Return of Ultraman


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Return of Ultraman[1] (帰ってきたウルトラマン, Kaettekita Urutoraman) is a Japanese tokusatsu science fiction television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions. The fourth entry in the Ultra series, the series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from April 2, 1971, to March 31, 1972. It became successful enough to inspire a second "Kaiju Boom" in Japan, with rival studios producing their own tokusatsu shows and Tsuburaya Productions producing additional Ultraman shows annually for the next three years.[3] Prior to the series' release, Ultra Q, Ultraman, and Ultraseven were stand-alone titles however, Return of Ultraman is the first installment to unite the first three shows into an interconnected universe.[4]

Return of Ultraman

Title card

Japanese name
Kanji帰ってきたウルトラマン
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnKaettekita Urutoraman
Genre
Created byTsuburaya Productions
Developed byShozo Uehara[1]
Yoji Hashimoto[1]
Starring
Narrated byAkira Nagoya[2]
Theme music composerKoichi Sugiyama
ComposerTōru Fuyuki
Country of originJapan
No. of episodes51
Production
Running time24 mins
Production companiesTsuburaya Productions
TBS
Original release
NetworkJNN (TBS)
ReleaseApril 2, 1971 –
March 31, 1972
Related

This series is a follow-up to the original Ultraman and Ultraseven that is set in 1971, four years after Ultraseven left Earth, and five years after Ultraman came to Earth. The first episode begins with a fight between two giant monsters named Takkong and Zazarn in Tokyo. Amid the monster destruction, young race-car driver Hideki Go is killed while trying to rescue a little boy and a dog from the falling rubble. His valiant sacrifice is noted by everyone, including his friends and the new defense force MAT (Monster Attack Team), but an unseen being also takes notice. Looking over Hideki is "New Ultraman" ("Ultraman Jack"), who is so touched by the race car driver's heroism, that he decides to combine his life force with that of Hideki, thus bringing him back to life (just like the original Ultraman did with Shin Hayata), much to everyone's astonishment. MAT then asks Hideki to join the team, which he does, especially since in this frightening new "Age of Monsters", Earth will need a savior. In times of crisis, Hideki will raise his right arm and, by force of will, transform into Ultraman to fight monsters. In addition, the original Ultraman and Ultraseven are watching New Ultraman's battles from the sidelines, and offer their help when he is in peril.[2][5]

Humans:[2][5]

Voice performers:[6]

  • Isao Yatsu as Ultraman Jack,[a] Ultraman, Alien Varduck, Alien Messie, Alien Zoole, Sasahiler
  • Ichirō Murakoshi as Ultraman Jack and Ultraseven
  • Tetsuya Kaji as Alien Zelan and Draculas
  • Ritsuo Sawa as Alien Nackle
  • Osamu Saka as Alien Baltan Jr., Alien Stora, and Alien Bat
  • Osamu Ichikawa as Yametaranse

Eiji Tsuburaya had intended Ultraseven to be the conclusion to the Ultra series. However, due to increased merchandise sales from the first three shows and demand by fans for a new show, Tsuburaya decided to develop the fourth Ultra series. Tsuburaya conceived the show's title and the idea was for the show to be a direct sequel to the 1966 series, with Hayata and passing the Beta Capsule over to a new human host. The idea was submitted to Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) in April 1969. However, TBS and its sponsors requested that the new series be centered on a brand new Ultraman, separate from the 1966 character, for marketing and merchandise purposes.[1]

After Tsuburaya's death, his eldest son Hajime was named president of Tsuburaya Productions and assembled a team to revise Return of Ultraman. The first three shows were rebroadcast to temporarily appease fan demands. Shozo Uehara and TBS producer Yoji Hashimoto conceived the final concept of the series.[1] Revisions were made to the new Ultraman's design, after feedback from licensees, to avoid similarities with the 1966 Ultraman. This included giving the new Ultraman gloves, boots, and pinstripes around the red areas. The new character was referred to as "New Ultraman" by fans and the name was used by Tsuburaya Productions for later appearances. The character was rebranded as "Ultraman Jack" in 1984 after Tsuburaya Productions held a contest for children to submit suggestions.[4]

A manga series by Akira Mizuho ran in Bessatsu Shōnen Sunday from May to December 1971.[7]

In November 2015, Tsuburaya Productions and Bandai Visual released the series on Blu-ray in Japan.[8] In July 2019, Mill Creek Entertainment announced that it had acquired most of the Ultraman library from Tsuburaya Productions through Indigo Entertainment, including 1,100 TV episodes and 20 films.[9] Mill Creek released the series on Blu-ray and digital in North America on February 25, 2020, in standard and steelbook sets.[10]

In July 2020, Shout! Factory announced to have struck a multi-year deal with Alliance Entertainment and Mill Creek, with the blessings of Tsuburaya and Indigo, that granted them the exclusive SVOD and AVOD digital rights to the Ultra series and films (1,100 TV episodes and 20 films) acquired by Mill Creek the previous year. Return of Ultraman, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu.[11]

  1. ^ Yatsu provided the voice for Ultraman Jack on episodes: 1, 18, 30, 31, 37, while Murakoshi provided the voice for episode 50.[6]
  1. ^ a b c d e Aiken 2020, p. 02.
  2. ^ a b c "帰ってきたウルトラマン Blu-ray BOX" (in Japanese). Bandai Visual. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  3. ^ Aiken 2020, p. 04.
  4. ^ a b Aiken 2020, p. 03.
  5. ^ a b "高画質でキレイになって帰ってきた！『帰ってきたウルトラマン HDリマスター版』のレギュラー放送がスタート！" (in Japanese). PR Times. 2017-07-11. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  6. ^ a b 円谷プロ画報. Vol. 第1巻. 竹書房. 2013. pp. 212, 213. ISBN 978-4-8124-9491-2.
  7. ^ "「湯来のまち 空き家アート作品展」が始まりました。第１回は甲斐さゆみ・迫田良明 合同原画展". Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  8. ^ Mike Dent (June 30, 2015). "Return of Ultraman, Ultraman Gaia Blu-Ray Boxes Dated". The Tokusatsu Network. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Exclusive – Mill Creek Entertainment Acquires the Ultraman Library For Physical and Digital Home Entertainment Distribution Across North America". SciFi Japan. July 10, 2019. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "Mill Creek Entertainment To Bring Return of Ultraman And Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga On Blu-ray In February 2020". SciFi Japan. November 20, 2019. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  11. ^ Patrick Frater (July 10, 2020). "Shout! Factory Strikes 'Ultraman' Digital Distribution Deal With Mill Creek". Variety. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  • Aiken, Keith (2020). Passing the Torch and Series History – Information and Episode Guide. Mill Creek Entertainment. ASIN B081KRBMZY.