Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Thailand's Ultraman



Ultraman's licensing rights outside of Japan has been a long legal dispute between Tsuburaya Productions and Chaiyo Productions (also called Tsuburaya Chaiyo Co Ltd) based in Thailand. Tsuburaya had previously collaborated with Chaiyo on the production of two movies, The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army and Jumborg Ace & Giant. Sompote Saengduenchai, founder/president of Chaiyo Productions, claimed and maintained that in 1976, the late Noboru Tsuburaya, who had died in 1995, had given his company rights to everything Ultraman outside Japanese territories in exchange for a monetary loan. Japanese and Thai courts accepted this contract as real and binding because of the supposed 'hanko' of the late Noboru Tsuburaya in the document. Tsuburaya Productions insisted that the contract was a forgery (due to factual errors), and repeatedly contested the issue.

After an 8-year battle in the courts of both countries, Sompote Saengduenchai was awarded a favorable decision on April 27, 2004. The exact ruling fell into some dispute: Some said it only gave him merchandising rights for the first six Ultra Series (Ultra Q through Ultraman Taro) and Jumborg Ace outside Japan, and broadcasting rights of said shows within Thailand. Tsuburaya decided not to market any of the disputed six Ultra Series outside Japan until it had completely settled the rights issues with Chaiyo, although the company continued to merchandise and distribute all of the Ultraman programs created after Ultraman Taro, including the theatrical feature Ultraman the Next, throughout the world. Because of the copyright struggle, importing literature on Ultraman into Singapore and Malaysia was prohibited. It also resulted in a slight backlash against Thai Ultraman fans, who were assumed to be outright Chaiyo supporters.

On February 5, 2008, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Tsuburaya Productions of Japan after they made an appeal to the initial ruling. The decision ended Sompote's bid to continue his enterprise, and the court gave Sompote 30 days to stop profiteering from Ultraman and required to pay THB 10,700,000 plus interest at the rate of 7.5 per cent a year starting from December 16, 1997, when the original lawsuit was filed. The Thailand Ultramen include Ultraman Millennium, Dark Ultraman and Ultraman Elite.

Other Tsuburaya Productions


Iron King ( October 8, 1972 – April 8, 1973)
The series was produced by Nippon Gendai and Senkosha (now Senko Planning), and aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System with a total of 26 episodes.

Redman (April 3, 1972 to September 8, 1972)
A Kyodai Hero program, it features the titular hero growing to immense size and fighting similarly sized monsters. Originally broadcast as 138 five-minute segments as part of the children's variety show Ohayo! Kodomo Show on Nihon TV, it was produced by Tsuburaya Productions. It is similar in many ways to the most famous of the Ultra Series. All enemy monsters featured were re-used from programmes produced as part of that franchise.

Jumborg Ace (from 1/17/73 to 12/29/73)
Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, the show was broadcast on Mainichi Broadcasting System with a total of 50 episodes. This was also one of several shows Tsuburaya did to celebrate the company's 10th Anniversary (the other two being Ultraman Taro and Fireman).

Fireman (1/7/73 - 7/31/73)
Fireman, also known as Magma Man in some markets, was produced by Tsuburaya Productions, the show was broadcast on Nippon Television, with a total of 30 episodes. This was also one of several shows Tsuburaya did to celebrate the company's 10th Anniversary.

Denkou Choujin Gridman (Lightning Superman Gridman)
The show ran from 1993 to 1994. This would be Tsuburaya's last non-Ultra superhero production before Bio Planet WoO. It was the source material for DiC Entertainment's Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad. Three computer-savvy kids, Naoto, Yuka and Ippei create their own videogame super-hero, but it is possessed by an inter-dimensional police officer, who pursues evil program Kahn Digifer. Gridman merges with Naoto and fights Kahn Digifer's digitized monsters (created by social misfit Takeshi). There was a planned sequel but it never happened. For more about Gridman and SSSS, check this post out.

Bio Planet WoO (2006)
WoO was one of many unused ideas created by the late-Eiji Tsuburaya as story connecting to the show, Ultra Q. The story revolves around a living creature which came from a comet named WoO who befriends by a young girl named Ai.

Related: http://henshingrid.blogspot.com/2009/05/gridman-superhuman-samuari-syber-squad.html

Various Alternate Ultramen (Promos & Parodies)

Kamen Rider Nice (1999)
Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Ultraman Nice was released in a series of commercials during the 1999 Japan reruns of Ultraman Tiga, with a total of forty 1-minute spots. Ultraman Nice arrives from the planet TOY-1 in a series. The spots advertise the wide variety of Bandai Ultraman toys, actually do have a storyline, along with some "surprise guests."

Ultraman Zearth (1994)
Ultraman Zearth is a parody Ultraman and the name of a 1994 movie in the series. He hails from The Land of Pikari in Nebula Z95. He has a big red face and dislikes dirt, and will go to great lengths to wash it off his hands. His goal is to clean the polluted Earth. He transforms with an electric toothbrush, which is consistent with his hygiene fixation. There was two movies.

Ultraman Boy (2003)
Premiering September 29, 2003, ULTRAMAN BOY'S ULTRA COLISEUM worked as a way to introduce younger children to Tsuburaya Productions' heroes and monsters. Hosted by Ultraman Boy--new invention, each 5 minute-long episode provided info on the different Ultra Heroes, monsters, and mecha -- plus, featured "new" battles by combining footage from the various series (much the Thunderzord vs. Zyu 2 Monsters in You know What).

Monday, September 6, 2010

The 'Other' Ultramen

I might be missing some, let me know and I am not covering the power ups. During the time of the legal battle, Chaiyo came up with three of their own Ultras: Ultraman Millennium, Dark Ultraman (an evil Ultra), and Ultraman Elite. These were not used for purposes other than stage shows and merchandise.


Zoffy
He first appeared in the final episode of Ultraman (Episode 39, "Farewell, Ultraman"), thus becoming the very second Ultra-Being from the Land of Light in the Nebula M78 to appear on Earth after Ultraman himself. He used the same same type as Ultraman's Beta Capsule. In Episode 39 of Ultraman, Zoffy used it to separate Hayata from Ultraman. He returned in Mebius.


Father of Ultra
He first appeared in the 27th episode of Ultraman Ace. He is the father of Ultraman Taro. His real name Ken was revealed in Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend The Movie. I already covered Mother of Ultra.


Ultraman King
He is considered to be and respected as the "God" or Elder of all Ultra heroes. Despite the name, he is not the king of the Land of Light.


Ultraman Astra
Ultraman Leo's twin brother, not counting Leo's pet monster Ron, are the only two survivors of the Galactic Lion System in constellation L77.


Keigo Masaki/Evil Tiga
A world class top scientist. He is also a descendant of the ancient race, like Daigo, and bears similar DNA.


Ultraman Agul
Unlike Gaia, Agul is completely blue. Takayama Gamu, the human host of Ultraman Gaia, believes that Gaia is here to save Earth and humanity. On the other hand, Fujimiya Hiroya, the human host of Ultraman Agul, believes Agul to be Earth's natural defence mechanism. He is at first more interested in protecting just the planet itself, even at the expense of humanity (hence the occasional clashes with Gaia).


Ultraman Hikari (Ultraman Light)
He was an excellent scientist who belonged to Space Science Technology Bureau. Appeared in Mabius.


Hunter Knight Tsurugi
The true identity of Hunter Knight Tsurugi (Sword the Hunter Knight), sans armour and with Star Marks (Medals of Honor to the Ultra Race) on his chest similar to Zoffy.


Ultraman Justice
Justice is an Ultra from the Ultraman Cosmos movies. He has victorium ray and crusher mode. He can combine with Ultraman Cosmos to form Ultraman Legend.


Ultraman Noa
Ultraman Noa was the project mascot of Noa: Nostalgia, the first stage in the Ultra N Project, an experiment Tsuburaya Productions held in 2004 to reinvent Ultraman for a new generation of fans.


Ultraman Xenon
A powerful Ultra who gives the Max Galaxy bracelet weapon to Ultraman Max. He appear to help Max fight Zetton. He looks similar to Ultraman Mebius.


Ultraman Belial
Belial has access to the Giga Battle Nizer , a device similar to those from the Ultra Galaxy series which gives him the power to control one hundred Ultra Monsters which he uses to attack the Land of Light in Nebula M78, the home of all Ultramen. He appears in Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend The Movie and Ultraman Zero The Movie: Super Deciding Fight! The Belial Galactic Empire.


Dark Zagi
Appears in Ultraman Nexus.

Ultraman Henhsin Devices

Since I covered the Ultra series, someone asked for me to cover the transformation items and transformation sequences, this is the best I could do since I never never seen the series.

Beta Capsule Transformation (1966)
Only the Beta Capsule can trigger the physical transformation from Hayata to Ultraman.

Ultra Eye (1967)
Ultra Seven used these glasses to transform.

Ultra Ring (1972)
Ultraman Ace (1972) used tis ring. As for Ultraman Jack (1971), he used Force of Will. He is an exception among Ultramen, since he does not use an external device to transform.

Ultra Badge (1973)
Ultraman Taro (1973) used this to transform.

I am not sure but I believe Ultraman Leo (1974) used this ring.

Beam Flasher (1979)
The animated Ultraman Jonias used a star to transform.

Bright Stick (1980)
Transformation item for Ultraman 80.

Ultraman Tiga (1996) used this to tranform. I don't know the name, I just put the kanji for Ultraman name and Henshin in Google Images.


Ultraman Dyna (1997) used these key-like item to transform. I don't know the name, I just put the kanji for Ultraman name and Henshin in Google Images.


Ultraman Agul of Gaia (1998) used this, the wing parts would fold in and could meet up on the top. I don't know the name, I just put the kanji for Ultraman name and Henshin in Google Images.


Ultraman Cosmos (2001) used this. I don't know the name, I just put the kanji for Ultraman name and Henshin in Google Images.


Ultraman Nexus (2004) used this to change. I don't know the name, I just put the kanji for Ultraman name and Henshin in Google Images.


Ultraman Max (2005) used this to change. I don't know the name, I just put the kanji for Ultraman name and Henshin in Google Images.


Mebius Brace (2006)
Ultraman Mebius (2006) used this. He uses the Mebius Brace and the call of "Mebius!" to change into his true Ultra form.


Ultra Eyes (2007)
Ultraseven X used his own Ultra Eyes.


Found a couple Henshin devices, don't know who the brace and earrings belong to.

Female Ultras in the Ultra Series

As always, I feel compelled to cover the female superheroes in Boy-dominated Tokusatsu.

Mother of Ultra
She first appeared in the first episode of Ultraman Taro (1973) and is the mother of Taro himself. Her real name Marie was revealed in Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend The Movie. She is the wife of Ken. Most of her attacks start with the word 'Mother.' She also is younger sister of Ultra Seven's late mother.

Ultrawoman Beth
Ultrawoman Beth resembles Ultrawoman Amia from the other animated The Ultraman. She appeared in the animated US-collaboration Ultraman: The Adventure Begins (1990). Above is the live-action suit for expos and meet and greets.

Yullian
Yullian is the princess of the Land of Light, a childhood friend of Ultraman 80 (1980). She was his girlfriend in Ultraman: Super Fighter Legend. She later makes a cameo appearance in the first episode of Ultraman Mebius and appeared in the film Ultra Galaxy Legends but she fails to stop Belial and is frozen once he steals the Plasma Spark and remains frozen until Ultraman Zero returns it.

Ultrawoman Amia
She appeared part of the U40 crew in the Japanese Anime The Ultraman (1980).

Here is Mother of Ultra (Ultra Mother) with a cape. And Yulian behind her.

More info on this blog dedicated to the female Ultras -- Warning: it has pictures of female figures being groped by Octopi and various adult positions.