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Ultraman (character)

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Ultraman is a legendary Japanese superhero who first appeared in a 1966 television series.

Ultraman na
Ultraman na

Created by Tsuburaya Productions, he is the foundation of the Ultra Series. This character helped launch the Kyodai Hero genre, which features giant heroes. Other shows like Godman and Iron King followed this style. Ultraman is recognized by his red-and-silver design and several famous trademarks. These include his Color Timer, his Spacium Ray stance, and his signature "Shuwatch" cry.

Ultraman Suits
Ultraman Suits

The character's origin is tied to a cosmic accident. Ultraman is a hero from Nebula M78. While chasing a space monster named Bemular, his ship collided with Shin Hayata. Hayata was an officer for the Science Special Search Party (SSSP). To compensate for the accident, Ultraman merged his form with Hayata. This allowed the hero to defend Earth using the Beta Capsule. During the series finale, Ultraman fought a monster named Zetton. Zetton used a weapon that targeted Ultraman's Color Timer, causing him to lose his energy.

Shin Hayata
Shin Hayata

Ultraman's physical appearance was achieved through specialized body suits.

Kyoei Toshi Ultraman
Kyoei Toshi Ultraman

Three distinct versions were used during the original season. The first was Type A, used in episodes 1 through 13. It featured a mask made of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) and latex. This gave the hero a wrinkled face, but the suit fit poorly. Type B was used from episodes 14 to 29. This version was larger and more muscular, featuring an "iron mask" look. Finally, Type C was used from episode 30 onward. It featured slight adjustments to the position of the eyes, mouth, and ears. All the suits were made from painted wetsuits.

A vital part of Ultraman's biology is his Color Timer. This light is located on his chest and is linked to his heart. Ultraman relies on solar energy to maintain his strength. However, Earth's atmosphere filters this energy, limiting his time on the planet. When his energy is high, the Color Timer shines a bright cyan color. As his strength fades, it turns solid red. It then begins to blink and emits a warning chime. If he runs out of energy, the light turns black.

Shin Spoon
Shin Spoon

This mechanism was actually designed to help reduce special effects costs.

Many talented people contributed to the creation of the character. Tohl Narita and clay sculptor Akira Sasaki designed the hero's look. They aimed for a grey alien concept rather than the original reptilian idea. Bin Furuya served as the suit actor for the original season. He helped define the hero's movements. The iconic "Shuwatch" shout was provided by Masao Nakasone. Other voices included Susumu Kurobe, who played Shin Hayata.

TAMASHII Lab 科学特捜隊光線銃 スーパーガン スペシャルムービー 2m35s
TAMASHII Lab 科学特捜隊光線銃 スーパーガン スペシャルムービー 2m35s

These performances helped make the character feel alive.

The success of the Ultraman brand was massive and long-lasting. In Japan, the brand generated significant merchandising revenue from 1966 to 1987. During the 1980s, Ultraman was the third top-selling licensed character in the world. This global popularity was largely driven by his massive following in Asia. The character has appeared in many different works throughout the Ultra Series. Even when new characters like Ultraseven were introduced, the legacy of the original Ultraman remained central to the franchise.

Ultraman's influence extends to how stories in the Ultra Series are told. Originally, there was no connection between Ultraman and Ultraseven. This changed in 1971 with the series Return of Ultraman. This event brought the characters into the same story. It led Tsuburaya Productions to focus on an Ultraman hero in every new entry. This pattern has continued for decades. The character remains a symbol of the connection between humanity and the vast mysteries of space.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Ultraman Suits.jpg
Ultraman Suits.jpg
File:Shin Hayata.jpg
Shin Hayata.jpg
File:Ultraman na.jpg
Ultraman na.jpg
File:Kyoei Toshi Ultraman.jpg
Kyoei Toshi Ultraman.jpg
File:TAMASHII Lab 科学特捜隊光線銃 スーパーガン スペシャルムービー 2m35s.jpg
TAMASHII Lab 科学特捜隊光線銃 スーパーガン スペシャルムービー 2m35s.jpg
File:Shin Spoon.jpg
Shin Spoon.jpg
File:Ultraman Milky.jpg
Ultraman Milky.jpg
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