Show Type: Tokusatsu Science Fiction/Fantasy
Produced by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) and Tsuburaya Productions
First Telecast: July 10, 1966
Last Telecast: April 9, 1967
Color, 16mm
39 Episodes + 1 Pre-Premiere Special
40... more »
Show Type: Tokusatsu Science Fiction/Fantasy
Produced by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) and Tsuburaya Productions
First Telecast: July 10, 1966
Last Telecast: April 9, 1967
Color, 16mm
39 Episodes + 1 Pre-Premiere Special
40 TOTAL
Basic Plot:
In the near future, sinister aliens and giant prehistoric monsters threaten civilization! The only one equipped to handle these disasters is the Science Patrol, a special police force with high-tech weapons and vehicles at their disposal. Led by Captain "Cap" Muramatsu, the Science Patrol is ready to protect the Earth from the ravaging monsters. But when the situation becomes desperate, Hayata, one of the Patrol's members holds the key to our salvation. Fate has given Hayata the ability to secretly transform into an amazing, superpowered giant from space. A being known as Ultraman!
Series Background
Since its premiere on July 10, 1966, on the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), Ultraman (or Urutoraman in Japan) has, to this day, become a pop culture icon beloved by children and fans in Japan and the world over. Created by Japan's late special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya, the show was a follow-up to his B&W TV hit, Ultra Q (a show about a group of people who solve supernatural mysteries, involving ghosts, aliens and giant monsters; Comparable to The Outer Limits (1963) and The X-Files), which premiered at the start of the same year, but was being produced as far back as 1964. Ultraman has far eclipsed its predecessor, and has become the model Japanese superhero to this day, inspiring many sequel shows and imitations, few of which could surpass this show (even Ultraman's most popular rival, Kamen (Masked) Rider, which also became immensely influential to this day since its premiere on Japanese TV in 1971)!
This show's qualities would become traditions in the many "Ultra Series" that followed. Aside from the titular hero, they include:
- The "Science Patrol" (or "Kagaku Tokusou Tai"/"Scientific Special Search Party" in Japan), the high-tech police force equipped with fancy uniforms, high-tech weaponry and vehicles, the latter clearly inspired by the many revolutionary vehicles from Gerry Anderson's "Supermarionation" TV puppet shows, particularly Thunderbirds! The "Science Patrols" in all subsequent Ultra Series would be more military-like (like the Ultra Garrison in Ultra 7). Nonetheless, the Science Patrol and its ilk were also no doubt inspired by the futuristic pulp heroes created by SF authors Edward E. "Doc" Smith (the creator of the Lensman books) and Edmond Hamilton (creator of Captain Future and Starwolf, the former became an anime series, and the latter became a loosely-adapted TV series produced by Tsuburaya, both in 1978), whose works also inspired the original Star Trek.
- The show's many famous monsters, including creepy aliens like the multiplying insect-like Baltan Aliens (the most popular among fans), the Zarab Alien (who provided the obligatory Ultraman impersonator) and the surreal Dada Aliens. And, of course, there are many Godzilla-style monsters, among the most memorable were the ferocious, gold-colored Red King, the massive horned Gomora, the spiky Bemular (Ultraman's first enemy), Jirass (which was a disguised Godzilla costume), and many others. The monsters in many of the later Ultra-Series would look even more outlandish (whereas the shows since 1990's Australian-produced Ultraman: Towards the Future took a more straightforward and realistic approach)!
The first planned project back in 1964 was called Woo (Uu), about a benevolent amoeba-like alien that befriends a photographer named Joji Akita, although the Self-Defense Forces saw him as a threat. The series was somewhat more like a kaiju version of the British SF series, Doctor Who, and Woo's personality was comical. Due to contractual problems, the project was shelved, and Eiji Tsuburaya instead produced what became Ultra Q.
The second project was titled Bemular (Bemuraa), about a team called the Art Graphic Center, which was secretly a team of investigators venturing into the unknown. When monsters and aliens threaten mankind, one of the AGC's members, Sakomizu, secretly transfors into a benevolent giant monster called Bemular. Unlike Woo, Bemular was a tough, serious monster who strongly resembles Gappa, the title monster of the 1967 movie Daikyojuu Gappa/Gappa the Triphibian Monster (in fact it was rumored that the film's producers, Nikkatsu, inspired their monster from the designs of Bemular). Aside from the recycled name, the monster Bemular was not to be confused with the Bemular that appeared in Episode 1 of the final project, Ultraman. The project was soon retitled Scientific Special Search Party: Bemular (Kagaku Tokusou Tai: Bemuraa), and the Art Graphic Center was retooled into the Scientific Special Search Party (also the Japanese name for the Science Patrol).
Bemular was later developed into a similar project titled Redman (Reddoman), and the title hero, designed by Toru "Tohl" Narita (who also designed Bemular), looked very similar to Ultraman, but looked more like a demonic alien with crystal-like horns, much like any of Ultraman's alien foes! Nevertheless, Redman came to Earth after his home planet was destroyed by aliens from Planet X. The same plot developed from there. (see Ultra 7 for more info on the proposed Redman project.)
On March 22, 1966, two weeks after the project began filming, Redman was ultimately retitled Ultraman, and Redman got redesigned into the more familiar Ultraman design, but with some differences, including the lack of the characteristic Colortimer on his chest (an addition to add more suspense; After all, every Superman has his kryptonite)! Ultraman soon developed into the series we see today, and tokusatsu TV was never the same since its premiere on July 17th (not counting the B&W live broadcast stage show special from a week earlier), when the show gained a 42.8% rating! It even vastly eclipsed Japan's first color superhero show, Osamu Tezuka's Ambassador Magma (Maguma Taishi, known as The Space Giants in the US), which premiered on July 4th (on that same exact night, The Beatles were performing in Tokyo).
After the series' finale in April of 1967, Ultraman was followed by Ultra 7, which, to this day, is also considered not only the best of the Ultra-Series, but a memorable Japanese sci-fi masterpiece.
Written by John Cassidy, with special thanks to August Ragone, Bob Johnson and Marc Hideo Miyake for information.
Characters
The Science Patrol (AKA: Scientific Special Search Party)
A high-tech investigation team equipped with special gadgets, weapons and vehicles to investigate strange phenomena. The members wear orange business suit-like uniforms, black gloves & boots, and white crash helmets. The Science Patrol's HQ is actually in Paris (where the uniforms are gray), but the Japan Branch (with orange uniforms), based in the suburbs of Tokyo, seems to get all the action.
Captain Toshio "Cap" Muramatsu (Age 36) Leader of the Science Patrol. Usually calm and fatherlike, but a strict, strong leader. Nicknamed "Cap" (short for "Captain") by his teammates. (In the US version, his name is simply Captain Mura.)
Daisuke Arashi (Age 26) The Science Patrol's rotund, strong, trigger-happy marksman. Likes to go head on against any rampaging monster or alien, only to end up a victim to their awesome power. Good thing his teammates are there for him! Arashi's weapon of choice is the Spider-Shot gun.
Mitsuhiro Ide (Age 24) The Science Patrol's scientific expert and inventor. He is also the team's over-the-top comedy relief. He often gets into hilarious antics in the most dire of situations, but thanks to the encouragement of his teammates (and Ultraman), he can even be the hero of the day, like in Episode 37! (In the US version, he is renamed Ito.)
Akiko Fuji (Age 21) The Science Patrol's token female member, a communications officer. Despite that, she is still effective in battle!
Isamu Hoshino (Age 11) Fuji's friend, a mischievious little boy, who gets to hang out with the Science Patrol. Often gets in trouble when chased by the monster of the week, and the Patrol, even Ultraman, has to save him! Gets to wear a Science Patrol uniform later on in the show.
Professor Iwamoto A scientific expert who assists the Science Patrol in several episodes. First appears in Episode 5.
Shin Hayata/Ultraman (Age 25) The title character. Hayata is the Science Patrol's tough and brave deputy captain. His life changed forever when an alien policeman, from the Land of Light in Nebula M-78, accidentally smashed into Hayata, who was in the midst of patrolling the Ryuugamori Forest in his Mini-VTOL. Feeling great sorrow for the terrible accident he caused, the alien valiantly brings Hayata back to life by combining his own life force with that of the Earthman. He gives Hayata a flashlight/marker-like device called the Beta Capsule, with which when he raises it to the sky and activates it by pressing its button, he transforms into the same alien, known by all as Ultraman!
Ultraman is 40 meters (132 feet) tall, and weighs 35,000 tons.
Among his arsenal, Ultraman's principal weapons are:
-Spacium Ray: Ultraman crouches slightly forward and crosses his wrists together (his right forearm vertical and left horizontal) to shoot from his right hand a light-ray that destroys his opponent.
-Ultra-Slash: Ultraman fires a saw-like Spacium-energy ring from his hand. This ring can slice his opponent in half.
Despite these amazing powers, Ultraman has one main weakness: Since Earth's atmosphere filters out his solar energy, Ultraman can only be on Earth for 3 minutes. To signal this, a device in Ultraman's chest called the Colortimer starts out at blue, then starts to blink at 1:00, and then turns red and blinks faster at 2:00. If the Colortimer stops, Ultraman will "never rise again."
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.
ULTRAMAN FUN FACTS: While Ultraman rarely talks (like early in Episode 1), he usually shouts and barks in reverberated humanlike cries while fighting a monster. The only phrase we usually hear from Ultraman is "Shuwatch!" which he shouts when jumping into the air to fly. In Japanese pop-culture, "Shuwatch" has been a famous phrase most associated with Ultraman. In the US English-dubbed version, Ultraman is completely mute.
Science Patrol Weapons/Vehicles
-Jet VTOL (AKA: Jet Beetle) The Science Patrol's principal craft. Fires lasers, missiles and extinguishes fires. (The prop for the Jet VTOL was originally from the 1962 Toho SF epic, Gorath, but repainted for this series.)
-Mini-VTOL (AKA: Mini-Beetle) A smaller, triangular version of the Jet VTOL. Seats two people. This was the same vehicle piloted by Hayata when he crashed into Ultraman in the first episode.
-Submarines S16, S21 and S25 The Science Patrol's underwater vehicles, which are airlifted by the Jet VTOL one at a time. Each sub shoots missiles, and have searchlights to scan the darker regions of the sea.
-Underground Tank Pelucidar The Science Patrol's subterranean vehicle with a huge drill at the front. Similar to the Mole from Thunderbirds. Named after the underground world from Edgar Rice Burroughs' At the Earth's Core.
-Science Patrol Car A silver 60s Chevrolet Corvair with the Science Patrol logo on the doors.
-Supergun The basic laser gun carried by each Science Patrol member.
-Spider-Shot The heavy atomic gun. Arashi's favorite weapon.
-Mars 133 A missile gun as powerful as Ultraman's Spacium Ray.
-QX Gun This weapon attacks a monster's nervous system.
-Mad Bazooka
-Monster Translator Invented by Ide to translate a monster's language. Often used for the friendly monster Pigmon, who helped the Science Patrol in two episodes.
THE ULTRA SERIES LIST
(Basic shows only; not counting movies/specials/minishows)
Ultra Q (1966)
Ultraman (1966-1967)
Ultra 7 (1967-1968)
Return of Ultraman (1971-1972)
Ultraman Ace (1972-1973)
Ultraman Taro (1973-1974)
Ultraman Leo (1974-1975)
The Ultraman (1979-1980) Anime Series
Ultraman 80 (1980-1981)
Ultraman: Towards the Future (1990) Produced in Australia
Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero (1993) Produced, but never aired, in the US.
Ultraman Tiga (1996-1997)
Ultraman Dyna (1997-1998)
Ultraman Gaia (1998-1999)
Ultraman Neos (2000-2001) Direct-to-DVD Miniseries, broadcast in 2002
Ultraman Cosmos (2001-2002)
Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy (2004)
Ultraman Nexus (2004-2005)
Ultraman Max (2005-2006)
Ultraman Moebius (FORTHCOMING!)
Lyrics
Main Theme
Urutoraman no Uta (The Song of Ultraman)
Performed by The Chorro Stellar and the Misuzu Childrens' Choir
Mune ni tsuketeru maaku wa ryuusei
Jiman no jetto de teki wo utsu
Hikari no kuni kara bokura no tame ni
Kitazo, warera no Urutoraman!
Te ni shita Kapuseru pikari to hikari
Hyakuman watto no kagayaki da
Hikari no kuni kara seigi no tame ni
Kitazo warera no Urutoraman!
Te ni shita gan ga byubyun to unaru
Kaijuu taiji no senmonka
Hikari no kuni kara Chikyuu no tame ni
Kitazo warera no Urutoraman!
TRANSLATION
The mark attached to his chest is a shooting star
With his proud jet, he defeats the enemy
From the Land of Light, for our sake
He has come, our Ultraman!
In his hand, the Capsule sparks and flashes
The radiance of a million watts
From the Land of Light, for the sake of justice
He has come, our Ultraman!
In his hand, his gun shoots and roars
He's a specialist in monster extermination
From the Land of Light, for the sake of the Earth
He has come, our Ultraman!
(NOTE: Three different variants to this theme have been used in the Japanese version of the series)
US Theme Lyrics
(Sung to the same tune as the Japanese theme)
Ultraman, Ultraman,
Here he comes from the sky
Ultraman, Ultraman,
Watch our hero fly
In a super-jet he comes from a billion miles away
From a distant planet land
Comes our hero Ultraman!less «
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