Return of Ultraman

Return of Ultraman[1] (Japanese: 帰ってきたウルトラマン, Hepburn: Kaettekita Urutoraman), is a tokusatsu science fiction/kaiju/superhero TV series, and is the fourth in the Ultra Series.

"Ultraman Jack" redirects here. For the titular character, see Ultraman Jack (character).
Return of Ultraman
Title card
Genre
Created byTsuburaya Productions
Developed byShozo Uehara
Directed byIshiro Honda
Starring
Theme music composerKoichi Sugiyama
Composer(s)
  • Shōzō Maita
  • Tōru Fuyuki
Country of originJapan
No. of episodes51
Production
Running time24 mins
Release
Original networkTokyo Broadcasting System
Picture format480i (SDTV), 720p
Original releaseApril 2, 1971 –
March 31, 1972
Chronology
Preceded byUltra Seven
Followed byUltraman Ace

Eiji Tsuburaya had originally intended for the Ultra Series to end with the 1967 series Ultra Seven (1967) but the former, alongside its originator Ultraman (1966) proved to be too popular a character to omit.

Eiji Tsuburaya died in 1970. His son Hajime Tsuburaya (who took over Tsuburaya Productions until his own death in 1973) revived the Ultra Series with Return of Ultraman.

The show features a new Ultraman named "New Ultraman" (新ウルトラマン, Shin Urutoraman), or "Kaettekita Ultraman" (帰ってきたウルトラマン). In 1984, he was renamed "Ultraman Jack" (ウルトラマンジャック, Urutoraman Jakku) due to licensing issues. Tsuburaya and Bandai (which had just bought the Ultraman toy license in Japan) held a contest for children to pick a new name for this Ultraman. Although he is called "Ultraman Jack" for licensing in and out of Japan, he is still sometimes referred to as "New Ultraman"/"Kaettekita Ultraman", by some fans (and also in some official sources). This change was done due to a last-minute decision as the original plan for this series was for the original Ultraman to return to Earth to continue fighting against aliens and monsters.

While nearly identical to the original Ultraman in appearance, the red pattern on his silver suit is slightly different. Furthermore, the new Ultraman can be recognized by his shorter pants, the pinstripes along the red areas, and the fuller sleeves/kneepads. The characters and related events are described below using an in-universe tone.

Due to the mid-season addition of 'Ultraman' being Ultraman Jack, the series reintroduced his predecessors, Ultraman and Ultra Seven to the series canon - both of his predecessors were originally in different canon "universes" beforehand. This began a shared universe which continued throughout the Showa series, with Zoffy, Ultraman's superior, being reintroduced to the canon the following year in Ultraman Ace.

Story

This series is a follow up to the original Ultraman & Ultra Seven 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 Zazahn 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 Ultra Seven are watching New Ultraman's battles from the sidelines, and offer their help when he is in peril.[2][3]

Production

For the first time, Ishirō Honda, best known for his work on the Godzilla movies and other classic Toho tokusatsu, worked on the Ultra Series, and directed some of the episodes of this series, including the first episode (titled "All Monsters Attack" (怪獣総進撃, Kaijū Sōshingeki), which is the same as the Japanese title for the film Destroy All Monsters). When translated into English, this title also follows the Japanese title for Godzilla's Revenge, All Monsters Attack.

Episodes
  1. All Monsters Attack Earthtron
  2. Takkong's Big Counterattack
  3. Evil Monster Realm of Terror
  4. Certain Kill! Shooting Star Kick
  5. Two Big Monsters Attack Tokyo
  6. Battle! Monsters vs. MAT
  7. Operation Rainbow Monster
  8. Monster Time Bomb
  9. Monster Island S.O.S.
  10. Dinosaur Explosion Directive
  11. Poison Gas Monster Appears
  12. Revenge of Monster Shugaron
  13. Terror of the Tsunami Monsters - Tokyo's Big Pinch!
  14. Terror of Two Monsters - Tokyo's Giant Tornado
  15. Revenge of the Monster Lad
  16. Mystery of the Big Bird Monster Terochilus
  17. Monster Bird Terochilus - Tokyo Big Aerial Bombing
  18. Ultraseven Arrives!
  19. The Giant Invisible Monster That Came From Space
  20. The Monster is a Giant Shooting Star in Space
  21. Monster Channel
  22. I'll Kill this Monster
  23. Monster of Darkness, Spit Out the Stars!
  24. Quake! Birth of the Condo Monster
  25. Leaving My Home Planet Earth
  26. Mystery! Homicide Beetle Incident
  27. Go to Hell with This One Blow!
  28. Big Operation - Ultra Special Attack
  29. Jiro Rides a Monster
  30. The Accursed Skeleton God Oxster
  31. In between a Devil and an Angel...
  32. Decisive Battle Under the Setting Sun
  33. The Monster User and the Boy
  34. The Life that Can't be Forgiven
  35. Atrocious! Light Monster Prizuma
  36. Rout the Night
  37. Ultraman Dies at Twilight
  38. When the Ultra Star Shines
  39. The Twentieth Century Yeti
  40. The Phantom Snow Woman
  41. Revenge of Alien Baltan Jr.
  42. The Monster That Stands on Fuji
  43. Demon God Barks at the Moon
  44. To the Starry Sky with Love
  45. Assassinate Hideki Go!
  46. This One Blow Filled with Anger
  47. The Targeted Woman
  48. I'm Taking the Earth!
  49. Space Warrior, Your Name is MAT
  50. Invitation from Hell
  51. The Five Ultra Pledges

Cast
  • Hideki Go (郷 秀樹, Gō Hideki): Jirō Dan (団 次郎, Dan Jirō)[2][3]
  • Katsuichirō Katō (加藤 勝一郎, Katō Katsuichirō, 1-22): Nobuo Tsukamoto (塚本 信夫, Tsukamoto Nobuo)[2][3]
  • Ryū Ibuki (伊吹 竜, Ibuki Ryū, 22-51): Jun Negami (根上 淳, Negami Jun)[3][4]
  • Takeshi Minami (南 猛, Minami Takeshi, 1-32, 34-51): Shunsuke Ikeda (池田 駿介, Ikeda Shunsuke)[2][3]
  • Fumio Kishida (岸田 文夫, Kishida Fumio, 1-29, 31, 34-51): Ken Nishida (西田 健, Nishida Ken)[2][3]
  • Ippei Ueno (上野 一平, Ueno Ippei): Kō Mitsui (三井 恒, Mitsui Kō)[2][3]
  • Yuriko Oka (丘 ユリ子, Oka Yuriko, 1-32, 34-51): Mika Katsuragi (桂木 美加, Katsuragi Mika)[2][3]
  • Ken Sakata (坂田 健, Sakata Ken, 1-37): Shin Kishida (岸田 森, Kishida Shin)[2][3]
  • Aki Sakata (坂田 アキ, Sakata Aki, 1-37): Rumi Sakakibara (榊原 るみ, Sakakibara Rumi)[2][3]
  • Jirō Sakata (坂田 次郎, Sakata Jirō): Hideki Kawaguchi (川口 英樹, Kawaguchi Hideki)[2][3]
  • Rumiko Murano (村野 ルミ子, Murano Rumiko, 38-41, 44, 49, 51): Kazuko Iwasaki (岩崎 和子, Iwasaki Kazuko)[3]
  • Chief Kishida (岸田 長官, Kishida Chōkan, 5, 6, 14): Susumu Fujita (藤田 進, Fujita Susumu)[3]
  • Staff Officer Satake (佐竹 参謀, Satake Sanbo, 5, 6, 11, 20, 50): Kenji Sahara (佐原 健二, Sahara Kenji)[3]
  • Narrator: Akira Nagoya (名古屋 章, Nagoya Akira)[2]
Voice actors[5]
  • Ultraman (ウルトラマン, Urutoraman): Isao Yatsu (谷津 勲, Yatsu Isao, 1, 18, 30, 31, 37), Ichirō Murakoshi (村越 伊知郎, Murakoshi Ichirō, 50)
  • Ultraseven (ウルトラセブン, Urutorasebun, 18): Ichirō Murakoshi
  • Alien Zelan (ゼラン星人, Zeran Seijin, 31), Draculas (ドラキュラス, Dorakyurasu, 36): Tetsuya Kaji (梶 哲也, Kaji Tetsuya)
  • Alien Nackle (ナックル星人, Nakkuru Seijin, 38): Ritsuo Sawa (沢 りつお, Sawa Ritsuo)
  • Alien Varduck (バルダック星人, Barudakku Seijin, 39), Alien Messie (メシエ星雲人, Meshie Seiunjin, 45), Alien Zoole boss (ズール星人上司, Zūru Seijin Jōshi), Sasahiler (ササヒラー, Sasahirā, 48), Original Ultraman (初代ウルトラマン, Shodai Urutoraman, 51): Isao Yatsu
  • Alien Baltan Jr. (バルタン星人Jr., Barutan Seijin Junia, 41), Alien Stora (ストラ星人, Sutora Seijin, 42), Alien Bat (バット星人, Batto Seijin, 51): Osamu Saka (阪 脩, Saka Osamu)
  • Yametarans (ヤメタランス, Yametaransu, 48): Osamu Ichikawaa (市川 治, Ichikawa Osamu)

Songs

Theme song
  • "Kaettekita Ultraman" (帰ってきたウルトラマン, Kaettekita Urutoraman, "The Return of Ultraman")
    • Lyrics: Kyōichi Azuma
    • Composition: Koichi Sugiyama
    • Artist: Jiro Dan, Misuzu Children's Choral Group

"MAT Team Song" "Monster Ondo", Columbia's original program "Monster Lock" and so on were composed. None of them were used in production, but they were streamed at various event venues at the time of airing. "Monster Ondo" was used in the last of "The men who made Ultraman: To the Forest of the Stars, "and the ones that changed the lyrics have been used in "I love Ultra Seven ." Also, in "The Song of MAT Team", there is a cover version by Toshiyuki Nishida/Shonen Girl Choir Mizuumi, which was released by Asahi Sonorama (EP version).

Other songs
  • In Episode 7, The Mops' "I Can't Wait Until Morning" can be heard at a night camp party scene. Also, "Gin-iro no Glass" (銀色のグラス lit. Silver Glass) by The Golden Cups is used in a similar situation in Episode 16.
  • In Episode 34, PYG's "Hana, Taiyo, Ame" (花・太陽・雨, lit. Flower, Sun, Rain) was used in the climax. Reportedly, series writer Shinichi Ichikawa had a close relationship with PYG member Kenichi Hagiwara and obtained permission for its use. This song was included as part of "The Return of Ultraman Music File" released by VAP in 1999.
  • "Nangoku Tosa wo Tonishite" (lit. Leaving Southern Tosa) plays on Captain Ibuki's radio in Episode 43. Sung by Peggy Hayama, she would eventually play the voice and human alter-ego of Mother of Ultra in the sequel series, Ultraman Taro.
  • The Drifters' "Dareka-san to Dareka-san" (誰かさんと誰かさん, lit. Mr. Somebody and Mr. Somebody) and "Drif no Okusafushi" were played in Episodes 48 and 49 respectively.

Manga

A manga series by Akira Mizuho (水穂 輝, Mizuho Akira) ran in Bessatsu Shōnen Sunday from May to December 1971.

Home media

The series was released on Blu-ray by Mill Creek Entertainment in North America on February 25, 2020.[1]

References
  1. "Mill Creek Entertainment To Bring Return of Ultraman And Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga On Blu-ray In February 2020". SciFi Japan. November 20, 2019. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  2. "帰ってきたウルトラマン　Blu-ray BOX" (in Japanese). Bandai Visual. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  3. "高画質でキレイになって帰ってきた！『帰ってきたウルトラマン HDリマスター版』のレギュラー放送がスタート！" (in Japanese). PR Times. 2017-07-11. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  4. "4月12日はペギー葉山の命日～不世出のポピュラー・シンガーにしてウルトラの母". 2019-05-09 (in Japanese). Nifty News. 2019-04-12.
  5. 円谷プロ画報. 第1巻. 竹書房. 2013. pp. 212, 213. ISBN 978-4-8124-9491-2.
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