Info and Photos from Tsuburaya Pro for the 50th Anniversary Ultraman Series Source: Tsuburaya Productions, Fields Corporation Official Site: m-78.jp/orb (Japan)
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of ULTRAMAN (???????????????, Urutoraman: Kuso Tokusatsu Shirizu, 1966-67) -- and the 20th anniversary of the franchise`s relaunch with ULTRAMAN TIGA (?????????, Urutoraman Tiga, 1996-97) -- Tsuburaya Productions will debut their new ULTRAMAN ORB (?????????, Urutoraman Oobu) television series this July 9th on TV Tokyo. Scheduled for 25 episodes, the show will introduce the 42nd Ultraman in the Ultra Series. The creative team for ULTRAMAN ORB features a number of Ultraman veterans, including lead director Kiyotaka Taguchi, who served the same role for last year`s ULTRAMAN X (???????, Urutoraman Ekkusu). Joining Taguchi are directors Yuichi Abe (ULTRAMAN NEXUS, ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE REVENGE OF BELIAL, ULTRAMAN X), Ryuichi Ichino (ULTRAMAN GAIA, ULTRAMAN COSMOS), Taku Tomita (ULTRAMAN X) and Shono Takei. The head writers are Takao Nakano (BIG TITS ZOMBIE, ULTRAMAN GINGA, ULTRAMAN X THE MOVIE) and Yuji Kobayashi (GARO, ULTRA Q: DARK FANTASY, MEGA MONSTER BATTLE ULTRA GALAXY: THE MOVIE). The only cast member named so far has been Hideo Ishiguro, a 27 year-old actor known to tokusatsu fans for portraying the villainous Kai in Toei`s MASKED RIDER DEN-O (????????, Kamen Raidaa Den’Oo, 2007-08). Ishiguro will play Gai Kurenai, a young man described as a "vagabond" who transforms into Ultraman Orb via a device called the Orb Ring. Keeping with the anniversary theme of the series, Orb will have multiple forms that can borrow the powers of past Ultramen. The hero`s primary form is named Ultraman Orb Spacium Zeperion and can utilize the abilities of the original Ultraman and Ultraman Tiga. The blue Ultraman Orb Hurricane Slash combines Ultraman Jack and Ultraman Zero while the red Ultraman Orb Burnmite does the same with Ultraman Mebius and Ultraman Taro. These -- and additional forms to be introduced over the course of the series -- will offer Ultraman Orb a variety of appearances with different characteristics for combating the monsters who menace mankind, one after another.
Unlike the last few Ultraman shows, which were broadcast on weekday evenings, ULTRAMAN ORB will air in the 9:00-9:30 time-slot on Saturday mornings. Tsuburaya`s parent company, Fields Corporation, explained the time was changed "to one when more children have opportunities to watch". Fields added that the series will be supported with increased advertising and product development, both in Japan and parts of Asia. ? Profiles
? Lead Actor: Hideo Ishiguro Ishiguro was born January 10, 1989. In addition to MASKED RIDER DEN-O, he has appeared in the television productions GOKUSEN (????), TAIRA NO KIYOMORI (???, 2012), GUNSHI KANBEI (?????, 2014), DAMENA WATASHI NI KOISHITE KUDASAI (????????????, 2016) and THE LAST RESTAURANT (????????, Saigo no Resutoran, 2016). Ishiguro`s feature film credits include ELITE YANKEE SABURO (??????????????, Gekijooban: Erito Yankii Saburo, 2009), GOKUSEN THE MOVIE (???? THE MOVIE, 2009) and HIGANJIMA: ESCAPE FROM VAMPIRE ISLAND (???, Higanjima, 2010). ? Lead Director: Kiyotaka Taguchi Born in Muroran, Hokkaido in 1980, Taguchi studied cinema at the Nikkatsu Institute of the Arts in Tokyo. While still in school he worked on special effects for the movies WHITEOUT (???????, Howaitoauto, 2000), SAKUYA (??????, Sakuya Yokaiden, 2000) and GODZILLA VS MEGAGUIRUS (??? × ????? G????, Gojira tai Megagirasu: Jii Shoometsu Sakusen, 2000), after which he became part of the FX staff for the Godzilla series. He made his directing debut with the independent production G (????? ?, Daikaijuu Eiga G, 2007) followed by the NHK short film GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER (????????, Choohatsu Daikaijuu Gehara, 2009). Both works earned Taguchi an award from the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival 2009. He provided digital effects for the Kamen Rider series and served as a director on the TV series NEO ULTRA Q (???????Q, Neo Urutora Kyuu, 2013), ULTRAMAN GINGA S (??????????, Uurutoraman Ginga S, 2014), ULTRAMAN X and ULTRAMAN X THE MOVIE (??? ??????? ??????????????, Gekijoo-ban Urutoraman X Kita Zo! Ware-ra no Urutoraman, 2016). Additional works include MM9 -MONSTER MAGNITUDE- (????????? ?????????????, Emu Emu Nain Monsutaa Magunichuudo, 2010), RANGER (?????? ???????????????91?, RANGER Rikujoojieitai Kanbu Renjaa Kunren no 91-nichi, 2011), ULTRA ZONE (???????, Urutorazoon, 2011-2012), KAIKI DAISAKUSEN: MYSTERY FILE (????? ??????????, Kaiki Daisakusen Misuteroo Fairu, 2013) and THE NEXT GENERATION -PATLABOR- (? ???? ???????? -??????-, Za Nekusuto Jenereeshon – Patoreibaa -, 2014-2015). ? Credits Official English Title: ULTRAMAN ORB Japanese Title: ????????? Premiere: Saturday, July 9, 2016 Station: TV Tokyo and Affiliates Airdates: Every Saturday 9:00-9:30am Cast Gai Kurenai: Hideo Ishiguro Staff Lead Director: Kiyotaka Taguchi Directors: Yuichi Abe, Ryuichi Ichino, Taku Tomita, Shono Takei Writers: Takao Nakano, Yuji Kobayashi Cinematography: So Takahashi Recording: Ichiro Hoshi Production: Tsuburaya Productions, TV Tokyo, Dentsu © Tsuburaya Pro © Ultraman Orb Production Committee ? TV Tokyo
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.