Return of Ultraman[1] (帰ってきたウルトラマン, Kaettekita Urutoraman) is a Japanesetokusatsuscience fiction television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions. The fourth entry in the Ultra series, the series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from April 2, 1971, to March 31, 1972. It became successful enough to inspire a second "Kaiju Boom" in Japan, with rival studios producing their own tokusatsu shows and Tsuburaya Productions producing additional Ultraman shows annually for the next three years.[3] Prior to the series' release, Ultra Q, Ultraman, and Ultraseven were stand-alone titles however, Return of Ultraman is the first installment to unite the first three shows into an interconnected universe.[4]
This series is a follow-up to the original Ultraman and Ultraseven that is set in 1971, four years after Ultraseven left Earth, and five years after Ultraman came to Earth. The first episode begins with a fight between two giant monsters named Takkong and Zazarn in Tokyo. Amid the monster destruction, young race-car driver Hideki Go is killed while trying to rescue a little boy and a dog from the falling rubble. His valiant sacrifice is noted by everyone, including his friends and the new defense force MAT (Monster Attack Team), but an unseen being also takes notice. Looking over Hideki is "New Ultraman" ("Ultraman Jack"), who is so touched by the race car driver's heroism, that he decides to combine his life force with that of Hideki, thus bringing him back to life (just like the original Ultraman did with Shin Hayata), much to everyone's astonishment. MAT then asks Hideki to join the team, which he does, especially since in this frightening new "Age of Monsters", Earth will need a savior. In times of crisis, Hideki will raise his right arm and, by force of will, transform into Ultraman to fight monsters. In addition, the original Ultraman and Ultraseven are watching New Ultraman's battles from the sidelines, and offer their help when he is in peril.[2][5]
Osamu Saka as Alien Baltan Jr., Alien Stora, and Alien Bat
Osamu Ichikawa as Yametaranse
Production
Eiji Tsuburaya had intended Ultraseven to be the conclusion to the Ultra series. However, due to increased merchandise sales from the first three shows and demand by fans for a new show, Tsuburaya decided to develop the fourth Ultra series. Tsuburaya conceived the show's title and the idea was for the show to be a direct sequel to the 1966 series, with Hayata and passing the Beta Capsule over to a new human host. The idea was submitted to Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) in April 1969. However, TBS and its sponsors requested that the new series be centered on a brand new Ultraman, separate from the 1966 character, for marketing and merchandise purposes.[1]
After Tsuburaya's death, his eldest son Hajime was named president of Tsuburaya Productions and assembled a team to revise Return of Ultraman. The first three shows were rebroadcast to temporarily appease fan demands. Shozo Uehara and TBS producer Yoji Hashimoto conceived the final concept of the series.[1] Revisions were made to the new Ultraman's design, after feedback from licensees, to avoid similarities with the 1966 Ultraman. This included giving the new Ultraman gloves, boots, and pinstripes around the red areas. The new character was referred to as "New Ultraman" by fans and the name was used by Tsuburaya Productions for later appearances. The character was rebranded as "Ultraman Jack" in 1984 after Tsuburaya Productions held a contest for children to submit suggestions.[4]
Episodes
No.
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
1
"All Monsters Attack" Transliteration: "Kaiju Sō-Shingeki" (Japanese: 怪獣総進撃)
"Poison Gas Monster Appears" Transliteration: "Dokugasu Kaijū Shutsugen" (Japanese: 毒ガス怪獣出現)
Noboru Kaji
Tetsuo Kinjo
June 11, 1971 (1971-06-11)
12
"Revenge of Monster Shugaron" Transliteration: "Kaijū Shugaron no Fukushū" (Japanese: 怪獣シュガロンの復讐)
Noboru Kaji
Shozo Uehara
June 18, 1971 (1971-06-18)
13
"Terror of the Tsunami Monster, Tokyo in Peril" Transliteration: "Tsunami Kaijū no Kyōfu Tōkyō Dai Pinchi" (Japanese: 津波怪獣の恐怖 東京大ピンチ)
Yoshiharu Tomita
Shozo Uehara
June 25, 1971 (1971-06-25)
14
"Terror of the Two Giant Monsters, The Great Tokyo Tornado" Transliteration: "Ni Dai Kaijū no Kyōfu, Tōkyō Ōtatsu Maki Fukushū" (Japanese: 二大怪獣の恐怖 東京大龍巻)
Yoshiharu Tomita
Shozo Uehara
July 2, 1971 (1971-07-02)
15
"Revenge of the Monster Boy" Transliteration: "Kaijū Shōnen no Fukushū" (Japanese: 怪獣少年の復讐)
Eizo Yamagiwa
Shigemitsu Taguchi
July 9, 1971 (1971-07-09)
16
"The Mystery of Big Bird Monster Terochilus" Transliteration: "Dai Kaichō Terochirusu no Nazo" (Japanese: 大怪鳥テロチルスの謎)
Eizo Yamagiwa
Shozo Uehara
July 16, 1971 (1971-07-16)
17
"Monster Bird Terochilus, Big Air Raid of Tokyo" Transliteration: "Kaichō Terochirusu Tōkyō Dai Kūbaku" (Japanese: 怪鳥テロチルス東京大空爆)
Eizo Yamagiwa
Shozo Uehara
July 23, 1971 (1971-07-23)
18
"Here Comes Ultraseven!" Transliteration: "Urutorasebun Sanjō!" (Japanese: ウルトラセブン参上)
Yoshiharu Tomita
Shinichi Ichikawa
August 6, 1971 (1971-08-06)
19
"The Invisible Giant Monster from Outer Space" Transliteration: "Uchū kara kita Tōmei Dai-kaijū" (Japanese: 宇宙から来た透明大怪獣)
Noboru Kaji
Shozo Uehara
August 13, 1971 (1971-08-13)
20
"The Monster is a Shooting Star in Space" Transliteration: "Kaijū wa uchū no nagareboshi" (Japanese: 怪獣は宇宙の流れ星)
Masanori Kakei
Toshiro Ishido
August 20, 1971 (1971-08-20)
21
"The Monster Channel" Transliteration: "Kaiju Channeru" (Japanese: 怪獣チャンネル)
Masanori Kakei
Shinichi Ichikawa
August 27, 1971 (1971-08-27)
22
"Leave This Monster to Me" Transliteration: "Kono kaijū wa ore ga yaru" (Japanese: この怪獣は俺が殺る)
Eizo Yamagiwa
Shinichi Ichikawa
September 3, 1971 (1971-09-03)
23
"Spit Out the Stars, Dark Monster!" Transliteration: "Ankoū Kaijū Hoshi wo Hakidake!" (Japanese: 鮟鱇怪獣 星を吐き出け!)
Eizo Yamagiwa
Toshiro Ishido
September 10, 1971 (1971-09-10)
24
"Horror! Birth of the Apartment Monster" Transliteration: "Senritsu Manshiyon Kaijū Tanjō" (Japanese: 戦慄! マンシヨン怪獣誕生)
Yoshiharu Tomita
Shozo Uehara
September 17, 1971 (1971-09-17)
25
"Leaving My Home Planet, Earth" Transliteration: "Furusato Chikyū o saru" (Japanese: ふるさと地球を去る)
In November 2015, Tsuburaya Productions and Bandai Visual released the series on Blu-ray in Japan.[8] In July 2019, Mill Creek Entertainment announced that it had acquired most of the Ultraman library from Tsuburaya Productions through Indigo Entertainment, including 1,100 TV episodes and 20 films.[9] Mill Creek released the series on Blu-ray and digital in North America on February 25, 2020, in standard and steelbook sets.[10]
In July 2020, Shout! Factory announced to have struck a multi-year deal with Alliance Entertainment and Mill Creek, with the blessings of Tsuburaya and Indigo, that granted them the exclusive SVOD and AVOD digital rights to the Ultra series and films (1,100 TV episodes and 20 films) acquired by Mill Creek the previous year. Return of Ultraman, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu.[11]
Notes
^Yatsu provided the voice for Ultraman Jack on episodes: 1, 18, 30, 31, 37, while Murakoshi provided the voice for episode 50.[6]
