1966’s Ultraman delivered a superhero vs. kaiju series that delighted young viewers at the time and that has lived on for years with multiple sequels and spin-offs.
What Is It?
The anti-monster defense agency known as the Science Patrol protects Earth from dangerous aliens and giant monsters and is often assisted in its efforts by the giant superhero Ultraman from Galaxy M78. Secretly, Science Patrol member Hayata transforms into the hero in times of need using the beta capsule, but he can only retain the form for a short time.
Aired: Syndicated, 1966-67, 1 Season totaling 39 Episodes
Cast: Susumu Kurobe, Akiji Kobayashi, Hiroko Sakurai, Sandayū Dokumamushi, Masanari Nihei
Crew: Eiji Tsuburaya (Co-Creator), Tetsuo Kingo (Co-Creator/Writer), Tohi Narita (Production Designer)
Legacy:
Despite its ’60s cheesiness, Ultraman introduced an important early Japanese superhero character and also delivered a notable entry in the tokusatsu (sfx) and kaiju (giant monster) genres that appeals to all ages and that is still recognized today.
The Skinny:
If you were a kid growing up in the late ’60s and/or early ’70s (even into the ’80s) and you happened to also be a sci fi fan, Ultraman was likely one of your go-to shows. It also appealed to those who liked Kaiju films like Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and Gamera, which also tended to be younger viewers. It had monsters and spaceships and aliens and big battles, all the things a young sci fi fan is looking for. Ultraman‘s stories pretty much followed the same formula each week: a monster shows up and is assumed to be a menace; the Science Patrol tries to stop it and proves ineffective; Ultraman shows up to save the day, but before long his chest light starts blinking indicating that he is running out of time (Hayata can only exist in this form for short periods); but Ultraman still succeeds in destroying the monster at the last minute. Many of the monsters that show up in the series are borrowed from other Kaiju films, with a Godzilla look-alike even making an appearance at one point. But all of this fulfills a kid’s need for a neatly packaged mini sci fi/monster movie in under thirty minutes.
The 1966 Ultraman series has not stood the test of time very well–much like contemporary Japanese import Speed Racer (more on that one at this link)–looking today like very much a product of its era. Its special effects match to the lower-end Kaiju films being put out in those days and are far from convincing (those are obviously men in rubber suits with the zippers frequently visible). And the stories are simplistic to the point of being puerile, offering little in the way of character development. But the show did veer from its formula from time to time and even put out a few episodes that borderline on the surreal. And ultimately it has its own certain charm and appeals to the kid in us all, and that helped it turn into a long-running franchise (more on that below). If you are revisiting this show, you obviously are not looking for serious sci fi stories or cinema-level special effects. As a superhero/kaiju series it succeeds at what it does well enough, and it definitely brings plenty of nostalgia value for those who remember the show from their younger years.
Cancelled Too Soon?
No. It did only produce 39 episodes which seems like an abbreviated run compared to some U.S. shows. But that is about the standard amount for a Japanese television show of this type at that time. That was actually less than what the syndication market preferred, but this one proved so popular that it still enjoyed a long tenure in reruns on the afternoon lineup. It did spawn quite a number of sequel series (see below), becoming one of the most popular franchises worldwide, though those versions did not get much exposure in the U.S. market.
The Story Continues:
And continues, and continues, and continues (and continues). Ultraman was preceded by the series Ultra Q in 1966 which was essentially The Outer Limits with Kaiju and acted as the first entry in the “Ultra” series. It did have recurring characters, but not a central superhero. Ultraseven would follow in 1967 and would act as a direct sequel to Ultraman, though with a whole new cast. After that, a new series would appear every year or two up to 1980 (though the Anime series that came out that year exists in a different timeline). The live-action shows would offer different variations on the Ultra heroes and delve into the mythology of Galaxy M78 to an extent, but their main focus was the kaiju battles. An Australian/Japanese reboot would show up in 1990 which was part of its own timeline, though that one would prove to be short-lived. In the mid-90s, Japan would revive the franchise and tie it back to the original continuity and that would lead to multiple spin-offs that would carry on well into the 21st century (more on that at this link). You can see a rundown of all the Ultra Series entries at this link.
Revival:
Starting in 2015, an Ultraman manga series was released that ties directly back to the 1966 series, and that has produced nineteen volumes so far. In 2019, Netflix released a CGI-animated series based on this revival, and that well-regarded entry in the franchise produced three seasons totaling 31 episodes. In 2022, the Japanese-produced Shin Ultraman feature film offered yet another reboot of the character. A nine-episode mini-series titled Shin Ultra Fight followed and sequels to the film are planned as well.
Interesting Facts:
Early in production, the Ultraman character was originally named Bemular, with the Science Patrol to be called Scientific Investigation Agency, and the name of the show would have been Bemular: Scientific Investigation Agency. The character’s name was then changed to Redman before finally landing on Ultraman. The Bemular name was revived for the manga series for a different character.
Both Ultra Q and Ultraman were dubbed in English for a syndication run in the U.S., but stations were not interested in the former series because it was in black and white, so it never got much exposure in this country. It has been released on Blu-ray and it is also available for streaming on Tubi TV, Pluto TV, and Shout! TV.
Where Can You Watch It?
The entire original Ultraman series has been released on DVD as well as Blu-ray. It is currently available to stream for free (with ads) on Tubi TV and The Roku Channel and it is also available on demand (free with ads) from Pluto TV.
