Gatchaman

When plans for a Gatchaman film were first announced in February 2006, it was with an expected 2008 release. Kevin Munroe (TMNT) was scheduled to write and direct, with Lynne Southerland (co-director of Mulan 2) as producer, and had begun initial treatment, however, in 2008 Munroe was taken off the project to direct Dylan Dog. Early script treatments were written by Paul Dini, but in the Fall of 2007 he was released from the project. In June 2007 it was announced that Robert Mark Kamen was signed to write the screenplay in preparation for a 2008 release.

On December 11, 2009, Imagi's Hong Kong based parent company Imagi International Holdings Limited laid off 100 employess. In January 2010 announced that the Gatchaman project will be "delivered in 100% Stereoscopic 3D", but in order to safeguard working capital it would be closing its United States subsidiaries. The US closure was finalized in late January with the layoff of approximately 30 staffers, and the retaining of a few key personnel who would continue to work as consultants as Imagi seeks $30 million from investors to continue its animation projects. The parent company laid off another 300 employess in early February 2010, calling the layoffs "temporary" as it seeks new investors.

In July, 2010, Imagi posted a new 1 minute teaser trailer for Gatchaman on their company website, with a release date stating "2011". In January 2013 Gatchaman producer Tatsunoko Production announced the dissolution of the business agreement between them and IMAGI International Holdings. With the lawsuit settled, Tatsunoko is clear for their plans to work with Nikkatsu Corporation on a live action feature scheduled to hit Japan this summer.

I did some concept design freelance on the casual look for the main characters. Since it doesn't compromise the story or gives anything away (not that matters now) I believe I can post that rough concept art. I based this look on the original TV series and tried to add a little new flavor to it, modern but old school. And here we are in 2013, too bad to my knowledge this film will never be made after all that great art development by so many artists, such a shame I had high hopes for it.