Series background Ultraman

ultraman s central characters created eiji tsuburaya tsuburaya productions, pioneer in special effects responsible bringing godzilla life in 1954. show s predecessor series called ultra q, black-and-white 28-episode series similar original outer limits.

the ultraman project had following working titles/plots:

woo (ＷｏＯ, wū)

this story line featured incorporeal space creature (looking cloud 2 large eyes), dissatisfied highly intellectual apathetic race’s disinterest in other beings, sets off explore universe. after cosmic calamity annihilates home world, woo wanders andromeda milky way galaxy , stumbles across our solar system , our planet. self defense forces, perceive alien threat, hunt him down, until befriended hotshot commercial photographer named jôji akita of art graphic center, along comedic assistant taro dan, , top model dorothy. after being showered woo’s rays, akita discovers how communicate extraterrestrial being via frequency on transistor radio. coming view our world second home, woo engages strange creatures , weird phenomena protect mankind. name woo ended being used otherwise unrelated, yeti-like monster, in episode 30 of ultraman. later, tsuburaya productions produce series dubbed bio planet woo, in january 2006, series loosely based on original concept.
bemular (ベムラー, bemurā), retitled scientific special search party: bemular (科学特捜隊ベムラー, kagaku tokusō tai – bemurā)

the main characters defense force, same japanese name science special search party (often dubbed science patrol ). unused ideas ultra q incorporated elements original woo outline. intergalactic reptilian creature worked plot come rescue of sssp enlarging height of 164 feet. creature cross between garuda (the mythological hindu , buddhidt guardian bird) , japanese folkloric crow-goblin tengu. called bemular. preproduction , story layout show began in december 1965, , re-titled scientific special search party: bemular. basic structure of sssp organization same in show ultraman, team members bit different. human host bemular named officer sakomizu , described in draft tough guy. team s officer captain muramatsu 1 knows secret identity. plot scrapped when worried viewers might have trouble telling , bad monsters apart.
redman (レッドマン, reddoman)

after bemular canceled, decided humanoid alien make more suitable protagonist show. production’s title later became redman. plot of redman still contained elements woo , bemular. title hero of project resembled ultraman came known, looked more demonic , had horns. came earth after planet destroyed aliens planet x. melds officer sakomizu of sssp, , protect earth giant monsters , alien invaders. concept of “henshin hero” (transforming hero) first took shape, 2 beings inhabiting 1 body, human living day day, superhuman being called initiate transformation process sakomizu , redman established. “flashbeam”, futuristic fountain pen device thought sakomizu him change redman. flashbeam later went on become beta capable ultraman. here heroic form of redman beginning take shape. however, designs of hero considered alien , sinister.

both bemular , redman designed toru narita, came final design ultraman based on redman design, resembling less-scary buck rogers-style alien being, mixed bit of iconic roswell alien. characteristic color timer, more familiar american audiences warning light on ultraman s chest, added @ eleventh hour.

the first series begins when science special search party (科学特別捜査隊, kagaku tokubetsu sōsa-tai) member shin hayata flying plane , red sphere of light crashes mini-vtol. sphere turns out transport (travel sphere) giant red-and-silver being calls himself ultraman. feeling remorse having killed human, merges essence hayata save him. in return, hayata serves human host being, , whenever danger threatens, , resources of science special search party not enough counter it, raises , activates power-object , artifact called beta capsule , transforms ultraman save day.

heroes , monsters


ultraman fighting monster gyango episode 11, rascal outer space .

the ultraman series used various monster costumes, known kaiju in japan, prior other series such kamen rider , super sentai. principals played famous monster suit actor haruo nakajima, performed original godzilla. toho actor, satoshi bin furuya, sought out role of ultraman, because of tall stature , perfect proportions. in image episode 11, rascal outer space (right), see example confrontation, ultraman , monster gyango squaring off in plaza in front of hi-rise complex trampled, , dwarfing tree line.

nakajima had outdoor-sports , martial-arts background, , decided ultraman not seem alien if using earthbound martial arts techniques. result, ultraman s fighting style mixture of grappling, greco-roman wrestling, , japanese martial arts, evolved during course of series.

often costumes of famous monsters godzilla (as jirass/keyra in mysterious dinosaur island ) , baragon recycled , altered, nothing more spray paint , while actor still inside. nakajima quipped once staggering gait of of monsters portrayed due less acting paint fumes had endure.

some of quadrupedal monster costumes not shown legs dragging on ground have been exposed, necessary allowance maintain balance in cumbersome outfits. also, expense of repairing scale cities , landscapes used battle scenes required economy of movement , meticulous planning.

not monsters resembled godzilla or dinosaur. others included giant insects (the blue stone of vallarge) ; carnivorous plants (the secret of miloganda), mutated , giant humans or humanoids (my home earth), aliens, inhuman appearance (blast invaders), monster looks narwhal legs (the undersea science center), yeti (phantom of snow mountains), , monster looks cross between meteorite , sea anemone (passport infinity).