five imported Japanese giant robot serials (originally produced in the mid-1970s by Toei Animation
Toei Animation
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
) in response to the popularity of the Shogun Warriors toy collection (in fact, Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
was one of the sponsors). Over 156 segments had English dialog written for the series by a team led by Mike Haller and Lynn Garrison
Lynn Garrison
Lynn Garrison is a Canadian pilot and political adviser. He was an RCAF fighter pilot from the 403 City of Calgary Squadron, commercial pilot, film producer, director and mercenary...
. These elements were the first attempt to market the Transformer concept but did not succeed. The Transformer success in 2010-2011 is basically an expanded production of the same themes.
In an anthology style, the five shows were broadcast simultaneously with one episode of each serial assigned a specific weekday. Additionally, all of the shows were edited into two hour movies and marketed on video tape by Family Home Entertainment. In the UK the video company Krypton Force released several of these cartoons, but under different series titles.
Force Five consisted of the following five series:
- GaikingGaikingwas a Japanese Super Robot mecha anime series produced by Toei Animation.It ran from April 1976 through January 1977 and consisted of 44 26-minute episodes. Gaiking was notable for being one of the few super robot series to take place in real places outside of Japan, and for being the first Super...
- Dangard Ace (Planetary Robot Dangard AceWakusei Robo Danguard Aceis a Japanese science fiction anime series created by Leiji Matsumoto with Dan Kobayashi. It was licensed by Jim Terry Productions as part of the Force Five promotion as simply "Danguard Ace"...
) - Starvengers (Getter Robo GGetter Robo Gis a super robot anime series created by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa and produced by Toei Animation. This direct sequel to Getter Robo was broadcast on Fuji TV from May 15, 1975 to March 25, 1976, with a total of 39 episodes .People familiar with Mattel's popular Shogun Warriors toy...
) - Grandizer (UFO Robot GrendizerGrendizeris a super robot TV anime and manga created by manga artist Go Nagai. It is the third entry in the Mazinger trilogy. It was broadcasted on Japanese television from October 5, 1975, to February 27, 1977, and lasted 74 episodes...
) - Spaceketeers (StarzingerStarzingeris an anime series aired in Japan from 1978 to 1979. It translates literally to "Science Fiction Journey to the West Starzinger". In the United States it is referred to as Spaceketeers and is part of Jim Terry's Force Five series...
)
Great Mazinger
Great Mazinger
is a manga comic book and anime television series by manga artist Go Nagai, made as a direct continuation of the successful Mazinger Z series...
was supposed to be among the five shows, but the deal to pick up the series fell through, so Starzinger (Spaceketeers) was picked up instead of this. Gaiking
Gaiking
was a Japanese Super Robot mecha anime series produced by Toei Animation.It ran from April 1976 through January 1977 and consisted of 44 26-minute episodes. Gaiking was notable for being one of the few super robot series to take place in real places outside of Japan, and for being the first Super...
s instrumental version of its theme song was actually re-used to be the ending song for the series, rather than using an original song.
Airing dates
The regular airing dates for the different series were:- Dangard Ace aired on Mondays
- The Starvengers aired on Tuesdays
- The Spaceketeers aired on Wednesdays
- Grandizer aired on Thursdays
- Gaiking aired on Fridays
However when the series was aired in the early nineties in India on the channel Star Plus
STAR Plus
STAR Plus is a Hindi language general entertainment television channel based in India. The channel is part of the STAR TV network's bouquet of channels...
(when it was still an English language channel) the order was slightly different:
- Dangard Ace aired on Mondays
- The Starvengers aired on Tuesdays
- The Spacekeeters aired on Wednesdays
- Gaiking aired on Thursdays
- Grandizer aired on Fridays
In the Philippines on Star TV
Star TV
Star TV is a Turkish nationwide TV channel. It was owned by Cem Uzan until it was sold to Aydın Doğan for 306,5 million USD in 2005 by the Turkish Government.It is available online on JumpTV, the World's online television network.- History :...
, the order was:
- Gaiking aired on Mondays
- Dangard Ace aired on Tuesdays
- The Starvengers aired on Wednesdays
- Grandizer aired on Thursdays
- The Spacekeeters aired on Fridays