ULTRAMAN

[Drunk Monk]

Japanese Superhero 'Ultraman' Reboot in the Works (Exclusive)
10:04 AM PST 12/11/2018 by Etan Vlessing


Courtesy of Fantasia International Film Festival


Japan's Tsuburaya has hired Jeff Gomez's Starlight Runner Entertainment to do a new take on the futuristic policeman-turned-extraterrestrial savior for the international market.
The Japanese superhero Ultraman is getting the reboot treatment outside its country of origin.
U.S. transmedia producer Starlight Runner Entertainment has been tapped by Tokyo-based Tsuburaya Productions to build out the Ultraman mythology for the digital age outside of Japan, to include a possible live action streaming TV series. The original live action Ultra Q and Ultramanseries that launched in 1966 featured a high-tech police force and their silver superhero Ultraman battling to save the Earth from invading aliens and giant monsters.
Dozens of sequel TV series, movies, video games and other spinoff content followed, including recent movies like Ultraman X the Movie in 2016, Ultraman Orb the Movie last year and Ultraman Geed the Movie in 2018, the 29th installment of the franchise.
As Tsuburaya looks to restore Ultraman's profile outside Japan, Starlight Runner will team with The Licensing Group to reboot the superhero property across multiple platforms, with story-driven licensing and merchandising programs for the U.S. and international markets.
The Ultraman licensing program will be supported by new content distributed on cable, streaming and SVOD platforms. "Ultraman is one of my greatest childhood heroes. We’re honored to be embarking on this mission to bring this family of characters back to the world stage," Starlight Runner CEO Jeff Gomez said in a statement.
Starlight Runner earlier worked on digital spinoffs for movie and TV brands like Men in Black, Avatar, Halo, Pirates of the Caribbean and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In Japan, the Ultraman series continues to this day, generating over $50 million per year in toys and merchandise in Japan
Los Angeles-based The Licensing Group has worked on movie properties like Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Rambo, Mortal Kombat and Baywatch. The reboot deal was brokered for Starlight Runner by Brent Weinstein of United Talent Agency.

[Drunk Monk]

[Drunk Monk]

I'm several eps deep in the new Netflix anime.  It's satisfactorily distracting. Beautiful anime style, simple at first but the devil is in the details.  I like the overall story concept but I can't remember the original well enough to get some of the references and potential easter eggs.  I reminds me of the new Godzilla anime - not my beloved Tokusatsu, but still engagingly visual.  The fights are amusing - it's pro wrassling, wushu sweeps and kip ups, capoeira cartwheels, heavy on the superhero landings.  Iron Man owes so much to Ultraman, and this turns the tables with a super Ultraman suit that owes so much back to Iron Man.  The cosplay jokes are funny and the dust clouds from superhuman impact are glorious. The monsters are dark, almost Yokai, but then I'd say Ultraman owes a lot to the Yokai world too, from the onset.

[Drunk Monk]

That was a decent binge - 13 20+ min eps. It helps if you know Ultra Seven and Ultraman Ace, not just Ultraman, and to be honest, I only know a bit of 7. There were so many different Ultra incarnations. It was a huge franchise. The fight choreography was good and the animation style was very engaging, even if the overall plot meandered. It was good escapist fodder with a nostalgic lilt, which is just what I needed. Sword fights! Really wanted Ultraman to go giant tho.

[Drunk Monk]

July 10th is Ultraman Day! Registered by the Japan Anniversary Association

Jul.10, 2018 News
[img=100x0]https://en.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp/img/pc/fbBtn.png[/img][img=100x0]https://en.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp/img/pc/twBtn.png[/img]
[img=0x0]https://en.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/0710_001.jpg[/img]
Why is July 10th Ultraman Day?
 
The first episode of ULTRAMAN, “Ultra Operation No.1”, aired on July 17th, 1966. On July 10th, one week before the live-action series began, a special promotion event named “ULTRAMAN Eve: The Birth of Ultraman” that was pre-recorded at Suginami Koukaidou Hall, was broadcasted. Ultraman, Ultra Kaiju, members of the Special Science Search Party all appeared, with Eiji Tsuburaya, the creator of ULTRAMAN, being the guest.
That is why July 10th is Ultraman Day – it is the first day Ultraman had ever appeared publicly on TV.
 
[img=0x0]https://en.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/0710_002.jpg[/img]
Ultraman’s first appearance on TV!
 
[img=0x0]https://en.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/0710_003.jpg[/img]
Ultraman fighting Kaiju
 
[img=0x0]https://en.tsuburaya-prod.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/0710_004.jpg[/img]
Visitors excited to see Ultraman for the first time!

[Drunk Monk]

[Greg]

Ultraman's colors seem very familiar

[Drunk Monk]

[Drunk Monk]

Tsuburaya Productions' Optical Photographer Minoru Nakano Passes Away at 82
posted on 2021-04-06 13:30 EDT by Alex Mateo
Nakano did optical photography work on Alien Baltan in [i]Ultraman series[/i]

---

[img=261x0]https://cdn.animenewsnetwork.com/thumbnails/max400x400/cms/news.4/171510/minoru-nakano.jpg[/img]Optical photographer and visual effects technician Minoru Nakano passed away on Monday from liver failure. He was 82 years old. His funeral service will be for close relatives only with his eldest son Ryū as his chief mourner.
Nakano was born in Tokyo. He worked at Tsuburaya Productions for nearly 30 years, and he was a disciple of the company's founder Eiji Tsuburaya.
He was known for his optical photography work on Alien Baltan in the original Ultraman series. He worked on Tsuburaya Productions' early series including Ultra Q, Monster Booska, Ultra Seven, and Mighty Jack

[Drunk Monk]

BALTAN!

[Drunk Monk]

Underwater Knee High Socks Modeled After Ultraman Monsters Combines Kaiju With Girls
| SUPER COOL AWESOME TOKYO NOW | POSTED BY TOKYOGIRLS'UPDATE ON  AUG.01.2016

When it comes to the most stereotypically represented elements of popular Japanese sub-culture, schoolgirls and the gigantic monsters known as [i]kaiju[/i] are probably solid picks for the ultimate 1-2 punch. So it should come as no surprise that the two are being combined as entry into the fashion world, of all places, as a Japanese designer of swimwear is putting out [b]waterproof knee high socks modeled after the monsters in series like [i]Ultraman[/i][/b].

If sexy socks made for swimming sounds fairly random to you, don’t worry, there’s a bit of a history here. This isn’t the first time that Poolsider has released underwater knee high socks, and their popularity is also due to the fact that they’ve collaborated with photographer [b]Manabu Koga[/b], whose photography of the waterproof socks on Japanese models (and especially their thighs) is being featured this week at an exhibit in Akihabara. Rounding out this aqua-socks collaboration is Tsuburaya Productions, the SFX team behind the original [i]Ultraman[/i] television series. The models at the exhibit will be showing off socks creatively designed as famous monsters from the [i]Ultraman[/i]universe, which will also be available for purchase online.
Silver Bloome (Ultraman Leo) modeled by Momoko Kudou


Eleking (Ultra Seven) modeled by Mashima Shimarisu

---

Gomora (Ultraman) modeled by Mio Usagi


Dada (Ultraman) modeled by Emi Ringo


Alien Guts (Ultra Seven) modeled by Saki

The actual socks can be purchased from Sprite and Poolsider online for 3,240 yen ($31.70 USD), but appear to be sold out at the moment, so if you have the Japanese ability to order you’ll have to hope for a resupply. Koga’s photography of the models can be seen in his book series, or at the actual exhibit which will run from 8/5-8/17 at PATER’S Shop and Gallery in Harajuku, which is free of charge to attend.
Source:Pepper／Poolsider Shop／Sprite Shop／Kai You／Paters／Amazon

[cranefly]

I'm confused.  From the poses, it seems legit that these ladies are indeed underwater.

But their hair?  They should selling whatever product kept it looking so fluffy and dry.

(I suspect that product is Photoshop or similar.)

[Drunk Monk]

It's a kaiju/tokusatsu thing.

[Drunk Monk]

May 13, 2021 2:00pm PT
Netflix Developing ‘Ultraman’ Animated Feature With All-New Story (EXCLUSIVE)

By Adam B. Vary





[color=var(--color-brand-secondary-50)]
[color=var(--color-brand-secondary-50)]Courtesy of Netflix[/color][/color]
For 55 years, “Ultraman” has been one of Japan’s A-list superheroes — defending the planet from alien kaiju and inspiring all manner of global pop culture, from the “Power Rangers” to Paul Rudd’s “Ant-Man” suit. But while the character has a loyal following outside of Japan, Ultraman has never become a massive crossover phenomenon at the scale of Godzilla or Pokémon.
Netflix is hoping to change that.
The streamer is partnering with Tsuburaya Productions to develop “Ultraman” as a CG-animated feature film aimed at bringing a new, wider audience to the beloved silver-suited character. Shannon Tindle, an animator who’s worked on “Coraline” and “Kubo and the Two Strings,” will make his feature directorial debut with the project, from a script he wrote with “Kubo” screenwriter Marc Haimes. John Aoshima (“DuckTales,” “Gravity Falls”) will co-direct.
Netflix is also home to an ongoing “Ultraman” animated TV series, also in partnership with Tsuburaya, that continues the storyline from the original live-action Japanese series of the 1960s. But the “Ultraman” feature will strike out on its own with an all-new storyline designed to honor the past mythology while introducing the character to a new potential global fanbase. Similarly, the animation — from Industrial Light and Magic — will be stylized but not strictly animé, as this exclusive first look at concept art for the film demonstrates.

[color=var(--color-grey,#8c8c8c)]Courtesy of Netflix
[/color]

The film will follow Ken Sato, a superstar baseball player who returns to Japan to become the latest hero to carry the mantle of Ultraman. His plans go awry, however, when he is compelled to raise a newborn kaiju monster — the offspring of his greatest enemy — as his own child. Sato will also have to contend with his relationship with his estranged father and the schemes of the Kaiju Defense Force.
“Making this film is a dream come true,” Tindle says in a statement. “What began as an original story inspired by my love for Eiji Tsuburaya’s Ultraman somehow became an actual Ultraman film thanks to the incredible trust of the team at Tsuburaya Productions, and the support of the folks at Netflix Animation. We’ve assembled an all-star team and I can’t wait to share our unique take on Ultraman with the rest of the world.”
No actors have been cast yet, but the plan is for a mix of Japanese and western stars, coupled with a large number of below-the-line talent from Japan. Tom Knott will produce and Lisa Poole will co-produce.
“This partnership with Netflix will be the first full-scale endeavor to reach the global market for Tsuburaya Productions,” says Tsuburaya CEO and chairman Takayuki Tsukagoshi. “Ultraman, since it was created, has charmed many people around the world. And Shannon Tindle is one of those people. He was greatly influenced by Ultraman as a child, and he grew up to become a creator himself. I am delighted that families around the world will be able to watch Shannon and his team’s vision for Ultraman on Netflix and foster feelings of courage, hope and kindness.”
“Ultraman” is part of Netflix’s growing roster of animated features, including Oscar-nominated films “Klaus” and “Over the Moon,” and a vast upcoming slate that includes Richard Linklater’s “Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Adventure” starring Glen Powell and Jack Black; Henry Selick’s “Wendell & Wild” with Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key; Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” toplined by Ewan McGregor, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton and Christoph Waltz; Wendy Rogers’ “The Magician’s Elephant” starring Benedict Wong, Noah Jupe, Brian Tyree Henry and Mandy Patinkin; Aardman’s upcoming sequel to “Chicken Run”; and an adaptation of Lupita Nyong’o’s children’s book “Sulwe.”
“Having the opportunity to partner with our friends at Tsuburaya Productions to bring this beloved character to our members around the world is an honor,” says Aram Yacoubian, director of Original Content – Animated Features at Netflix. “We’re thrilled to be working with Shannon, John and an incredibly talented team of artists and lovers of Ultraman from around the world. We can’t wait to share our film with fans of this iconic Japanese hero and introduce a new generation to what’s sure to become their new favorite superhero.”
Tindle is repped by Verve and attorney Alex Andrews; Haimes is repped by Verve, Gotham Group and attorney Allen Vainshtein; Aoshima is repped by attorney Rob Szymanski.

But will there be underwater knee sock kaiju?

[thatguy]

On July 10, starting at 7am pacific, for the 55th anniversary, tokushoutsu will be playing an Ultraman marathon all day

“Ultraman is turning 55 years old soon and we are celebrating this monumental birthday by teaming up with the amazing folks at Shout Factory TV and Tokushoutsu for an Ultrathon on 7/10! Catch the streaming premiere of Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial plus 19 episodes of this historic series!"

https://tokushoutsu.com

—tg