Ultraman

The Blue Coat Gang

To Infinity...

The Ultra Sub

Ide

Opening Credits

Here He Comes From The Sky....

Remember this episode?

.

Ultraman

Here He Comes From The Sky....

About Ultraman.....

The one that started it all.

Ultraman is the mysterious red and silver alien superhero of a popular Japanese TV series that aired from 1966 to 1967. (An English version by United Artists was broadcast on local stations in the United States in subsequent years). He is able to stay on Earth by secretly merging with Hayata, a man who works for the Science Patrol (a task force with high-tech mecha that tackles giant monsters, aliens, and other unusual phenomena).

Each week, when the Science Patrol is in trouble, Hayata pulls out a device known as the Beta Capsule, which he uses to transform into Ultraman. To fight the giant monsters, Ultraman has a vast arsenal of laser weapons and other abilities. His signature weapon is the Specium Ray, a devastating laser that he fires from his right hand by crossing it with his left hand in the form of a plus-sign.

Because his energy depletes rapidly in the Earth's atmosphere, Ultraman can stay for only three minutes. The blue Color Timer in the middle of his chest begins beeping and blinking red to let him know that time is running out. Should the timer run out, we are told, Ultraman will never rise again.

Ultraman originally comes to Earth while pursuing a monster through space, but inadvertently collides into Hayata's plane and kills him. Feeling remorse for the tragedy, the alien decides to save the human by merging their lives. He stays on Earth with Hayata and vows to defend the planet.

Though the special effects are rather dated and charming (if not outright bad) in this day and age, they were quite remarkable for their time. In fact, the series was created by Eiji Tsuburaya, who is also known as the father of Godzilla. The stories are corny and geared toward children, but the series is a classic and still enjoys a considerable fan base. Many fans in the U.S. who remember the little old show may be surprised to find out that the original has spawned a franchise that consists of numerous sequel series and movies and an army of Ultras.

The Science Patrol provides much of the human scale in the series. Muramatsu (known as Captain Mura in the U.S.), is the consummate captain. Hayata is the clean-cut, no-nonsense hero. Arashi the strong marksman, and Ide (Ito) is the quirky gadget man and comedian. Fuji is the charming lone female and communications officer, who struggles to fit the traditional female role even though she's such a tomboy.

A major source of Ultraman's popularity is of course the monsters. Almost every week brings one or more new monsters and/or aliens. Although they are obviously men in rubber suits, the best monsters have personalities that make them icons of the genre. Most are evil and must be destroyed, but there are also good and/or sympathetic monsters. A few of the truly famous monsters include Baltan-seijin (the clawed, insect-like alien that is perhaps the best-known Ultra monster and a recurring nemesis throughout the Ultra fanchise), Red King (the rambunctious bully), Pygmon (the diminuative and brave friend of humans), Gomola (the only monster to span two episodes), Dada (the surreal three-faced humanoid creature with distinct black patterns on white), Seabohzu (the pathetic monster who crashlands on Earth and yearns only to return to the sky), and Zetton (the space dinosaur who defeats Ultraman in the final episode).

That's right, our hero is ultimately defeated by Zetton after the space dinosaur damages Ultraman's Color Timer. Surprisingly, this is one of those few times when the Science Patrol is able to use one of their weapons to defeat the creature themselves. Fortunately, Ultraman has a superior officer named Zoffy, who takes him back to M78 to have the timer repaired. Zoffy also happens to have with him an extra life, which he uses to separate Ultraman from Hayata.

The Ultraman series is followed by the Ultraseven series.

Trivia

Ultraman is a spin-off of the black-and-white monster/mystery TV series, Ultra Q. See the origins of Ultraman for an interesting look at the pre-production development phases of the show.

Three different Ultraman mask types are used in the original series. There were 3 different Ultraman suits used in this show:

Type A (Episodes 1-13) FRP latex mask, thinner costume and curls on the tips of the feet (like an elf's shoes). The crude-looking almond-eyed mask had a movable mouth. It was obvious that Tsuburaya and his crew wanted Ultraman to be lifelike, though this was deemed "creepy" by those more used to the standard versions.
Type B (Episodes 14-29) The first of the bold-breasted Ultraman costumes, and a smoother mask with egg-shaped eyes (as opposed to the almond-shaped eyes of Type A), but with a narrow mouth.
Type C (Episodes 30-39) Identical to Type B, but the mask has a wider mouth. Type C has since become the standard look for Ultraman to this day.

After the end of the original series, "...TBS ran a Toei series called "Captain Ultra" in the same timeslot (7PM Sundays), thus causing some sources (like the liner notes to "Otaku no Video") to mistake it for a Tsuburaya [Productions] Ultraseries."

Other than Fuji and Hoshino, I believe all Science Patrol members' first names are revealed post-series, in the YOMIGAERE! URUTORAMAN ('Revive! Ultraman') special.

Cameos

Episode 39: Zoffy returns Ultraman to M78 after Zetton damages our hero's ColorTimer.

Crossovers

Ultraman Jack:
Episodes 13-14: Shohji Kobayashi (Captain Muramatsu) plays the captain of a cargo ship.

Episode 38: Appears with Ultraseven to save Jack from execution by the Knuckle-seijin. Brief appearance by a slightly portlier Hayata in Science Patrol uniform.

Ultraman Ace:
Episode 1: Appears with Zoffy, Seven, Jack, and Ace to merge the latter with Hokuto and Minami.
Episodes 13-4: Crucified with Zoffy, Seven, and Jack, on the planet Golgota, by Ace Killer.
Episode 26-7: Trapped with his four brothers by Hippolito-seijin and turned into a bronze statue.

Ultraman Taroh:
Episode 1: Appears with the Five Ultra Brothers to assist the Ultra Mother in giving birth to Ultraman #6.
Episode 25: Along with the other Ultra Brothers, merges with Taroh so that, with their combined purity of soul, he can plunge into the flames of the Ultra Tower for one minute to acquire the Ultra Bell. They all carry the Ultra Bell back to Earth, and Taroh rings it, so that it dissipates the dark cloud of Mururoa that has enveloped the Earth.
Episode 33-4: Appears with the Six Ultra Brothers against Tempera-seijin. Hayata also appears with his fellow human forms.
Episode 40: The Ultra brothers get beat up by Tyrant, a vengeful monster created by parts of many past monsters.
 

Ultraman Leo
Episode 30: Hiroko Sakurai (Fuji) plays the human form of Rolan, the "most beautiful monster in the world." Susumu Kurobe (Hayata) makes a cameo as the farmer father of some boy.
Episodes 38-9: Appears with Zoffy, Jack, Ace, and the Ultra Father, in a rumble with Leo and a fake Astra over the stolen Ultra Key... the issue is resolved by Ultraman King and the real Astra.

Ultraman 80
Episode 41: Hiroko Sakurai once again makes a perennial cameo... this time as the mother of a young boy obsessed with vintage Zero fighter planes. Her husband is also obsessed, but with golf.

Ultraman Monster Big Decisive Battle
New group shot footage. New footage of Ultraman fighting against two Baltans. See more details.

Ultraman Zoffy
Recycled footage. See more details.

Ultraman Story
Recycled footage, plus new footage against Grand King. See more details.

Ultraman Zearth:
The Movie: Cameos by actor Susumu Kurobe (that's Hayata) and the Science Patrol gang.
 

Ultraman Tiga:
Episode 49: Helps Tiga defeat Yanakahgi.

Ultraman Nice:
Susumu Kurobe (Hayata) and Hiroko Sakurai (Fuji) play grandparents and GOKAZOKU team members.