Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

With all the conversation going on about the declining ticket sales of Godzilla movies and what many believe to be an overall decline in Godzilla's popularity, both resulting in Godzilla's ouster(albeit only temporarily), it makes me wonder if Ultraman will suffer the same fate-an extended hiatus from film and television. Opinions on this? As always Packmule welcomes all replies.

Isn't Ultraman MAX having a pretty good run right now?

Apparently, MAX is doing so well that the network has ordered another Ultraman series to be developed, and there is already a new Ultraman movie on the way, too -- Ultraman is still more popular than Godzilla in Japan... Kamen Rider and Sentai are also still on top. They are all "Turn Key" series, because everytime you think that the audience would get sick and tired of the show, and stop watching, there are new kids that become new fans -- brilliant strategy!

When Ultraman Series designer Hiroshi Maruyama was here in San Francisco for BAFE's Ultramania! last June, he announced that he was designing a new Ultraman in his hotel room, "So, the next Ultraman coming will be an Ultraman born in San Francisco!" -- he did not indicate whether is was the Ultraman for the new movie or series (or whether they are one and the same).

*Spoilers?*




Possibly the rumored Ultraman Moebius (Mebius?)? There's been talk of extra shooting and the appearance of several Ultramen appearing in the new movie (apparently called "Ultraman Mebius and the Ultra Brothers" or something like that) over on Ultraman LAH!. What was I writing this for again...?

Well, I have heard nothing "official"... yet.

They already did ULTRA Q: DARK FANTASY last year... I don't think that they'll run out of ideas for monsters, and while some of the recent creatures seem to "test" Westerners' imaginations, you have to remember that these creatures are designed with Japanese tastes and sensibilities.