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Ultraman has been a prominent media franchise in Japan since the television series Ultra Q first premiered in 1966. Even from a distance, the character made an impact on a young Shannon Tindle growing up in rural Kentucky, who would go on to become the writer-director of Netflix’s animated Ultraman: Rising. Along with co-director John Aoshima, the pair brought out a new side of the kaiju fighting giant with a focus on caretaking rather than destruction.

The film follows Ken Sato (Christopher Sean), a baseball star who returns to Japan to take the mantle of Ultraman when his father retires. Though his brash and self-centered attitude doesn’t get him many fans, his outlook soon changes when he becomes the caretaker of Emi, a newborn kaiju.

Deadline had the opportunity to sit down with Tindle and Aoshima, as well as VFX supervisor Hayden Jones and composer Scot Stafford at Industrial...

The animation team behind Netflix’s “Ultraman: Rising” held a recent press event at Skywalker Sound and Industrial Light & Magic, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the complex work that went into directors Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima‘s film about Ken Sato, a superstar baseball player who returns to Japan to become the latest hero to carry the mantle of Ultraman. Ken’s world gets complicated when he is compelled to raise a newborn kaiju monster, the offspring of his greatest enemy, as his own child.

Visual effects supervisor Hayden Jones and composer Scot Stafford each sat down with Gold Derby to discuss their work on the film. Watch the video interviews above.

Jones won an Emmy for his work on “The Mandalorian” in 2020, and explains how the challenges of VFX in animation are different than live action. “It’s scope and scale,” he says. “You have to build absolutely...

With Ultraman: Rising,” animator-turned-director Shannon Tindle combined his love of the superhero anime franchise with a parenting drama wrapped around Ilm’s dazzling 2D animated look drawn from manga and anime.

It all comes together in an epic water battle involving Ultraman (Christopher Sean), Ultradad (Gedde Watanabe), and baby Kaiju, Emi. First Ultraman and Emi fight Mecha Gigangtron, only to discover that the real Gigantron (Emi’s mom) is still alive underneath. She then joins Ultradad as part of a foursome to fight Dr. Onda, head of the Kaiju Defense Force, who commands the robotic Destroyer.

Tindle, who participated in a recent press confab at Skywalker Ranch and Ilm in San Francisco, told IndieWire that his choice of water for the climactic battle was purely economical. He couldn’t afford to destroy a city and crowds. “I knew that I could make it on the water, and it would allow...

It took everything I had not to raise my hands in the air as if riding the front car of a rollercoaster as our shuttle bobbed and weaved through the winding stretch of Lucas Valley Road. With each farmhouse and animal enclosure we passed, I felt more and more lightheaded. It could have been the increase in altitude, but likely, we were on our way to one of the most historic retreats in Hollywood, Skywalker Ranch. I could not think of a better place to learn about Ultraman: Rising, an animated film honoring its title character’s legacy and cinematic history.

What is Ultraman: Rising about before we get into the nitty-gritty? The story centers on baseball star Ken Sato, who reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic superhero meets his match when he is forced to adopt a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby Kaiju, Emi.

Godzilla premiered in November of 1954, eight months to the day after the United States set off its first hydrogen bomb. Indebted to but distinct from pioneering giant monster movies like 1925’s The Lost World, 1933’s King Kong, and 1953’s The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, the seminal Japanese kaiju film is more than just another special effects-driven creature feature. Working from a story by Shigeru Kayama, writer-director Ishirō Honda and co-writer Takeo Murata provide an outlet for post-war Japan’s fears.

In the atomic age parable, an ancient, 164-foot creature dubbed Gojira ravages Tokyo after being awakened from its deep-sea hibernation by nuclear testing. Scientist Daisuke Serizawa (Akihiko Hirata), salvage ship captain Hideto Ogata (Akira Takarada), paleontologist Kyohei Yamane, and his daughter Emiko Yamane (Momoko Kōchi) are tasked with fulfilling their social obligations to stop the seemingly indestructible beast.

The decision to use an actor (Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka) in a...

Apart from his stellar and remarkable films, Hayao Miyazaki is celebrated for his exemplary work in the animation industry. From Princess Mononoke to Spirited Away, Miyazaki has animated some of the finest animated films.

To this date, his work continues to impact and influence generations in terms of its ideologies. Most of his films are reflective of his staunch ideas and perspectives. From AI to anime, the Studio Ghibli director has some strong opinions. However, that is not the end of it.

A still from Castle in The Sky | Credit: Studio Ghibli

Other than AI and anime, Miyazaki cited one show as failing children. And surprisingly, it isn’t Naruto or One Piece. Needless to say, this would prompt most fans to call him a grumpy grandpa for this opinion. But is the show that bad? Let’s find out.

Hayao Miyazaki has immense hostility toward this show

Despite his...

This ad-supported platform brings together a broad library that’s perfect for fans of offbeat films, nostalgic TV, and hard-to-find gems.

If you’re searching for a streaming service that’s both free and packed with personality, Shout! Factory TV should be on your radar. Known for its collection of cult classics, retro TV shows, niche movies, and free live TV channels, this ad-supported platform brings together an eclectic library that’s perfect for fans of offbeat films, nostalgic TV, and hard-to-find gems. With access through both Prime Video and online, Shout! Factory TV is a great option for those who love discovering under-the-radar treasures without spending a dollar to do it. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic horror flick, a vintage comedy, or an animated cult favorite, keep reading to see if Shout! Factory TV is the right niche free streamer for you.

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When it comes to adapting a high-energy and surreal manga like Dandadan, there are unique challenges that even the most experienced directors might find daunting. Known for its fast pace, explosive action, and richly detailed panels, Dandadan was widely considered “unadaptable” for the screen due to the sheer energy and dynamism present in its original form.

Okarun from Dandadan | Credit: Science Saru

However, director Fuga Yamashiro and producer Kohei Sakita took on this ambitious task, crafting an anime that could honor the source material’s intensity and visual punch. One guiding principle, handed down from Science Saru co-founder Masaaki Yuasa, helped Yamashiro to overcome the complexities of Dandadan‘s pace and energy, creating a final product that captures the manga’s original spirit.

The Challenges of Adapting Dandadan into Anime Medium

Created by Yukinobu Tatsu, Dandadan is a manga that defies the preexisting norm in the Shonen genre, blending supernatural horror,...

Next summer is going to be the summer of Superman as Dcu’s first live-action project releases – ‘Superman.’ We know quite a bit about ‘Superman’ production since we were able to follow it live when it was filming around Georgia and Ohio. Set images and videos showcased one mysterious villain, and fans couldn’t agree on whether the villain in question was Ulysses or Ultraman.

Ultraman was already teased as the movie’s villain almost half a year ago, but Gunn was quick to debunk that rumor as soon as it resurfaced, claiming that the movie’s main villain was Lex Luthor.

Now recent McFarlane Toys leaked listing for the upcoming movie in fact revealed the true identity of the villain and if you assumed that the villain in question was Ultraman you would be correct!

Ultraman confirmed via a new toy listing for the Superman film. So it's confirmed...

Superman set photos revealed more about the movie than filmmaker James Gunn probably would have liked, including a first look at a mysterious masked villain with a "U" on his chest who we saw make short work of the Man of Steel.

Much has been said about whether it's Ultraman or Ulysses, but the former has now been confirmed courtesy of an official listing of upcoming "DC Direct" merchandise.

We still believe "Ultraman" will be a Lex Luthor creation and likely a Superman clone gone wrong. Lending weight to the theory Lex is a mad scientist is the fact his figure will have a "Baby Kaiju."

There's also a full-sized Kaiju we'd imagine battles the title hero at some point. A few months ago, a description of an early trailer mentioned Supes squaring off with a monster of some sort.

As for who or what "Baby Joe" is, your guess is as good as ours!

This week on The Anime Effect: To celebrate 10 years of The Book of Life , filmmaker Jorge R. Gutierrez joins the show to talk about his love for anime, including how Spirited Away inspired his celebrated film and the surprising place he first watched Akira . Plus, the latest news on One Piece , SK8 the Infinity and much, much more, including recommendations from our resident anime experts! Episode 36 of The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch on: Episode 36 Summary In this week's episode, LeAlec, Nick, and returning guest host Josellie Rios chat about their Fall 2024 anime watchlist so far, a new Goku balloon gets ready to debut in New York City, and we chat about My Hero Academia announcing its final season.

Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.

Berserk by Dejan Delic

Big Trouble In Little China by John Dunn

Elektra by Grobi Grafik

Joker: Folie à Deux by ChunHann Ho

Kill Bill Vol. 1 by Alex G.

A Nightmare on Elm Street...

"Pacific Rim" is one of the best American blockbuster movies of the 2010s ... or one of the best kaiju movies ever ... or even one of the best live-action anime movies not based on a specific anime (but still clearly inspired by "Patlabor" and "Tetsujin-28"). It's also a hugely important movie for filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and an essential part of the Oscar-winner's filmography. After all, "Pacific Rim" was both his first original English-language script and his first original film in seven years -- not to mention the film that marked his transition into a full-time Hollywood director.

Still, as successful as the movie was, and as much as it depended on del Toro's unique visual style and imagination, a sequel (titled "Pacific Rim Uprising") was made without his involvement, meaning his original ideas for "Pacific Rim 2" were all scrapped. And though it seems unlikely that a third "Pacific Rim" will ever get made,...

‘Alien: Romulus’ is right around the corner, so it’s the perfect time to check out ‘Lily C.A.T.,’ an anime body horror classic that’s a gory tribute to ‘Alien’ and ‘The Thing’.

“Confine them? We’re on a ship. We’re practically confined ourselves.”

Ridley Scott’s Alien is an iconic horror/science fiction hybrid that’s had its ups and downs as a film franchise, but remains an essential genre film 45 years later. Alien is such a tried and true property with limitless potential that it’s kind of remarkable that there hasn’t been an Alien animated series or in-universe anime that’s in the vein of The Animatrix that translates this iconic sci-fi horror property into animated madness where it can really let loose and not be confined by live-action’s limitations. An unreleased Alien vs. Predator anime is the closest thing that audiences have gotten to this,...

Following on the heels of the successful show, the follow-up film “Ultraman Taiga The Movie: New Generation Climax” was put forth by Tsuburaya Productions to continue the exploits of Hiroyuki Kudo and the new Ultra Ultraman Taiga. Featuring a series of returning heroes and new favorites in a solid adventure, fans are now able to enjoy the series and this accompanying movie in a special Blu-Ray box set from Mill Creek.

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Working at the private security organization Egis, Hiroyuki Kudo (Yuki Inoue) has the power to transform into three Ultra Heroes: Taiga, Titas, and Fuma. Battling and defeating many enemies together, the bond between Hiroyuki and Taiga has deepened. However, someone has been targeting Hiroyuki. Noticing this, the New Generation Heroes come together to save him. These members, Ultraman Ginga Hikaru Raido (Takuya Negishi), Ultraman Victory Sho (Kiyotaka Uji), Ultraman X...

The 29th entry in the legendary “Ultraman” saga, the first entry in the Reiwa era of Japan, and the seventh installment of the ‘New Generation Heroes Series' of the show, Ultraman Taiga holds plenty of accolades and accomplishments since its premiere in 2019. Focusing more on diversity and inclusion than any previous incarnation of the series while still carrying on the idea of fighting for what's true and right that it has overall has maintained, fans are now able to enjoy the series and an accompanying movie in a special Blu-Ray box set from Mill Creek.

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by clicking on the image below

Serving on a mission for the E.G.I.S. Team, agent Hiroyuki Kudo (Yuki Inoue) and his partner Homare (Ryotaro) are transporting a client and his property across the city when they're attacked by thugs and find their client's property stolen. It soon appears the...

In addition to the Rooster Fighter reveal, Viz Media's San Diego Comic-Con panel brought with it a new project that has the publisher teaming up with Shogakukan, Tsuburaya Productions and Marvel Comics. The new collab is Ultraman: Along Came a Spider , which sees Ultraman and Spider-Man teaming up for the first time. Shinji Oishi has the original story credit, Shigenobu Matsumoto is writing and Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris manga illustrator Tomo Hirokawa is handling the art. Ultraman: Along Came a Spider will kick off its serialization on August 14—both in comic shops and simultaneous with Japan via Viz Media's digital service Viz Manga—which is the same day the previously-announced Ultraman x Avengers series drops. You can see art for both below. Related: Rooster Fighter Anime Officially Announced Ultraman x Avengers is a four-issue mini-series with Kyle Higgins ( The Rise of Ultraman ) and Mat Groom ( The Trials of Ultraman ) writing.

With the annual Scribe Awards, the Iamtw celebrates and honors excellence in the field of writing tie-in fiction for media franchises. These works include novels, short stories, audio dramas, and graphic novels tied to licenses of movies and TV shows, as well as video games, comics, songs, and even book series. The licenses run the gamut from James Bond to Jessica Fletcher, from Star Wars to Star Trek, to everything in the Marvel and DC universes, and much more.

We are thrilled and privileged to announce the nominees for the 2024 Scribe Awards. The winners will be named at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday July 26 during the Scribe Awards and Media Tie-In Panel in Room 32Ab at 2pm Pacific time.

Adapted Novel – General or Speculative

Assassin’s Creed: Daughter of No One by Maria Lewis

Marvel’s Secret Invasion by Paul Cornell

Marvel’s Wastelanders: Star-Lord by Sarah Cawkwell

Ultraman by...

Hajime Isayama has etched his name among the greatest mangaka to ever live. Even though there were a few controversies surrounding the ending of Attack on Titan, he made some last-minute changes for the fans to bid farewell to Eren Jaeger in the most heartbreaking way possible. Even though the anime was based on human survival and fighting the Titans, it was initially planned to have a different plot.

Over the last decade, the Attack on Titan creator has let on several secrets about his magnum opus. One of his biggest secrets that most fans are not aware of is that initially, he had a different story. Instead of the humans vs. Titans, he was opting for Titans vs. Titans, and that too in the most logical way possible.

Hajime Isayama Wanted To Have Mixed Martial Arts In Attack on Titan Titans (Credit: Mappa)

The Attack on Titan creator is a man of many talents,...

“Bridgerton,” “Bridgerton,” “Bridgerton.” That’s what Netflix’s Top 10 Most Popular TV (English) list looks like now.

Season 3 of the Shondaland period drama has now entered the streamer’s all-time list at number 10, booting “Baby Reindeer” and joining “Bridgerton” Seasons 1 and 2 on the leaderboard.

“Bridgerton” is the only series with three seasons on Netflix’s top 10 all-time list. “Stranger Things” is well-represented with Seasons 3 and 4, but its first two seasons came out before Netflix began to share viewership statistics.

Like many of its biggest shows, Netflix split “Bridgerton” Season 3 into two parts. Part 1 debuted on May 16; Part 2 launched on June 13.

Netflix’s top 10 is based on number of views over a TV season or a film’s first 91 days of availability — both “Bridgerton” Season 3 halves still have plenty of time to rack up more views in pursuit of the preceding seasons. “Baby Reindeer” has just a few days left before Netflix’s self-imposed cutoff.

While “Ultraman” is primarily known as a prominent figure in television, films like Kazuya Konaka's “Ultraman: The Next” and Shinji Higuchi's “Shin Ultraman” have shown that the beloved superhero can work well within a movie format. The fictional icon's latest cinematic outing, the Japanese-American animated co-production “Ultraman: Rising,” brings together quite a team. Netflix Animation and Tsuburaya Productions collaborate with animation by Industrial Light & Magic (Ilm), originally founded by filmmaker George Lucas. Making his directorial debut is Shannon Tindle, a prominent animation designer whose work includes on shows like “Samurai Jack” and movies such as “Kubo and the Two Strings.” He also writes the screenplay alongside Marc Haimes. John Aoshima is co-directing with Tindle, who similarly has an experienced animation resume, including on the hit comedy series “Futurama.” These creative minds come together and deliver a visually astonishing, if rather formulaic, family feature.

Click the image below to...

Crunchyroll Game Vault — which is available for Crunchyroll Mega and Ultimate Fan members worldwide—is getting ready to expand with 15 exclusive titles. Three are joining today, with 12 more launching throughout the summer and early fall. Among the upcoming titles are the first visual novels, including a partnership with Mages. that brings the award-winning Steins;Gate visual novel to Game Vault. Among the other anime-adjacent titles coming from Mages. are Corpse Party , Psycho-pass: Mandatory Happiness and The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer . Before we get to the rest of the lineup, here are the new titles now available on mobile devices through the App Store, Google Play and Crunchyroll: Battle Chasers: Nightwar Airship Syndicate, www.handy-games.com GmbH Description: A turn based-rpg inspired by classic Japanese role-playing games featuring deep dungeon diving and a rich story driven by exploration of the world. ● Languages: English, French, Russian, Spanish (Spain) Italian,...

Here’s Where Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Hitman & Madame Web Lie On Netflix Weekly Global Top 10 List ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming networks with vast content. Some fan-favorite films find their home on the Ott platform, while some arrive for a limited time. Netflix releases the top 10 global list weekly, revealing the most watched movies weekly. The latest list for the week of June 17-June 23 sees Madame Web’s return while Hit Man and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One slip from the top 3 positions.

The Tom Cruise-led Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One was released in the theatres last year and did not have a satisfactory box office result due to the release of Oppenheimer and Barbie around the same time. However, Tom is already filming Mission: Impossible 8, and according to reports, the film’s alleged budget is over $300 million.

Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.

Avatar: The Last Airbender by Edwin Huang

The Boy’s by Samer Alkaabi

Dirty Dancing by Handy Kara

Godzilla Minus One by Sam Dunn

The Goonies by Stefano Artibani

It by...

The makers of five of this year’s buzzy animated features—“Spellbound,” “That Christmas,” “The Imaginary,” “Ultraman: Rising” and “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”–participated in the Variety FYC Animation Preview at last week’s Annecy Animation Festival, showcasing a range of stories and animation styles during a broad discussion about their movies, creative process and business. Observed “Ultraman: Rising” director Shannon Tindle, who also co-wrote its screenplay, “We’ve got CG, we’ve got hand-drawn mixed with CG, we’ve got stop-frame animation. It’s really cool to see that all these different forms [of animation] are alive.”

Perhaps best known for Oscar-winner “Shrek,” director Vicky Jensen shared a sneak peek at Skydance Animation’s computer-animated “Spellbound,” in which a tenacious young protagonist, Ellian, voiced by Rachel Zegler, must save her family and kingdom after a spell transforms her parents, the rulers of the magical land, into monsters. “It’s...

Parenting is one of the toughest challenges any human being could face; now imagine the infant is bigger than a house and can shoot lasers out of their eyes. This chaos is only a portion of what the characters in Ultraman: Rising face and Tokyo will never be the same. Here to talk about the hardships of Kaiju parenting are the directors of Ultraman: Rising, Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima, and featured members of the cast, Tamlyn Tomita, Gedde Watanabe, and Christopher Sean.

During our time with the cast and creators of Ultraman: Rising, we delved deep into everyone’s Ultraman history to determine if they felt pressure to honor the beloved superhero’s legacy. We also discuss the wonders of parenting and how you don’t need to have kids to act like a guardian to someone or something. The actors also share valuable lessons they learned while making...

Who Is Julia Harriman from Ultraman Rising? Meet the Actress Who Voices Ami Wakita in Netflix's Ultraman Film - Main Image

Ami Wakita, the "lady from the conference," is voiced by none other than Julia Harriman in Ultraman Rising. She joins the English dub cast of the latest Ultraman animated flick alongside Christopher Sean as Ken Sato, Tamlyn Tomita as Mina/Emiko Sato, and Gedde Watanabe as Professor Sato.

Netflix’s Ultraman Rising has been received with good reviews, thanks to its animation, and so has the performance of voice actors such as Julia Harriman.

Julia Harriman Voices Ami Wakita in Ultraman Rising

Julia Harriman is the English dub voice actress of Ami Wakita, aka the “lady from the conference,” who asks the most difficult question to Kenji Sato when he returns to Japan and joins the Giants.

At first, Ami had a hard time convincing Kenji to open...

How Strong Is Kenji Sato in Ultraman Rising? Powers and Abilities Explored - Main Image

Ultraman Rising found a new hero in Kenji Sato, an incredibly talented baseball star who returns to Japan to take on the mantle of the iconic hero.

Aside from fighting kaijus and exposing the schemes of the Kaiju Defense Force (Kdf), he also bears the responsibility of raising his nemesis’ incredibly cute child in the film.

Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for Ultraman Rising, so proceed with caution.

How Did Kenji Sato Become Ultraman in Ultraman Rising?

In the beginning of Ultraman Rising, a young Kenji Sato channeled his inner Ultraman while playing with his parents. He is well-versed in Ultraman's abilities, including his force shield, the Ultra Slash, and the color timer on his chest.

However, Kenji also enjoys baseball, so his father asks him to choose between baseball and Ultraman. Ken hesitated...

While Ilm was completing the animation and VFX for Netflix‘s “Lost Ollie” (2022), the live-action/CG limited series about a floppy-eared toy trying to find its way back home, creator Shannon Tindle shared with them some of the manga- and anime-influenced artwork for his passion project with Netflix, “Ultraman: Rising” (currently streaming). His plan was to turn the Japanese pop culture phenomenon into an action-packed, heartwarming ode to parenthood and finding balance in life.

Tindle’s hope was to entice Ilm into doing the animation, even though the VFX powerhouse hadn’t made an animated feature since the Oscar-winning “Rango” (2011). Gathered in his Burbank office, Tindle showed off examples of Ultraman’s iconic red and silver look, fighting kaiju in Tokyo and bonding with his adopted 35-foot, fire-breathing baby kaiju girl.

“It looked amazing and I was completely sold,” Ilm VFX supervisor Hayden Jones told IndieWire. “We had some production...

Is Ultraman Rising Canon? Fan Theories and Speculations Explored - Main Image

The latest Ultraman movie on Netflix continues to receive praise from fans due to its compelling plot and quality animation, but the question remains: is the Ultraman Rising film canon?

The Ultraman Rising film is the most recent entry in the Ultraman film franchise. It introduces a new protagonist named Ken Sato, who becomes the latest Ultraman fighting alien kaijus in Japan.

Netflix’s Ultraman Rising Has an Original Storyline

Ultraman Rising has a completely original storyline that began with an idea conceived by director Shannon Tindle.

But just because it has an original storyline doesn’t mean it has distanced itself from the illustrious legacy of the Ultraman franchise.

Instead, Ultraman Rising brings the story to Japan, where the original Ultraman came from.

Penned by director Shannon Tindle and Marc Haimes, Ultraman Rising tells the story of superstar baseball player Ken Sato.

For millions of Japanese viewers as well as countless fans across the globe, the Ultraman franchise, pitting a giant superhero against giant kaiju creatures of all shapes and breeds, has been a popular staple since it was first launched as a TV series in the 1960s.

But for this critic and likely many other viewers, especially in the U.S., the new English-language feature-length version, Ultraman: Rising, will be their first encounter with a character who’s been taking flight for over a half a century in live-action, animated and manga formats.

The experience is not unlike discovering Star Wars for the first time by watching the 2015 J.J. Abrams movie, whose Jedis and Storm Troopers won’t ring much of a bell if you haven’t seen the earlier ones. Still, the the team behind this endearing if familiar Ultraman reboot does a good job at ushering us into a...

Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima’s Ultraman: Rising told the story of Ken Sato, the son of Emiko Sato, and Ultraman, Professor Sato (also known as Ultradad). Due to Sato’s duties as Ultraman, protecting the city from Kaiju attacks, he couldn’t really focus on his family life, thereby leading to a rift between him, his wife, and his son. While Sato remained in Japan, Emiko and Ken moved to the United States to focus on his education and baseball skills. Sato grew old and retired as Ultraman. So, Emiko urged Ken to take on the mantle and continue his baseball career in Japan. Ken was hesitant about it, but when Emiko disappeared one day, he returned to Japan to look for her. Yes, he claimed that he came back home to bring his brand of baseball to his country of origin and to be Ultraman. But the truth...

The beloved Japanese superhero Ultraman is back on screens in Netflix’s latest animated film, Ultraman: Rising, although it is technically the son of the superhero who now steps into the role. The plot is centered around Ken Sato, a young baseball superstar who has to return to his home country of Japan from the United States in order to replace his aging father as the superhero destined to protect the world—Ultraman. It is the various struggles of living up to the expectations of the masses and also the difficulties involved with parenthood that become the subjects of the thoroughly enjoyable new Ultraman: Rising film.

Spoiler Alert

What is the film about?

Ultraman: Rising begins with a warm, homely scene in Odaiba, Japan, as young Ken plays around with his parents, Professor Sato and Emiko, one usual night. The personalized robot assistant, Mina, who is also part of the family,...

“Ultraman: Rising” is a new Industrial Light and Magic animated superhero film based on Tsuburaya Productions' “Ultraman” franchise, directed by Shannon Tindle, starring Christopher Sean as ‘Ken Sato’ / ‘Ultraman’, with Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young and Julia Harriman., streaming June 14, 2024 on Netflix:

‘…’Ken Sato’, a famous but egotistical baseball player living a secret life as the giant superhero ‘Ultraman’ is forced to balance his career and hero duties after reluctantly adopting a baby ‘kaiju’…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Ultraman has been fighting kaiju for more than 50 years, but you’ve never seen him like this. The Japanese hero is now on Netflix in a new animated film, Ultraman: Rising, and you won’t believe who he’s bringing along.

After decades of Ultramanappearances, beginning with the original 1966 television series created by Eiji Tsuburaya and Tetsuo Kinjo, the film introduces an all-new Ultraman: baseball star Ken Sato. In the new trailer for Ultraman: Rising, which you can watch above, you’ll get a glimpse at one of the challenges Sato faces: a baby kaiju, who imprints on Ultraman and turns his world upside down.

For director Shannon Tindle (creator of Lost Ollie), everything about Ultraman: Rising sprung from this initial concept. “What if I took a character who doesn’t want to be Ultraman, who kind of messes up his job on one of his early outings and...

Ultraman has one job: to defend the world from kaiju. Across countless manga, video games and movies, Ultraman’s core duty has been to fend off ferocious land and sea monsters — which, of course, have always been allegories for other threats facing humankind. In “Ultraman: Rising,” our hero adopts one, which makes no sense in the greater scheme of Ultraman lore. (It would be like Batman going soft and raising a supervillain’s abandoned love child or Superman deciding to open a gift shop specializing in kryptonite.) But as with all metaphors, this one isn’t really about kaiju, but parent-child dynamics. And who doesn’t love a baby kaiju?

Not to rain on writer-director Shannon Tindle’s parade, but the baby kaiju thing feels like a cheat. DreamWorks and other CG animation studios have been exploiting this tactic for years, introducing adorable infant versions of otherwise not-especially-cute characters. The...

“Ultraman: Rising” is a new Industrial Light and Magic animated superhero film based on Tsuburaya Productions' “Ultraman” franchise, directed by Shannon Tindle, starring Christopher Sean as ‘Ken Sato’ / ‘Ultraman’, with Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young and Julia Harriman., streaming June 14, 2024 on Netflix:

‘…’Ken Sato’, a famous but egotistical baseball player living a secret life as the giant superhero ‘Ultraman’ is forced to balance his career and hero duties after reluctantly adopting a baby ‘kaiju’…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Netflix Ultraman Rising Arrives With Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Rating. (Photo Credit – YouTube)

The Netflix adaptation of one of the most iconic and popular characters in Japanese history, Ultraman, has reportedly landed a perfect approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The anime that follows the life of an alien superhero has been running in Japan since 1966 and has featured several sequels and reboots.

While Ultraman is a famous superhero in the East, he has yet to break ground with the Western audience. That’s about to change, as critics have hailed the Netflix adaptation of the Japanese Superhero before its June 14 release on the streamer.

Trending Severance Season 2: Adam Scott Returns To Lumon In Apple Teaser Video; Everything We Know So Far Practical Magic: When Nicole Kidman & Sandra Bullock’s Cult Classic Film Was Cursed By An Actual Witch Before Bombing At Box Office

According to Rafael Motamayor from The Wrap,...

Netflix’s Ultraman: Rising: How And When To Watch The New Anime Film? ( Photo Credit – Twitter )

Following the conclusion of the anime series Ultraman on Netflix, the superhero returns to the streaming platform in a new avatar. Ultraman: Rising is a reimagining of the Japanese superhero saga, with a fresh story and 3D CG animation.

The film tells the story of Ken Sato, a baseball player leading a secret double life as the giant superhero, Ultraman, who is forced to adopt a baby kaiju, a giant monster, after defeating his mother. If the premise sounds intriguing enough, here is how and when you can watch Ultraman: Rising.

How to Watch Ultraman: Rising? Release Date Explored

Ultraman: Rising will be released on Netflix on Friday, June 14th, 2024. To watch the film, you need to have an active subscription to Netflix. The streaming platform offers three subscription plans: a standard ads-supported at $6.99 per month,...

I went into Ultraman: Rising not really knowing what to expect. While cultural osmosis has given me a passing familiarity with Ultraman as a character, I’ve never actually watched any of the many shows and movies across various continuities to which Japan’s most famous superhero has given his name. I always figured it would be something I would enjoy given my love for kaiju and giant robots; but I just never got around to it until now.

So with Ultraman: Rising serving as yet another reboot for the franchise, the second produced for Netflix oddly enough, does it work as an entry point for newcomers and as a solid movie in its own right? I am happy to report that the answer to both of those questions is yes.

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One of the most storied franchises in contemporary pop culture, Japan’s “Ultra Series” has generated 44 movies, nearly 100 video games, countless pages of manga, and an endless parade of TV shows since Tsuburaya Productions first created the character in 1966 as a kid-friendly way of capitalizing on the success of kaiju phenomena like “Godzilla.” With such an illustrious legacy to its name, it might come as a surprise that Shannon Tindle’s “Ultraman: Rising” — an animated feature set in Tokyo but created entirely in the West — doesn’t require its preteen audience to know any of that, nor does it bother to fill them in along the way.

Unfolding like a family-oriented cross between “Pacific Rim” and “Big Hero 6,” this eye-popping CGI adventure makes no mention of the fact that its titular superhero is canonically an alien, just as it makes no attempt to explain why baseball star Ken Sato...

Four years ago, Rebel Moon filmmaker Zack Snyder and producing partner and wife Deborah Snyder met with Netflix executives to discuss possibilities in animation.

The medium was growing fast inside the company, as fast as its subscriber base. One exec threw out the idea of doing something with Norse mythology. Zack Snyder, who had spent much of his career making movies with grand mythological overtones, took to it. Partnering with storyboard artist and animation director Jay Oliva, the Snyders eventually came up with a love and revenge story titled Twilight of the Gods.

“We pitched them an outline; they had a few notes but they let us have free reign,” Deborah Snyder told The Hollywood Reporter at a Netflix animation event Thursday. “They had no guardrails, no limitations.”

That lack of guardrails or limitations may be the best way to describe the free-wheeling, anything and everything goes ethos that has overtaken Netflix’s animation arm.

“Ultraman: Rising” is a new Industrial Light and Magic animated superhero film based on Tsuburaya Productions' “Ultraman” franchise, directed by Shannon Tindle, starring Christopher Sean as ‘Ken Sato’ / ‘Ultraman’, with Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young and Julia Harriman., streaming June 14, 2024 on Netflix:

‘…’Ken Sato’, a famous but egotistical baseball player living a secret life as the giant superhero ‘Ultraman’ is forced to balance his career and hero duties after reluctantly adopting a baby ‘kaiju’…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Marvel Comics and Tsuburaya Productions began working together in 2019, and ever since then, fans have eagerly anticipated the day Ultraman would cross over with Marvel's iconic superheroes.

Well, the wait is finally over! This August, we'll see the mightiest heroes of the Marvel Universe step into Ultraman's world for the first time in the pages of Ultraman x Avengers.

The four-issue limited series will see the return of the hit creative team behind Ultraman's previous Marvel comic series: writers Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom and artist Francesco Manna. It's also been confirmed that the story is going to feature a wide array of guest appearances, including mainstay Avengers, Spider-Man, and more.

Here's the official description for Ultraman x Avengers #1:

Spider-Man has disappeared from New York, an intergalactic invader has arrived on Ultraman’s doorstep, and the Kaiju of Earth are acting even more mysteriously than usual. This can only...

“Ultraman: Rising” is a new Industrial Light and Magic animated superhero film based on Tsuburaya Productions' “Ultraman” franchise, directed by Shannon Tindle, starring Christopher Sean as ‘Ken Sato’ / ‘Ultraman’, with Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young and Julia Harriman., streaming June 14, 2024 on Netflix:

‘…’Ken Sato’, a famous but egotistical baseball player living a secret life as the giant superhero ‘Ultraman’ is forced to balance his career and hero duties after reluctantly adopting a baby ‘kaiju’…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Ultraman: Rising , a CG-animated feature film co-produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Netflix, released two new main trailers today in both English and Japanese dub versions. The movie will start streaming worldwide on June 14, 2024. Ultraman: Rising main trailer The main voice cast members for the English version include: Ken Sato / Ultraman voiced by Christopher Sean Professor Sato voiced by Gedde Watanabe Emiko Sato voiced by Tamlyn Tomita Dr. Onda voiced by Keone Young Ami voiced by Julia Harriman Ultraman: Rising Japanese dub main trailer The main voice cast members for the Japanese dub version include: Ken Sato / Ultraman voiced by Yuki Yamada (Joe Gibken/Gokai Blue in Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger ) Professor Sato voiced by Fumiyo Kohinata (Dr. Dee in Mary and the Witch's Flower ) Emiko Sato voiced by Akari Hayami (ex-Momoiro Clover Z member) Dr. Onda voiced by Fumihiko Tachiki (Gendo Ikari in Neon Genesis Evangelion ) Ami voiced by Ayumi Tsunematsu...

Netflix unveiled the trailer for “Ultraman: Rising” (premiering at Annecy June 12 and streaming June 14), the animated feature from first-time director Shannon Tindle, who re-imagines the legendary anime franchise from Tsuburaya Productions as an action-packed, heartwarming ode to parenthood.

With Tokyo under siege from rising kaiju attacks, Dodgers baseball superstar Ken Sato (Christopher Sean) reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of rogue superhero Ultraman from his father (Gedde Watanabe) while signing with the Giants. But he has trouble balancing his passion for baseball and his family obligation to be Ultraman. Then, when forced to raise a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju girl, Sato must confront his huge ego to protect her and Japan from destruction.

Tindle first conceived of his film as an original parental superhero story (“Made in Japan”). That was back in 2001 when he was a character designer on “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends.” He later developed it...

Netflix has debuted the full official trailer for the animated superhero offering ‘Ultraman: Rising.’

Based on the beloved Japanese character, Netflix’s ‘Ultraman’ follows baseball superstar Ken Sato as he returns to his home country of Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman. He soon finds more than he bargained for when he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe. Ken must go on a heroic journey, balancing parenthood, his estranged father, and the relentless Kaiju Defense Force to rise beyond his ego and discover what it truly means to be ‘Ultraman.’

With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic superhero meets his match when he is forced to adopt a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju. Sato must rise above his ego to balance work and parenthood while...

"Ultraman - do your job!" Netflix has unveiled the full official trailer for Ultraman: Rising, a brand new animated take on Ultraman from director Shannon Tindle (also of Kubo and "Lost Ollie"). This has been in development for years at Ilm, with the VFX house handling most of the key animation, along side Netflix Animation & Tsuburaya Productions. Based on the classic Japanese mecha superhero of the same name, this Ultraman movie is a fresh update made for American audiences (there's already the Ultraman anime series on Netflix to watch as well). Ken Sato is a superstar baseball player who returns to Japan to become the latest hero to carry the mantle of Ultraman. His plans go awry, however, when he ends up raising a newborn kaiju monster as his own kid. Staring Christopher Sean, Tamlyn Tomita, Gedde Watanabe, Keone Young, and Julia Harriman. This is a fantastic trailer that really...

Tatsuki Fujimoto has always had an eye for talent, such could be easily seen with his former editors Tatsuya Endo and Yuji Kaku. Both of them now stand big in the world of shonen manga with Spy x Family and Hell’s Paradise. The former has already been ruling the hearts of the fans while the latter made its way to the top three of the dark shonen trio. Alongside Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man stands Kaku’s Hell’s Paradise.

Hell’s Paradise | Credit: Mappa

Each and every author has their own unique story when finding their calling for getting into their professions. From Akira Toriyama to Gege Akutami, everyone finds their calling with time. Yuji Kaku already had an interest in mangas when growing up. However, it was the genre that surprised many.

Yuji Kaku Bought Mangas Instead of Snacks

Yuki Kaku, during an interview with Crunchyroll, talked about how...