Source: ACTV Japan
A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE
SciFi JAPAN TV returns with a look at the revival of the Ultraman franchise in the mid-1990s. In this episode, TV producer Yoshihiko Marutani and director Takeshi Yagi take us on a brief tour of "Ultra-Town" in Tsuburaya Productions’ old hometown of Shoshigaya-Okura, then sit down at the Ultraman goods shop Shot M78 to reflect on the productions of the Heisei series ULTRAMAN TIGA (ウルトラマンティガ, Urutoraman Tiga, 1996-1997), ULTRAMAN DYNA (ウルトラマンダイナ, Urutoraman Daina, 1997-1998), ULTRAMAN GAIA (ウルトラマンガイア, Urutoraman Gaia, 1998-1999), and ULTRAMAN COSMOS (ウルトラマンコスモス, Urutoraman Kosumosu, 2001-2002)!
Notes on the episode...
• Takeshi Yagi refers to a book by Akio Jissoji. A highly regarded art film director, Jissoji (1937-2006) was behind some of the most unique and popular episodes of ULTRAMAN and ULTRA SEVEN. His book about the production of the original ULTRAMAN, The Lunar Vessel of the Star Forests: The Men Who Dreamt of Monsters (星の林に月の舟―怪獣に夢見た男たち, Hoshi no Hayashi ni Tsuki no Fune ― Kaijuu ni Yumemita Otoko-Tachi) was published in 1987. For more on Akio Jissoji please see the tribute on SciFi Japan.
• Yoshihiko Marutani mentions Koichi Takano (1935-2008), was one of top creative personnel at Tsuburaya Productions. Takano joined the company in 1963 and worked in several different capacities -- including producer, managing director and FX director -- on TPC's shows and movies through 2002. For more on Koichi Takano please see the tribute on SciFi Japan.
• Yoshihiko Marutani also discussed the ratings for ULTRAMAN TIGA. According to the Japanese statistics company Video Research, TIGA had an average rating of 7.3%, with a high of 9.9 for Episode 14 and a low of 4.4 for Episode 50.
About SciFi JAPAN TV
A regular video program focusing exclusively on Japanese scifi and monsters is something we've always wanted to see, but nothing like it has ever been available, neither in Japan nor overseas. So we decided to make it ourselves!
SciFi JAPAN TV is shot on location in Japan exclusively for SciFi Japan by the ACTV Japan production team. The show delves into the world of Japanese monsters and scifi, featuring the latest and hottest tokusatsu events in Japan, as well as simple yet in-depth discussions with the people who bring all of our favorite films and shows to life!
About ACTV Japan
Established 2005, with offices based in Shibuya, Tokyo, ACTV Japan offers video production and editing solutions to a host of clients both in Japan and abroad. ACTV Japan has and continues to serve a variety of clients from around the world, including: FOX International Channels, Universal Channel, Warner Bros. Japan, TV Asahi, TBS, Fuji Television, NTV, GPlus Media, Honeywell and Teradata, among many others.