I'm such a loser!
Leader, my ass!
I left my subordinates behind and turned tail...
I'm the worst...
All right, that's enough.
Don't blame yourself so much.
Everyone knows well enough
that you're no leader, Pai-Pai.
OD...
Just kidding.
Hey, OD...
Hmm?
Do you like this planet?
Where'd that come from?
I sometimes wonder if I can protect this planet...
If I can sacrifice my life when the time comes.
Well, let's get going.
Thanks for always being there...
Take it easy today.
Thank you.
Don't push yourself too much.
If you save someone's life, your own life will—
That's fine.
What?
It makes me happy.
I don't have to be so bluetsutsu, so it's fine.
I see.
You've changed, Utsutsu.
You'll be fine, even if I'm gone.
Why are you saying that?
Just kidding around.
Utsutsu
Just kidding...
C'mon.
Everyone's way too down.
I know!
Why don't we play a card game?
Where's Utsutsu?
She's totally fine.
She had another helping of porridge.
I see.
Man, I'm pathetic...
Like I said...
you're all way too down!
I know!
Let's play Sevens.
All right!
Good mornin'!
Whoa!
I've been waiting for you, Hajime!
Take a look around!
I've been feeling like I'm at a wake, or the night before Earth's destruction.
Come on, ev'ryone!
Now ain't th' time to be so glum!
Katze is just 'round the corner!
I know.
But what should we do?
It's unbelievably powerful.
It destroyed OD's planet,
and it cost our leader his close friend.
Yeah, but Katze ain't gonna stop.
I mean, Katze is havin' fun!
No one havin' fun would stop what they're doin' just because someone asked, right?
I get it.
When I knit and stuff, I sometimes knit till dawn!
I can't stop at all!
So what?
So
we can't stop either!
S-So what?
So, everyone, are ya ready?
We, the Gatchaman, need to show ourselves!
What?
All right! We got us a plan!
A plan, a plan, a plan!
We...
We what?!
W-Wait, Newbie!
Revealing ourselves to the public?
We must first report to the council for such an important matter!
Gatcha, Gatcha, Gatchaman!
You're right.
When people are having fun, no one can stop them.
Gatcha, Gatcha, Gatcha, Gatcha, Gatchaman!
Yesterday evening, over fifty people across the nation lost consciousness and needed to be hospitalized.
Those affected were males and females from an eight year old to those in their sixties.
It is unclear whether there are any connections between the victims, but one common factor has emerged:
the victims were all accessing the social network service, GALAX, via cell phone or computer.
Doesn't it sound like GALAX isn't safe?
The police have announced they will investigate the possibility that GALAX is somehow involved.
Yeah. Maybe I'll quit using it!
Who's that? Could it be the assailant?
Next, we...
Don't stare. Let's get outta here.
Oh, sorry.
Why hello there.
I'm wondering if I should strike again.
Get everyone with this.
You can't be serious!
There you go using it again, Rui-Rui!
Snap!
All right, your revolution's over.
Was it fun to play the hero?
Now, it's my turn.
Just you watch.
I'll make the world update.
Thanks.
Confirm biometrics.
Error.
Ninomiya Rui is currently logged in.
Got your friend!
X, please respond.
X!
I'm Rui...
Fly amaze it crore vavry rough
Spin up and know feel in brender lonely
Estrad and me under graven me on the starnet
Write the mean destroy baby rat stay up and no fear
Into end aloud these sir prize on me
Unders heavenly on the clone it
The world your word is
We are not alone
Don't let your fear hold you back
We're all like birds
Have to fight and go the distance
Listen to this sound
You go there
I'll fly away
The world your word is
We are not alone
We all are sometimes strong, sometimes weak
We're like birds
Have to fight and go the distance
My emotions are free now
They call me from far away, telling me to go
Crowds are calling my name
The one running GALAX is a coward named LOAD. He gave us the paranormal powers called CROWDS, but in the end, he's keeping it all to himself.
That coward, LOAD...
Keeping CROWDS all to himself...
We should smash this country, but all we do is help people, save people, help people. There's no way we can update the world like that!
You can't change the world without bloodshed...
You can't change the world without bloodshed! Stop freaking out over the dead sleep incidents, and give us our powers back!
Give my power back!
It was such a great chance to change everything too...
Damn bastard!
Daddy!
You're not going to work?
Oh, we suddenly got a day off.
But don't tell Mommy, okay?
Okay, got it!
See you!
I'm finished.
My life is over.
Preschool?!
That's right!
Th' first step in my Gatchaman PR Campaign Strategy is a preschool visit!
No way, Newbie!
Why do we have to go to a preschool?!
Baracchi jus' happened to be goin' there fer a disaster drill today,
so I was able to schedule a spot!
"Baracchi"?
A fire chief who is one of her collage buddies.
Oh, really?
Is he hot?
I definitely object!
I hate human kids!
You wouldn't find life forms who are more barbaric and violent than them in the entire galaxy!
I'm not going, either.
What good will come from a weak "hero" like me going out there in public, anyway?
It's stupid.
Why not just give it a try?
Oh?
Hajime, it seems you have another ally!
Well, it's not like I understand why it has to be a preschool,
but it's better than giving up and doing nothing.
Have it your way.
Well, let's get right on it then!
Staying underground forever will make us moldy!
You have to get some sunshine sometimes!
I'm not going!
I will not go!
Okay, everyone!
All together now!
Gatchaman!
Hiya!
We're the Gatchaman!
Nice to meet ya!
What? They're the Gatchaman?
They're normal people.
I can be one too.
There's a really tall queen.
Hey, Newbie.
Did you call in the press?
This's a PR campaign, so 'course I did.
It seems like a live broadcast too!
Hey, you should've told us, Hajime.
Are you doing okay?
I'm fine. What about you?
I'm fine now.
Thanks for yesterday.
Umm, we're here to talk to you about somethin' today!
Excuse me, but can you let us film your transformation first?
Why did you suddenly show yourselves after refusing press coverage for so long?
Why did you pick this preschool?
Hey, stop pushing!
We were here first.
Hey, bring the camera over now.
You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
Who's acting more childish here?
No kiddin'!
Baracchi is way too cool.
Well, we need you to transform first.
We're not here just for fun and games.
I mean, are you people even the real deal?
Why would you reveal yourself at a preschool in a suburb of all places?
You wouldn't happen to be putting on a superhero show using look-alikes, would you?
Go, Bird!
And what about you, Sugane?
Huh? Me?
Go, Bird!
Are you getting this?! Get this on tape!
Wow! Amazing!
How did you transform?
Sorry, we didn't catch your transformation on film! Can you do it again?
Hey, out of the way, kids!
Hey!
Let's all play nice, people!
Yeah!
Oh, I guess we've now met each other!
It looks like that one's the strongest.
Yeah.
That concludes our food travelogue of Manpuku Avenue.
Next, a live coverage!
What should I do?
I've lost both X and CROWDS...
How would I...
Urgent News Broadcast
The Gatchaman Have Appeared!
The Gatchaman have appeared!
We're reporting live from the field!
What?!
So until now, the Gatchaman have been secretly capturing and neutralizing aliens?
You've got it.
Hey, don't touch my boobs.
So you said you had something you wanted to talk about earlier?
Oh, I'd forgotten about that!
I met this person called Berg-Katze yesterday!
Berg-what? Please say it again.
It's Berg-Katze.
It's a hella mysterious alien.
You can't see what it looks like very clearly,
and it asks you riddles out of the blue.
Oh, do ya know the answer to this one?
What's the sweetest, tastiest thing every human being loves?
Er, uh, well...
Who knows, right?
Chocolate!
Ice cream!
Honey!
And what about this Berg-Katze?
I think it'll start somethin' up again.
And when it does, it'll be a huge crisis.
So I want everyone to be careful!
That's all I wanted to say.
An alien is coming!
Wow...
Are the Gatchaman going to fight it?
Umm, how can we be careful, specifically?
I dunno yet!
LOAD!
What?
If yer watchin' this, come here as soon as you can!
I think we'll be needin' you in the future!
You've surprised me by going out into the open, Hajime.
Okay, I see.
I guess you're not stupid,
but in the end, you'll still be humiliated!
Hey, X.
Yes?
Hey, X.
Do you think the Rui-Rui who's all depressed over there will go to the preschool?
I do not understand your question.
"Rui-Rui," or Ninomiya Rui, is you.
Oh, right!
Sorry, sorry!
Are you going to the preschool?
Umm, that's not a bad idea,
but I have a different task to do.
It's true!
Gatchaman are here!
Gotta send a pic on my phone!
No, not without permission.
Oh, Baracchi!
They can totally send photos!
Oh, really?
Who gave permission, Newbie?!
Hey, kid! Put me down!
Gatcha!
The Gatchaman have suddenly appeared at a preschool in Tachikawa City.
They transformed in front of the camera, proving their existence was real.
Ichinose Hajime, who's shown herself to be a leader figure,
also made a warning that a terrifying alien named Berg-Katze is coming and that there will be a crisis.
They say Gatchaman are real.
It can't be true, right?
Maybe the press is in on it somehow?
What's this "Berg-Katze" about?
Is Earth finally coming to an end?
But GALAX isn't that safe either, lately.
Maybe we're better off depending on heroes.
I was serious about trying to change this country.
I even took time off from work to help people.
And this is what I get?
I've got a family, you know.
Do you know how much mortgage we still have to pay off?
No one this old can find a job!
It's all GALAX's fault.
How are you gonna make it up to me for ruining my life?
Upon being informed about the Gatchaman incident,
Prime Minister Sugayama made the following statement:
"I have not received any information."
Gatchaman Appear at a Tachikawa Preschool
"Until it is verified, I am not obligated to respond."
C'mon.
What?
He's totally passed out.
How long is this rotten world gonna keep going?
I can't stand it anymore.
This country's gotta go down in flames first.
You and I are in agreement,
Umeda.
You're...
It's been a while.
I'm LOAD.
Well, I should tell you my real name.
I am Ninomiya Rui.
What do you want now, you spineless coward?
It's because you're dicking around that the world never changes!
I've found that less than twenty percent currently possess sufficiently heightened levels of self-initiative.
Huh?
As things stand,
I must admit that achieving the bloodless revolution of my goals is difficult in the extreme.
That's what I've been saying from the start!
Umeda.
I need your help.
Are you being serious?
I am.
Now is the time to put ourselves out there in public.
Umeda.
Please be the one to lead
the Neo Hundred.
I have made adjustments to CROWDS in order to improve their safety.
It will be fine.
I'll protect you if there is a need.
Umeda.
My dear comrade-in-arms,
let us remake this country together.
Just kidding!
The king of a faraway land went to a large forest...
Let me have it too!
Me too!
I'm not an object!
Oh!
Pai-Pai looks like he's havin' fun!
How can I be having fun?
Do something about them!
They're just kids!
They're making way too much fun of me!
Are they?
When kids're outta control, it might be 'cause they want somethin'.
Something? What's this something?
Love! It's love.
What?!
I've never heard of such a convoluted life form!
Aren't you also making fun of me?
Huh? Why?
Of course you would.
I abandoned you guys.
I'm not worthy to be your leader,
let alone to be a Gatchaman.
That's not true!
If you need ta run, you should run the best you can!
Then you can jus' take yer time to think.
You guys are way too spoiled!
Good job, Sugane.
Thank you.
I'm exhausted,
but this kind of thing isn't bad...
When people grow up, they change in different ways,
but everyone used to run around carefree like that when they were young.
Well, I'm only half human, so I only understand half of it all.
Compared to other animals, humans have a longer childhood.
So I think that time leaves a long lasting impression, even after becoming adults.
We get really nostalgic.
True, humans are very sentimental.
Here, names and titles don't mean anything.
But that's how it used to be for everyone.
There were many different kinds of people all jostling for space,
but things somehow worked out...
I'm kind of glad we came.
Sugane, you've changed.
What? Not really.
She totally fits right in, doesn't she?
I can't tell who's the kid and who's the grown-up.
You're right.
Maybe Katze is like that too.
Huh?
Maybe it's like a troublesome child.
Oh, just listen to me go on and on!
Forget what I said just now.
I'm going to run!
I'm going to run the best I can!
Hey, catch me if you can!
Wow, he's super fast!
The panda man's awesome!
See?!
Aren't I amazing?!
What are you doing?
Hey, can you write "grave" on this?
What? Grave?
Why?
Because Daddy might die soon.
Is your dad sick?
No.
It's because of GALAX.
Daddy fell down when he was on GALAX.
He's been sleeping in the hospital ever since.
I'll hold you
Still unaware of where my feelings are headed
I try to enjoy myself, but it always gets me down
Makes me want to disappear
I can't tell the difference between fact and fiction
This world I live in is just a puppet
A half-empty notebook
Full of emotions that cannot be put into words
Those pure feelings
Keep screaming out my name
No man is an island
We all wish to be connected
It is that desire that keeps you safe
And gives you strength
Even if the changing times make walking hand-in-hand
A thing of the past
We fully understand this chaos
And that dreams have the power to change destiny