Soaring onto the screen in 1966 with Ultra Q and the original television series, the Ultraman franchise boasts dozens of TV adaptations, comic runs, and almost 40 films. Shin Ultraman marks the 37th film and the third by director Shinji Higuchi. Like the legions of films before it, this is a fast-paced Tokusatsu film, chockful of all the special effects and kaiju battles expected from something barring the name Ultraman.
Coming into a franchise with almost 60 years of lore, screenwriter Hideaki Anno wastes no time thrusting the audience directly into the colossal monster fights that make this an Ultraman movie. All while giving the audience a breakdown of the extensive history of the character. The basics include Japan’s answer to a growing kaiju threat, the Disaster Prevention Agency (D.P.A.). Within D.P.A. sits a special task force, “S.S.S.P.,” an elite squad of agents committed to studying kaiju to save the world. During a massive attack by an electrifying monster, a gigantic silver man crashes into the Earth and defeats the monster in combat. This mysterious giant becomes known as Ultraman.
Days after Ultraman’s appearance and the creature’s defeat, special agent Hiroko Asami (Masami Nagasawa) joins the S.S.S.P. to unravel the mysterious appearance of Ultraman. Asami is quickly partnered with the cunning and stoic Shinji Kaminaga (Takumi Saitoh) before interdimensional threats arise beyond the stars. From the addition of Asami and the introduction of Ultraman, Shin Ultraman continues in an almost episodic format, facing the S.S.S.P. with new threats as the duo gets closer to discovering the power and secrets of Ultraman.
“…the duo gets closer to discovering the power and secrets of Ultraman.”
The film has an instant Saturday morning action series feeling from the beginning. Like other Tokusatsu legends, Super Sentai and Kamen Rider, Ultraman has a vast history but consistently knows how to translate legacy into the pure over-the-top special effects one expects from a Toku film. It’s pure Ultraman vs. kaiju fun from beginning to end. We are rapidly introduced to villains and threats, which offer new set pieces, fights, and possibilities for creative storytelling every few minutes. Newcomers to the franchise may feel the plot is rushed (and moments are), but the pace never detracts from the characters or the all-important “cool factor” that comes with each Ultraman film.
The true challenge of Shin Ultraman is creating something unique in a world surrounded by franchises and intellectual property. An even more significant hurdle is to continue a legacy almost 60 years in the making. Against those incredible tasks, Higuchi keeps the fun, kinetic kaiju fights while making a compelling film for a modern audience. The director and writer do an unbelievable job of creating a story that could introduce not just Ultraman but Toku as a genre yet will still resonate with life-long fans.
Higuchi’s knowledge and commitment to the lore, franchise, and Toku genre make Shin Ultraman a must-watch for fans. The film balances classic tropes and introduces new characters in a format allowing any newcomer an ideal entry point into the many Ultra-verses. It’s a masterclass on reintroducing a beloved character while keeping the overall legacy in mind. Sure, moments are rushed, and some characters need more screen time to develop fully. Higuchi’s latest vision of the Toku icon is fresh and fun to the end. After watching this, anyone will do a deep dive search for the latest or greatest installments in the franchise.
"…an ideal entry point into the many Ultra-verses."
