This beautiful article praises Battle as a turning point in USA Anime History.

[Cure DragonEagle 255]

And then perhaps the first big anime hit arrived in the US: Battle of the Planets, known in Japan as Gatchaman. As of 1979, the show was running on 100 network affiliates during after-school hours. “For many American teens and young adults, this would be their first taste of Japanese pop,” wrote author Roland Kelts in his 2006 book, Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the US. It showed Americans another aspect of Japanese culture that many were unfamiliar with, even though Japan’s artistic and storytelling traditions of course dated back hundreds of years. The Tale of Genji, often called the world’s first novel, is from the 11th century.

https://qz.com/1806376/japans-image-has ... he-decades

I really wish they had interviewed THE expert on the franchise! Our very own Other Jason! But still this is awesome!