▶ Watch the original YouTube video
Gatchard’s Scrapped Amnesia Plot: How a Forgotten Griyon Subplot Reveals the Show’s Creative Struggles
A recently revealed behind-the-scenes video has exposed a scrapped storyline from the tokusatsu series Gatchard in which the antagonist Griyon would have lost his memory and befriended the protagonist. The decision to cut this plot reveals the production team’s careful balance between compelling storytelling and character integrity.
What Happened
During a recent production retrospective, Gatchard’s creative team revealed that an early draft of the series included a storyline where Griyon, the primary antagonist introduced in the Chinalider arc, would suffer from amnesia and become friends with the main character, Ho-taro. According to the video, this subplot was ultimately scrapped due to concerns about character consistency and the emotional aftermath of the plot twist.
Why It Matters
This revelation offers rare insight into the creative decision-making process behind a major tokusatsu production. The choice to abandon this plot demonstrates how modern children’s entertainment balances narrative ambition with character integrity and audience satisfaction. For fans and creators alike, understanding why certain ideas are rejected can be as valuable as analyzing what makes it to the final cut. The scrapped subplot also highlights the thematic connections between Griyon and Ho-taro that the final version of the series explores through different means.
Background
Gatchard is a tokusatsu series produced by Toei, part of the broader landscape of Japanese special effects entertainment. Griyon is a significant character who serves as an antagonist with complex motivations. The production team’s decision to share behind-the-scenes information through official channels like Gatchard Radio demonstrates a growing trend of transparency in tokusatsu production. Similar scrapped plot information has been shared across other Toei productions, including Goujyuger, suggesting a collaborative approach to creative problem-solving across the studio’s various projects.
Key Points
- The Scrapped Plot: Griyon would have lost his memory and become friends with Ho-taro, with the amnesia eventually wearing off, forcing a return to their adversarial relationship.
- Reason for Rejection: The plot was deemed “not true to Griyon’s character” and risked creating an unsatisfying emotional resolution when his memories returned.
- Alternative Direction: The production team instead developed Latesis’s academy enrollment as a way to explore character dynamics without compromising Griyon’s core identity.
- Thematic Connection: The scrapped plot would have explored the underlying similarity between Griyon and Ho-taro—both pursue their dreams with unwavering determination.
- Viewer Reception: Online responses were mixed, with some fans expressing interest in seeing the alternate storyline while others acknowledged the narrative problems it would have created.
- Production Insight: An alternative version of the plot would have had Griyon regain his memories but retain emotional baggage from his time as Ho-taro’s friend, creating internal conflict.
The Creative Dilemma
The amnesia subplot represents a classic tension in character-driven storytelling: the appeal of exploring a character’s alternate personality versus the risk of undermining their established identity. According to the production notes, when Griyon lost his memory, he would have resembled the version of himself that Ho-taro’s mentor, Minato-sensei, once admired. This setup had genuine narrative potential, as it would have allowed the series to explore the fundamental compatibility between hero and villain.
However, the production team recognized a critical problem: once Griyon’s memories returned, the friendship built during the amnesia arc would likely feel invalidated. This creates what viewers described as a “bad aftertaste”—the emotional satisfaction of their bonding would be erased by the narrative reset. For a children’s series, this kind of emotional whiplash can be problematic, as it may confuse younger viewers or leave them with an unsatisfying sense of loss.
Alternative Approaches Considered
The production team explored multiple variations on this concept. One particularly interesting alternative involved having Minato-sensei experience amnesia instead of Griyon. This would have fundamentally altered the story’s structure and emotional core. Another version, mentioned in official Gatchard Radio discussions, would have allowed Griyon to regain his memories but retain psychological residue from his time as Ho-taro’s friend, creating internal conflict that would complicate his role as an antagonist. This approach would have added layers of complexity similar to character arcs seen in other tokusatsu and anime productions, but it risked becoming too psychologically dense for the series’ target audience.
Perspectives
In Favor of the Scrapped Plot: Many viewers expressed genuine interest in seeing this storyline realized. Comments like “I would have liked to see a kinder version of Griyon” and “That would have been an interesting episode” reflect a desire to explore the character’s depth. Some fans noted that other characters’ reactions to this development would have been fascinating to witness, suggesting the subplot had potential for rich interpersonal drama.
Supporting the Rejection: Other viewers acknowledged the production team’s reasoning. Comments such as “It would definitely feel bad once his memories came back” and “That’s definitely a story where he’d regain his memories the moment they bonded” demonstrate audience understanding of narrative structure. These viewers recognized that the emotional payoff would be undermined by the inevitable reset, making the entire arc feel hollow in retrospect.
The Middle Ground: Some fans appreciated the decision while still wishing they could have seen it. This perspective acknowledges both the appeal of the concept and the wisdom of the production team’s choice to prioritize narrative coherence and character integrity over a potentially gimmicky plot twist.
What This Reveals About Tokusatsu Production
The decision to scrap the amnesia subplot demonstrates several important principles in modern tokusatsu production. First, it shows that character consistency is prioritized over novelty. Griyon’s role as a principled antagonist—someone who pursues his goals with conviction, much like Ho-taro pursues his own dreams—is central to his appeal. Compromising that identity, even temporarily, would have diluted what makes him an effective character.
Second, the production team’s transparency about this decision reflects a mature approach to fan engagement. By explaining why certain ideas were rejected, the creators help audiences understand that storytelling involves difficult choices and trade-offs. This educational value extends beyond entertainment, offering insights into creative problem-solving.
Third, the fact that similar scrapped plot information is shared across Toei productions suggests a collaborative studio culture where lessons learned on one project inform decisions on another. This interconnected approach to production may explain the consistency in quality across Toei’s tokusatsu output.
The Final Version’s Approach
Rather than using amnesia to bridge the gap between Griyon and Ho-taro, the final version of Gatchard explores their connection through other means. The series acknowledges their shared values—both characters are driven by ambition and the pursuit of their goals—while maintaining the fundamental conflict that makes their relationship compelling. The decision to develop Latesis’s academy enrollment as an alternative plot point suggests the production team found a way to evolve character dynamics without resorting to memory loss as a narrative device.
Insights
This behind-the-scenes revelation offers valuable lessons about storytelling in children’s entertainment. The scrapped amnesia subplot demonstrates that good creative decisions often involve rejecting ideas that are superficially appealing in favor of approaches that better serve the story’s long-term integrity. The production team’s willingness to abandon a potentially exciting plot twist in favor of character consistency shows a commitment to craft that extends beyond immediate entertainment value.
For viewers, understanding why this subplot was rejected deepens appreciation for the final product. It reveals that Griyon’s role as a principled antagonist is not accidental but the result of careful deliberation. The decision also highlights the importance of emotional coherence in narrative structure—a lesson applicable far beyond tokusatsu to all forms of storytelling.
The public sharing of this information also reflects a broader trend in entertainment production toward transparency. By revealing the creative process, Gatchard’s team invites audiences to think critically about storytelling choices and appreciate the complexity of bringing a series to completion. This approach transforms behind-the-scenes information from mere trivia into educational content that enriches the viewing experience.
