Sandy Frank, Producer Behind Battle of the Planets, Dies at 97
Frank's company brought the Gatchaman adaptation to U.S. television in 1978 and later worked on G-Force: Guardians of Space.
Television producer and distributor Sandy Frank died on October 20 at the age of 97, animenewsnetwork.com reported. He was born on July 11, 1929.
Frank produced and distributed Battle of the Planets in 1978 through his company, Sandy Frank Entertainment. The series was the English-language U.S. adaptation of the anime Kagaku Ninja-Tai Gatchaman. He later worked on another adaptation of the same franchise, G-Force: Guardians of Space.
His company also handled distribution and dubbing for Japanese Daiei Film monster movies.
Frank began his career in the late 1940s as a sales executive for Paramount Pictures. He went on to work at Guild Films and NBC, and later served as President of Worldwide Sales at Wrather Corporation.
In 1964 he founded his own syndication company, Sandy Frank Program Sales. He expanded its operations in 1978, the same year Battle of the Planets reached U.S. audiences, and renamed the business Sandy Frank Entertainment.
Quick answers
What was Sandy Frank known for?
He produced and distributed Battle of the Planets, the 1978 English-language U.S. adaptation of Kagaku Ninja-Tai Gatchaman, and later worked on G-Force: Guardians of Space.
How old was Sandy Frank when he died?
He was 97. Frank was born on July 11, 1929, and died on October 20.