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Presented below is the article that introduced French viewers to Battle of the Planets. It was featured in the September 29, 1979 edition of Tele Seven Days magazine.

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On TFI, a new science fiction series that wants to dethrone "Goldorak¹"

The ultimate weapon of "Battle of the Planets:" Humor!

Welcome to the "Anti-Goldorak" era. After the scary monsters on Antenne 2, TF1² now offers robot jokers...

But let's back up. Since its inception, television has broadcast thousands of cartoons; "Popeye," "The Pink Panther" and "Dastardly & Muttley..." that were watched with amusement between more important transmissions and then quickly forgotten. Then one night last Winter on Antenne 2³ Goldorak arose from faraway Japan. It was a stunning success. TV viewers of all ages waited for the hour of Goldorak like an important appointment. Its theme song was sung by kids everywhere. Then at Christmas, an unheard of surge bought outfits and Goldorak ships. In short, a tidal wave. It was a social phenomenon, which "Tele Seven Days" was the first to report on, after a stupefying amount of mail flooded into us about Goldorak. Very soon after its premiere, it became a point of controversy. Families argued about it. It was a minor Dreyfus Affair⁴ about a cartoon ...

Some said, "It's incredibly violent."

Others asked, "How can we be shocked, when moments later the TV news shows the dead in Beirut and elsewhere, they certainly aren't in a fictitious world."

There were even some who maintained that Goldorak was racist or Nazi-esque, as Earthlings still had the right to destroy those they did not like. In university sociology and communications science departments, students chose the "Goldorak Case" as a field of study.

The people of Spectra... hungry for the Earth!

The most amazing thing from a technical and commercial point was that Goldorak was Japanese, not American. Americans have been the masters of science fiction and comic books thus far, but have lacked a "supernatural revolution" in cartoons. But this Pearl Harbor of television has its revenge with the ongoing worldwide success of "Battle of the Planets." Every Wednesday afternoon on TF1 until July, we will see, for a half hour, episodes of "Battle" produced by "Sandy Frank Film Syndicate" from New York. In addition, starting in October we'll find even more adventures in a monthly publication entitled "Battle of the Planets."

While it is clear that the fundamental theme of American creation is similar to Goldorak or "The Invaders," because there aren't numerous ways to devise a "Battle of the Planets." In this case, the planet "Spectra" is in a full ecological crisis. Its people want to take over the pure, rich and fertile Earth (good news for those of us a little concerned about its state). The Earthlings defend themselves. Although there is space combat, it is treated with perpetual humor. Our globe is protected by a team - "G-Force" - five "super youngsters" - including a woman, "Princesse" - all as brave as often as they are wacky. The "superheroes" are led with panache by "super youngster," Commander Marc. They all have amazing powers and stupefying forces that appear as necessary for action. But what they want most is to ridicule their opponent rather than atomize them or cut them into "super slices" with a "super laser." So much so, that due to their harassment, the leader of the Spectrans, Zoltar, is often forced by his incessant defeats to use what is for him, the mark of "super intense" rage, to turn into a lobster⁵.

Effective robots assist Commander Marc of "G-Force," but they're not dark, brooding, brutish electronics. Thus, the "robot-radar," whose function is to detect the Spectra squadrons, responds to the strange name of 7 Zark 7, expresses his concern with "I'm really sweating oil," or when he's surprised by saying, "I feel like my transistors have rusted."

The heavenly army of salvation against Zoltar the lobster

In short, it's unlikely we'll find any fascist impudence or evidence of interstellar ethnic discrimination in this highly entertaining "Battle of the Planets..."

The era of cheeky, angelic robots and ships modeled on a "heavenly army of salvation" has finally arrived. To describe the character of "Battle," two words may apply: fantastic or marvelous. There is a difference, and in this present case, it's the marvelous that is most evident. So enjoy a fun interstellar life for the next ten months, thanks to Commander Marc, G-Force, Zoltar the lobster and self-critical robots.

Robert Cusin

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Captions read:

Princess - One of the super-youngsters of "G-Force," the beautiful girl, "Princesse."

Rover - Here is "Nonoss⁶," the valuable robot-dog of "G-Force."

Zoltar - Zoltar the villain wants to take our air and our wealth...

Main photo - The famous "G-Force" team - assisted by the robots 7 Zark 7 and Nonoss - they are responsible for guarding the Earth against the greed of the unbearable Spectrans - by ridiculing them.

Team in Phoenix - In their spacecraft, four of the five "G-Force" fighters scan outer space. Will Zoltar attack? Marc (right) awaits.

1 - Goldorak is the French title for UFO Robo Grendizer

2 - TF1, a national French television channel

3 - Antenne 2, a national French television channel and competitor to TF1

4- Dreyfus Affair