Movie
Description
Ryu Nakanishi is the primary pilot for the Science Ninja Team, operating vehicles like the God Phoenix, New God Phoenix, and Gatchaspartan. Hailing from a fishing village, he rescued Dr. Nambu from a whirlpool at age 13 during a research expedition. This act brought him to Utoland City and led to his recruitment into the team, where his maritime expertise earned him the codename "G-5: Ryu the Horned Owl."
He maintains family ties rare among teammates, including his father Matsuzo, younger brother Seiji, and a briefly mentioned mother. Off-duty, Ryu manages a yacht harbor, hiding the God Phoenix underwater. He often finds this work dull, leading to frequent naps.
Physically, Ryu possesses a heavily built, somewhat overweight frame composed primarily of muscle. His typical civilian attire is a green-and-yellow "5" emblazoned t-shirt with khaki pants. His Bird Style uniform features brown tones, a green cape with red lining, and an owl-inspired helmet sporting a lavender visor.
Personality-wise, Ryu exhibits a laid-back, optimistic nature, contrasting with teammates like Joe. He sometimes shows initial reluctance towards missions and voices complaints about staying aboard during combat. Despite this, he demonstrates unwavering loyalty and refuses to abandon the team. His temper flares when provoked, leading to aggressive outbursts. His maritime background grants proficiency in marine sports.
In combat, Ryu relies on brute strength for grappling enemy ships or body-slamming foes. His piloting skills enable advanced maneuvers, even underwater. His primary weapons are a harpoon gun, the elastic "Gripper" adhesive rope, and later the Owl Sickle kusarigama. His dedicated mecha are the amphibious Horned Tank and the bulldozer-inspired Gatcha Five, which combines into the Gatchaspartan.
An OVA redesign depicts Ryu as a 25-year-old biracial character (half-Japanese, half-Aboriginal Australian), raised near the Great Barrier Reef and trained in an Ocean Rescue Command program. This version features deep tan skin, a mohawk-ponytail with dyed sections, surfer-style clothing, and a deep green Bird Style suit with gold accents.
An upcoming comic storyline, *Gatchaman-Ryu: Scavengers*, shows Ryu fending off pirate forces called the Sea Vultures attacking his harbor. This narrative highlights his protective instincts for his community and showcases his solo combat skills using his amphibious tank.
International adaptations alter his portrayal; the *Battle of the Planets* English version renames him "Tiny Harper," while a South Korean dub initially uses "Yongmin" before later switching to "Yong."
He maintains family ties rare among teammates, including his father Matsuzo, younger brother Seiji, and a briefly mentioned mother. Off-duty, Ryu manages a yacht harbor, hiding the God Phoenix underwater. He often finds this work dull, leading to frequent naps.
Physically, Ryu possesses a heavily built, somewhat overweight frame composed primarily of muscle. His typical civilian attire is a green-and-yellow "5" emblazoned t-shirt with khaki pants. His Bird Style uniform features brown tones, a green cape with red lining, and an owl-inspired helmet sporting a lavender visor.
Personality-wise, Ryu exhibits a laid-back, optimistic nature, contrasting with teammates like Joe. He sometimes shows initial reluctance towards missions and voices complaints about staying aboard during combat. Despite this, he demonstrates unwavering loyalty and refuses to abandon the team. His temper flares when provoked, leading to aggressive outbursts. His maritime background grants proficiency in marine sports.
In combat, Ryu relies on brute strength for grappling enemy ships or body-slamming foes. His piloting skills enable advanced maneuvers, even underwater. His primary weapons are a harpoon gun, the elastic "Gripper" adhesive rope, and later the Owl Sickle kusarigama. His dedicated mecha are the amphibious Horned Tank and the bulldozer-inspired Gatcha Five, which combines into the Gatchaspartan.
An OVA redesign depicts Ryu as a 25-year-old biracial character (half-Japanese, half-Aboriginal Australian), raised near the Great Barrier Reef and trained in an Ocean Rescue Command program. This version features deep tan skin, a mohawk-ponytail with dyed sections, surfer-style clothing, and a deep green Bird Style suit with gold accents.
An upcoming comic storyline, *Gatchaman-Ryu: Scavengers*, shows Ryu fending off pirate forces called the Sea Vultures attacking his harbor. This narrative highlights his protective instincts for his community and showcases his solo combat skills using his amphibious tank.
International adaptations alter his portrayal; the *Battle of the Planets* English version renames him "Tiny Harper," while a South Korean dub initially uses "Yongmin" before later switching to "Yong."