SciFi Japan - MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: ULTRA GALAXY LEGENDS

: 08 December 2009

New Ultraman Movie Opens In December Author: James Ballard Source: Sponichi Official Movie Site: Ultra Galaxy The Movie

The popular TV series ULTRA GALAXY: MEGA MONSTER BATTLE will hit the big screen in Japan this year with MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: ULTRA GALAXY LEGENDS - THE MOVIE (Daikaiju Batoru Urutora Ginga Densetsu THE MOVIE). For the new movie, Tsuburaya Productions have joined with world-famous distributor Warner Bros., with their eye on the global market. For its domestic Japanese release, the film is planned to open in December for the New Year movie season. Ultraman first appeared on TV in 1966. In the 43 years that followed, there have been various new Ultraman characters seen in a succession of TV series and movies. Including the various shorts and animated series, this will be the 38th Ultraman production from Tsuburaya Productions. The movie is directed by 38-year-old Koichi Sakamoto, who has worked predominantly as executive producer on the long-running American TV series POWER RANGERS. Sakamoto visited the USA as an international student in April 1989 after graduating from high school, where he began studying English, before landing his first major part as an actor in the 1994 movie GUYVER: DARK HERO. He eventually joined the production team of MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS (1993-1996) as a stunt director, going on to fill the roles of director, action director and executive producer for many of the subsequent POWER RANGERS series. The main antagonist in the latest movie is not a monster but an Ultraman. A new character, Ultraman Belial, is cited as being the first “villainous Ultraman” in the 43 year history of the franchise, who was locked away in the space prison by the mighty Ultraman King tens of thousands of years ago. The story heats up when Belial breaks free from his prison, and plans to use the Giga-Battlenizer to control 100 giant monsters and conquer the galaxy, shrouding the home world of the Ultramen in a state of darkness. Set in Nebula M78 on the Star of Ultra - the home world of the Ultramen – original Ultra heroes Ultraman and Ultra Seven stand with the popular Ultraman Mebius against the devious Ultraman Belial. As the movie takes place in their homeland, the heroes are not restricted by the same 3-minute timer as they are when they visit Earth. The Sponichi magazine revealed today that the movie will also feature 50 Ultraman characters, 18 of which were named; Ultraman, Ultra Seven, Ultraman Jack, Ultraman Ace, Ultraman Taro, Zoffy, Ultraman Mebius, Ultraman Hikari, Ultraman King, Father of Ultra, Mother of Ultra, Ultraman Leo, Astra, Ultraman 80, Yullian, Ultraman Neos, Ultra Seven 21 and Ultraman Boy. Original actors Susume Kurobe and Kouji Moritsugu return to reprise their roles as Hayata (Ultraman) and Dan Moroboshi (Ultra Seven) respectively, facing off against an army of over 100 giant monsters! The film will open to theatres in Japan on December 12th.