ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE Update: Live Stage Show Celebrates End of Production

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 SciFi Japan with a another batch of high-res photos from ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE (??? ?????????????????????, Gekijoo-ban Urutoraman Oobu Kizuna no Chikara, Okari Shimasu!). The film opens at cinemas across Japan this Saturday, March 11th. On Thursday, February 23rd, the cast of ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE celebrated the completion of post-production with a live appearance in Tokyo. The fan meet-and-greet was attended by star Hideo Ishiguro (Ultraman Orb`s alter ego, Gai Kurenai), Koji Moritsugu (Ultra Seven`s alter ego, Dan Moroboshi), Kensuke Takahashi (Ultraman X`s human host, Daichi Ozora), Oniyakko Tsubaki (Murnau), and the comedy trio Jungle Pocket -- Hirohisa Ota, Otake and Shinji Saito -- who provided voices for Alien Hipporito Callisto, Alien Temperor Batista and Alien Guts Doppel. Callisto, Batista and Doppel also appeared onstage alongside Ultraman Orb Trinity, Ultra Seven and Ultraman X. The cast took the stage at the Shinjuku Piccadilly to address the audience of Ultraman fans...

Hideo Ishiguro: "From the bottom of my heart, I was really happy that I could participate in Ultraman. Everyone calls me by the name `Gai`; it makes me feel that I am truly loved by everyone. I will continue to do my best to honor the name of Ultraman so that I can give back to you and take the next step as an actor. Let`s meet on screen."

Oniyakko Tsubaki: "I don`t know if I can say this, but Murnau does not get huge [like the other characters] in the movie. I really wanted to grow, so during filming I pressured everyone to make that happen. I want you to understand my sorrow that it didn`t [laughs]."

Koji Moritsugu: "Co-starring with the new hero was wonderful. I still enjoy playing Seven and Dan Moroboshi. I am still healthy, so when I got the offer to appear in the new movie I quickly agreed. Even if I turn 80 [Moritsugu is currently 73 years old], I love Seven and will want to do it."

Kensuke Takahashi: "Last year when I was doing ULTRAMAN X, my senior Ultramen helped me a lot. This year I was on the other side, and I thought my role this time was to help the new Ultraman! I hope you enjoy watching the movie because you don`t yet know what the real story is."

Otake: "I think Gai has a pretty cute face, but this time we are enemies. I am fighting intensely, as you will see. It is a really fierce battle!"

Shinji Saito: "Today I met the actual aliens who perform here with such great force [laughs]. I was doing a kid`s program originally, so when I saw the children who have come today I thought their smiles were really brilliant."

Hirohisa Ota: "Today I am not a performer but a wrestler. [With a child due this spring] I would like to see Ultraman inspire her to be a strong girl, like a second generation [Japanese wrestler] Saori Yoshida [laughs].”

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 and ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: