Ultraman: Towards the Future
Encyclopedia
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
(the creators of the Ultraman
character). There were 13 episodes filmed (the first 6 episodes were the "Goudes Threat" story arc). Titled for its Japanese release, the 13-episode show was originally featured on home video and LaserDisc there on 25 September 1990, and was later broadcast on Tokyo Broadcasting System
from 8 July to 30 September 1995. This was the 10th Ultra Series
and the first produced in the Heisei
era.
Distributed in the United States
by Sachs Family Entertainment, the show was broadcast in weekly syndication from 4 January to 28 March 1992.
Although simply called "Ultraman" in the original Australian version, he is called "Ultraman Great" in Japan to differentiate him from the established original Ultraman
.
At the time, eco-awareness was at a high, and many episodes included environmental themes. Ultraman's three minute time limit is also attributed to "Earth's polluted atmosphere" in this version.
Halfway through the series a new Goudes, more powerful than the first, appears. It imprisons Ultraman, but Jack ultimately shows it the futility of its mission. Even if it does manage to corrupt all life, eventually there will be nothing else to corrupt, and Goudes is destroyed once and for all. For the rest of the series the environmental themes are stronger and the monsters usually arise from human pollution.
In the series finale, a doomsday scenario begins with the appearance of three powerful monsters: Kilazee, Kodalar, and the Earth itself, which tries to wipe out the human race for abusing it. Ultraman is defeated by Kodalar, but Jack survives. Ultimately the humans use an ancient disc to destroy Kodalar by reflecting its own power at it and Ultraman defeats Kilazee and carries it into space, separating Jack from him and restoring him on Earth as a normal human. The victory is seen as another chance for the human race.
), the Universal Multipurpose Agency is a high-tech defense force with a huge base situated on an island off the coast of Australia
.
/Power Rangers
) as opposed to traditional rubber-based suits of all other Ultraman series.
. It is thought to have awkward controls and an unfairly high level of difficulty by many. It was based around the same engine as a Japanese Ultraman game based on the original series. In the game Ultraman fights Gudis, Bogun, Degola, Barrangas, Gudis II, Zebokon, Majaba, Kodolar, and Kilazee.
. The comic has also been known to confuse "Ultraman: Towards the Future" with the subsequent American-made series, "Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero
," which was released as Ultraman Powered in Japan.
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 ....
SF
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/kaiju
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
/superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
TV series produced in 1990 in 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...
by the South Australian Film Corporation
South Australian Film Corporation
South Australian Film Corporation is a South Australian Government statutory corporation established in 1972. Former State Premier Don Dunstan played an instrumental role in the foundation of the Corporation and its early film production activities....
and 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...
's 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). There were 13 episodes filmed (the first 6 episodes were the "Goudes Threat" story arc). Titled for its Japanese release, the 13-episode show was originally featured on home video and LaserDisc there on 25 September 1990, and was later broadcast 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 8 July to 30 September 1995. This was the 10th 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...
and the first produced in the Heisei
Heisei
is the current era name in Japan. The Heisei era started on 8 January 1989, the first day after the death of the reigning Emperor, Hirohito. His son, Akihito, succeeded to the throne...
era.
Distributed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Sachs Family Entertainment, the show was broadcast in weekly syndication from 4 January to 28 March 1992.
Although simply called "Ultraman" in the original Australian version, he is called "Ultraman Great" in Japan to differentiate him from the established original 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...
.
At the time, eco-awareness was at a high, and many episodes included environmental themes. Ultraman's three minute time limit is also attributed to "Earth's polluted atmosphere" in this version.
Story
Jack Shindo and Stanely Haggard are members of the first manned expedition to Mars, and on the red planet find a giant slug-like monster, Goudes/Gudis. Suddenly the giant warrior, Ultraman, arrives and fights Goudes, but is knocked down for a period. Shindo is pinned by a rockslide and Haggard tries to escape in their ship but is blown up by Gudis. It is then that Ultraman gets up, and when he is on the verge of victory Goudes changes into a virus and travels to Earth, where it mutates other creatures into monsters and awakens existing ones. Needing a human host to survive on Earth, Ultraman joins with Jack, allowing him to become the mighty alien when all seems lost. He joins the Universal Multipurpose Agency, or UMA, in order to help them battle the monsters.Halfway through the series a new Goudes, more powerful than the first, appears. It imprisons Ultraman, but Jack ultimately shows it the futility of its mission. Even if it does manage to corrupt all life, eventually there will be nothing else to corrupt, and Goudes is destroyed once and for all. For the rest of the series the environmental themes are stronger and the monsters usually arise from human pollution.
In the series finale, a doomsday scenario begins with the appearance of three powerful monsters: Kilazee, Kodalar, and the Earth itself, which tries to wipe out the human race for abusing it. Ultraman is defeated by Kodalar, but Jack survives. Ultimately the humans use an ancient disc to destroy Kodalar by reflecting its own power at it and Ultraman defeats Kilazee and carries it into space, separating Jack from him and restoring him on Earth as a normal human. The victory is seen as another chance for the human race.
UMA (Universal Multipurpose Agency)
Pronounced "Yuma" (or sometimes just "Uma", as in actress Uma ThurmanUma Thurman
Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
), the Universal Multipurpose Agency is a high-tech defense force with a huge base situated on an island off the coast of 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...
.
- Colonel Arthur Grant (Ralph Cotterill, voiced by Akiji KobayashiAkiji Kobayashi, sometimes credited as Shōji Kobayashi or Issei Mori, was a Japanese actor. He is best known in the West for portraying the role of Captain Mura in the 1966-1967 television series, Ultraman. Another notable television role was Tōbei Tachibana in the 1971 series, Kamen Rider...
) - The head of UMA. When General Brewer arrives at UMA headquarters, Grant contests command and triumphs. - Jean Echo (Gia CaridesGia CaridesGia Carides is an Australian actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Liz Holt in Strictly Ballroom, Susy Connor in Brilliant Lies, and Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.-Early life:...
, voiced by Yoshiko SakakibaraYoshiko Sakakibarais a Japanese voice actress.-Direct-to-video animation:* 1983 Dallos - Melinda Hurst* 1985 Greed - Mimau* 1985 Area 88 - Yasuda* 1985 Cream Lemon – Rio* 1985 Megazone 23 – Reina* 1985 The Karuizawa Syndrome - Kaoru Matsunuma...
) - One of the two female members of UMA and a love interest for Jack Shindo. - Lloyd Wilder (Rick Adams, voiced by Kōichi YamaderaKoichi Yamaderais a Japanese voice actor, actor, tarento, narrator, master of ceremonies and impressionist from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school, and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's...
) - The toughest member of UMA. Also the most skeptical member of the team, especially when it comes to Shindo's behavior. - Charles Morgan (Lloyd Morris, voiced by Shingo Yanagisawa) - UMA's scientific/technical expert and the team's comedy relief. Has a thing for Jean.
- Kim Shaomin (Grace Parr, voiced by Fumi HiranoFumi Hiranois a Japanese voice actress and essayist who is best known for voicing Lum Invader in the anime series Urusei Yatsura. Fumi attended Tamagawa University in Machida, Tokyo where she graduated with a degree in Theatre from the Department of Fine Arts in the College of Humanities...
) - An AsianAsian peopleAsian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
girl, one of the two female members of UMA. An excellent pilot. - Jack Shindo (Dore Kraus) and Ultraman (Great) (Robert Simper and Steve Apps, voiced by Matthew O'Sullivan; both are voiced by Masaki KyōmotoMasaki Kyomotois a Japanese actor, singer, tarento, and guitarist from Suita, Osaka Prefecture. He has appeared in various films and television series including Legend of the Eight Samurai, Sukeban Deka, Kamen Rider Black, Ultraman: Towards the Future , Cutie Honey, Chage and Aska, Ōedo Sōsamō, Mito Kōmon,...
in the Japanese dub) - An astronaut who, on his expedition to MarsMarsMars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, lost his partner Stanley Haggard in a fight between Goudes and Ultraman Great, who, after defeating the monster (who escapes to Earth), combines with Shindo to save him from being stranded on Mars. After mysteriously returning to Earth, Shindo joins UMA as a member, although his astronaut work was somehow related to UMA, to help the team with the Goudes threat, among other monster/alien-related calamities, since he shares Great's psyche. Although somewhat reluctant to be combined with Great, as he does not like being constantly under his teammates's suspicion, he nonetheless takes this responsibility. Shindo transforms into Ultraman Great by activating the Delta Plasma Pendant, which is shaped like Great's Color-Timer warning light.
UMA Mecha
There are two main vehicles, which are mass-produced.- Hummer - The red-colored jet vehicle. Fires laser beams.
- Saltop - The tech-equipped jeep. Has an energy cannon.
Ultra-Monsters
All the Ultra-Monsters in Ultraman (Great): Towards The Future were operated by Australian stuntmen Mike Read and Johnny Halliday. They were:- Goudes/Gudis, who was shown in both "Signs of Life" and, in his final form, in "The Showdown."
- Brodz/Bogun, also shown in "Signs of Life."
- Gigasaurus, shown in "The Hibernator."
- Gerugadon, shown in "The Child's Dream," where he was merged with a clone of a character named Jimmy.
- Deganja/Degola, shown in "The Storm Hunter."
- Barrangas, shown in "Blast from the Past."
- Gazebo/Zebokon, shown in "The Forest Guardian."
- Majama and Majaba, who might have been male and female versions of the same monster, who were shown, along with younger phases of the locust-like creatures, in "Bitter Harvest."
- Bios, shown in "The Biospherians."
- The Vegoids, also shown in "The Biospherians."
- Ryugulo, shown in "Tourists from the Stars."
- Veronica, also shown in "Tourists from the Stars."
- UF0, spoken as "UF-Zero," shown in "The Survivalists."
- Kodalar/Kudara, shown in "The Age of Plagues" and "Nemesis."
- Shiralee/Shilagi aka Shiralee/Kilazee, also shown in "The Age of Plagues" and "Nemesis."
Episodes
- "Signs of Life"
- Monsters: Goudes (AKA: Gudis), Brodz (AKA: Bogun)
- "The Hibernator"
- Monster: Gigasaurus
- "The Child's Dream"
- Monsters: Gerugadon, Clone Jimmy-not killed by Ultraman Great, Jimmy took control and flew away together as it bid farewell to Ultraman Great.
- "The Storm Hunter"
- Monster: Deganja (AKA: Degola)
- "Blast from the Past"
- Monster: Barrangas
- "The Showdown"
- Monster: Goudes (Final Form)
- "The Forest Guardian"
- Monster: Gazebo (AKA: Zebokon)-not killed by Ultraman Great, it was put to rest.
- "Bitter Harvest"
- Monster: Majama and Majaba (possibly male and female versions of the same monster), and various younger phases of the locust-like monsters - some were killed by the UMA.
- "The Biospherians"
- Monsters: Bios, The Vegoids
- "Tourists from the Stars"
- Monsters: Ryugulo, Veronica-not killed by Ultraman Great, Ryugulo reverted back to his human form after Ultraman Great convinced him to stop fighting.
- "The Survivalists"
- Monster: UF0 (UF-Zero)-not killed by Ultraman Great, flew into space after being hit by Ultraman Great's attack.
- "The Age of Plagues"
- Monsters: Kodalar (AKA: Kudara)-only monster to defeat Ultraman Great, Shiralee (AKA: Shilagi, Kilazee)
- "Nemesis"
- Monsters: Kodalar-not killed by Ultraman Great; the UMA used an artifact to reflect its own attack back at it. Shiralee-unknown, but heavily implied to be dead; Ultraman Great carried him off into space after separating himself from Jack.
Production
Ultraman Great is the only Ultraman whose costume is made of spandex (such as the suits used for Super SentaiSuper Sentai
The is the name given to the long-running Japanese superhero team genre of shows produced by Toei Co., Ltd., Toei Agency and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi...
/Power Rangers
Power Rangers
Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...
) as opposed to traditional rubber-based suits of all other Ultraman series.
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Sinsuke Kazato and released by Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd (COCC-9745) in 1992. The soundtrack is very rare, it went quickly out of print and can now only be found used. The music was performed by The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.Toy Line
The series also received an equally short-lived toyline from DreamWorks toys. The figures were 10" tall and included Ultraman, who came with a mini Jack Shindo, as well as his enemies Bogun, Barrangas, Majaba, Gerukadon and Kilazee. Also released was a toy of the Hummer vehicle which included a mini figure of Charlie Morgan. A toy of the Saltop was advertised on the back of all boxes, though it was never released or produced according to a Bandai representative. Despite their unique size, the toys were not without their problems. Jack, Charlie and the Hummer were well out of scale with the other toys, while the Ultraman figure lacked articulation. Also, despite being the main villain for the first story arc, neither version of Gudis was released as a toy in the DreamWorks line (although one did appear in Bandai's Japanese vinyl Ultraman line).Video Game
A video game based on the series was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemSuper Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
. It is thought to have awkward controls and an unfairly high level of difficulty by many. It was based around the same engine as a Japanese Ultraman game based on the original series. In the game Ultraman fights Gudis, Bogun, Degola, Barrangas, Gudis II, Zebokon, Majaba, Kodolar, and Kilazee.
Comic book
A comic book sequel to the series was printed in the United States. Howeverk, the comic treats Ultraman Great as the same Ultraman from the original 1966 seriesUltraman
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...
. The comic has also been known to confuse "Ultraman: Towards the Future" with the subsequent American-made series, "Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero
Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero
Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero is a tokusatsu series produced in the US in 1993 by Major Havoc Entertainment and Tsuburaya Productions , with a total of 13 episodes...
," which was released as Ultraman Powered in Japan.
Cameo
- Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009), Great along with other M78 Ultra Warriors fight against the evil Ultraman Belial. However it must be noted that this series does not reference other Ultramen that came to Earth and Ultraman Great is not a member of the "Ultra Brothers".