These are the characters for the series Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.
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Main Cast: Science Ninja Team
Tropes common to the team:
- Color-Coded Characters: The Gatchaman team:
- Ken: White
- Joe: Red
- Jun: Pink
- Jinpei: Yellow
- Ryu: Brown
G-1 Ken Washio
Ken Washio a.k.a. G-1, Ken the Eagle, Gatchaman
Voiced by: Katsuji Mori (JP), Masaya Onosaka (JP - OAV), Leraldo Anzaldua (EN - ADV dub)
The Leader and tactical expert of the Science Ninja Team. He is the eponymous “Gatchaman” of the show’s title. The Hero. He has a strong sense of justice and is very dedicated to his duty of bringing down the Galactor organization and bringing peace to the world. He also wishes to find his lost father, who he believes to have faked his death from a supposed plane crash (rightfully so). He is a flashy fighter, and often uses elaborate techniques in his moves. His primary weapon is a bird shaped bladed boomerang. He is an accomplished pilot, and owns a Cessna plane that transforms into the G1 jet plane while on duty, serving as his personal transport.
- Ace Pilot: His skills are inherited from his father.
- Achilles in His Tent: Does this from time to time.
- Berserk Button: Ken the Eagle has daddy issues. Even in the early episodes, even guest characters' issues with their own fathers who either vanished or were killed by Galactor are guaranteed to at least shake his Standardized Leader persona. Things come to a head in the Huntwall arc where Ken goes AWOL to pursue a lead about his father, leading to a Near-Villain Victory only resolved by the sacrifice of Red Impulse, who revealed himself only at the last minute. The next episode focuses on Ken's Roaring Rampage of Revenge and how it goes wrong and alienates him from the rest of the Science Ninja Team; even after Gatchaman learns his lesson, he's far more intense and angry for the rest of the series and its sequels.
- Blue Is Heroic: He wears sky-blue gloves, boots and belt.
- Chaste Hero: He is too busy with leading his team to think about romance.
- Commander Contrarian: Often this to Dr. Nambu.
- Cool Plane: A Cessna plane that transforms into a supersonic jet. Supposedly operational underwater like the God Phoenix.
- Disappeared Dad: His father, Kentarou, abandoned him when he was young. It turns out he was going undercover as Red Impulse, and wanted to keep his son and only relative safe. And later he does die for real, just as Ken had found out who he was *and* they were starting to rekindle their relationship. This death was smoothly erased in Battle of the Planets. His father is described as having ejected at the last minute, though of course their reunion is off-screen. The whole thing is a variation on Luke, I Am Your Father, since the reveal is done by the son's comrades and its effect is positive.
- The OVA downplays the trope. In that continuity, a young Ken was briefly reunited with his father during his mother's funeral. Kentarou has to hold back his Manly Tears while explaining that his mission was too important for him to come back earlier, and soon leaves his son behind again. Ken also seems to realize who Red Impulse is after hearing his parting words to the Science Ninja Team in that episode.
- Gun Twirling: He often twirls his boomerang while fighting.
- Heroes Prefer Swords: His "Gatchafencer" sword in Gatchaman Fighter.
- The Hero: He's the main character and the eponymous Gatchaman of the series' title.
- Hilariously Abusive Childhood: Ken has a flashback about his younger days with his father which shows one scene of his dad attempting to drown him for fun.
- Mr. Fanservice: To a lesser extent than Joe, but his big blue eyes and boyish good looks score him points.
- Named Weapons: His bladed Precision-Guided Boomerang, informally called the "Bird Run/Birdrang". The blades can be extended and used in melee combat or detached by chain and used as a nunchuck.
- Official Couple: He eventually gets together with Jun towards the end of the series.
- Parental Abandonment - Parents as People: Ken's father abandoned him when he was young and his mother died of illness a few years later. He eventually reunites with his father right before his father is Killed Off for Real.
- Primary-Color Champion: His Bird Style suit is mainly white, with touches of blue and red.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Initially he's the Blue Oni to Joe's Red. Later on the roles are reversed.
- Ship Tease: With Jun.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Not afraid to do this to Dr. Nambu.
- Take Up My Sword: In the OVA. Kentarou takes the role of his subordinates in infiltrating the Galactor home base; before sacrificing himself, he asks Joe to give Ken his father's sword. Ken uses the sword during a turning point in the Science Ninja Team's battle with Katse.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: Right after his father died, until Jun called him out on it.
- Would Hit a Girl: He does this to a girl in one episode.
G-2 Joe Asakura
Joe Asakura a.k.a. G-2, Joe the Condor
Voiced by: Isao Sasaki (JP), Kouji Ishii (JP - OAV), Brian Jepson (EN - ADV dub)
The weapons and marksmanship expert of the team. The Lancer. He is driven by his desire for revenge against the Galactor organization for taking his parent’s lives and almost taking his. At his core, he is a good guy who has his teammate’s backs, even if his methods are rough. He is the most brutal fighter on the team, and quick to go on the attack. His preferred weapon is his Grappling-Hook Pistol that can fire a hook line from the front and the back. He is also the most common user of the ninja team issued feather shurikens. An excellent driver, his personal vehicle is a stock car that transforms into the G2 high powered racer.
- Anti-Hero: He has no qualms with killing Galactors in cold blood for the cause. (The others will kill too, but more out of necessity rather than satisfaction.)
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Part of his fanservice appeal.
- Back from the Dead: In Gatchaman II.
- Badass Normal In the original. Empowered Badass Normal In the sequels.
- Badass Driver: If there's a surface, he can drive on it or coast off of it. Even up the backs of Galactor mechs.
- Blue Is Heroic: He wears a dark-blue cloak and blue gloves and boots.
- But Not Too Foreign: Averted. Despite his Japanese surname, Joe is Italian (Sicilian, to be specific). That's because "Joe Asakura" is a false name to protect him from Galactor, his real name is George. Although it seems to be implied that his parents' surname was actually Asakura.
- Cartwright Curse: He had a love interest early on but unfortunately she was working for Galactor, and it didn't end well for her.
- Commander Contrarian: To Ken early on, by virtue of being a hotblooded, impulsive Lancer to him. They butted heads in a few episodes. Joe gets better, though.
- Cool Car: A stock racing car in civilian form. Transformed it has puncture proof tires and can drive on improbable surfaces.
- In the OVA, he has a Shelby Cobra that transmutes into the Goddamn Batmobile.
- Dark and Troubled Past: His parents were killed by Galactor and he himself was almost killed as well.
- Death Glare: Kubrick Stare variety.
- Depending on the Artist: While all of the characters have this to some degree with the different animation directors and artists that worked on the series, Joe's face varies between being a lot rougher-looking and craggier to it being smoother and his only harsher feature being his narrow eyes. At some point, they settled on him having a rougher look to distinguish his design more from Ken's.
- Grappling-Hook Pistol: He uses one which has a grapple from the front and a weighted one from the back. One mook found out the hard way when he pointed the barrel end of it at Joe after snatching it from him, not realizing that the triggers were switched. He got thrown across the room by it after pulling the trigger, knocking him out.
- The Gunslinger: The team's gunner and marksman. He's the one shown using guns the most and often demonstrating his Improbable Aiming Skills.
- Gun Twirling: Fond of doing this with his Grappling Gun.
- Heartbroken Badass: Often, related to his Dark and Troubled Past and his Cartwright Curse, above.
- Heroic Sacrifice: In the first series' Grand Finale.
- It's Personal: He fights Galactor because he wants to avenge his parents.
- The Lancer: The second-in-command guy, and early on is the Red Oni to Ken's Blue.
- Manly Man: To Ryu's Sensitive Guy.
- Mr. Fanservice: Unconventionally for anime, as he is rough looking.
- Exaggerated in the OVA, where his civilian wardrobe consists of an open shirt exposing his bare chest along with tight leather pants, and he has a Shower Scene. And the camera wasn't shy in regards to showing him off.
- Never Found the Body: When he dies at the end of the first series, his body is missing after the Black Hole Operation is stopped with only the boomerang Ken gave him left behind. He later is resurrected as a cyborg and comes back to the team.
- Parental Abandonment: His parents were murdered by a Galactor assassin when Joe was a child. He too was almost killed by said assassin.
- Pet the Dog: He nearly dies saving an orphaned puppy from being squished by a Galactor Mech.
- Red Oni: The Red Oni to Ken's Blue Oni early on. Later reversed, specially in the sequels as Ken becomes even more hotblooded and impulsive than Joe.
- Resignations Not Accepted: This is the reason why Joe's parents were killed. They are revealed later in the series to be former Galactors attempting to leave the organization. Galactor learned of this and sent one of their Devil Star assassins to execute the family.
- Shipper on Deck: During the finale, before his imminent death while giving his final speech to the team, he professes that Jun should settle down with Ken.
- Trigger-Happy: Joe is almost unhealthily eager to fire the God Phoenix's Bird Missiles, which Ken has to constantly restrain him from doing when they don't have authorization. In one episode, he keeps hammering the fire button well after the ship exhausted its supply until the realization that yes, we are OUT of Bird Missiles finally sinks in.
- We Can Rebuild Him: In Gatchaman II, again.
- On top of that, the front can be interchanged to fire conventional bullets or power a portable drill for cutting things.
- Also the primary user of the team-issue feather shuriken.
- Your Days Are Numbered: The injuries he receives in the series take their toll on his body and, near the end of the series, he discovers he has roughly a week to live. He then puts himself on a Suicide Mission to locate Galactor’s base and stop their threat once and for all.
G-3 Jun
Jun a.k.a. G-3, Jun the Swan
Voiced by: Kazuko Sugiyama (JP), Michiko Neya (JP - OAV), Kim Prause (EN - ADV dub)
The technical and demolitions expert of the team and the sole female member. Both The Smart Guy and The Heart. She is generally very kind, compassionate and empathetic towards others (but sometimes temperamental). She exhibits skill in mechanical and electrical engineering, along with creating/handling explosive devices. She is a graceful fighter who can easily take out the average Mook in a fight with her swift, acrobatic movements. She wields a yo-yo in combat that contains a concealed blade, and can be remotely detonated via wire signal. She is a skilled motorcyclist, and her personal bike transforms into the G3 “Sonic Car” motorcycle that can ride on water surfaces in addition to land.
- Action Girl: She can kick as much Galactor ass as her male teammates. And let's not forget she was
quite the revolutionary figure in anime gender roles, as one of the first girls who fought alongside the boys. And said boys didn't look down on her for her gender. - Badass Biker: She can pull off some rather impressive stunts on a bike.
- Boke and Tsukkomi Routine: She sometimes fall into this.
- But Not Too Foreign: Half American, half Japanese
- Cool Big Sis: When she's not acting as Jinpei's Parental Substitute
- Cool Bike: Transformed, it can ride on water surfaces even.
- Demolitions Expert: She's the team's expert on blowing stuff up.
- Girly Bruiser: Has the appearance and personality of one, along with the fighting ability.
- Kick Chick: A lot of her fighting scenes are kick based.
- Killer Yo-Yo: She uses her yo-yo which has a concealed blade and can be remotely detonated to explode.
- Ms. Fanservice: In a more conservative way mostly, but she still qualifies. Mainly due to the underwear-exposing minidress of her costume.
- Intensified in the OVA remake where her chest is dramatically enlarged and her outfits are much more revealing compared to the original. (And a naked Transformation Sequence, natch.)
- Official Couple: She gets together with Ken towards the end of the series.
- Parental Abandonment: Like Jinpei, she's an orphan.
- She-Fu: Justified as it goes along with the team's fighting style. The male characters will also use flips and cartwheels to dodge/maneuver around (even Ryu can come off as being agile).
- The Smart Girl: She is this in the book smart sense of the trope. Being the technical and demolitions expert, she is commonly shown to be tinkering with electronics and rewiring things (such as electronic panels to blow up Galactor bases) and operating the team's more complex equipment. Aside from Dr. Nambu, she is likely the most intelligent of the main cast.
- Technical Pacifist: Most adverse towards and visibly upset by killing on the team. However, even she will use lethal force on the job.
- The Smurfette Principle: She's the only female member of the team.
G-4 Jinpei
Jinpei a.k.a. G-4, Jinpei the Swallow
The youngest member of the team and the reconnaissance expert. He is Jun's adopted younger brother. He is The Smart Guy from a wiseguy standpoint and the Kid-Appeal Character. He is clever and resourceful, and has an especially strong rapport with children and animals. His young age can sometimes affect his self-confidence, and he'll go out of his way to prove himself. Due to his smaller size, Jinpei focuses on being as quick and agile as possible, even more so than his teammates. He uses bolos in battle to trip up and sabotage his adversaries. They can also be used as timed explosives. He knows how to drive and owns a small buggy that transforms into the G4, an all-terrain mini tank that is designed to operate in any environment.
- Annoying Younger Sibling: Is this towards Jun sometimes. This is reversed in the live-action film where he's more annoyed by Jun.
- Badass Adorable: Or Tagalong Kid depending on the script, but like his sister, he's usually a capable fighter.
- Battle Bolas: Bolas are Jinpei's primary weapon.
- Boke and Tsukkomi Routine: Jinpei sometimes falls into this trope, with Jun as his straightwoman.
- Friend to All Children: Mainly because he is one, but even when aged up to 12 in the sequels he still has a way with them.
- Friend to All Living Things: Has been known to bring along many an animal.
- Hover Tank: His personal ATV Buggy... thing. It can hover and function underwater transformed.
- Just a Kid: Sometimes a victim of this.
- Kid-Appeal Character: A young boy about the age of the target audience, able to hang around with his surrogate big brother Gatchaman and the rest of the team, fight Galactor mooks, make some jokes, and even get to save the hero every now and then.
- Kid Hero: He's a team member and capable in combat against Mooks despite himself being still a kid.
- Mouthy Kid: Tends to get sassy, even in the heat of battle.
- Parental Abandonment: Like Jun, he's an orphan.
- Pet Baby Wild Animal: See Friend to All Living Things above.
- Playful Hacker: The OVA made him one of these to make him more obviously useful (and it carried over into the live-action version); he even carried a Password Slot Machine.
- Plucky Comic Relief: Sometimes.
- The Smart Guy: He fills this role in the street-smart Trickster variation, being the Kid-Appeal Character. Though his sister Jun is The Heart, she is better suited to being the smart one from an intellectual standpoint.
- Wise Beyond Their Years: Somewhat. Not so much in maturity level, but the fact that he can handle various adult tasks like cooking and driving cars at age 9.
G-5 Ryu Nakanishi
Ryu Nakanishi a.k.a. G-5, Ryu the (Horned) Owl
Voiced by: Shingo Kanemoto (JP), Fumihiko Tachiki (JP - OAV), Victor Carsrud (EN - ADV dub)
The pilot of the God Phoenix, the team’s group transport, battle aircraft, and docking bay for the other G machines. The Big Guy. He is easy going and friendly, being a gentle soul in nature. He uses sumo techniques in fights that take the fullest advantage of his large amount of bulk and raw strength. He carries a Grappling-Hook Pistol that is smaller than Joe’s, but prefers to use his body as a weapon. The God Phoenix doubles as his personal transport when not combined with the other G machines.
- Acrofatic: Has quite the body mass, but it never stops him from being as agile as his teammates when needed.
- Adaptational Attractiveness: In the film instead of being fat and shaggy-looking He looks like this.
◊ - Berserk Button: He doesn't take kindly to giant cockroach monsters messing with his sweets.
- Big Eater
- Big Guy, Little Guy: Ryu often has this kind of dynamic with Jinpei.
- The Big Guy: While not being as aggressive in combat as Joe, Ryu is the one who uses more physical strength and his body's weight in battle.
- Cool Plane: The God Phoenix doubles as his personal vehicle when not combined with the other vehicles. It can operate underwater or in near space.
- Dumb Muscle: Sort of. He's quite a good pilot, but otherwise he's Book Dumb.
- Farm Boy: Hails from a rural fishing area and speaks with a Japanese country accent.
- Friend to All Living Things
- Gentle Giant: Well, not much of a giant, but he's the bulkiest member in the team by far, and still a gentle soul.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: Every now and then, especially in episode 26.
- I Just Want to Be Normal: Tries to quit a few times due to feeling he's too inadequate to be on the team. They end up being Ten Minute Retirements.
- Parental Abandonment: Averted, since he's eventually the only one on the team with a living family consisting of a father and a kid brother. In fact, his friends hesitate more than once to involve him openly in risky missions because he has a dad and a brother to come back to.
- Sensitive Guy: To Joe's Manly Man.
- Stout Strength
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Sorta.
- Wrestler in All of Us: On the few occasions that Ryu gets into a fistfight, he often uses wrestling throws and sumo-inspired techniques against Galactor mooks.
Supporting Cast
Dr. Kozaburo Nambu
Dr. Kozaburo Nambu
Voiced by: Tōru Ōhira (JP), Ikuya Sawaki (JP - OAV), Andy McAvin (EN - ADV dub)
He is the Head Scientist for the International Science Organization (ISO) and the one who assembled the Science Ninja Team. The Mentor. He raised most of the team members and gave them their training. The team takes orders from him and he supports them by researching solutions to whatever issues they face. The Science Ninja Team is initially headquartered at his mansion until their underwater Crescent Coral base is completed, which Dr. Nambu oversees.
- Confirmed Bachelor: Jinzo Toriuyumi's Gatchaman novels confirm this (no pun intended). The novels suggest that despite his obviously high intelligence, he is not very confident around women. In Gatchaman II, the team notices how he acts around his new assistant, Dr. Sylvie Pandora, suggesting that he is very attracted to her. Although, nothing romantic between them ever happens onscreen.
- Killed Off for Real: In Gatchaman Fighter.
- Omnidisciplinary Scientist: An expert in anything science-related, from nuclear physics, to robotics, to biology. He developed the Ninja Team's tactics and equipment before the series roll, and through the series, at times he still uses his tactical acumen and scientific prowess to help the team counter Galactor's threats.
- The Mentor: He's the guy who raised all the Ninja Team's members from childhood and trained them for battle.
- Mission Control: He doesn't take an active role in combat, but he tasks the Ninja Team with their missions and they answer directly to him.
- The Professor: Extremely smart and knowledgeable in multiple areas of science. Any solutions to troubles with Galactor that he doesn't already know, he will research and find them, without fail.
- Team Dad: In spite of Nambu acting serious and stern towards the Ninja Team, and they being basically special ops soldiers to fight the battles he himself cannot fight, it's shown that he cares a great deal for the team's members as if they were his actual children. It's not without personal regret that he sends them to battle Galactor in each mission.
Director Anderson
Director Anderson
Voiced by: Teiji Oomiya (JP), Yonehiko Kitagawa (JP- OAV), Marty Fleck (EN - ADV dub)
The head of the International Science Organization and the person Dr. Nambu answers to. He is the only other man who can give the Science Ninja Team orders. The Big Good. His role in the show is greatly reduced compared to Dr. Nambu's. He only really gets involved with the team's affairs when his life or the ISO is in immediate danger, or Dr. Nambu is otherwise unavailable.
- Big Good: The man in charge of the International Science Organization, the de facto force for good in the series and the commander and benefactor for Dr. Nambu and the Science Ninja Team.
- Da Chief: Although Nambu rarely has to justify antics caused by himself or his team, Anderson takes this role to him.
- Killed Off for Real: By the end of Gatchaman II. Nambu takes his place in Gatchaman Fighter.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Anderson is aware of the threat of Galactor, and accepts what Dr. Nambu and the Science Ninja Team need to do in order to fight them.
Red Impulse
Red Impulse a.k.a. Kentaro Washio
Voiced by: Hisayoshi Yoshizawa (JP), Unshō Ishizuka (JP- OAV), John Tyson (EN - ADV dub)
He is the mysterious leader of the fighter squadron that bears his name. In reality he is Ken's father, who has been working undercover for several years.. The Sixth Ranger. His team is a called upon to work with the Science Ninja Team in dealing with certain Galactor schemes. Red Impulse flies with two subordinates, Masaki, and the mute Oniishi.
- Ace Pilot: After all, Ken's skill was inherited from him. He can still outfly (and outfight) Ken and teach him a few lessons.
- Back for the Dead: Red Impulse’s men Onishi and Masaki come back for the finale having infiltrated Galactor and led the heroes to the villain base in the Himalayas only to be brutally shot dead in the opening moments of the team’s siege on the base.
- Char Clone: Inverted. Red Impulse predated the Trope Namer. Red Impulse is an example of the "Mentor" version of this trope, an ace pilot with a concealing mask and a custom red fighter plane, who is able to rival Gatchaman and the rest of the Science Ninja Team without their toys, who Ken starts to see as a rival. And, of course, he's secretly Ken's long lost father.
- Cool Plane: The Red Impulse squad pilot red/white trimmed, sleek looking planes to great effect.
- Get A Hold Of Yourself Man - He delivers percussive therapy to a traumatized Ken in the Jigokiller arc.
- Hero Secret Service - The Red Impulse squadron specializes in pulling the Science Ninja Team's fat out of the fire when necessary; their first appearance in the TV series is coming to the rescue the first time Joe uses all of the Bird Missiles. In the OVA, it's pointed out that they fill in the gaps that even elite but small teams like the Science Ninja Team can't handle alone, when half of the army of Galactor mooks surrounding the team during an ambush reveal themselves as Red Impulse's men — the good counterpart of Galactor's Blackbirds — who had been undercover.
- Mauve Shirt - Red Impulse's two subordinates, Onishi and Masaki. Both manage to outlive their commander and resurface at the tail end of the series to help out the Science Ninja Team (Joe in particular). Unfortunately they are also brought back to be brutally killed off, as if the show was tying up loose ends.
- The Mole: At the end of the series, his subordinates have infiltrated Galactor disguised as ordinary goons and convince Katse to let them have the captured and dying Joe’s equipment under the pretense of keeping them as souvenirs. They then fix Joe’s communicator and tip the Science Ninja Team off to where Galactor HQ is.
Villains
Berg Katse
Berg Katse
- Voiced by: Mikio Terashima (JP), Kaneto Shiozawa (JP - OAV), Yo Kitazawa (JP - Tatsunoko Fight), Hiroko Mori (female Katse, JP- episode 31), Toshiko Sawada (JP- episodes 32-33, 46, 70), Aiko Konoshima (JP- episode 102), (Ai Orikasa (JP - OAV), Edwin Neal (EN - ADV dub), Laurie Gallardo (female Katse, EN- ADV dub, episodes 31-33, 70, 102), Kira Vincent-Davis (ADV episode 46), Claire Hamilton (EN- OAV)
The masked head of the criminal organization Galactor. He is very keen on his own self interests, and will betray even his own subordinates for self preservation and to achieve his goals. He was promised to be the ruler of the Earth once it is subjugated by Galactor, and eagerly strives for day it will happen. His specialty is disguises and he will often impersonate important figures in his schemes.
- Adaptational Badass: In the OVA series, he can now fly and fire electricity from his hands, as well as being able to control minds and teleport, making him even more of a force to be reckoned with.
- Adaptational Jerkass: Downplayed, but easy to notice. In the OVA, Katse lacks the tragic backstory he has in the original anime and also this time around, Katse is not only well aware that Sosai X is planning to destroy the earth, but is also more than happy to be sacrificial pawn to help Sosai X do so. This is a big contrast to the original series where Katse is unaware that Sosai X is using him to destroy the earth has been duped into thinking that Sosai X wants to help him rule it, and falls into despair and kills himself when Sosai reveals he had been using him all along.
- Alas, Poor Villain: He falls into despair after Sosai X reveals he had been using Katse to destroy the earth and had lied to him about promising him he'll be the ruler of the earth and abandons him, also causing Katse to commit suicide by jumping in a lava pit. It's also implied that Katse looked up to Sosai as a father figure since he had no one else to look up to. Regardless of one's opinion of Berg Katse, it's still hard not to feel sorry for him.
- Animal Motifs: His mask has two pointy cat-like ears, and his name "Berg Katse" is german for Mountain Cat. In the OVA, he even has cat-like fangs.
- Bad Boss: Like Sosai X, Katse will often execute his henchmen or send them to hard labor if they either fail him or outlive their usefulness to him, or just annoy him in some way.
- Bad People Abuse Animals: He's not above testing super weapons on animals.
- Bowdlerize: In G-Force, female!Katse calls herself "a loyal follower of Galactor" when confronted. In Battle of the Planets, the female commander was first dubbed as "Zoltar's sister, Mala", called "Agent S-9" in two other episodes, and then was called "Mala" again. Neither dub made it as far as Katse's official unmasking, where him and the female commander were revealed to be one and the same.
- Big Bad Wannabe: Katse thinks of himself as the new ruler of the world, not realizing that he's just a puppet being used by Sosai X. In addition to that, he isn't skilled enough to win a one-on-one fight with Gatchaman and often loses due to being so physically weak and quite often runs away while leaving his men to do the dirty work.
- However, he Averts this in the OVA where he has superpowers such as mind-control, flying and firing electricity from his hands, making him more of a threat than he was in the original series.
- Chekhov's Gunwoman: Who would've thought that the Dark Action Girl who led the "Devil Star" squad was, well, Katse themself?
- Composite Character: In the live action movie, the female half of Berg Katse is created from The Lost Lenore.
- The Dragon: He's Sosai X's second-in-command.
- Driven to Suicide: When Katse learns that everything they are, everything they believed in, was all a lie so they would do Sosai's will, they can't take it and throw themself into the lava pool Sosai left behind as he escaped Earth's pending destruction.
- Dude Looks Like a Lady: He can even turn himself into one.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: He's loyal to Sosai X to a fault, and even looks up to him like a father figure. Ironically, it turns out Sosai X himself sees Katse in a similar fashion to how Katse sees his subordinates: pawns to be manipulated and discarded if beneficial to himself.
- Evil Laugh - A very distinctive staccato-like laugh.
- Faux Affably Evil: Katse can be rather polite and charismatic, though only when it suits him.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: Deliberately and chillingly invoked by Sosai X. By mutating Berg Katse in the womb, he assured that Katse would always be hiding, always moving, always frightened of trusting others. Then Sosai scooped them up and turned them into the leader of Galactor, a powerful terrorist organization already in control of some countries and with an eye on world domination.
- Inconsistent Spelling: His name is mostly spelled "Berg Katse", but sometimes it's seen as the more German "Berg Katze".
- Jerkass: Big time. The series repeatedly shows Katse to be little more than a callous, sadistic and ruthless scumbag with virtually no sympathetic qualities.
- Jerk Justifications: He will often use social darwinism as an excuse for all of his misdeeds.
- Karmic Death: Katse spends the entire series treating everyone as pawns to be abused and discarded once convenient. Once it's revealed Sosai X was manipulating Katse in a similar fashion, the poor villain falls immediately into despair at the thought and jumps into a lava pit wishing death on everyone.
- Master of Disguise: One of his main and notable abilities, besides switching genders.
- Noble Womans Laugh: Does this often in the video game Tatsunoko Fight whenever he wins a fight.
- Obviously Evil: At first glance, it's very easy to tell Katse is bad news, just by looking at his cape and mask.
- The Reveal: Near the end of the first season finale we find out his true identity as a mutant who can shapeshift genders at will. Nambu finds s/he has an IQ of 280, not because of being that smart, but because s/he has two intellects at the same time. Long before the reveal, Katse's female form is unknowingly seen several times throughout the series, most notably as the captain of Galactor's all-female "Devil Star" assassin squad.
- Sex Shifter: He's eventually revealed to be a mutant that can switch genders more or less at will. This is foreshadowed and hinted at with the mysterious female Galactor commander having a very close connection to him.
- Sissy Villain: Effeminate personality? check. Wears lipstick? check. Looks like a lady? check. Has the ability to turn himself into a lady? check.
- The Sociopath: And how. He sees compassion and altruism as weaknesses, he sees his own henchmen as tools to be used and disposed of and doesn't really care about anyone except Sosai X.
- Villain: Exit, Stage Left: Whenever he fights Gatchaman directly and loses, he decides to run off.
- Villainous Breakdown: After realizing X's deceit during the final episode of the first series, Katse is then Driven to Suicide and jumps into a lava pit.
- Voice of the Legion: In the ADV Films dub of the OVAs, Katse starts speaking with both his male and female voice actors in unison once he's unmasked during the final episode, each voice fading in and out in turn.
Sosai (Leader) X
Sosai (Leader) X
- Voiced by: Nobuo Tanaka (JP), Winston Parish (EN - ADV dub), Charles Campbell (EN- OAV)
- 2D Visuals, 3D Effects: The OVA had X represented by a bizarre piece of computer-generated art, reportedly included because
one of the producers liked it after seeing it elsewhere. - Aliens Are Bastards: Easily the biggest bastard in the series.
- Big Bad: The main antagonist of the series.
- Entitled Bastard: Even after executing Gel Sadra's mother, he still has the nerve to expect her to do his bidding.
- Evil Is Petty: Once he discovers that his home planet has been destroyed and his mission on Earth is now pointless, he shifts the objective of the Black Hole Operation from using it as leverage to force world conquest into simply destroying Earth outright out of pure spite.
- Hate Sink: He is devoid of any sympathetic qualities and his actions are meant to highlight just how despicable he is.
- Kick the Dog: He abandons Berg Katse at the end of season 1 after he outlived his usefulness to him, causing Berg Katse to commit suicide. And in season 2, he executes Gel Sadra's mother, Dr Pandora.
- The Sociopath: He sees humans, including his own subordinates, as nothing but tools for his agenda. He kills them when they've outlived their usefulness to him, and he has no understanding of love or compassion.
Galactor Soldiers
They are the work horses of the Galactor organization and make up the vast majority of its army. The Mooks. They are dressed in the same masked green outfits, though some higher-ranked soldiers wear different colors. They are largely made up of degenerate men that were recruited from prisons and slums throughout the world. They are primarily armed with machine guns, but some use knives and shield weapons. Most of the time, they are cannon fodder for the Science Ninja Team, since their teamwork is very poor and their accuracy when firing is low.
- Cannon Fodder: The Science Ninja Team disposes of them in their battles.
- Faceless Goons: They don't have faces since they're generic lackeys.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: They try to do this when things get bad. Katse usually denies them the chance if possible.
Galactor Commanders
They are the leaders of the Mooks who report directly to Katse. The Mook Lieutenants. They are normally dressed in outrageous costumes in line with the theme of the Mecha of the Week Galactor sends out to antagonize the public with. They are almost always killed off by the end of their featured episode, only to be replaced by a new one in the following episode.
- Animal Motifs: Since most Galactor mecha are designed after animals, and the commanders pattern their outfits after the mecha, most end up dress up like humanoid animals.
- Highly-Conspicuous Uniform: Even more so than the regular Mooks.
- Last Stand: Sometimes they may get a chance to do this after failure.
- You Have Failed Me: They are killed when they fail in their mission to kill the Science Ninja Team.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: If they aren't killed in battle with the Science Ninja Team beforehand, Katse ends up invoking this trope on them.
Blackbirds
They are Elite Mooks who were formed with the specific purpose of countering the Science Ninja Team and are dressed in similar outfits. They pose a slightly larger threat than the normal soldiers and have better teamwork, but ultimately don't give the team that much more trouble. They use either machine guns or claws in battle.
- Early-Bird Cameo: The OVA has a group of Blackbirds ready to challenge the Science Ninja Team during their first mission.
- Elite Mooks: A mook-grade Evil Counterpart to the Science Ninja Team, bringing ninja trickery, treachery, and tropes into the fray to provide more of a challenge.
- Gang of Hats: One episode deals with a subdivision of biker gang Blackbirds, led by a man Jun had a past with.
- Motorcycle Dominoes: Jun does this to a group of bike riding Blackbirds when they taunt her.
- Slice-and-Dice Swordsmanship: This is especially emphasized to be their fighting style in the OVA.
Devil Stars
- Voiced by: Keiko Sakon (Devil Star 2, JP), Samantha Inoue Harte (Devil Star 2, EN - ADV dub)
The all-female assassin squad of Galactor. Elite Mooks who are the most dangerous among Galactor's ranks. Compared to the others, they are lesser in number. They work alone or in small groups, and are dispatched to target specific individuals. One was responsible for killing Joe's parents (and almost killing him). They travel in cars that can convert into flying machines and are headquartered in the "Devil Star" flying base where their machines dock. Their most common weapon is rose explosives, but they also carry lipstick and fingernail bombs, along with machine guns. They are commanded by the Onna Tachio (Female Captain), who is really Katse in female form.
- Amazon Brigade: They're a squad of female Galactor assassins.
- Dark Action Girls: Again, a Galactor unit of highly trained female hitwomen soldiers. They are among the most dangerous enemies in the organization and their leader is none other than Katse himself in his female form.
- Elite Mooks: Much more dangerous than standard Galactor mooks and possibly even the Blackbirds.
- Flying Car: Their transports
- Improbable Weapon User: Women's fashion accessories that double as explosives
- Professional Killer: Highly trained assassins. One of their ranks killed Joe's parents.
- Punch-Clock Villain: One episode has Joe meet up with a potential love interest on the race track who turns out to be working as Devil Star #2 because her parents worked for Galactor. They end up in a showdown on their respective duties and Joe unknowingly ends up killing her, saddened afterward when she doesn't show for the race they arranged to have earlier. To make it even more tragic, later in the series Joe learns that the girl not only was a Devil Star but was also his childhood friend's fiancée... and said friend wants revenge on the Science Ninja Team member who killed her.
- Something about a Rose: Their main killing weapons are rose bombs.
