Ultraman (2004 film)
Encyclopedia
Ultraman: The Next, released in Japan simply titled , is a 2004 tokusatsu
superhero
film. It is part of the Ultra Series
' experimental Ultra N Project, and features an Ultraman
character codenamed "The Next". The movie, produced by Tsuburaya Productions
, received its theatrical release in Japan on December 18, 2004, distributed by Shochiku
.
, Ultraman Nexus
. Ultraman the Next resembled a life-like insectoid
version of Nexus (with insect-like body armor and organic tissue-like skin underneath). This was the first Ultraman ever to possess this sort of characteristic, a departure from the traditional "clean and shiny" look. BEING GIZA artists provided the theme songs for Ultraman the Next and Ultraman Nexus.
is a prestigious F-15 Eagle
jet pilot (or "driver" as he is called in the film). A lifelong fan of flying since he was a child, being a pilot is his ultimate dream. Unfortunately, his duties distance himself from his wife, Yoko, who always ends up being neglected, and his son, Tsugumu, who has a congenital blood disease and has a high risk of dying at a young age.
Maki decides to quit the Air Force to devote more time to his family and to spend whatever is left for his son. He takes a part-time job as a commercial tour guide run by a kindly group of people who allow him time to work and to also take care of his family.
However, prior to quitting, Maki and his flight partner Yamashima are alerted to a strange red light streaking towards Japan, and Maki's plane collides with the red light. However, he has suffered no ill effects other than brief flashes of scenes playing out in his mind. He later discovers that the images in his mind are due to telepathic messages from the strange being in the light.
(Urutoraman Nekkusasu, 2004) as Maki's power is passed on to protect humanity from the darkness. Ultraman Nexus is set 5 years after the events of ULTRAMAN, in the year 2009, with Himeya Jun (Junis Red), Senjyu Ren (Junis Blue), and Komon Kazuki (Noa) taking charge as Maki's successors. Sara also returns near the series finale, serving as an advisor to TLT and Night Raider during the final attack.
The events in this movie are referred to as 'A.D. 2004' in the Ultraman Nexus series. In addition, TLT collaborates with an unknown alien force to erase any memory about the incident in the entire human race, in order to 'protect those who experienced trauma
' after the violent events in ULTRAMAN.They also cite the cause of extreme damage in the city of Tokyo
due to a "violent meteor shower
".
, was produced by TAK MATSUMOTO
(of B'z
), under his Vermillion Records label (which is in turn, a part of the Being Giza group). It was released in Japan on July 20, 2005. The catalogue code for the album is BMCV-8015.
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 ....
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 —...
film. It is part 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...
' experimental Ultra N Project, and features an 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 codenamed "The Next". The movie, produced by 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...
, received its theatrical release in Japan on December 18, 2004, distributed by Shochiku
Shochiku
is a Japanese movie studio and production company for kabuki. It also produces and distributes anime films. Its best remembered directors include Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Keisuke Kinoshita and Yōji Yamada...
.
Ultra N Project
Tsuburaya Productions started the "Ultra N Project" in 2004, in an attempt to revitalize the Ultra franchise. The project consisted of three parts. The first part involved the unveiling of Ultraman Noa, the second part involved this movie, and the last part involved the airing of the then-new Ultra SeriesUltra 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...
, Ultraman Nexus
Ultraman Nexus
was produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting. It was the 20th entry in the Ultra Series. The series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System, including TBS, CBC, MBS, etc. The show ran from October 2, 2004 until June 25, 2005, with a total of 37 broadcast episodes...
. Ultraman the Next resembled a life-like insectoid
Insectoid
Insectoid denotes any creature or object that shares a similar body or traits with common earth insects and arachnids. The term is a combination of "insect" and "-oid" . Compare "humanoid"....
version of Nexus (with insect-like body armor and organic tissue-like skin underneath). This was the first Ultraman ever to possess this sort of characteristic, a departure from the traditional "clean and shiny" look. BEING GIZA artists provided the theme songs for Ultraman the Next and Ultraman Nexus.
Summary
First Lieutenant Shunichi Maki of the Japan Air Self-Defense ForceJapan Air Self-Defense Force
The , or JASDF, is the aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and other aerospace operations. The JASDF carries out combat air patrols around Japan, while also maintaining an extensive network of ground and air early warning radar systems...
is a prestigious F-15 Eagle
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
jet pilot (or "driver" as he is called in the film). A lifelong fan of flying since he was a child, being a pilot is his ultimate dream. Unfortunately, his duties distance himself from his wife, Yoko, who always ends up being neglected, and his son, Tsugumu, who has a congenital blood disease and has a high risk of dying at a young age.
Maki decides to quit the Air Force to devote more time to his family and to spend whatever is left for his son. He takes a part-time job as a commercial tour guide run by a kindly group of people who allow him time to work and to also take care of his family.
However, prior to quitting, Maki and his flight partner Yamashima are alerted to a strange red light streaking towards Japan, and Maki's plane collides with the red light. However, he has suffered no ill effects other than brief flashes of scenes playing out in his mind. He later discovers that the images in his mind are due to telepathic messages from the strange being in the light.
From Next to Nexus
Eventually, this sets the tone for the TV series, Ultraman NexusUltraman Nexus
was produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting. It was the 20th entry in the Ultra Series. The series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System, including TBS, CBC, MBS, etc. The show ran from October 2, 2004 until June 25, 2005, with a total of 37 broadcast episodes...
(Urutoraman Nekkusasu, 2004) as Maki's power is passed on to protect humanity from the darkness. Ultraman Nexus is set 5 years after the events of ULTRAMAN, in the year 2009, with Himeya Jun (Junis Red), Senjyu Ren (Junis Blue), and Komon Kazuki (Noa) taking charge as Maki's successors. Sara also returns near the series finale, serving as an advisor to TLT and Night Raider during the final attack.
The events in this movie are referred to as 'A.D. 2004' in the Ultraman Nexus series. In addition, TLT collaborates with an unknown alien force to erase any memory about the incident in the entire human race, in order to 'protect those who experienced trauma
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
' after the violent events in ULTRAMAN.They also cite the cause of extreme damage in the city of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
due to a "violent meteor shower
Meteor shower
A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate from one point in the night sky. These meteors are caused by streams of cosmic debris called meteoroids entering Earth's atmosphere at extremely high speeds on parallel trajectories. Most meteors are smaller...
".
Main Characters
- Maki Shunichi (真木 舜一) / Ultraman the Next (ウルトラマン・ザ・ネクスト): Played by Bessho Tetsuya (別所 哲也).
- Mizuhara Sara (水原 沙羅): Played by Tooyama Kyooko (遠山 景織子).
- Udou Takafumi (有働 貴文) / Beast the One (ビースト・ザ・ワン): Played by Oosumi Kenya (大澄 賢也).
Supporting
- Yuuki Nae (裕木 奈江)
- Hirota Ryouhei (広田 亮平)
- Nagasawa Toshiya (永澤 俊矢)
- Ryuu Daisuke (隆 大介)
- Kusakari Masao (草刈 正雄)
Theme Songs
- OP: "Theme from ULTRAMAN" by TAK MATSUMOTOTak Matsumotois a Grammy Award-winning Japanese guitarist, producer, arranger, composer, singer and songwriter. In addition to guitarist and lead composer for the hard rock band B'z, he has also had a successful solo career.-Background:...
- ED: "NEVER GOOD-BYE" by TMGTak Matsumotois a Grammy Award-winning Japanese guitarist, producer, arranger, composer, singer and songwriter. In addition to guitarist and lead composer for the hard rock band B'z, he has also had a successful solo career.-Background:...
Original Soundtrack
The original soundtrack, known simply as ULTRAMAN ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACKUltraman Original Soundtrack
Ultraman Original Soundtrack is the original soundtrack for the 2004 Japanese movie Ultraman. The album was released on July 20, 2005...
, was produced by TAK MATSUMOTO
Tak Matsumoto
is a Grammy Award-winning Japanese guitarist, producer, arranger, composer, singer and songwriter. In addition to guitarist and lead composer for the hard rock band B'z, he has also had a successful solo career.-Background:...
(of B'z
B'z
is a Japanese hard rock duo, composed of and .B'z has released 45 consecutive #1 singles, 24 #1 albums, and sold more than 79 million records in Japan alone...
), under his Vermillion Records label (which is in turn, a part of the Being Giza group). It was released in Japan on July 20, 2005. The catalogue code for the album is BMCV-8015.