Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

A coworker just showed me this a few minutes ago...no idea what it is.



I think it's pretty cool! Nice to finally see "A Type" Ultraman with a moving mouth! Overall decent CG, too.

Was coming here to share that as well. Surprise to see the Type A face truly coming to life.

BAD TOUCH BAD TOUCH NO NO NO TSUBURAYA WHAT ARE YOU DOING.

Here is a non region-blocked version if any of you can't see the original video, which I am SUPER NOT INTO JESUS CHRIST.

The intro is neat but once Ultraman shows up it just looks completely horrific. And this travesty coming right on the heels on such a beautiful return to form in Ultraman X. Sigh.

I wonder if this is for a new console game? Rather than looking slim, Ultraman looks like an anorexic body builder. Way too much musculature for that body frame. The action looks good outside of that.

I think it looks pretty awesome! The animation reminds me of Pacific Rim, in that it's CG but the style is very evocative of traditional effects.

... but I suppose part of this is that I don't mind that Ultraman looks a smidge freaky! It's like he's made of living latex.

that was magnificent one would hope that this will be a movie.....for the u.s market.

that was magnificent one would hope that this will be a movie.....for the u.s market.

I think if Ultraman had more of a matte finish and armor instead of his tight workout outfit might help their CG model look less gumby. I mean, the textures are not of hollywood standards but it is a fairly decent attempt and I can't poo on them for it. During broad day light too. Something Pacific Rim and Godzilla'14 can't really say when they are having battles.

I'm not worried, as its probably just a video-game trailer, or something.

What truly scares me is the warm reception some weightless, garbage CGI gets. I'm beginning to understand why JURASSIC WORLD is one of the highest grossing films ever.

So according to August, this is a teaser for one of two series TPC has in the works for next year's 50th anniversary. This one, geared towards adults, and a second series geared towards children. Frankly, I'm rooting for whichever series utilizes the classic tokusatsu approach, whichever audience it's aimed at. This oddity doesn't appeal to me one bit and after the FANTASTIC practical effects Taguchi gave us in the first episode of Ultraman X, this teaser makes me actively sad.

You shouldn't let something like that make you actively sad. Not worth the energy.

For instance, Hollywood is taking a giant flaming dump on Ghost in the Shell and Akira. Two of my most beloved works of Sci-Fi ever. When I hear about the news about their approach to the movies I just go, "Eyuk..." and dismiss it. It doesn't change the source material that I love, it's just some studio either thinking their new approach is the best one or it is a cheap cash in on the names.

The only time I got upset at anything new in a franchise was Star Wars. I don't have my HD versions of the unaltered original Star Wars trilogy without Georges garbage reworks done to them. I don't mind if they do it, but at least give me the option to not watch it. Hence, no excitement on my end for these new Star Wars movies, I still might watch, I just don't care as much.

So the studio might be working their balls off to try and mainstream Ultraman to keep it alive while still doing the traditional stuff at the same time. Yea it isn't groundbreaking visuals but I think it looks entertaining for now.

This post might also be an overreaction to your post. No fighting words on my part. <3

PS. I'm not a hardcore Ultra fan so you can dismiss what I say and it won't bother me.

I can't help but take it a little personally. I'm actively trying – perhaps futilely – to pursue a career in miniature effects and this franchise is a big part of what inspired me to do so in the first place. To see a franchise that has long produced fantastic tokusatsu filmmaking (and just had a glorious rebirth in the first episode of X) is now taking the route of turning it into a pale imitation of Pacific Rim instead of building on what already makes it special is really, really irritating.

I know a lot of people like to say they love monsters no matter how they're brought to life but, frankly, I do care. A lot. Can't be helped.

Ya know that put things in a different perspective and makes me recant my statement. I will proceed to go f*ck myself.

In one respect, I like this. CG looks good and the fight was cool. On the other hand Ultraman just looks weird. I don't mind the moving mouth, that's one of the things I liked.

Now if this were shown to be a cross production with a US studio, who I'm sure would demand it be CG, then I'd be behind this. But for being a full-on Tsuburaya production, it's sad that there's no practical effects in this. While not as adamant as Jared, I share the same core disappointment.

to quote jaws 4

"all it ever is complain complain."

Speaking as an Ultraman neophyte, I think this looks good overall. For sure, they need to work on Ultraman himself, and I think traditional effects are a better fit for giant heroes. But this looks fine as a stand-alone project.

So, I've watched this thing about six times today and I've really gotten kind of pumped.

I actually really like how Ultraman looks. I like that he's skinny with big feet and hands and his body is so expressive, and he's full of nifty details from the original Ultraman suit from the early '66 episodes. He kinda looks like if Bin Furuya was painted instead of in a latex suit, or like Doug Jones as Abe Sapien. I don't think the, I suppose you could call it "CGI texture" of him is bad because Ultraman is the rare character who probably should look like living, liquid metal. The monster looks great, too! And as for his texture: there were a few moments I wondered if they had slipped in an actual latex monster suit! I suppose a lot of that is details like sagging or quivering bits of fat and skin on the creature.

So we're getting two series next year, eh? I bet the other will use traditional, practical effects. Tsuburaya Productions really lionizes the past and tradition so I expect them to give up on practical effects as much as I expect the Jim Henson company to give up on puppets (and Henson's also produces CGI kids shows).

I imagine the purpose of this is to try to help Ultraman break into worldwide popularity. Those Chaiyo clowns always yammer on about making a modern, Hollywood Ultraman and this is Tsuburaya beating them to the punch.

^By making uber-cheap green-screen based stuff? I thought that was just out of desperation?