TV-Series
Description
Ace Goodheart is the designated leader of the five-member team known as G-Force, the central characters of the anime adaptation Science Ninja Team Gatchaman. His character is the English-adapted version of the original Japanese protagonist, Ken Washio, also known as Ken the Eagle.
Standing approximately 180 centimeters tall with brown hair and blue eyes, Ace is a young man of 18 years who carries the weight of command with a calm and collected demeanor. He is a tactical expert, a role for which he has been groomed from a young age. Having lost his mother to illness and his father to a presumed plane crash during his childhood, Ace was taken in and trained by the team's mentor, Dr. Brighthead, beginning around the age of 13. To maintain his secret identity, he works as an aircraft test pilot and an airmail courier, operating out of a small airfield that once belonged to his father.
As a personality, Ace is the quintessential hero, driven by a strong sense of duty rather than a desire for glory. While typically calm and strategic, he is not immune to emotion and can become swept up in crises, at which points he relies on his teammates for support. This emotional vulnerability is a key aspect of his character; despite his strong leadership, he struggles with the weight of his responsibilities and the personal losses he endures. He is also known for being somewhat frugal, or perhaps careless, with money, often forgetting to pay for his meals at the team's gathering place, the GoGo Café. In his spare time, he is an avid reader, having inherited his father's collection of books. His primary motivation is to defend Earth from the alien forces of Galactor and their leader, Computor, a mission he pursues with unwavering dedication, though he grows more cynical and reckless as the fight takes its toll on him.
His role in the story is that of the field commander for G-Force. He pilots the team's primary aircraft, the Phoenix, and coordinates the group's efforts in battle against the forces of Galactor. His leadership is defined by his tactical acumen and his deep care for his comrades, as he would rather risk his own life than allow harm to come to them. Key relationships define his journey. He shares a bond with his second-in-command, Dirk Daring, that is akin to brotherhood; they are close but often clash due to their differing approaches, with Dirk being more of a lone wolf. He works closely with Agatha June, who harbors romantic feelings for him, though Ace remains largely oblivious to her affections, typically focusing on the mission above all else. The youngest member, Pee Wee, looks up to Ace as an older brother, a respect that Ace returns by valuing every member's contribution to the team.
Ace Goodheart undergoes significant development, primarily driven by the revelation that his father is still alive, operating as the mysterious pilot known as Red Impulse. The joy of their reunion is tragically short-lived, as his father soon sacrifices himself to destroy a major weapon of Galactor. This event plunges Ace into a deep depression, and while he ultimately regains his resolve, the loss hardens him, making him more distant and focused on the destruction of his enemies at any cost. This trauma shapes his character from an eager young hero into a more battle-hardened and bitter warrior as the series progresses.
As a fighter, Ace Goodheart possesses a range of notable abilities. He is a highly skilled pilot, having inherited his father's natural talent for flying. His martial arts prowess is extensive, holding black belts in disciplines such as judo and karate, and demonstrating proficiency in kendo, aikido, and boxing. His signature weapon is the Birdrang, a powerful, rocket-propelled boomerang that can strike an enemy on its outward and return path and can be fitted with explosives for demolition missions. He also utilizes other tools like the collapsible Gatcha Fencer sword and the multipurpose Shock Gun. Among his special techniques is the Bird Flash, a blinding light attack, and he is capable of piloting his personal aircraft, the G-1 jet, which can transform for supersonic combat and combine with the rest of the team's vehicles to form larger mecha.
Standing approximately 180 centimeters tall with brown hair and blue eyes, Ace is a young man of 18 years who carries the weight of command with a calm and collected demeanor. He is a tactical expert, a role for which he has been groomed from a young age. Having lost his mother to illness and his father to a presumed plane crash during his childhood, Ace was taken in and trained by the team's mentor, Dr. Brighthead, beginning around the age of 13. To maintain his secret identity, he works as an aircraft test pilot and an airmail courier, operating out of a small airfield that once belonged to his father.
As a personality, Ace is the quintessential hero, driven by a strong sense of duty rather than a desire for glory. While typically calm and strategic, he is not immune to emotion and can become swept up in crises, at which points he relies on his teammates for support. This emotional vulnerability is a key aspect of his character; despite his strong leadership, he struggles with the weight of his responsibilities and the personal losses he endures. He is also known for being somewhat frugal, or perhaps careless, with money, often forgetting to pay for his meals at the team's gathering place, the GoGo Café. In his spare time, he is an avid reader, having inherited his father's collection of books. His primary motivation is to defend Earth from the alien forces of Galactor and their leader, Computor, a mission he pursues with unwavering dedication, though he grows more cynical and reckless as the fight takes its toll on him.
His role in the story is that of the field commander for G-Force. He pilots the team's primary aircraft, the Phoenix, and coordinates the group's efforts in battle against the forces of Galactor. His leadership is defined by his tactical acumen and his deep care for his comrades, as he would rather risk his own life than allow harm to come to them. Key relationships define his journey. He shares a bond with his second-in-command, Dirk Daring, that is akin to brotherhood; they are close but often clash due to their differing approaches, with Dirk being more of a lone wolf. He works closely with Agatha June, who harbors romantic feelings for him, though Ace remains largely oblivious to her affections, typically focusing on the mission above all else. The youngest member, Pee Wee, looks up to Ace as an older brother, a respect that Ace returns by valuing every member's contribution to the team.
Ace Goodheart undergoes significant development, primarily driven by the revelation that his father is still alive, operating as the mysterious pilot known as Red Impulse. The joy of their reunion is tragically short-lived, as his father soon sacrifices himself to destroy a major weapon of Galactor. This event plunges Ace into a deep depression, and while he ultimately regains his resolve, the loss hardens him, making him more distant and focused on the destruction of his enemies at any cost. This trauma shapes his character from an eager young hero into a more battle-hardened and bitter warrior as the series progresses.
As a fighter, Ace Goodheart possesses a range of notable abilities. He is a highly skilled pilot, having inherited his father's natural talent for flying. His martial arts prowess is extensive, holding black belts in disciplines such as judo and karate, and demonstrating proficiency in kendo, aikido, and boxing. His signature weapon is the Birdrang, a powerful, rocket-propelled boomerang that can strike an enemy on its outward and return path and can be fitted with explosives for demolition missions. He also utilizes other tools like the collapsible Gatcha Fencer sword and the multipurpose Shock Gun. Among his special techniques is the Bird Flash, a blinding light attack, and he is capable of piloting his personal aircraft, the G-1 jet, which can transform for supersonic combat and combine with the rest of the team's vehicles to form larger mecha.