New SHIN ULTRAMAN Pachinko Machine Coming In April

Source: Tsuburaya Fields Holdings Inc. press release

Tsuburaya Fields Holdings Inc. has announced that their consolidated subsidiary, Fields Corporation, will be releasing a new pachinko machine, "e SHIN ULTRAMAN" (e シン・ウルトラマン, e Shin Urutoraman), to pachinko halls throughout Japan in April.

This game will be the first smart pachinko machine (スマパチ, (Sumapachi) to feature a new "P-Skip" (P-スキップ, P-Sukippu) function that allows players to enjoy quicker play. e SHIN ULTRAMAN is not only for pachinko and pachislot enthusiasts but a wide range of people, including movie and Ultraman series fans.

■ About SHIN ULTRAMAN

SHIN ULTRAMAN (シン・ウルトラマン, Shin Urutoraman) is a recent film adaptation of Japan's iconic sci-fi special effects hero Ultraman, released in 2022, by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi of SHIN GODZILLA (シン・ゴジラ, Shin Gojira, 2016) fame. Planned and scripted by Anno and directed by Higuchi, it depicts a world where Ultraman first landed in modern Japan, and where mysterious giant creatures called Kaiju appear one after another, while returning to the original concepts of the special effects TV program ULTRAMAN (ウルトラマン　空想特撮シリーズ, Urutoraman Kūsō Tokusatsu Shirīzu) broadcast from 1966 to 1967. In addition to the sci-fi precision, the realistic story that depicts the process of countermeasures against unidentified silver giants and giant unknown creatures by the government-established specialist group SSSP (禍特対 [カトクタイ], Wazawai Toku Tai), commonly known as "Katokutai", makes it entertaining not only by children but also adults.

1983 painting by original Ultraman designer, Tohl Narita. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©Tsuburaya Productions

The design of the Ultraman that appears in the film is based on the concept shown in the painting "Incarnation of Truth, Justice and Beauty" (真実と正義と美の化身, Shinjitsu to Seigi to Bi no Keshin) painted in 1983 by Toru 'Tohl' Narita, a major contributor to the look of the Ultra Series as the art director of ULTRA Q (ウルトラＱ, Urutora Q, 1966) and ULTRAMAN.

The distinctive lines uttered by the character Alien Mefilas were named "Mefilas Syntax" (メフィラス構文, Mefirasu Kōbun) became a hot topic mainly on social media.

SHIN ULTRAMAN got off to a smash hit start, attracting 640,000 spectators and earning over 990 million yen in box office revenue in the first three days of its release, and then attracted over 2.948 million spectators in the 84 days after its release, earning 4.44 billion yen in box office revenue, the sixth highest among Japanese films released in 2022 (data released in January 2023 by the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan). In addition, at the 46th Japan Academy Awards, it won seven awards including Best Picture and Best Director, as well as the Newcomer Actor Award. It was highly praised both at home and abroad, and was screened around the world, including Asia, North America, and Europe.

This movie has gained a wide range of support from fans of the original ULTRAMAN, the generation familiar with the Heisei Ultraman series, and even children and families enjoying the latest Ultraman TV series. In addition, its popularity has spread to new groups who have never been exposed to Ultraman before. There is a wide range of SHIN ULTRAMAN merchandising and, in particular, replicas of the Beta Capsule transformation item for adults sold out immediately after pre-orders began, proving its popularity.

■ e SHIN ULTRAMAN Smart Pachinko Machine Details

Manufactured by Kyoraku Sangyo Co., Ltd.
Sold by Fields Corporation

About Tsuburaya Productions

Tsuburaya Productions is one of the leading independent production companies in Japan. Founded in 1963 by Eiji Tsuburaya, the company continues to produce content that has been licensed to both the domestic and international markets. The company also engages in licensing, merchandising, publishing, and live stage shows and events, exploiting the IP it creates and owns.