Science Ninja Team Gatchaman — Season 1, Episode 13: The Mysterious Red Sand

Episode synopsis

A ISO constructed storage lake, which is part of a plan to make the desert fertile, disappears. The Science Ninja Team flies to Africa to investigate. An Elder there tells them the legend of the moving red sand. It is said that the red sand burns forever and that it can make civilisations grow, as well as destroy them. Ken asks the Elder about the sand's secret, but the Elder doesn't tell anything. Jinpei, following the Elder who's about to get abducted by Galactor, finds a pendant. The red sand contained in its interior is sent to Nambu and the analysis reveals that it's a new sort of bacteria and also a previously undiscovered powerful energy source. It has a thousand times the force of uranium and, if water is added, splits up and causes a big explosion. Because Galactor is looking for the red sand, a lion ant mecha changes the lake's location via an underground channel. The God Phoenix dives deep underground, discovers the caves used by the mecha and sneaks into the base they discover. But Galactor learns of the Science Ninja Team's arrival and they shoot the Elder after he reveals the secret. They head to the location where the red sand is locked up, one step ahead of the Science Ninja Team. Before dying, the Elder tells the Science Ninja Team the location as well. The God Phoenix gets there too late, the red sand is already stolen by the mecha. As a last resort, the God Phoenix turns toward the mecha as the Fiery Phoenix. As the red sand is touched by the flames, Galactor's high ambitions are burned, together with the sand.

About Science Ninja Team Gatchaman

Science Ninja Team Gatchaman is a five-member superhero team that is composed of the main characters in several anime created by Tatsuo Yoshida and originally produced in Japan by Tatsunoko Productions and later adapted into several English-language versions. It is also known by the abbreviated name Gatchaman. The original series, produced in 1972, was eponymously named Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman and is most well known to the English-speaking world as the adaptation titled Battle of the Planets. The series received additional English adaptations with G-Force: Guardians of Space and ADV Films' uncut 2005 release. Tatsunoko also uses the official translation Science Commando Gatchaman, as shown in numerous related products and media. Because the English-language versions are notoriously inconsistent not only with one another but also with the original Japanese series, viewers most familiar with the English versions often experience some confusion upon re-examining the series after a long hiatus. The original 1972 Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman series was followed by an animated film, two sequel series, Gatchaman II, and Gatchaman Fighter. In the 90's, episodes from both series were dubbed into English by Saban as Eagle Riders. In 1994, the original series was remade as a condensed OVA series.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1Gatchaman Versus Turtle King
• E2The Apparition of a Demonic Ghostly Airplane Carrier
• E3The Giant Mummy that Calls the Storm
• E4Revenge on the Mecha Mechadegon
• E5Ghost Fleet from Hell
• E6The Big Maneuver of the Mini Robots
• E7Galactor's Big Aviation Show
• E8The Secret of Crescent Coral
• E9The Demon from the Moon
• E10The Big Battle of the Underground Monsters
• E11The Mysterious Red Impulse
• E12The Greedy Monster Ibukuron