By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
Long before the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, superheroes were doing big business, but it’s not Superman, Batman, or Spider-Man who holds the Guinness World Record for most spin-offs; that would be the legendary Japanese hero, Ultraman. With over 40 shows and movies, starting from 1966 and another planned to start airing in the Summer of 2025, the Ultras aren’t slowing down anytime soon. Everyone loves watching larger-than-life heroes battle giant monsters (kaiju), which explains the universal appeal of Japan’s greatest hero.
Japan’s Most Popular Hero
Before there was an Ultraman, there was Ultra Q, a 1966 Japanese television series about military officers, journalists, and scientists investigating paranormal activity, which always ends with a kaiju. The show was a hit with everyone, but that same year, the follow-up, Ultraman, introduced the concept of an alien Ultra bonding with Science Patrol member Shin Hayate, unbeknownst to his squadmates, to transform into the super-sized hero for as long as the ultra-energy lasts, typically for three minutes at a time.
Though the special effects appear rudimentary today, and the large kaiju costumes are corny and hokey, Ultraman was an immediate hit, and the original series is still hailed as a landmark moment for Japanese television, in part because of the wizardry behind the scenes the special effects working on a very tight budget. What proved to be the smartest decision in designing the show was the Ultras, a benevolent alien race that sent champions out to protect the galaxy, but in practice, allowed for the franchise to keep growing with new shows, new characters, and new versions of the titular hero.
Still holding onto its sci-fi origins, the following series in 1967, Ultraseven, focused on the Terrestrial Defense Force, a team of highly skilled operatives using cutting-edge technology to help defend the planet. This time around, instead of Ultraman, Ultraseven was the ultimate form of the alien Dan Moroboshi, one of the Ultras living undercover on Earth. Considered the best of the first era of the franchise with great villains, including the body horror of the Waiells and Metron, one of the most iconic villains in the franchise, who turned cigarettes into a carrier for a rage virus.
Ultraman Through The Decades
Ultraman evolved through the decades and finally arrived in the United States with 1992’s Ultraman: Towards the Future, a joint production with the South Australian Film Corporation, that marked a new era for the hero. This time, astronauts on Mars are met by the kaiju Guidis when Ultraman Great arrives, merges with Jack Shindo, and goes back to Earth to prevent Guidis from mutating the human race. The show included a heavy environmental message this time, with pollution creating monsters, similar to the Godzilla villain Hedorah.
During the ’90s and into the 2000s, Ultraman grew into more of a superhero series and left behind the vestigial sci-fi elements hanging on from Ultra Q. By evolving with the times, the franchise has remained relevant for over 60 years, even if some versions are more successful than others, it remains one of the gold standards of Tokusatsu, live-action shows with a heavy use of special effects, that also includes Kamen Rider. Amazingly, during the first 20 years of its existence, Ultraman earned over $20 billion (adjusted for inflation), making it one of the most profitable brands in the world, and today, it’s routinely one of Japan’s top performers, coming in alongside Kamen Rider, Gundam, and One Piece.
Ultraman hasn’t been able to break out in the West to the extent of Super Sentai (Power Rangers) or Shonen anime, but there are signs that it’s starting to make an impact thanks to Netflix’s Ultraman Rising, an animated film featuring a new generation of the iconic hero. Arriving later this year is the latest in the franchise, Ultraman Omega, set in yet another version of the mainline Ultra universe, but even there, when a kaiju is threatening humanity, an Ultra will rise.
The original 1966 Ultraman is available to stream for free on Pluto TV.
