Urutoraman: Kuso Tokusatsu Shirizu (Ultraman: A Special-Effects Fantasy Series)
Urutoraman: Kuso Tokusatsu Shirizu (Ultraman: A Special-Effects Fantasy Series) ran from July 17, 1966 through April 9, 1967 (39 episodes)
it was originally considered the second season of Ultra Q which is why it starts out with a color version of the Ultra Q credit sequence.
Today the series is most commonly known simply as "Ultraman".
Opening Theme
Created by: Tsuburaya, Eiji
Character | Actor/Actress | |||||||||||||||
Hayata, Shin | Kurobe, Susumu | |||||||||||||||
Muramatsu, Toshio | Kobayashi, Akiji | |||||||||||||||
Arashi, Daisuke | Dokumamushi, Sandayu | |||||||||||||||
Ide, Mitsuhiro | Nihei, Masanari | |||||||||||||||
Fuji, Akiko | Sakurai, Hiroko | |||||||||||||||
Hoshino, Isamu | Tsuzawa, Akihide | |||||||||||||||
Dr. Iwamoto | Hirata, Akihiko | |||||||||||||||
Narrator (episodes episode 1-19) | Koji, Ishizaka |
Science Special Search Party (SSSP) Chief Hayata, Shin is on patrol when he spots a strange blue sphere traveling at Mach 2. Unware of the red sphere that was also tracking he follows the blue sphere to Ryumagori where the blue sphere has landed in a lake. As he approaches the lake so does the red sphere. The two collide. The patrol ship crashes and burns. Hayata, Shin's dead body is taken inside the red sphere which is actual the Travel Sphere of an alien from Nebula M78. The alien was transporting the Space Monster Bemular when it esaped (in the blue Travel Sphere) he followed it to Earth.
In order to save Hayata, Shin's life the alien merges with his body. He gives Hayata, Shin a Beta Capsule and tells him to use it in an emergency. The Beta Capsule allow Hayata, Shin to actually transform into the giant warrior, which Hayata, Shin calls "Ultraman". Ultraman is actually a warrior from the Space Garrison of the Land of Light in Nebula M78, a being of light capable of taking physical form. Ultraman stays and protectes the Earth from aliens and giaint monsters until his superior Zoffy appears on Earth and orders him to return home to rest and heal from his many battles. Zoffy brings with him a second life energy source so that Ultraman can seperate from Hayata, Shin without killing the human.
Science Special Search Party (SSSP)
Captain Muramatsu, Toshio often addressed simply as "Cap" is the serious and hightly inteligent, pipe smoking leader of the Science Special Search Party (SSP), age: 36 years old. In episodes 26 & 27 he needs to communicate with SSSP New York and in doing she he speaks some English (he does not appear in episode 30). Renamed Captain Mura in English Dubbed US version. Kobayashi, Akiji previously played Lieutenant Colonel Amano in episode 19 of Ultra Q. He would go on to play Tachibana, Tôbei in the first five Kamen Rider series, mentor to the first seven Kamen RIders (plus Tackle).
Chief Hayata, Shin is the Science Special Search Party's brave, no-nonsense second in command. Killed when his Sub VTOL aircraft crashed into the Travel Sphere of the alien from the Land of Light in Nebula M78. Brought back to life when the alien merged itself into his body. Uses the Beta Capsule to become "Ultraman", the giant silve and red alien. Seperated from Ultraman when the alien Zoffy brings a second life energy sphere and loses all memory of being Ultraman. (The English dubbed US version left out the memory lose), age: 25 years old Kurobe, Susumu previosly played Kimura, Shigeo in episode 10 of Ultra Q.
Arashi, Daisuke the Science Special Search Party's sharp shooter, favorite weapon is two-handed "Spider Shot" ("Gamma-Ray Gun" in US version), has a soft spot for children, age: 26 years old. Dokumamushi, Sandayu is the only regular cast member not to have appeared in Ultra Q, he went on to play Ultra Guard memeber Furuhashi, Sigeru in Ultra Seven
Ide, Mitsuhiro (called Ito in US version) the Science Special Search Party's ordinance and munitions inventor, sometimes feels over shadowed by Ultraman. often used as comic relief characer which makes him seam not too bright, but he is the first to suspect that Hayata is Ultraman (episode 3. age: 24 years old Nihei, Masanari previously appeared in Ultra Q episodes 2 (man delivering milk), 6 (one of the bank robbers) and 15 (one of the men on the bulldzzer).
Fuji, Akiko the Science Special Search Party's only female member, main communications officer, age: 21 years old (does not appear in episode 30) Sakurai, Hiroko previously played Edogawa, Yuriko in Ultra Q.
Hoshino, Isamu the Science Special Search Party's unofficial mascot (and required child character), in the US version he is renamed Hoshino Fuji and is made Ariko's younger brother. age: 11 years old (appears in episodes 1 - 4, 6, 9, 11, 16 - 18, 21, 24, 25). He is is eventually accepted as a full fledged member complete with the orange field uniform (episode 17) and the blue formal univorm (episode 21). He even wears a sidearm but wether his is actually functional is unclear as he never fires it. Tsuzawa, Akihide previously played Saburo in episode 12 of Ultra Q. After filming Ultraman episode 25 he broke his leg on an artiifical sky slope while on vacation and was hospitlized for 3 months after which he decided to leave acting and go to junior high school. He eventually went to work for 7-11 from where he ultimatly retired.
Dr. Iwamoto the Science Special Search Party's scientific adviser, taking over from Dr. Ichinotani (see Ultra Q) after his retirment. Dr. Iwamoto invented the Jet VTOL aircraft, age: 40 years old (appears in episodes 5, 12, 13, 16, 25, 36, 39) ) Hirata, Akihiko previously played Chief Hanazawa in episode 16 of Ultra Q, he would go on to play the evil Mr. K in Rainbowman: Warrior of Love.
Sakomizu, Shingo Science Special Search Party member who is never actually seen in this series, he was on patrol at the edge of the solar system, just past Pluto. as one of the first Faster Than Light craft pilots.he encountered Zoffy and learned that the Utras had been protecting the Earth for a lot longer than any human was aware of. Because of the "Rip-Van-Winkle Effect", time inside the craft moving slower than outside when he returns to Earth very little time has passed for him but its been decades on Earth thus, he find himself on Earth in 2006 appearing to be age 40 when its been 70 years since his birth. (see Ultraman Mebius).
Several ISPO members from other branches will journey to Japan from time to time to help the SSP. mostly from France. (These were actually played by French actors who had to learn their lines in Japanese)
Every officer wears a Meteor Badge, the SSSP logo, which is a radio with a telescoping antenna.
Each SSSP officer carries a Super Gun energy pistol. Arashi favors the Spider Shot, a rifle version of the Super Shot.
Ide's favorite is his own invention the Mars 133, based on Ultraman's Specium Ray.
One Jet VOTL has has a nuclear powered rocket engine installed to allow it to travel into space.
For patrolling the seas they have Submarines S16, S21 and S25.
For land patrol they have the SSSP car.
For dealing with monster underground the Underground Tank Vellucidar was invented (episode 29).
Episodes | Strange Beast(s) |
1. 07-17-1966 Ultra Operation No, 1 | Space Monster Bemular |
2. 07-24-1966 Shoot The Invader | Alien Baltan |
3. 07-31-1966 Science Patrol, Move Out! | Invisible Monster Neronga |
4. 08-07-1966 Five Seconds Before The Explosion | Undesea Primitive Human Ragon |
5. 08-14-1966 The Secret Of The Miroganda | Bizarre Plant Green Monse |
6. 08-21-1966 The Coast Guard Command | Feature Sea Monster Guesra |
7. 08-28-1966 The Blue Stone Of Baradhi | Magnetic Monster Antlar |
8. 09-04-1966 The Monster Anarchy Zone | Red King, Chandlar, Magula, Suflan, Pigmon |
9. 09-11-1966 Lightning Operation | Uranium Monster Gavora |
10. 09-18-1966 The Mysterious Dinosaur Base | Ruffled Dinosaur Jirahs |
11. 09-25-1966 The Rascal From Outer Space | Brain Wave Monster Gango |
12. 10-02-1966 Cry Of The Mummy | Mummy Monster Dodongo |
13. 10-09-1966 Oil S.O.S. | Oil Monster Pestar |
14. 10-16-1967 The Pearl Defense Directive | Sprout Monster Gamakugira |
15. 10-23-1966 Terrifying Cosmic Rays | Two-Dimensional Monster Gavadon |
16. 10-30-1966 Science Patrol Into Space | Alien Baltan II |
17. 11-06-1966 Passport To Infinity | Four-Dimensional Monster Bullton |
18. 11-13-1966 Brother From Another Planet | Alien Zarab |
19. 11-20-1966 Demons Rise Again | Aboras and Banila |
20. 11-27-1966 Terror On Route 87 | Highland Dragon Hydra |
21. 12-04-1966 Breach The Wall of Smoke | Poison Gas Monster Kemular |
22. 12-11-1966 Overthrow The Surface | Underground Monster Telesdon |
23. 12-18-1966 My Home Is Earth | Metamorphic Monster Jamilar |
24. 12-25-1966 The Undersea Science Center | Abyssal Monster Gubila |
25. 01-01-1967 Mystery Comet Tsuiphon | Guigass, Dorako and Red King |
26. 01-08-1967 The Prince Of Monsters (Part 1) | Ancient Monster Gomora |
27. 01-15-1967 The Prince Of Monsters (Part 2) | Ancient Monster Gomora |
28. 01-22-1967 Human Specimens 5 & 6 | Three-Faced Phantom Dada |
29. 01-29-1967 Challenge To The Underground | Golden Monster Goldon |
30. 02-05-1967 Phantom Of The Snow Mountains | Legend Monster Woo |
31. 02-12-1967 Who Goes There? | Vampire Plant Keronia |
32. 02-19-1967 Endless Counterattack | Scorching Monster Zumbolar |
33. 02-26-1967 The Forbidden Words | Alien Mefilas |
34. 03-05-1967 A Gift From The Sky | Megaton Monster Skydon |
35. 03-12-1967 The Monster Graveyard | Ghost Monster Seabozu |
36. 03-19-1967 Don't Shoot! Arashi | Transforming Monster Zaragas |
37. 03-26-1967 A Little Hero | Monster Chief Geronimon |
38. 04-02-1967 Spaceship Rescue Command | Saigo and Keylla |
39. 04-09-1967 Farewell, Ultraman | Space Dinosaur Zetton |
Ultraman: A Special-Effects Fantasy Series has the longest title of any Ultraman series but at 39 episodes its the shortest of the Showa Era Ultraman series. Ultraman Taro at 53 episodes is the longest beating Ultraman Ace by one episode. (Of course if you count this series as the second season of Ultra Q than its a total of 67 episodes).
In the direct to video special "Ultraman Kaiju Densetsu: 40 Years of Truth" which had SSSP members get together for a 40 year reunion, it is said that Hoshino, Isamu abscence (after episode 25) was a result of his being sent to school over seas. It also indicates that Captain Muramatsu had died 10 years before the reunion. And Hayata says he believed that Cap knew he was Ultraman all along even though he never let on.
More Ultraman Music
On October 15, 2019 Ultraman was released on Blu-ray, by Mill Creek Entertainment, in Japanese with English subtites
Ultraman was proceeded by Ultra Q and was followed by Ultra Seven
Back To Henshin Hall Of Fame
Urutoraman © 1966 Tsuburaya Productions