Logo for the new series, ULTRAMAN TRIGGER: NEW GENERATION TIGA. Image courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
25 Years After ULTRAMAN TIGA, the Legend of the Giant of Light is Revived in the World of Reiwa!
Source: Tsuburaya Productions
Official Site: ani.tv/ultraman_trigger, m-78.jp/trigger (Japan)
Official Twitter: twitter.com/ultraman_series
ULTRAMAN TRIGGER key art, courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
Tsuburaya Productions has provided SciFi Japan with press notes and large high-res images from ULTRAMAN TRIGGER: NEW GENERATION TIGA (ウルトラマントリガー NEW GENERATION TIGA, Urutoraman Torigā Nyū Jenerēshon Tiga), their upcoming television series featuring a new Ultra Hero set in the ULTRAMAN TIGA (ウルトラマンティガ, Urutoramant Tiga, 1996-97) timeline.
Introduction
Tsuburaya Productions will begin broadcasting their latest TV series ULTRAMAN TRIGGER: NEW GENERATION TIGA on the TV Tokyo Network, beginning Saturday, July 10, 2021 at 9:00 am (a date knowm as ‘Ultraman Day’*).
The new TV series ULTRAMAN TRIGGER was planned as a homage to ULTRAMAN TIGA, the first of the beloved "Heisei Trilogy" series known as “TDG” series (ULTRAMAN TIGA, ULTRAMAN DYNA and ULTRAMAN GAIA), which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Emulating the core TIGA story elements such as the legend of the Ancient Giant of Light, and the first-ever use of Type Changes in the Ultraman series, ULTRAMAN TRIGGER can be considered a new generation Tiga with a brand-new story.
With Koichi Sakamoto, the master of the tokusatsu hero genre, as the main director, and with the motto of “wanting to make everyone smile” at its core, Tsuburaya Productions will deliver a series which will bring back the excitement felt by childhood fans of TIGA into the present day.
The new Hero Ultraman Trigger is a Giant of Light who fell into an extended slumber after his battle against the power of darkness 30 million years ago. He joins with the protagonist Kengo Manaka, a human who has inherited the light, and once more he stands against monster attacks and the dark forces to protect the Earth.
Kengo is played by Raiga Terasaka, the leader of boy group Matsuri Nine. Despite his young age, he has delivered smiles to countless fans across the globe. He draws on this experience in his role as Kengo Manaka, the newest recruit of GUTS-Select, an expert team that confronts the monster attacks, and he transforms into Ultraman Trigger. Please look forward to ULTRAMAN TRIGGER: NEW GENERATION TIGA, the 25th** Ultraman TV series
*(Note: Counting the TV series that featured a new Ultraman Hero and were broadcast on national television since 1966, and excluding 5 minute or less short series)
* The anniversary of Ultraman first appearance on TV in THE BIRTH OF ULTRAMAN – ULTRAMAN Pre-Premiere Special. on July 10, 1966 (registered by the Japan Anniversary Association)
* *Counting the TV series that featured a new Ultraman Hero and were broadcast on national television since 1966, and excluding short series running 5 minute or less
Ultraman Trigger and Ultraman Tiga. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
Synopsis
30 million years ago, the world was engulfed in terrifying darkness.
But that darkness was sealed far out in space by ta Giant of Light.
His power spent, the Giant of Light sleeps in the red star, and is forgotten as time goes by…
As the Terrestrial Peaceable Union (TPU) hurries to gather the expert team GUTS-Select, Kengo Manaka lives peacefully on the now-colonized Mars as a botanist.
However, his peaceful life suddenly comes to an end one fateful day.
The darkness that the ancient civilization sealed away lives again!
As a monster bears down on the Martian settlement, Kengo has a chance encounter with none-other than the sleeping Giant of Light.
How will Kengo’s meeting with the Giant of Light impact his life and the destiny of Earth?
After an eternity, the Giant of Light revives. His name is -- Ultraman Trigger!
The New Hero, Ultraman Trigger
Ultraman Trigger is a Giant of Light who has revived after an eternity. In addition to his basic Multi Type form, he can Type Change into a Power Type form which is specialized with great strength for ground battles and a Sky Type form that is specialized for aerial combat and agility. He wields the sacred weapon Circle Arms in battle. Height: 53m. Weight: 44,000 tons.
Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
■ Ultraman Trigger Multi Type (ウルトラマントリガー マルチタイプ)
Ultraman Trigger’s basic form that evenly balances both speed and power. Whether on land, sea, or air, he can engage with a multitude of fighting styles.
His special move is the Zeperion Beam. When he wields the sacred weapon Circle Arms, he primarily uses it in its standard Multi Sword form.
Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
■ Ultraman Trigger Power Type (ウルトラマントリガー パワータイプ)
Ultraman Trigger’s Power Type form focuses on raw power. It works well in hand-to-hand combat against heavier opponents.
His special move is the Deracium Beam Torrent. When wielding the Circle Arms, he primarily uses it in Power Claw form.
Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
■ Ultraman Trigger Sky Type (ウルトラマントリガー スカイタイプ)
Ultraman Trigger’s most agile form, the Sky Type is able to utilize quick attacks. It is best used against flying monsters, aerial battles, and high-speed combat.
His special move is the Runboldt Beam Shell. When wielding the Circle Arms, he primarily uses it in Sky Arrow form.
Top Left: GUTS Sparklence in Sparklence Mode. Top Right: GUTS Sparklence Hyper Gun Mode. Bottom: GUTS Hyperkeys. Photos courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
Transformation Item
■ GUTS Sparklence (GUTSスパークレンス)
The GUTS Sparklence is an item based on analysis of an artifact excavated from the ruins of an ancient civilization. Scientific methods were used to create a replica.
In its standard Hyper Gun mode the GUTS Sparklence is used as a long range weapon, but when monsters appear and the power of light is needed, Kengo Manaka converts into it to the Sparklence mode. After loading it with the GUTS Hyper Key and pulling the trigger while raising the GUTS Sparklence skywards he transforms into Ultraman Trigger.
A private Foundation operating on a global scale, it was founded by Mitsukuni Shizuma for the betterment of society. The Sizuma Foundation is currently on the forefront of Space Exploration and Extraterrestrial Archeology. Through his archeological research, Mitsukuni found evidence of a dark power that would threaten the Earth, and so he formed the TPU (Terrestrial Peaceable Union) to stand up against this impending threat.
“GUTS-Select” is the name of the expert team formed within the TPU.
Main Character and Lead Actor Profiles
Kengo Manaka (Raiga Terasaka). Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
■ Kengo Manaka (Played By Raiga Terasaka)
The protagonist of the show, Kengo Manaka transforms into Ultraman Trigger. He’s 21 years old. With a sociable, kind, and hard-working personality, he has a fiery sense of justice that compels him to fight to protect humanity’s smiling faces.
He lived peacefully as a botanist on the Mars colony until the day he had a fateful encounter with the Giant of Light.
Although feeling uncertain with the sudden changes that are happening to him, he heads to Earth to become the newest recruit of the expert team, GUTS-Select.
The role of Kengo Manakais played by 21year-old Raiga Terasaka, who was born on December 26, 1999 in Gifu Prefecture. Standing 175cm (5.74 feet) tall, Manaka Terasaka was inspired by hero media to enter the entertainment industry. In 2014, he debuted as an understudy in the popular Nagoya-based group BOYS AND MEN. In 2017, he was among the members chosen to form Matsuri Nine. and joined as its leader. Incorporating skillful acrobatics with his singing and dancing, he performs not just at live concerts but also on variety shows and other TV appearances. He is also the star of the movies FUN HOUSE（ファンハウス, Fanhausu, 2018）and BYE BYE VAMP (バイバイ、ヴァンプ!, Baibai, Vuanpu!, 2020). He is signed to the Fortune Entertainment talent agency.
Comment: Nice to meet you!
I’m Raiga Terasaka, who will play the main character, Kengo Manaka!
My dream was always to be a hero myself, so I am so happy and honored to be able to protect people’s smiling faces through playing Ultraman..!
As the story develops, we can see Kengo grow and enjoy the eccentric characters in his team. It’s a series that can be enjoyed by parents, children, and all generations of fans. The series reminds us of the light of hope that we all carry inside of us.
I think this series will make you see that light and bring a smile to your face!
I am smiling just thinking of all those waiting eagerly for ULTRAMAN TRIGGER!!!
Smiling, smiling! ♪
Yuna Shizuma (Runa Toyoda). Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
■ Yuna Shizuma (Played By Runa Toyoda)
The esteemed 17 year-old daughter of the Sizuma Foundation, she is a talented young woman who has received a privileged education from an early age. She is a member of GUTS-Select who contributes to the expert team in a myriad of ways in their fight against monster attacks. But beneath it all lies a regular high school student.
As the instructor for new GUTS-Select recruit Kengo, Yuna will spend a lot of her time working alongside him.
Runa Toyoda has been chosen to play Yuna Shizuma, the new series’ heroine. Runa has starred in a variety of child roles since the age of 5, and she was awarded the Grand Prize in the acclaimed gravure beauty contest “Miss Magazine 2019.”
Comment: I’m Runa Toyoda, playing Yuna Shizuma.
Yuna is a bright and ingenious girl, and yet she has a strong sense of conviction within her.
She and I are similar in some ways, and I hope to discover more of the qualities that we share as her character develops.
This series is a story filled with hope, and with quirky characters that are bound to make its viewers smile. That is the kind of series that you can look forward to.
I will give it my all to deliver courage and happiness to all generations, from children to grandparents, as Yuna Shizuma.
I hope you are all really excited for ULTRAMAN TRIGGER, and thank you for your support!
Main Director Profile
Main Director Koichi Sakamoto. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
■ Koichi Sakamoto
Koichi Sakamoto was born September 29th, 1970 (age 50 years) in Tokyo. He currently holds American nationality and has worked as a director in Hollywood.
He was inspired by Jackie Chan as a child, set out to make a career in the action world, and began work in Hollywood as a stuntman. As a stunt coordinator, he worked as a director on the Power Rangers series for many years, eventually also filling the role of producer.
In Japan too, he has directed many Tokusatsu hero series such as the Super Sentai and Kamen Rider series. His directing debut in the Ultraman Series was the 2009 film directed MEGA MONSTER BATTLE ULTRA GALAXY: THE MOVIE (大怪獣バトル ウルトラ銀河伝説 THE MOVIE, Daikaijū Batoru Urutora Ginga Densetsu THE MOVIE), where he brought to the world the now-popular hero Ultraman Zero. In 2014, he also worked on the ULTRA GINGA S (ウルトラマンギンガＳ, Urutoraman Ginga S) TV series.
Among his works, the most prominent is his role as the main director on ULTRAMAN GEED (ウルトラマンジード, Urutoraman Jīdo, 2017), which was a tremendous hit even among the popular New Generation Heroes series. He has also directed several of the “Ultra Fight” mini-series, most recently ULTRA GALAXY FIGHT: THE ABSOLUTE CONSPIRACY (ウルトラギャラクシーファイト 大いなる陰謀, Urutora Gyarakushī Faito Ōinaru Inbō, 2009).
Comment: Hello! This is Koichi Sakamoto, the director of ULTRAMAN TRIGGER.
In this memorable year which celebrates 55 years of Ultraman and 25 years since the debut of ULTRAMAN TIGA, to be chosen for the important role of main director for this new series makes me feel very nervous.
As the series is a successor to the immensely popular ULTRAMAN TIGA, I sometimes feel I may be overwhelmed by the pressure, but the entire cast and crew are working hard, and we are wholeheartedly committed to delivering a series that will bring a smile to every generation of Ultraman fan.
In this series, I am facing many new challenges. Please look forward to the evolution of these most important elements for Tokusatsu works such as modeling, shooting, and VFX!
With the various changes and limitations in our lives currently, it can seem as if the world today is covered in darkness, but I know that the light inside of Ultraman is going to blow that darkness away!
Logo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS
TDG 25th Anniversary
In 1996, the first new Ultraman TV series in 16 years, ULTRAMAN TIGA, was released domestically to an enthusiastic reception and instantly became a smash hit.
ULTRAMAN TIGA and its successive series ULTRAMAN DYNA (ウルトラマンダイナ, Urutoraman Daina, 1997-98) and ULTRAMAN GAIA (ウルトラマンガイア, Urutoraman Gaia, 1998-99) are lovingly called the “Heisei Trilogy” or “TDG” (short for “Tiga, Dyna, and Gaia”).
2021 is the 25th anniversary of ULTRAMAN TIGA’s first broadcast.
To celebrate, along with this series, we are planning a whole host of this events and merchandise for fans to enjoy. Please stay tuned for more information!
Image courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
ULTRAMAN TRIGGER Series Overview
Start Date: Saturday, Jul 10, 2021
Broadcast Time: Every Saturday 9:00~9:30am (JST)
Broadcast Channel: TXN Network and others
Production Companies: Tsuburaya Productions, TV Tokyo, and Dentsu
Actors: Raiga Terasaka and others
©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
ULTRAMAN TRIGGER teaser trailer, courtesy of Tsuburaya Produtions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・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 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.