The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army
Hanuman vs. 7 Ultraman (หนุมาน พบ 7 ยอดมนุษย์ - Hanuman pob Jed Yodmanud), known in Japan as The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army (ウルトラ6兄弟VS怪獣軍団, Urutora Roku Kyōdai tai Kaijū Gundan), is a tokusatsu science fiction/kaiju/superhero film produced in 1974 by Tsuburaya Productions of Japan and Chaiyo Productions of Thailand. It was released theatrically in Japan on March 17, 1979.
| Hanuman vs. 7 Ultraman | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Sompote Sands Shohei Tôjô |
| Written by | Bunkou Wakatsuki |
| Starring | Ko Kaeoduendee Yodchay Meksuan |
| Distributed by | Chaiyo (Thailand) Tsuburaya Productions (Japan) |
Release date | November 26, 1974 (Thailand) March 17, 1979 (Japan) |
Running time | 103 minutes (Thailand) 80 minutes (Japan) |
| Country | Thailand Japan |
| Language | Thai Japanese English |
Plot
A young boy is protecting a Hindu temple in Thailand when robbers arrive, stealing goods and shoot him in the face. The Mother of Ultra fuses him with the monkey god Hanuman. The Ultra Brothers, Zoffy, Ultraman, Ultra Seven, Ultraman Jack, Ultraman Ace and Ultraman Taro, team up with Hanuman to fight five evil monsters. They are Gomora (from Ultraman), Dustpan (originally from Mirrorman), Astromons, Tyrant and Dorobon (all from Ultraman Taro), which were accidentally awakened by a rocket test gone terribly wrong. Eventually, the seven heroes triumph over the monsters, and all return home.
Production
This film, along with Jumborg Ace & Giant, marked the only time Tsuburaya Productions and Chaiyo Productions officially worked together. Decades after this film was made, relations between the two companies have deteriorated, leading to the court battle over rights to the Ultraman characters (specifically the ones depicted in this film) and even Jumborg Ace, which was eventually won by Tsuburaya in 2008.
Further problems resulted from Chaiyo's use of Toei's Kamen Rider series in the production of a follow-up film, which was done without permission. Chaiyo have also re-released these films multiple times, often using stock footage without permission, as seen in the disastrous re-release known as Space Warriors 2000.
Nevertheless, the presence of this film cemented the Ultra Series' popularity in Thailand and in neighboring countries such as Malaysia, which continues to this day.