ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE Coming March 2017

Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., Tsuburaya Productions Official Site: m-78.jp/orb/movie (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Tsuburaya Productions and distributor Shochiku have provided information and high-res images for their upcoming theatrical feature based on the ULTRAMAN ORB (?????????, Urutoraman Oobu, 2016-17) television series. In ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE, the titular hero joins forces with Ultraman Zero and Ultra Seven to rescue the "New Generation Heroes" Ultraman Ginga, Ultraman Victory and Ultraman X and prevent an unprecedented global crisis. To battle the villain Murnau -- apparently named after NOSFERATU director F.W. Murnau -- Orb will also take on the new "Orb Trinity" form via the "Trinity Fusion" with X, Victory and Ginga. The film is being directed by Kiyotaka Taguchi, lead director on the ULTRAMAN ORB series. Taguchi worked on FX for the Godzilla franchise starting with GODZILLA VS MEGAGUIRUS (??? × ????? G????, Gojira tai Megagirasu: Jii Shoometsu Sakusen, 2000) and made his directing debut with the independent production G (????? ?, Daikaijuu Eiga G, 2007). After making the popular NHK short film GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER (????????, Choohatsu Daikaijuu Gehara, 2009), he directed episodes of Tsuburaya`s NEO ULTRA Q (???????Q, Neo Urutora Kyuu, 2013), KAIKI DAISAKUSEN: MYSTERY FILE (????? ??????????, Kaiki Daisakusen Misuteroo Fairu, 2013) and ULTRAMAN GINGA S (??????????, Uurutoraman Ginga S, 2014). Taguchi also headed the ULTRAMAN X (???????, Urutoraman Ekkusu, 2015-2016) television series and directed ULTRAMAN X THE MOVIE (??? ??????? ??????????????, Gekijoo-ban Urutoraman X Kita Zo! Ware-ra no Urutoraman, 2016). Shochiku will release ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE at the Shinjuku Piccadilly and other cinemas across Japan on Saturday, March 11, 2017. Advance tickets go on sale Saturday, December 20 at theaters nationwide, plus Ultraman events and official memorabilia shops. Ticket buyers who purchase the Parent-Child Pair will receive a free limited edition Glitter Ver. Ultraman Orb Origin finger puppet, while supplies last.

STORY A mysterious mechanism is delivered to the office of paranormal investigators SSP (Something Search People). SSP members Naomi Yumeno (Miyabi Matsuura), Jetta Hayami (Naoto Takahashi) and Shin Matsudo (Hiroaki Nerio) determine that it is a transformation device... the X Devizer that housed Ultraman X both during and after his merging with Xio agent Daichi Oozora (Kensuke Takahashi). Gai Kurenai (Hideo Ishiguro) returns from his wanderings to search for X... unaware that this is just the first sign of a new threat to the Earth. The villainous space witch Murnau (Oniyakko Tsubaki) -- obsessed with beauty -- has allied with Ultraman Orb`s enemy, Juggrus Juggler (Takaya Aoyagi), to use his Dark Ring. The Dark Ring draws the most evil hearts in the universe and amplifies the owner`s abilities, giving Marnau the power to capture the three Ultramen X, Ginga and Victory and transform them into jewels for her collection. Juggrus aids her for reasons of his own, while the evil aliens of the Planetary Invasion Syndicate wait in the wings. Can Ultraman Orb rescue the New Generation Heroes and defeat Murnau? The greatest battle to determine the future of the Earth will soon begin! CREDITS Official English Title: ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE Japanese Title: ??? ????????????????????? (Gekijoo-ban Urutoraman Oobu Kizuna no Chikara, Okari Shimasu!) Literal Translation: Ultraman Orb The Movie: I`m Borrowing the Power of Your Bonds! Japanese Theatrical Release: Saturday, March 11, 2017 (Nationwide Roadshow)

Cast Gai Kurenai/Ultraman Orb (Voice): Hideo Ishiguro Naomi Yumeno: Miyabi Matsuura Jetta Hayami: Naoto Takahashi Shin Matsudo: Hiroaki Nerio Juggrus Juggler: Takaya Aoyagi Ittetsu Shibukawa: Shingo Yanagisawa Murnau: Oniyakko Tsubaki Daichi Ozora: Kensuke Takahashi Ultra Seven (Voice): Koji Moritsugu Staff Director: Kiyotaka Taguchi Screenplay: Takao Nakano Production: “Ultraman Orb The Movie” Film Partners Distribution: Shochiku Media Division World Sales: Tsuburaya Productions © 2017 “Ultraman Orb The Movie” Film Partners Advance Ticket Prices Adult: ¥1,500 / Child: ¥800 Parent-Child Pair: ¥2000

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.

About Shochiku Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1895, Shochiku functions as a highly-tuned vertically integrated entertainment entity, encompassing feature film and television production, theatrical distribution of Japanese & foreign motion pictures, worldwide sales, exhibition, DVD and home video distribution and the Kabuki Theater. Shochiku operates one of the most successful motion picture divisions in Japan. The company has produced a number of critically and financially successful films, including the 2002 Academy Award nominee for best foreign language film THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI, directed by Yoji Yamada, the first Japanese Academy Award nomination for a live-action film in 22 years. Shochiku’s latest include DEPARTURES by Yojiro Takita, the 2009 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film.

For more information on ULTRAMAN ORB, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: