ULTRAMAN Anime Updates From Tsuburaya Productions

Taro comes to the ULTRAMAN anime in Season 2, voiced by Tatsuhisa Suzuki. Image courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©ULTRAMAN PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM

Source: Tsuburaya Productions Official Site: anime.heros-ultraman.com (Japan), netflix.com/ultraman (US) Official Twitter Account: @ heros_ultraman

Voice actor Tatsuhisa Suzuki. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions.

Tsuburaya Productions has provided SciFi Japan with multiple updates containing more information and images for their ULTRAMAN (??????, Urutoraman) anime series. In April 2019, ULTRAMAN started streaming in over 200 countries (including the United States and Japan) exclusively on Netflix. The series was a critical and viewing hit, ranking first in anime and sixth overall for “the most-watched shows in Japan” on Netflix for last year. It also received an award for "Best CG Anime Broadcast on TV or Streamed Online" at the 2020 VFX-JAPAN Awards. A second season is currently in production for release in 2021. The first season is now airing on television in Japan, debuting on the independent station TOKYO MX on Sunday, April 12. Nippon BS Broadcasting Corporation`s satellite channel BS11 also began running the show on Tuesday, April 14. A new promotional video has been released for Season 2, introducing the series’ newest cast member, Tatsuhisa Suzuki. In the video, after a scene where Ultraman, Seven and Ace continue their fierce battles from Season 1, a mysterious horned silhouette wreathed in flames appears with the lines, “I am Taro -- Ultraman Taro!” delivered by Suzuki. Born November 11, 1983, Tatsuhisa Suzuki is a voice actor and singer whose credits include the POKEMON anime and the GO-BUSTERS television series and movies. Suzuki was also the voice of the villain Etelgar in ULTRAMAN GINGA S THE MOVIE: SHOWDOWN! THE 10 ULTRA WARRIORS! (??? ?????????? ??! ????10??!!, Gekij?-ban Urutoraman Ginga S Kessen! Urutora 10 Yuushi!!, 2015) and performed the theme song for ULTRAMAN Season 1 as the lead singer for the band OLDCODEX. Comment: I will be joining the series as Ultraman Taro. While reading the original comic, I had wondered how they were going to breathe life into Taro, who has a charming personality, strong will, and vigor and burns like the sun, and that’s when I got the offer. Now that I have been cast, I hope that I can convey my burning passion through my voice. Please stay tuned. I am excited to exceed everyone’s expectations.

ULTRAMAN Season 2 video, courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©ULTRAMAN PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM

? ULTRAMAN Anime Season 1 Blu-ray BOX

ULTRAMAN Season 1 Blu-ray Box art courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©ULTRAMAN PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM

The ULTRAMAN Blu-ray BOX, originally scheduled for a June release in Japan, will now be released on August 27. The set contains all 13 episodes from Season 1 of the anime, audio commentaries for all the episodes plus an 84 page production booklet. In addition, an exclusive 44 page comic from the creators of the original Ultraman manga, Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi, is included. Premium Bandai and A-on STORE are offering a “First Limited Edition” of the Blu-ray BOX, that includes an additional 84 page booklet detailing the creation of the high quality 3DCG animation produced by Sola Digital Arts. For additional images and complete product specs, please see SciFi Japan`s previous coverage here. Japanese Release Date: Thursday, August 27, 2020 Manufacturer: Tsuburaya Productions Distributor: BANDAI NAMCO Arts Inc. Blu-ray BOX Price: ¥30,000 (Approximately $276.82 US, Plus Tax) Blu-ray BOX First Limited Edition Price: ¥32,000 (Approximately $295.27 US, Plus Tax) Official Site: anime.heros-ultraman.com/bd-box (Japan)

? ULTRAMAN Anime Season 1 Original Soundtrack

Soundtrack cover, courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©ULTRAMAN PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM

The 2-disc CD set ULTRAMAN ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (TV????ULTRAMAN??????????????, TV Anime Urutoraman Orijinaru Saundotorakku) will be released on July 8. Containing 57 tracks, the set features background music from the the first season of series, the television broadcast opening theme song “Core Fade” by OLDCODEX and the ending theme song “my ID” by Void_Chords feat. Ryohei & Foggy-D. Also included are “Hoshi no Kakera,” sung during the series by the character Rena Sayama (voiced by Sumire Moroboshi), and the original Netflix ending theme song “Sight Over The Battle” by OLDCODEX. Japanese Release Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 Product Number: LACA-9758 Label: Lantis Distributor: BANDAI NAMCO Arts Inc. Price: ¥3,500 (Approximately $ US, Plus Tax) Official Site: bandaivisual.co.jp (Japan)

? ULTRAMAN Anime Details

ULTRAMAN promotional artwork for the Japanese broadcast premiere. Image courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©ULTRAMAN PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM

There once was a Giant of Light who protected Earth from monsters and alien invasions. His name was Ultraman. He merged with Hayata, a member of the SSSP. Years have passed since he completed his mission and left Earth, and humans have enjoyed an age of prosperity. However, this peace was never more than an illusion… Now, as Earth once again needs the power of the “Giant of Light,” a hero who inherited the genes of Light appears. However, this hero is no a giant, but a regular high schooler with worries and troubles in a metallic powered suit. This new hero is Shinjiro Hayata, the son of former Ultraman Shin Hayata. An exciting new story begins as he strives to become the next generation’s Ultraman! Exclusive Dstribution Worldwide on Netflix: Monday, April 1, 2019 Japanese Broadcast on TOKYO MX: Sunday, April 12, 2020 Japanese Broadcast on BS11: Tuesday, April 14, 2020 Episodes: 13 Cast Shinjiro Hayata: Ryohei Kimura Dan Moroboshi: Takuya Eguchi Seiji Hokuto: Megumi Han Shin Hayata: Hideyuki Tanaka Rena Sayama: Sumire Morohoshi Mitsuhiro Ide: Ken Uo Edo: Shigeru Ushiyama Jack: Ryota Takeuchi Yosuke Endo: Eiji Hanawa Kurata: Hirokazu Sekido Shiraishi: Minoru Shiraishi Adad: Kenjiro Tsuda Bemlar: Kaiji Soze Motion Actors Shinjiro Hayata: Katsuyuki Yamazaki Dan Moroboshi: Shinji Kasahara Rena Sayama, Seiji Hokuto: Haruka Shibai Shin Hayata, Edo: Teruaki Ogawa Mitsuhiro Ide and Bemlar: Kaiji Soze Staff Directors: Kenji Kamiyama, Shinji Aramaki Original Story: Tsuburaya Productions, Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi (Serialized in HERO’S monthly magazine) Music: Nobuko Toda, Kazuma Jinnouchi Opening Theme Song (Broadcast): "Core Fade" by OLDCODEX Ending Theme Song: "Sight Over The Battle" by OLDCODEX Ending Theme Song (Broadcast): “my ID” by Void_Chords feat. Ryohei & Foggy-D Production: Tsuburaya Productions Animation Studios: Production I.G. × SOLA DIGITAL ARTS ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©ULTRAMAN PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM

? ULTRAMAN Comic Details The ULTRAMAN manga is written by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi (Linebarrels of Iron). The comic has been serialized in the Shogakukan Creative monthly magazine HERO’S since 2011, with 15 collected volumes released as of April 3, 2020. The English language edition is available in North America from VIZ Media. Official Site: heros-ultraman.com (Japan), viz.com/ultraman (US) Official Twitter Account: @ heros_ultraman

Logo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©ULTRAMAN PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM

About Tsuburaya Productions

Tsuburaya Productions, creator and copyrights owner of the superhero ULTRAMAN series was founded in 1963 by Eiji Tsuburaya, world-renowned special effects wizard also known for his special effects work on the Godzilla series. With more than fifty years’ experience, it is one of Japan’s oldest and most respected independent film and television production houses. Its popular Ultraman TV and film series which premiered in 1966 has been seen in over 100 territories worldwide and has spawned over 3,000 licensed products. In addition to production, the company also handles character licensing and program distribution and staging live stage shows both domestically and internationally.

For more on the ULTRAMAN anime please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: