ULTRAMAN
Created in 1966 by special effects pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya and Tsuburaya Productions, Ultraman is one of the longest-running and most influential science-fiction media franchises in global pop culture. Pioneering the tokusatsu and Kyodai Hero subgenres, the franchise spans over six decades of iconic television shows, feature films, video games, manga, and global collectibles.
Cronologia
Panoramica
The Ultraman franchise (officially known as the Ultra Series) was created in 1966 by special effects legend Eiji Tsuburaya—co-creator of Godzilla—and Tsuburaya Productions.
Launching with the ground-breaking television shows Ultra Q and Ultraman on TBS, the franchise established the live-action tokusatsu giant hero (Kyodai Hero) subgenre that revolutionized global pop culture.
Over its nearly 60-year history, Ultraman has expanded into a massive media universe encompassing over 40 live-action and animated television series—ranging from classic Showa entries to the modern Reiwa era series like Ultraman Arc, Ultraman Omega, and the 60th-anniversary flagship series Ultraman Teo (2026). The franchise also boasts dozens of theatrical feature films, direct-to-video specials, global streaming series like Netflix's ULTRAMAN anime and Ultraman: Rising, video games, and comic adaptations produced in collaboration with publishers like Marvel Comics. Broadcast in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide, Ultraman remains a cornerstone of international sci-fi entertainment.
Origini
The origins of Ultraman date back to March 1965, when Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) producer Takashi Kakoi commissioned Tsuburaya Productions to develop a successor to their upcoming sci-fi anthology series Ultra Q. Lead writer Tetsuo Kinjo and writer Masahiro Yamada initially adapted ideas from an unproduced concept titled WoO, developing a proposal called Science Special Search Party: Bemular.
This original plan centered on a righteous kaiju named Bemular who collaborated with a human unit headquartered in Paris. To ensure young viewers could clearly distinguish the hero from enemy monsters, Eiji Tsuburaya suggested giving the protagonist a noble, humanoid appearance. The project was renamed Science Special Search Party: Redman, introducing early concepts like the Flash Beam transformation device.
By March 1966, the project officially adopted the name Ultraman. Shot on expensive 35mm film for visual effects to maintain high image quality, production costs and scheduling pressures mounted rapidly. Following a pre-premiere promotional special titled The Birth of Ultraman at Suginami Public Hall, Ultraman officially debuted on July 17, 1966, drawing an astonishing 34.4% viewer rating and establishing a historical milestone in television history.
Personaggi
I PEZZI DI ULTRAMAN
Collezionismo
Ultraman merchandise sales and licensed toys have served as a core financial pillar for Tsuburaya Productions since the franchise's inception in 1966. For figure and toy collectors, the primary draw centers on screen-accurate physical transformation items—such as the classic Beta Capsule, Ultraseven's Ultra Eye, Tiga's Spark Lens, and the modern Ultra Z Riser—which have evolved from simple plastic props into highly detailed collectible items.
In addition to action figures produced by major toy manufacturers like Bandai, collecting trends have expanded heavily into physical trading card formats. The franchise pioneered arcade card-scanning with Ultraman Fusion Fight! and launched the physical ULTRAMAN CARD GAME globally across 23+ countries in October 2024, leading toward its first official World Championship in Tokyo in Spring 2026. Home media collectors also prize high-definition physical releases, including Bandai Visual's Japanese box sets and Mill Creek Entertainment's North American Blu-ray SteelBook editions.
Curiosità
• Ultraman's famous 3-minute Color Timer was created during production to reduce dramatic tension and manage suit budget constraints. • Veteran suit actor Haruo Nakajima noted that a monster's staggering gait was often caused by enduring fresh paint fumes inside recycled suits like Jirahs.
• Original Ultraman suit actor Satoshi 'Bin' Furuya was selected specifically for his tall, slender build and ideal proportions. • Ultraman Cosmos holds the record as the longest live-action Ultra television series in history, spanning 65 episodes. • The premiere episode of the original 1966 Ultraman series achieved a massive 34.4% television rating in Japan, later peaking at 42.8%.
Film
• **Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature** (1967) - First theatrical release compiling early series monster battles. • **Return of Ultraman** (1971) - Theatrical compilation film released during the Showa era broadcast. • **Ultraman - The Frozen Station** (1971) - Showa era theatrical feature program. • **The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army** (1974) - Showa era crossover feature film. • **Ultraman** (1979) - Theatrical feature film compilation. • **Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle** (1979) - Theatrical release highlighting iconic kaiju battles. • **Ultraman ZOFFY: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army** (1984) - Feature film focused on Zoffy and the Ultra Warriors. • **Ultraman Story** (1984) - Theatrical feature centering on Ultraman Taro's origin and growth. • **Ultraman: The Adventure Begins / Ultraman USA** (1987) - Animated feature film co-produced with Hanna-Barbera. • **Ultra Q The Movie** (1990) - Theatrical feature continuation of the Ultra Q franchise. • **Revive! Ultraman** (1996) - Commemorative short feature celebrating the original hero. • **Ultraman Zearth** (1996) - Parody comedy feature film introducing the hygiene-obsessed hero. • **Ultraman Zearth 2** (1997) - Comedic movie sequel featuring Ultraman Zearth. • **Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna: Warriors of the Star of Light** (1998) - Theatrical crossover movie uniting Tiga and Dyna. • **Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Dyna, & Ultraman Gaia: Battle in Hyperspace** (1999) - Multiverse crossover theatrical feature.
• **Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey** (2000) - Prequel/sequel feature explaining Tiga's ancient dark origins. • **Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact** (2001) - Opening entry in the Ultraman Cosmos theatrical trilogy. • **Ultraman Cosmos 2: The Blue Planet** (2002) - Second feature film in the Cosmos trilogy. • **New Century Ultraman Legend** (2002) - Short theatrical feature celebrating Ultra history. • **Ultraman Cosmos vs. Ultraman Justice: The Final Battle** (2003) - Climactic conclusion to the Cosmos trilogy. • **New Century 2003 Ultraman Legend** (2003) - Special compilation feature film. • **ULTRAMAN / Ultraman: The Next** (2004) - High-budget, grounded adult military sci-fi movie reboot. • **Ultraman Mebius & the Ultra Brothers** (2006) - Anniversary crossover feature starring classic Showa Ultra actors. • **Superior 8 Ultra Brothers** (2008) - Alternate universe team-up film featuring Showa and Heisei heroes. • **Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie** (2009) - Landmark film introducing Ultraman Zero and Ultraman Belial. • **Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial** (2010) - Feature film continuation of Zero's fight against Belial. • **Ultraman Saga** (2012) - Crossover movie starring Ultraman Zero, Dyna, and Cosmos. • **Shin Ultraman** (2022) - Live-action reboot written by Hideaki Anno and directed by Shinji Higuchi. • **Ultraman: Rising** (2024) - Netflix original CG animated movie directed by Shannon Tindle. • **Ultraman Arc The Movie: The Clash of Light and Evil** (2025) - Culmination feature film for the Ultraman Arc series.
Serie TV
• **Ultra Q** (1966) - TBS sci-fi kaiju anthology series. • **Ultraman** (1966–1967) - TBS live-action series introducing the original hero and the SSSP. • **Ultraseven** (1967–1968) - TBS sci-fi live-action series featuring Dan Moroboshi and the Ultra Guard. • **Ultra Fight** (1970–1971) - TBS short-form fight micro-series. • **The Return of Ultraman** (1971–1972) - TBS live-action series featuring Ultraman Jack. • **Ultraman Ace** (1972–1973) - TBS series introducing dual human hosts and Chouju monsters. • **Ultraman Taro** (1973–1974) - TBS family-oriented series starring the son of Father and Mother of Ultra. • **Ultraman Leo** (1974–1975) - TBS dark, martial-arts focused live-action series. • **The Ultraman** (1979–1980) - TBS anime series produced by Sunrise featuring Ultraman Joneus. • **Ultraman 80** (1980–1981) - TBS series featuring an Ultra hero working as a middle school teacher. • **Andro Melos** (1983) - Short-form spinoff focused on armored Ultra fighters. • **Ultraman: Towards the Future / Ultraman Great** (1990) - Australian live-action co-production. • **Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero / Ultraman Powered** (1993) - American live-action co-production. • **Ultraman Tiga** (1996–1997) - MBS/TBS landmark series reviving the TV franchise with form-changing mechanics. • **Ultraman Dyna** (1997–1998) - MBS/TBS direct space-exploration sequel to Tiga. • **Ultraman Gaia** (1998–1999) - MBS/TBS series exploring the rivalry between Gaia and Agul. • **Ultraman Neos** (2000–2001) - Direct-to-video OVA television series. • **Ultraman Cosmos** (2001–2002) - MBS/TBS series focusing on pacifying and protecting kaiju. • **Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy** (2004) - TV Tokyo modern reboot of the Ultra Q anthology. • **Ultraman Nexus** (2004–2005) - CBC/TBS deconstructive, mature sci-fi entry aimed at older audiences.
• **Ultraman Max** (2005–2006) - CBC/TBS return to classic episodic monster-of-the-week storytelling. • **Ultraman Mebius** (2006–2007) - CBC/TBS 40th-anniversary series returning to Showa continuity. • **Ultraseven X** (2007) - CBC/TBS dark adult-oriented reimagining of Ultraseven. • **Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle** (2007–2008) - BS11 kaiju-tamer live-action series. • **Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey** (2008–2009) - BS11 sequel series. • **Neo Ultra Q** (2013) - WOWOW second anthology revival of Ultra Q. • **Ultraman Ginga** (2013) - TV Tokyo series launching the New Generation Heroes line. • **Ultraman Ginga S** (2014) - TV Tokyo direct sequel series to Ginga. • **Ultraman X** (2015) - TV Tokyo series incorporating cybernetic armor mechanics. • **Ultraman Orb** (2016) - TV Tokyo series utilizing fusion power from past Ultra heroes. • **Ultraman Geed** (2017) - TV Tokyo series following the hero son of villain Ultraman Belial. • **Ultraman R/B** (2018) - TV Tokyo series featuring a brother Ultra hero duo. • **ULTRAMAN** (2019–2023) - Netflix original 3D CG anime series produced by Production I.G / Sola Digital Arts. • **Ultraman Taiga** (2019) - TV Tokyo series starring Taro's son leading the Tri-Squad. • **Ultraman Z** (2020) - TV Tokyo series featuring Zero's disciple during military defense operations. • **Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga** (2021) - TV Tokyo series paying direct homage to Tiga. • **Ultraman Decker** (2022) - TV Tokyo series paying homage to Dyna. • **Ultraman Blazar** (2023) - TV Tokyo / YouTube live-action series starring tribal warrior Blazar. • **Ultraman Arc** (2024–2025) - TV Tokyo / YouTube series centered around imagination. • **Ultraman Omega** (2025–2026) - TV Tokyo live-action series airing July 2025 to January 2026. • **Ultraman New Generation Stars** (2026) - TV Tokyo recap expansion series hosted by Z and Geed. • **Ultraman Teo** (2026) - TV Tokyo / Global 60th-anniversary flagship series premiering July 4, 2026.
Videogiochi
• **Ultraman** (1991) - Super Famicom / SNES 2D fighting game. • **Ultraman: Towards the Future** (1991) - SNES fighting game based on Ultraman Great. • **Ultraman Powered** (1994) - 3DO digitized fighting game using full-motion video graphics. • **Ultraman Fighting Evolution** (1998) - PlayStation 3D fighting game developed by Banpresto/Bandai. • **Ultraman Fighting Evolution 2** (2002) - PlayStation 2 3D fighting game sequel. • **Ultraman Fighting Evolution 3** (2004) - PlayStation 2 critically acclaimed tokusatsu fighter. • **Ultraman Fighting Evolution Rebirth** (2005) - PlayStation 2 action fighting title.
• **Ultraman Nexus** (2005) - PlayStation 2 fighter incorporating stamina mechanics and branching storylines. • **Ultraman Fighting Evolution 0** (2006) - PlayStation Portable handheld fighting title. • **Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Coliseum** (2009) - Nintendo Wii battle simulation game. • **Ultraman Fusion Fight!** (2016) - Data Carddass arcade collectible card-scanning fighter. • **City Shrouded in Shadow** (2017) - PlayStation 4 survival game featuring giant Ultra and kaiju threats. • **Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher** (2022) - Nintendo Switch simulation crossover game. • **ULTRAMAN CARD GAME** (2024) - Global physical competitive trading card game expansion.
Libri & Fumetti
• **Classic Ultraman Manga Adaptations** (1960s–1970s) - Classic manga series by artists Daiji Kazumine and Mamoru Uchiyama. • **ULTRAMAN Manga** (2011–Present) - Manga series by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi starring Shinjiro Hayata.
• **The Rise of Ultraman** (2020–2021) - Marvel Comics reboot miniseries written by Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom. • **The Trials of Ultraman** (2021) - Marvel Comics limited series expanding the reboot universe. • **The Mystery of Ultraseven** (2022) - Marvel Comics limited series reimagining Ultraseven. • **Ultraman x Avengers** (2024) - Marvel Comics crossover series combining Marvel superheroes with Ultraman.
