Logo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONSNew Project "ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES" Starting ~ The Ultraman Series` s Attraction to Leave to the New Generation ~ Source: Tsuburaya Productions Official Site: m-78.jp/ultraman-archives (Japan)
A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE
As previously revealed on SciFi Japan, Tsuburaya Productions held a presentation in Tokyo this morning to discuss plans for their upcoming ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES (????????????) Project.
Photos courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONSThe goal of ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES is pass along the 50 year heritage of the Ultraman Series to the next generation, including those unfamiliar with the franchise. To the end, Tsuburaya Productions has diligently selected key episodes of the earliest series, which will be supplemented with commentaries from the original creators and various intellectuals, production photos and behind-the-scenes footage to provide an in-depth look at the virtues of these masterpieces. The ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES will also host public events and release home videos, books and limited edition products. The initial wave of the ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES will feature four titles from ULTRA Q (????Q, Urutora Kyuu, 1966), the show which became the origin of the Ultraman Series. Up first is Episode 19: CHALLENGE FROM THE YEAR 2020 (2020????, Nisen-nijuu-nen no Choosen), which stands out for its depiction of the decline of society and the body -- and for introducing the fan-favorite humanoid creature, Kemur. CHALLENGE will be the subject of a multifaceted presentation, with Episodes 16: GARAMON STRIKES BACK (???????, Garamon no Gyakushuu), 15: COCCOON OF KANEGON (??????, Kanegon no Mayu) and 14: TOKYO ICE AGE (?????, Tokyo Hyoogaki) to receive similar treatments in 2019. Plans for ULTRAMAN (???????????????, Urutoraman: Kuso Tokusatsu Shirizu, 1966-67), ULTRA SEVEN (???????, Urutora Sebun, 1967-68) and RETURN OF ULTRAMAN (???????????, Kaettekita Urutoraman, 1971-72) are currently in development.
ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES Preliminary Schedule
? ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES Premium Theater The ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES kick off with a Premium Theater live event at the Aeon Cinema Itabashi, Tokyo, on November 17 starring guests Toshihiro Iijima, a director on the early Ultraman shows, and Naoki Urasawa, the award-winning manga creator of Monster, Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, and his masterpiece 20th Century Boys (which included nods to the Ultraman Series). The "Toshihiro Iijima × Naoki Urasawa Special Talk Show" presents a discussion between one of the creators who built the foundation of the Ultraman series, and a key member of the first generation of fans who -- at age 6 -- watched ULTRA Q and ULTRAMAN in their in initial broadcasts. It will be followed by a screening of Iijima`s CHALLENGE FROM THE YEAR 2020. Attendees of the live event in Itabashi will have the opportunity to purchase advance copies of the ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES VISUAL BOOK: CHALLENGE FROM THE YEAR 2020 (product info provided below). The Premium Theater event will also be simulcast at fourteen Aeon Cinemas nationwide (theater list below). Tickets will be available for purchase from the website of each theater starting Friday, November 2. Date: Saturday, November 17, 2018, 6:00pm Guests: Toshihiro Iijima, Naoki Urasawa Special Talk & Screening Theater: Aeon Cinema Itabashi (Tokyo) Ticket Price: ¥3,000 (Approximately $26.83 US, Includes Soft Drink Ticket) Aeon Cinema Simulcast Theaters: Ebetsu (Hokkaido), Natori (Miyagi), Urawa Misono (Saitama), Makuhari Shintoshin Central (Chiba), Theatus Chofu (Tokyo), Kohoku New Town (Kanagawa), Shinyurigaoka (Kanagawa), Kanazawa Forus (Ishikawa), Kakamigahara (Gifu), Odaka (Aichi), Kyoto Katsuragawa (Kyoto), Ibaraki (Osaka), Hiroshima (Hiroshima), Fukuoka (Fukuoka) Ticket Price: ¥2,000 (Approximately $17.88 US, Includes Soft Drink Ticket)
Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS? ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES: ULTRA Q Episode 19: CHALLENGE FROM THE YEAR 2020 Blu-ray & DVD Set The first ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES Blu-ray & DVD set focuses on CHALLENGE FROM THE YEAR 2020, with HD remasters of the original 1966 black & white episode and the COLOR ULTRA Q colorized version from 2011. Also included are video testimonials by cast and crew members, new viewpoints and commentary from outside experts, and additional bonus features. The content will be identical on the Blu-ray and DVD discs in this set. Release Date: Late February 2019 Price: ¥4,800 (Approximately $42.92 US, Plus Tax) Discs: 2 Main Feature Specs: 4:3 Color/Black & White (1080p High Definition) / Linear PCM (Stereo Monaural) Distributor: Tsuburaya Productions, Pony Canyon
Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS? ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES VISUAL BOOK: CHALLENGE FROM THE YEAR 2020 The VISUAL BOOK highlights key moments from CHALLENGE FROM THE YEAR 2020 with high resolution scans taken from the original 35mm film negatives, presenting the episode on a scale beyond the TV frame. Advance Release Date: Saturday, November 17, 2018 (Premium Theater Live Event at Aeon Cinema Itabashi) General Release Date: TBA 2019 Price: ¥1,019 (Approximately $9.11 US, Plus Tax) Language: Japanese Format A4 Horizontal (29.7cm x 21cm) Pages: 36 Publisher: Tsuburaya Productions
Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS? ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES CLASSIC ARTS: Ryosaku Takayama`s Monster Doll "Kemur" Ryosaku Takayama created the maquettes and built the suits for many of the early Ultra Monsters. ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES now presents the first commercially available figure based on one of Takayama`s prototype models. Retailer: Tsuburaya Productions Official Online Shop Order Dates: Saturday, November 17, 2018 - Thursday January 17, 2019 Price: ¥29,800 (Approximately $266.46 US, Plus Tax) Shipping: Late June 2019 Manufacturer: Kaiyodo Distributor: Tsuburaya Productions
Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS? ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES CLASSIC ARTS: Autographed Frame Art "Kemur" Framed and produced to museum specification, this classic promotional photo for CHALLENGE FROM THE YEAR 2020 is signed by Satoshi “Bin” Furuya, the suit actor who played Kemur (and later starred as Ultraman). Retailer: Tsuburaya Productions Official Online Shop Order Dates: Saturday, November 17, 2018 - Thursday January 17, 2019 Price: ¥15,000 (Approximately $134.13 US, Plus Tax) Shipping: Late June 2019 Distributor: Tsuburaya Productions
About Tsuburaya Productions
Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. has created dozens of heroes and other characters, including Ultraman, who have been loved from generation to generation. The base for the company was Tsuburaya Visual Effects Research, which was launched by the Japanese “Father of Special Effects” Eiji Tsuburaya. After showing his skill and making a name for himself working on many monster movies and special effects laden fantasy science films, in 1963 Tsuburaya incorporated Tsuburaya Visual Effects Research and established Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. in order to advance further research and development of special effects technologies and release visual works that could be enjoyed by a wider audience. The company has continued to maintain Eiji Tsuburaya’s policies even after his death. 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the company’s founding, and it continues its work to this day. Currently, the company carries out activities including production of works for television, original video works, and films for theatrical release; licensing of owned characters’ content; development of various products; event planning and live staged events that bring out the maximum appeal of its owned characters, and development of facilities that handle related items.