Chaiyo Produces New Ultraman Series

[August]

From"The Bangkok Post" (02/03/2006)
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/03Feb2006_biz49.php

ULTRAMAN SHOW SOLD IN 12 MARKETS
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit

Despite being less than half complete, the first Thai Ultraman TV series has been sold to 12 countries, which is expected to generate 600 million baht for the producers this year. Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, China are among the markets that have bought the programme.

The 52-episode Ultraman series, costing more than 100 million baht, is being produced by three companies: Chaiyo Productions Co, which claims ownership of the Ultraman copyright, with a 50% investment; Ruishi Culture Developing Co from China, with 40%; and Bangkok-based Apex Toys Co with 10%, according to Perasit Sangduenchai, CEO and director of Chaiyo Productions.

He said the firm expected to realise at least one billion baht from the Ultraman character next year, including gains from merchandise and advertising on TV.

His is the first Ultraman project to take place since the battle over the copyright of the character in Japan ended in 2004.

The Tokyo Supreme Court ruled early last year that Sompote Sangduenchai, the founder of Chaiyo Productions and Mr Perasit's father, owned the rights to Ultraman characters everywhere except Japan, ending a dispute with Tsuburaya Productions.

''It is a first time too for Ultraman characters played by Chinese and Thai performers, not Japanese,'' Mr Perasit said.

The stars of the series are the Chinese kung-fu film actor Ekin Cheng [STORM RIDERS, TOKYO RAIDERS], as Ultraman Elite, and two Thai teen idols: Ray McDonald [THE EYE] as Dark Ultraman and Matthew Deane [Thai Pop Singer] as Ultraman Millennium.

The series is being shot in the Gobi desert and in Thailand.

''Using stars from the two nations was part of a marketing plan to capture wider audiences across Asia, including Thailand,'' said Mr Perasit.

He said Ultraman roadshows in Asia would help promote the character as a regional superhero.

The series is due to air in China first in December this year on an entertainment channel of the CCTV network. Thailand and other nations will be able to show the programme at a similar time.

Mr Perasit said the company was also in talks with buyers in Brazil, Argentina, the United States and Europe about the rights to Ultraman.

In Thailand, he said the company was still in talks with a TV station for broadcasting the series. However, he believed it would receive a warm welcome from local viewers.

Ultraman rights have also been disputed in Thailand, the case has gone to the International Trade and Intellectual Property Court.

*****

I find the last line very interesting... "Ultraman rights have also been disputed in Thailand, the case has gone to the International Trade and Intellectual Property Court."

Which means the battle is not yet over between TPC and Chaiyo.

[emeGoji]

The "OH GODZILLA! WHAT TERRIBLE LANGUAGE!" is gonna hit the fan now.

[August]

I can't believe that they signed Ekin Cheng to this series!!!

[emeGoji]

[August]

[emeGoji]

[Danny B]

[August]

[emeGoji]

[Jim Ballard]

I'm assuming (!) since it's the "International Trade and Intellectual Property Court", it covers everything.

[ryuuseipro]

[August]

I'm sure that this ESL news agency forgot the semi-colon: "Ultraman rights have also been disputed in Thailand; the case has gone to the International Trade and Intellectual Property Court."

[ultrazilla2000]

[emeGoji]

[bigknif]