Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., Tsuburaya Productions, Bandai Corporation Official Site: m-78.jp/ginga Translations: John Paul Cassidy and Brad Warner

At the International Tokyo Toy Show 2013, Tsuburaya Productions and Bandai Corporation announced the next Ultraman movie event, tentatively titled ULTRAMAN GINGA – THEATER SPECIAL (?????????????????, Urutoraman Ginga Gekijoo Supesharu), will be coming to select Japanese theaters on September 7, 2013. The theatrical feature is tied to the new incarnation of the television series ULTRAMAN BIOGRAPHIES (????????, Urutoraman Restuden), which premiered on TV Tokyo on July 6, 2011. Beginning this July 3, the show will be re-branded THE NEW ULTRAMAN BIOGRAPHIES (?????????, Shin Urutoraman Restuden) and feature the adventures of the long-awaited new hero, Ultraman Ginga. The first brand-new Ultra hero since the introduction of Ultraman Zero four years ago, Ultraman Ginga (the name meaning "Ultraman Galaxy" in English) will star in his own tokusatsu sci-fi action drama. The series takes place in the town of Fuboshi (meaning "Falling Star Town") City, where a child named Hikaru Raidou used to spend his summer vacations. Now a high school student, Hikaru Raido is drawn back to the town for the first time in seven years. After reuniting with his childhood friends, he comes across a toy figure of Ultraman Taro and a mysterious device called the Ginga Spark, the treasure of a local shrine. With these items, the adventure story of Hikaru and Ultraman Ginga begins! The ULTRAMAN GINGA program will launch July 10, a date known as "Ultraman Day" as it marks the anniversary of Ultraman`s debut on television back in 1966. The initial broadcast run will consist of six episodes, with new episodes airing on TV Tokyo every Wednesday at 5:30pm through August 14. A second batch of five episodes is scheduled to begin this November. Between the two waves of episodes, Tsuburaya Pro will present the ULTRAMAN GINGA – THEATER SPECIAL, featuring an omnibus of the first six episodes, a preview of the second half of the series, and a new "special episode" in which Ginga will battle the fan-favorite "Tyrant Monster" Tyrant (from ULTRAMAN TARO).

ULTRAMAN GINGA – THEATER SPECIAL screenings will also include the co-feature GIANT MONSTER RUSH: ULTRA FRONTIER – DINO-TANK HUNTING (??????? ?????????? DINO-TANK hunting, Daikaijuu Rasshu Urutorafurontia DINO-TANK hunting). The computer animated short is based on Bandai’s New Data Carddass arcade game, GIANT MONSTER RUSH: ULTRA FRONTIER, which debuts in late September. Created as an homage to the aliens from all generations of the Ultraman series, the game presents newly designed alien hunters in a completely original story and setting. The ULTRAMAN GINGA – THEATER SPECIAL will be distributed by Shochiku, distributor for the majority of Ultraman films shown in Japan since 1979, and screen at the following theaters... Sapporo Cinema Frontier Movix Kameari Movix Akishima Warner Mycal Itabashi Yokohama Burg 13 Movix Kashiwanoha Movix Misato Toho Cinemas Mito Uchihara Movix Utsunomiya Movix Isesaki Movix Miyoshi Midland Nagoya Airport Movix Sakai Movix Yao Movix Kyoto Movix Kokoe Amagasaki Movix Kurashiki Warner Mycal Ayagawa Fukuoka Nakasu Taiyo Cinema

Ticket prices for the ULTRAMAN GINGA – THEATER SPECIAL are General (Adult): ¥1,000 (Plus Tax) and Children (Ages 3 – Junior High School): ¥500 Yen (Plus Tax). Ticket buyers will receive an exclusive, limited edition GIANT MONSTER RUSH: ULTRA FRONTIER Baltan Battler-Barel card while supplies last. A second THEATER SPECIAL is planned for Spring 2014. Credits Japanese Theatrical Release: Saturday, September 7, 2013 (Roadshow) Running Time: Approximately 45 minutes Director: Yuichi Abe Cast Hikaru Reidou: Takuya Negishi Misuzu Isurugi: Mio Miyatake Kenta Watarai: Mizuki Ono Chigusa Kuno: Kirara Tomoya Ichijouji: Takuya Kusakawa Production: Tsuburaya Productions, Bandai Corporation Distribution: Shochiku Co., Ltd. International Sales: Tsuburaya Productions

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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 close to 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.