I was a big fan of Ultraman when I was a kid. In the early ‘90s I discovered there was a new “Ultraman” show, but unfortunately I was more interested in acquiring episodes of the old show on VHS than I was episodes of the new one. Somewhat later I discovered that there have been many, many “Ultraman” series over the years, rivaling Doctor Who in its longevity. A brief search of the internet yields the following results (but I’ve probably missed a few).
Ultra Q
Ultraman 1966-67
UltraSeven 1967-68
Return of…(Jack) 1971-72
Ultraman Ace 1972-73
Ultraman Taro 1973-74
Ultraman Leo 1974-75
Ultraman 80 1980-81
Ultraman USA (The Adventure Begins) 1987
Ultraman Great (Towards the Future) 1990-91
Ultraman Powered (The Ultimate Hero) 1993
Ultraman Hero 1995
Ultraman Zearth (parody) 1996-97
Ultraman Tiga 1996-97
Ultraman Dyna 1997-98
Ultraman Gaia 1998-99
Ultraman Nice 1999-00
Ultraman Neos 2000-2001
Ultraman Cosmos 2001-02
Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy 2004
Ultraman: Next 2004 - p.82
Ultraman Nexus 2004-05 - p.82
Ultraman Max 2005-06 - p.86
Ultraman Mebius 2006-07 - p.91
Ultraman UltraSeven X 2007 - p.99
UltraGalaxy: Mega Monster Battle 2007-2009 - p.100
Ultraman Retsuden 2011-13
Neo Ultra Q 2013
Ultraman Ginga 2013
Ultraman Ginga S 2014
Ultraman X 2015-16
Ultraman Orb 2016
Ultraman Geed 2017
Ultraman R/B 2018
Ultraman Taiga 2019
Ultraman Z 2020
Ultraman Trigger 2021
Ultraman Decker 2022
Ultraman Blazar 2023
Ultraman Arc 2024
Ultraman Omega 2025
Ultraman Theo 2026
We’ve been discussing other tokusatsu series in this forum lately, and because those series were produced later than Ultraman, I expected them to be technically better, but I ended up being somewhat disappointed in Super Robot Red Baron and Iron King. I enjoyed them, but I didn’t like them as much as I hoped to. Now I’ve started watching Ultraseven, and it’s everything I hoped it would be.
As the liner noteson the DVD set point out, “the difference in the overall quality in production between Ultraman and Ultraseven was marked, and made the show memorable 45 years later. According to Wikipedia, “Such is his popularity that Ultra Seven (or simply 'Seven') has appeared or at least made cameos in nearly every Ultra Series following his own and has had far more exposure than even the original Ultraman (though the original Ultraman is without a doubt the face of the Ultras).”
My wife and I disagree about the relative merits of Ultraseven in comparison to SRRB/IK. I would like to start the discussion with a look at the opening title sequence and music, then open the floor for rebutal.
The title sequence of Ultraman, as you will recall, looks as if it had been spelled out in a can of paint, slowly stirred, then run backwards. Ultraseven looks more like it had been spelled out in brightly colored confetti, placed atop one of those old electric football games, shaken apart, then run backwards. Whereas the soundtrack of Ultraman is jazzy, that of Ultraseven shows more of a classical influence.
Here is the English translation of the lyrics…
Seven… Seven… Seven… Seven…
Seven! Seven! Seven!
Seven! Seven! Seven!
A distant star was once his home
Ultra Seven! Fighter Seven!
Ultra Seven! Seven! Seven!
Onward to the edge of the galaxy
Use your Ultra-Eye and… STRIKE!
Seven! Seven! Seven!
Seven! Seven! Seven!
Dan Moroboshi is his borrowed name
Ultra Seven! Hero Seven!
Ultra Seven! Seven! Seven!
Defeat the great fire-breathing monster
Use yout Ultra-Beam and STRIKE!
Replies
"Akebono" can mean either "dawn" or "the color of the sky at dawn". It was also the sumo name of Hawaiian-born Chadwick Haʻaheo Rowan (1969-2024), who was the first non-Japanese-born person to reach the rank of yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo.
I did not know that! Thanks for the "color commentary."
THE FULL MOON'S ANSWER: "As SKIP members struggle against the scorching heat, a kaiju appears and begins absorbing gas. After accidentally absorbing Arc's powers as well, the kaiju loses control, and if it explodes, Hosimoto City could be wiped out. Yuma is inspired to act by the words of a mysterious woman. But why has this kaiju appeared?"
Kaiju: Homger, the Scorching Kaiju
Homger is feline-looking, like a big spikey tiger, but it is more like a Phoenix. Homger has two heartbeats, but it doesn't have two hearts; one is the heartbeat of its offspring. The Homger explodes while giving birth, transferring all its energy to its child. The mysterious woman is some sort of harbinger, who becomes a cat-lady at the end.
INTERNET KANEGON: "Hoshimoto City is in financial ruin. It seems that the popular digital currency 'HoshiPay' has been devoured by a digital kaiju. It's time for SKIP to spring into action. But wait... how can a digital kaiju be handled? Yuma and arc will need the help of HoshiPay's developer to stand up to this kaiju."
Kaiju:Internet Kanegon, the Virtual Kaiju
This topical episode combines TicTok, Bitcoin and AI to produce a 21st century threat. Rather than providing "likes," those who use the digital currency HoshiPay use it to pay for "tips." When a popular AI kaiju goes viral, what was designed to boost the economy actually ends up threatening it. If you've ever listened to someone explain "blockchain technology," this episode is like that. Arc and YouPi have to go into the difital world to confront and defeat Kanagon.
GOODBYE, RIN: "The members of SKIP are working alongside Satoru Yamagami from the SKIP HQ's Kaiju Analysis Unit. Rin has actually known Yamagami even before joinung SKIP, and feels nostalgic about their reencounter. However, Yamagami has fallen under suspicion for trading kaiju cells on the black market and Rin decides to participate in the investigation."
Kaiju: Neronga, the Transparent Kaiju; Pagos, the Subterranean Kaiju
Satoru Yamagamiwas Rin's mentor in college. He inspired her to seek a career in SKIP. Now he is under suspicion of trading kaiju cells on the black market. Lots of shades of grey in this episode. This series is a cut above most of the others. Neronga is very similar to "The Invisible Monster" from Jonny Quest.
TO MY DISTANT FRIEND: "Kazuo, Yuma's classmate and amateur radio afficionado, had found a shred of happiness in his gloomy life by communicating with someone called 'Fio' every night. Unfortunately, the waves used in their correspondence have accidentally summoned 'Noiseler' from space. Will Yuma be able to protect Kazuo after hearing the truth about Fio?"
Kaiju: Noisler, the Noise Kaiju
Kazuo was a loner in junior high school, and not really Yuma's friend. Fio, the only friend he has ever made in his life, as it turns out, is the last inhabitant of a dying planet. "Oh, my god!" says tracy. "It's Doctor Who!" (Actually, there was a ST:TNG like this, too" "Pen Pal.") Not much here we haven't seen before; even the kaiju is unimaginative.
MESSAGE: "A giant robot suddenly falls from the sky? It keeps repeating the same phrase over and over. Is Givas, the mechanical colossus an enemy or a friend? Based on Givas' action, Yuma believes it has a will of its own, and decides to confirm it through communication. His actions may convince his team, but will the harsh reality get in the way?"
Kaiju: Oka-Gubila, the Ancient Underground Beast
Robot: Givas, the Mechanical Colossus
While Ultraman Arc is fighting Oka-Gubila, a giant robot falls front a rift in the sky. When a little girl and her brother are endangered, the robot apparently steps in to protect them, convinceing Yuma that its intentions are peaceful. It repeats two phrases over and over, but Rin is having a hard time translating them. She has most of it except for one word: "Do you have my Givas? I am your Givas." The robot is subsequently named "Givas." She speculates aloud that a races' language is based on how many suns are in the planets solar system. When YouPi hears this, he volunteers that he saw in the "database" that Givas comes from a system with no suns, but rather one that is "moon-based." This makes no sense, but it (somehow) gives her the insight she needs to translate the final word: "Enemy."
It keeps repeating the same phrase over and over.
"Eat at Joe's.
Eat at Joe's.
Eat at Joe's.
Eat at Joe's."
YOU ARE GIVAS: "Yuma is shocked by the meaning of Givas' word. He ends up acting harshly toward Shu and is overwhelmed with regret. That's when 'he' comes to save Yuma from gloom. With GDF's attack imminent, Yuma infiltrate Givas as a last resort, and comes face to face with the shocking truth"
Kaiju: Oka-Gubila, the Ancient Underground Beast
Robot: Givas, the Mechanical Colossus
Alien: Meguna
Yuma is depressed because he and Shu have had a falling out over Givas. Suddenly, Croco (the "Mushroom-Huinting Alien" from the Akebono Inn) appears to encourage him. He is able to provide intel on Givas, including the fact that it is operated from within by a humanoid pilot. Yuma climbs into Givas and makes his way to the cockpit, where he finds a mummified operator. He touches the pilot, and it disintigrates into dust, leaving a helmet behind. Yuma seats himself in the chair and dons the helmet, which puts him in telepathic contact with Givas.
Centuries ago, when their Holy Moon, Mujari, ran out of power, Givas and Meguna (the pilot) were dispatched to find a new one. Their quest proved unsuccessful. Eventually Meguna, along with all the people on his planet, died. A vestage of Meguna's consciousness still drives Givas. Their language is complex, and sometimes the same word will have different meanings depending on the circumstances. For example, "Givas" (the word for "emeny") means "friend" under a full moon, which is currently in the sky. Oka-Gubila reappears, and Ultraman Arc and Givas fight it off, then Givas leaves once again for the stars.
SHU'S REPORT: "After working and solving so many cases together, Shu seems to have really become a part of SKIP. But wait... he's been writing a report to the GDF late at night. While revisiting the memories of previous incidents, one by one the SKIP members join him in a discussion about Ultraman Arc. What are their thoughts on Arc?"
A clip show. We are left to wonder whether Shu is on SKIP's side or an internal "spy" working against the team's best interests.
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