? Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. (TPC) Launched as Tsuburaya Visual Effects Productions in 1963, Tsuburaya Productions was founded by Eiji Tsuburaya, the world-renowned special effects wizard famous for his work on the Godzilla series and other FX films for Toho Studios. In 1966, TPC launched their Ultra Series with the television shows ULTRA Q and ULTRAMAN; the franchise continues to this day, has been seen in over 100 territories worldwide and has spawned over 3,000 licensed products. Tsuburaya Enterprise Family-run for decades, Tsuburaya Productions was sold to TYO Group in October 2007. Ownership of TPC is now split between the toy and game giant Bandai Co., Ltd. (49% share acquired from 2008-2009) and the IP company Fields Corporation (51% stake purchased in 2010). Key Personnel • Eiji Tsuburaya (1901-1970): Founder, Chairman and CEO of Tsuburaya Productions • Hajime Tsuburaya (1931-1973): Eiji`s eldest son; President of Tsuburaya Productions from 1970-1973 • Noboru Tsuburaya (1935-1995): Eiji`s second son; President of Tsuburaya Productions from 1973-1995 • Kazuo Tsuburaya: Noboru`s son, President of Tsuburaya Productions from 1995-2003 • Hideaki Tsuburaya: Hajime`s second son; President of Tsuburaya Productions from 2004-2005 • Shigeki Oyama: President of Tsuburaya Productions from 2005-2007 • Tsuneyuki Morishima: President of Tsuburaya Productions from 2007-2008 • Shinichi Ooka: President of Tsuburaya Productions from 2008-2017 • Takayuki Tsukagoshi: President of Tsuburaya Productions since 2017 ? Ultracom, Inc. Established by Tsuburaya Productions president Noboru Tsuburaya, Ultracom was the official international licensor and distributor for Ultraman. It was not a subsidiary of TPC, but a separate company created for the organized distribution of Ultraman shows, movies and products worldwide (except Japan). Ultracom signed a 10 year deal with Tsuburaya Productions in September 1989, and opened their Studio City, CA offices in February 1990. The company also ran QuestClub, the short-lived official Ultraman fan club in America. Ultracom licensed several Ultraman programs and products throughout Asia but had limited success promoting the franchise in the United States. Tsuburaya Productions decided to terminate their distribution contract, and Ultracom was shut down in August 1996. Key Personnel • Noboru Tsuburaya: Founder and Chairman, 1990-1995 • Kazuo Tsuburaya: Chairman, 1995-1996 • Joe Taritero: President • Mike Ikeda: Shareholder • Shizuko Tamagawa: Shareholder • Mike Deeds: Shareholder • Kate McMains ? Chaiyo Productions Co., Ltd. Chaiyo Productions is an entertainment company founded by filmmaker and businessman Sompote Saengduenchai. Based in Ayutthaya, Thailand, the company produced its first television show in 1970 and first feature film in 1973. In 1973-1974, Sompote also partnered with Tsuburaya Productions to co-produce two movies using TPC`s characters. Following the death of TPC President Noboru Tsuburaya in 1995, Sompote Saengduenchai presented a contract, allegedly issued and signed by Noboru in 1976, granting Sompote the exclusive international copyright to the two feature films, all Ultraman shows produced from 1966-1974, and the series JUMBORG ACE. Tsuburaya Productions declared the document a forgery and has waged a long legal battle with Sompote and Chaiyo over the Ultraman rights. Due to inconsistencies by different translation agencies in translating Thai into English, Chaiyo Productions` name has also been given as Chaiyo Company, Ltd.; Chaiyo Copyright Co., Ltd.; Chaiyo Copyright (Productions) Co., Ltd.; Chaiyo Film Company, Ltd. and Chaiyo City Studio. Beginning in 1997, Sompote has also used the company name "Tsuburaya Chaiyo" when promoting his claim to Ultraman... which has been Chaiyo`s primary business for decades. Key Personnel • Sompote Saengduenchai: Founder and Chairman of Chaiyo Productions • Perasit Saengduenchai: Sompote’s son; Managing Director of Chaiyo Productions until 2008 • Nicom Sisurrat: Partner; died 1997 ? UM Corporation (UMC) In 2007, Sompote Saengduenchai transferred all of his Ultraman rights (as described in the 1976 document) to his son, Perasit Saengduenchai. Perasit then assigned those rights to UM Corporation, an entertainment company founded in November 2008 by former Tsuburaya Productions employee Moriaki Uematsu. Sompote certified the transfer of the Ultraman rights in December 2008. The company has offices in Minatoku, Tokyo and Kowloon, Hong Kong. Key Personnel • Moriaki Uematsu: Founde; President from 2008-2016 • Hiroki Uematsu: Founder • Perasit Saengduenchai: President since 2016 • Thanisa Tiranasawadi: Director ? TIGA Entertainment Co., Ltd.. Founded in 1997 with offices in Bangkok, Thailand and Hong Kong, China, TIGA Entertainment is a licensing and marketing company focused on Asian animation and family programming. Initially focused on China, Japan, Thailand, Korea and select European countries, the company now handles worldwide home video, television, event and merchandising rights for a wide range of titles. Previously affiliated with Chaiyo, TIGA became UM Corporation`s exclusive sales agent for Ultraman in 2011. Key Personnel • Sittichai Rujipasakul: Managing Director • Varistha Techauisitpong: International Licensing ? Golden Media Group, Inc. (GMG) Based in Los Angeles, Golden Media Group was founded in 1996. The company handles distribution, home video and streaming rights for properties from a number of high profile clients, including the major Japanese studios Kadokawa Pictures, Nikkatsu Corporation, Shochiku Co., Ltd. and Toei Co., Ltd. GMG specializes in Asian genre movies and programs, and has licensed ULTRAMAN, ULTRA Q, ULTRA SEVEN and ULTRAMAN TARO from TIGA Entertainment for home video and streaming in North America. Key Personnel • Roy McAree: Owner • Aki Komine: Owner ? Ultraman Forever In 2013, Sompote Saengduenchai, Sommai Patamakanthin and a group of business partners made appearances in Los Angeles to announce a new line of American Ultraman products under the "Ultraman Forever" banner. The company name Ultraman 4 International Llc. was registered in Gilbert, AZ. After TIGA Entertainment sent a Cease and Desist Letter to Ultraman Forever President Sommai Patamakanthin, none of the Ultraman Forever products were ever released. The company`s contract with Sompote Saengduenchai expired on April 30, 2015. Key Personnel • Sompote Saengduenchai: Licensor • Sommai “Sam” Patamakanthin: President of the Ultraman Forever group; died March 2015 • Britton K. Lee: President of Koo Media, Inc. in Las Vegas; signed with Sompote Saengduenchai in 2012 to manufacture and distribute Ultraman merchandise • Charles M. Fries: President and CEO of Fries Films • Len Sherman: Documentary filmmaker who planned to produce a film about Sompote Saengduenchai; wrote the text for Saengduenchai`s Ultraman Forever book • Aaron Huber: Agent for Ultraman 4 International ? Ultraman USA, Inc. On May 1, 2015, Sompote Saengduenchai and another group of business partners formed Ultraman USA, Inc., a Los Angeles-based company that would be creating new Ultraman products and movies. A press conference was held on May 10 in LA to officially announce the launch of the new endeavor. In a repeat of what happened with Ultraman Forever, lawyers for UM Corporation quickly sent Cease and Desist Letters to both Ultraman USA and Sompote reminding them that Sompote had no rights to Ultraman. To date, none of the Ultraman USA merchandise or projects have gone into production. Key Personnel • Sompote Saengduenchai: Licensor • Prayut Theanthong: President of Ultraman USA • Nida Theanthong • Philip Mercader: Marketing Consultant • Nontchart Kulthanaamondhita: Main Licensing Product Manufacturer • Chayatawatch Atibaedya • Suchart Rengpean • Rachanibol Tanaritroj • Somkeat Sauekcharern