Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero
Encyclopedia
Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero (also known as Ultraman Powered) is a tokusatsu
series produced in the US
in 1993 by Major Havoc Entertainment (later renamed Steppin Stone Entertainment) and Tsuburaya Productions
(the creators of the Ultraman
character), with a total of 13 episodes. Following the footsteps of the Australia
n-produced Ultraman: Towards the Future
, this was the second live-action Ultra Series
produced outside Japan
. The show is an English adaptation of Eiji Tsuburaya
's Ultraman
, and is the first adaptation, with Ultraman Neos
the second.
Titled for Japanese release, the show was released on home video there on December 17, 1993, and later aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System
from April 8 to July 1, 1995. This was the 11th Ultra Series
.
However, despite being produced in America, the show was never broadcast there. Although having impressive costume designs, the action was quite weak compared to other installments of the Ultra Series
, due to the costumes being fragile. After this series, Tsuburaya has since focused on domestic productions.
WINR and Ultraman destroy numerous other monsters, but WINR learns that the Baltans were arranging all the battles to learn Ultraman's strengths and weaknesses. They also learn Kai's secret identity when Ultraman is injured by Dorako and Kai sports an identical wound. In the finale the Baltans unleash their most powerful monster, Zetton. Ultraman separates from Kai and takes on Zetton, but is overwhelmed. Ultraman's color timer is flashing more and more rapidly as he tries to blast Zetton only to have Zetton easily withstand the blasts. He then summons more energy despite the risk to fire a shot at Zetton's ship. This causes the shot to bounce off it towards Z-ton's back but he turns and blocks the shot. However this gives Ultraman an opening and he summons the last of his energy for one final blast that hits Zetton in the back, destroying him. Ultraman then falls over backwards as his energy is completely drained. Before he can perish completely, other members of the Ultra race, appearing as balls of light, arrive and convert Ultraman into a red ball of light so that he can return home.
was originally approached by Tsuburaya to do the show, but turned it down, not feeling that he would have as much creative control; Tsuburaya had rules concerning how Ultraman should be done.
Sho Kosugi
, who provides Ultraman's voice in the English version, is the father of Kane Kosugi, who plays Kenichi Kai.
This is the only time that Red King is actually red (as opposed to gold & blue). Ultraman Powered's eyes are normally blue, but they change to yellow when his color timer is blinking yellow, and red when the timer blinks red.
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
series produced in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1993 by Major Havoc Entertainment (later renamed Steppin Stone Entertainment) and Tsuburaya Productions
Tsuburaya Productions
is a Japanese special effects studio founded in 1963 by special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya and was run by his family, until October 2007, when the family sold the company to advertising agency TYO Inc. The studio is best known for producing the original Ultraman TV series, as well as the Ultra...
(the creators of the Ultraman
Ultraman
is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q...
character), with a total of 13 episodes. Following the footsteps of the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-produced Ultraman: Towards the Future
Ultraman: Towards the Future
Ultraman: Towards the Future is a tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series produced in 1990 in Australia by the South Australian Film Corporation and Japan's Tsuburaya Productions . There were 13 episodes filmed...
, this was the second live-action Ultra Series
Ultra Series
The is the collective name for all the shows produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad Ultra Monsters. The Ultra Series is one of the prominent tokusatsu superhero genre productions from Japan, along with Toei produced series Kamen Rider, Super...
produced outside Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The show is an English adaptation of Eiji Tsuburaya
Eiji Tsuburaya
was the Japanese special effects director responsible for many Japanese science-fiction movies, including the Godzilla series...
's Ultraman
Ultraman
is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q...
, and is the first adaptation, with Ultraman Neos
Ultraman Neos
is a Japanese tokusatsu show, being the 17th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Ultraman Neos was released direct-to-video on November 22, 2000, with a total of 12 episodes...
the second.
Titled for Japanese release, the show was released on home video there on December 17, 1993, and later aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
from April 8 to July 1, 1995. This was the 11th Ultra Series
Ultra Series
The is the collective name for all the shows produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad Ultra Monsters. The Ultra Series is one of the prominent tokusatsu superhero genre productions from Japan, along with Toei produced series Kamen Rider, Super...
.
However, despite being produced in America, the show was never broadcast there. Although having impressive costume designs, the action was quite weak compared to other installments of the Ultra Series
Ultra Series
The is the collective name for all the shows produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad Ultra Monsters. The Ultra Series is one of the prominent tokusatsu superhero genre productions from Japan, along with Toei produced series Kamen Rider, Super...
, due to the costumes being fragile. After this series, Tsuburaya has since focused on domestic productions.
Story
The members of WINR respond when members of the alien Baltan race attack Earth, but the Baltans are only fended off when a gigantic alien, Ultraman Powered, joins with WINR member Kenichi Kai and gives him the power to metamorphose into Ultraman in times of danger. At the end of the first episode Ultraman declares that the Baltans were not completely defeated and that he will remain on Earth to continue the fight.WINR and Ultraman destroy numerous other monsters, but WINR learns that the Baltans were arranging all the battles to learn Ultraman's strengths and weaknesses. They also learn Kai's secret identity when Ultraman is injured by Dorako and Kai sports an identical wound. In the finale the Baltans unleash their most powerful monster, Zetton. Ultraman separates from Kai and takes on Zetton, but is overwhelmed. Ultraman's color timer is flashing more and more rapidly as he tries to blast Zetton only to have Zetton easily withstand the blasts. He then summons more energy despite the risk to fire a shot at Zetton's ship. This causes the shot to bounce off it towards Z-ton's back but he turns and blocks the shot. However this gives Ultraman an opening and he summons the last of his energy for one final blast that hits Zetton in the back, destroying him. Ultraman then falls over backwards as his energy is completely drained. Before he can perish completely, other members of the Ultra race, appearing as balls of light, arrive and convert Ultraman into a red ball of light so that he can return home.
WINR (Worldwide Investigation Network Response)
- Captain Russel Edlund (Harrison PageHarrison PageHarrison Page is an American television and film actor who has appeared in many popular shows, including Cold Case, JAG, ER, Ally McBeal, Melrose Place, Quantum Leap, The Wonder Years, 21 Jump Street, Murder She Wrote, Fame, Gimme a Break!, Benson, Hill Street Blues, Webster, The Dukes of Hazzard,...
) - - Theresa Beck (Sandra Guibord) -
- Julie Young (Robyn BlileyRobyn BlileyRobyn Bliley is an American actress, producer and award-winning director. Robyn began modeling at age 14 and continued throughout her high school years appearing in local newspapers and magazines...
) - - Rick Sanders (Rob Roy Fitzgerald) -
- Ken'ichi Kai/Ultraman (Powered) (Kane KosugiKane Kosugiborn in Los Angeles, California is a American martial artist and martial arts actor. He is the son of martial arts star Sho Kosugi. In Japan, Kosugi is considered gaijin tarento due to his Nisei heritage....
) - - Ultraman (Scott Rogers, voiced by Sho KosugiSho KosugiSho Kosugi is a Japanese martial artist with training in shindō jinen-ryū karate who gained popularity as an actor during the 1980s, usually playing a ninja. He is the father of Kane Kosugi and Shane Kosugi. After taking a hiatus from film, he started a taiko group in California...
) -
Episodes
- "On a Mission from M78"
- Monster: Baltan
- "Attack Kemular From Behind"
- Monster: KemularKemularis a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman. Kemular appeared in Episode 21.Subtitle: .- History :Dozens of birds are found dead and Kemuar soon emerges and attacks a few girls picnicking. The Science Patrol begins an investigation...
- Monster: Kemular
- "A Quartet of Creatures"
- Monsters: Red King (Male & Female), ChandrahChandrahis from the Ultraman series. He is also called "Chandlar", or "Chandler". He appears in the episode #8 "The Lawless Monster Zone".Subtitle: .- History :Chandrah is seen in battle against Red King, during which Red King tears off Chandrah's right wing....
, PigmonPigmonwas a monster who appeared in the fictional superhero show Ultraman. His name comes from the word pygmy as he is the size of a human child, unlike the rest of the show's enormous monsters... - Guest stars Jeffrey CombsJeffrey CombsJeffrey Alan Combs is an American actor known for his horror film roles and his appearances playing a number of characters in the Star Trek franchise.-Early life:...
.
- Monsters: Red King (Male & Female), Chandrah
- "The Dark Past"
- Monster: TelesdonTelesdonis a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman.Subtitle: .-History:After the Underground People captured Shin Hayata, they released their ancient weapon, Telesdon. As Telesdon terrorized a city he emerged from underneath, the Underground People began hypnotizing Hayata to learn what...
- Monster: Telesdon
- "Monstrous Meltdown"
- Monster: GaboraGaboraGabora was a monster from the television series Ultraman. The suit is a re-used Baragon with King Kong's roar from 1962 King Kong vs GodzillaSubtitle: .- Ultraman :...
- Monster: Gabora
- "A Father's Love"
- Monster: JamilaJamila (Ultra monster)is a monster who appeared in the Japanese superhero show Ultraman. The episode in which he so appeared was titled "My Home Is Earth."Once a human astronaut, Jamila was subsequently de-humanized and returned to Earth. Alternate spellings of his name include "Jamira" and "Jamyra"...
- Monster: Jamila
- "The Fires Beneath"
- Monster: ZambolarZambolaris a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman. Zambolar appeared in Episodes 32.Subtitle: .-History:Awakened by the destruction of his home by land devolvement, Zambolar went on a destructive rampage to get his revenge...
- Monster: Zambolar
- "The Dada Effect"
- Monsters: Dada (A, B & C)
- "Devils from the Crypts"
- Monsters: AborasAboraswas one of two ancient monsters that appeared in an Ultraman episode known in English as "The Red and the Blue." Aboras's counterpart was Banila. Aboras appears as a blue-skinned theropod-like creature with a large tyrannosaur-like head, a single ceratosaur-like horn, and a jagged-tooth mouth...
, BanilaBanilawas one of two ancient monsters that appeared in an Ultraman episode known in English as "The Red and the Blue." Banila's counterpart was Aboras. Banila appears as a red-skinned theropod-like creature with a narrow tall head, and a short snout with an upturned, almost pig-like nose...
- Monsters: Aboras
- "Deadly Starfish"
- Monster: PestarPestaris a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman.Pestar appeared in Episodes 13.Subtitle: .-History:Pestar was a natural beast from the depths of the sea, who made himself known to the world of man by lighting an Iranian oil plant ablaze, but they couldn’t locate the cause. The oil...
- Monster: Pestar
- "Dino Might"
- Monster: GomoraGomorais a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu television series Ultraman, and first appeared in the show's only two-part storyline, The Monster Prince . Gomora has since become one of the franchises' toughest and most popular monsters, returning in subsequent Ultra Series...
- Monster: Gomora
- "Falling Stars Spell Trouble"
- Monsters: DorakoDorakoDorako is a monster from the television show Ultraman. Dorako appears in an episode which in English is entitled "Night of the Comet."Dorako appeared in Episodes 25.Subtitle: .- History :...
, Red King
- Monsters: Dorako
- "The Final Showdown?"
- Monsters: Zetton, Psycho-Baltan
Production
Veteran makeup artist and Ultraman fan Steve WangSteve Wang
Steve Wang is an award-winning make-up artist and filmmaker.-Biography:Born in Taiwan, he and his parents moved to the US when he was 9. His greatest inspirations were the tokusatsu superhero TV shows Ultraman and Kamen Rider, as well as Hong Kong kung fu films including Master of the Flying...
was originally approached by Tsuburaya to do the show, but turned it down, not feeling that he would have as much creative control; Tsuburaya had rules concerning how Ultraman should be done.
Sho Kosugi
Sho Kosugi
Sho Kosugi is a Japanese martial artist with training in shindō jinen-ryū karate who gained popularity as an actor during the 1980s, usually playing a ninja. He is the father of Kane Kosugi and Shane Kosugi. After taking a hiatus from film, he started a taiko group in California...
, who provides Ultraman's voice in the English version, is the father of Kane Kosugi, who plays Kenichi Kai.
This is the only time that Red King is actually red (as opposed to gold & blue). Ultraman Powered's eyes are normally blue, but they change to yellow when his color timer is blinking yellow, and red when the timer blinks red.
Cameo
- Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009), Powered along with other M78 Ultra Warriors fight against the evil Ultraman Belial. However it must be noted that despite appearing in this movie, he did not appear in the Ultraman Mebius series. The Ultraman Mebius series is the series that establishes which Ultras are members of the "Ultra Brothers."