Television series

Battle of the Planets

Name: Battle of the Planets
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Released: 1978
Cast: Casey Kasem, Ronny Schell, Janet Waldo, Alan Young, Keye Luke

Battle of the Planets is a Westernized adaptation of a Japanese anime about five young pilots protecting Earth from alien invasion. It's pure Saturday-morning adventure: bright, propulsive, stuffed with transforming spacecraft and masked villains. The dubbing is earnest, the stakes are simple, the action never stops. Perfect for anyone who loves that specific 1970s sci-fi energy—colourful, slightly weird, absolutely sincere.

TVMaze rating

2.9

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you still get a kick from giant gadgets, flashing transforming vehicles, and a team that splits up to tackle one-off villains, and you enjoy the earnest pulp of old action cartoons.

Skip it if the dialogue is corny, the animation looks dated, and the same vehicle-and-villain formula repeats across 85 episodes, so the sameness can wear thin.

What it asks of you: Half-hour episodes that mostly stand alone, so you can dip in without much homework, though you will need patience for the repetition across a long run.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Space: 19991975

Same era, same earnest commitment to space adventure. This British sci-fi series has stronger writing and a haunting premise: the Moon breaks from Earth's orbit. The production design is stunning, the mood more contemplative than Battle of the Planets but equally committed to the spectacle of space.

But It's slower-paced and more philosophically inclined. If you want non-stop action rather than atmosphere and mystery, this will feel meditative.

The Ultraman1979

A tokusatsu hero series with the same kinetic charm and practical effects aesthetic. Giant monsters, transformations, a team defending Earth—the DNA is identical, but filmed rather than animated. It captures that same pure-adventure spirit without irony or self-awareness.

But The effects are decidedly low-budget. Rubber suits and miniature sets, however charming, won't satisfy anyone looking for slickness.

Jonny Quest1964

The American adventure-cartoon template that influenced everything after it, including Battle of the Planets. Jonny, his father, and their team face exotic threats with gadgets and courage. It's where this whole tradition begins—tighter writing, iconic character design.

But It's in black and white with limited animation. The format feels dated in a way that sometimes reads as unfinished rather than classic.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Battle of the Planets

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Warriors of the Wind1984

Both are animated adventure stories where a small team of pilots navigate political and military crises in flying machines. But Nausicaä uses that framework to explore ecology, agency, and what it means to choose peace over victory. It shows what the form can do when it aims higher.

A feature-length anime adventure from the decade after Battle of the Planets, with comparable scale and sincerity but vastly more sophisticated worldbuilding. A lone pilot in a giant mecha fights to prevent environmental catastrophe. It has the same commitment to hand-drawn spectacle and practical effects logic, but the story and themes are genuinely moving. It's what happens when anime grows up without losing its sense of wonder.

But It's not an action-beat-per-minute thrill ride. The pacing is deliberate, the philosophy patient. If you want constant adrenaline, this will feel slow.

The Secret of NIMH1982

Animated adventure with the same practical effects consciousness—hand-painted, rich in detail, entirely committed to its world. A mouse mother on a desperate mission. The action is genuinely thrilling and the stakes genuinely matter, in a way that makes Battle of the Planets feel like the warm-up.

But It's darker and more serious. If you're after the lightweight, episodic fun of Battle of the Planets, this will feel heavy.

Defenders of the Earth1986

Another action-cartoon ensemble with the same DNA: team of young pilots/warriors, transforming vehicles, world-threatening villain (Ming the Merciless). It has higher production values and sharper character writing than Battle of the Planets, with better pacing across its episodes.

But It leans heavily on Flash Gordon lore, so if that licence feels dated or cheesy to you, this will too.

Robotech1985

A serialized anime adaptation that took the Space: 1999 approach of mixing sci-fi spectacle with genuine emotional stakes. Transforming mecha, an ensemble cast, Earth's defence against alien invasion—same engine, but with an ongoing story that actually builds. It's addictive in a way episodic shows rarely are.

But The pacing is uneven because it's three different shows stitched together. And the dubbed dialogue can be wooden. Both are part of its charm for some, a barrier for others.

Star Blazers1974

The granddaddy of action anime in English-speaking markets. A human battleship fights its way across space to save Earth. It has serialized storytelling, genuine drama between the action, and a melancholy undertone that gives it more weight than most adventure cartoons. This is where Japanese sci-fi action got its voice.

But The dubbing is occasionally awkward and the animation quality is inconsistent. Also, at 52 episodes, it's a proper commitment.

Jason of Star Command1978

A live-action space adventure with the same Saturday-morning earnestness and practical effects. Jason and his crew run a space station, solving problems with ingenuity and courage. It has charm and genuine peril without cynicism, and the model work is impressive for its era.

But The acting is serviceable rather than strong, and the budget constraints are visible in every frame. Some will find it endearingly scrappy; others just cheap.