"Urutoraman: Kûsô tokusatsu shirîzu" (1966)TV series 1966-1967

Directors:

Akio Jissoji
Hajime Tsuburaya

Writers:

Tetsuo Kinjô (main writer)
Mamoru Sasaki (several episodes)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

17 July 1966 (Japan)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Family | Adventure | Fantasy | Action

Plot:

A human member of a defense force is given the life and ability to change into a giant super-hero to battle the monsters he encounters.

Plot Keywords:

Giant Monster | Superhero

Cast

Susumu Kurobe	...	Shin Hayata (39 episodes, 1966-1967)
Sandayuu Dokumamushi	...	Daisuke Arashi (39 episodes, 1966-1967)
Masanari Nihei	...	Mitsuhiro Ide (39 episodes, 1966-1967)
Bin Furuya	...	Ultraman (39 episodes, 1966-1967)
Hiroko Sakurai	...	Akiko Fuji (38 episodes, 1966-1967)
Akiji Kobayashi	...	Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu (38 episodes, 1966-1967)

Also Known As:

Bemular (Japan: English title) (working title)
Bemurâ (Japan) (working title)
Kagaku Tokusô Tai: Bemurâ (Japan) (working title)
Reddoman (Japan) (working title)
Redman (Japan: English title) (working title)
Science Investigation Team: Bemular (Japan: English title) (working title)
Ultraman: A Special Effects Fantasy Series (International: English title)
Urutoraman (Japan) (short title)
Woo (Japan: English title) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (39 episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Tsuburaya Productions

Trivia:

The character of Ultraman went through many changes as pre-production went along. At first, the planned series "Woo" had a corporeal space creature with eyes, who befriended a reporter named Jôji Akita, but the Self Defense Forces were after him. This was basically the monster version of "Doctor Who" (1963), and Woo's personality was comical. Then they planned "Bemular" (retitled "Science Patrol - Bemular") about a defense force disguised as an art/photography team. One of the members, little did anyone know, gained the ability to transform into a giant birdlike humanoid monster called Bemular (this is not the same Bemular that Ultraman would fight in Episode 1), who defends Earth from monsters, aliens and other threats. Unlike Woo, Bemular was a tough and righteous fighter (Bemular looked very similar in design to the title monster of Daikyojû Gappa (1967)). This then evolved into "Redman," the title hero of which slightly resembled Ultraman as we know him, but he looked more demonic and had horns. Both Bemular and Redman were designed by Tôru Narita, who came up with the final design for Ultraman based on his Redman design, now resembling a less-scary Buck Rogers-style alien being (with a bit of the iconic "Roswell Alien" as well). The characteristic "ColorTimer" (the "warning light" on his chest) was added at the eleventh hour.

Quotes:

Hayata: He hasn't got a name.
Ide: He doesn't? Listen, I bet he does. Now, what is it?
Hayata: I'll think of one. Does Ultraman sound all right?
Akiko Fuji: Ultraman?
Hayata: Uh huh. Ultraman. How do you like it?
Ide: Well, it sounds "ultra" good.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Yi wu liang huo (2003)

Soundtrack:

Urutoraman no Uta

Sublime Wacked Out Monster Show - That's a Compliment!

The first giant robot Japanese Sci-Fi TV show has something that all the others (Ultraman sequels included) never achieved. It's set in a world of bizarre logic and weird film making that is hard to describe. Unlike American television shows, Ultraman seemed to be played for laughs, very strange laughs, but laughs none the less. Don't expect the self-conscious humor of Batman but a world where people say and do odd things, the plot lines take goofy turns and characters will suddenly turn to the camera and talk to you as if nothing strange is happening at all.

In one episode, the main characters (members of the "Science Patrol" in the Amrican translation) are sent out to find nuclear bombs that fell off a wayward space mission (!) and sank to the bottom of the sea. Unfortunately a sea creature found one of the bombs first and mutates into a giant monster (resembling the Creature from the Black Lagoon) that sinks boats and attacks ocean resorts. All the time a nuclear bomb is stuck on the monster's shoulder. The Science Patrol has the brilliant idea to sooth the enraged beast with music so they get the Japanese Coast Guard to play classical music from a destroyer! This has the opposite effect as the monster rips up and hurls trees around. One member of the Science Patrol make the incredible observation, "The monster doesn't like music, turn it off!". The show stops as the main characters try to figure out why their plan didn't work since "all wild beasts are soothed by music"! It's decided that radiation is the cause of the monster's inability to appreciate fine music!

If you are looking for "rational" entertainment, run far as you can from Ultraman. For the rest of us who enjoy goofy fun, you can't get better then this. The new DVD set has the original Japanese track which has increased my admiration for this show.