Japanese logo for the Ultraman 60th anniversary television series, ULTRAMAN TEO. Image courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
Ultraman 60th Anniversary Series Debuts July 4th!
Source: Tsuburaya Productions
Official Sites: https://ani.tv/ultraman_teo/, https://m-78.jp/teo/ (Japan)
Official X: https://x.com/ultraman_series
ULTRAMAN TEO Japanese key art, courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
Tsuburaya Productions (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Masayuki Nagatake)has provided SciFi Japan with images and press notes for their upcoming television series ULTRAMAN TEO (ウルトラマンテオ, Urutoraman Teo). Tsuburaya will broadcast and distribute the show simultaneously in multiple languages—starting with its domestic broadcast across the six-station TV Tokyo network in Japan on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at 9:00 AM JST.
Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Ultraman series, ULTRAMAN TEO is a tokusatsu drama that will tell the story of a solitary blue giant who has lost his home planet. The series promises to not only depict the journey of an alien growing into a hero, but also offer a fresh perspective on central theme of the Ultraman series: "the dynamic between humans, Ultramen, monsters, and aliens—how beings of different species overcome doubts and conflict to accept their differences and come together."
Synopsis
Somewhere in the vast cosmos lies a planet known as "H12" (Eichi Wan Tsū, エイチワンツー). This world — remarkably similar to Earth — was one day subjected to a brutal invasion by space monsters hailing from another world. As the planet eventually crumbled and met its demise, a single alien survivor managed to escape and flee to Earth.
"Teo"—the solitary alien destined to one day evolve into "Ultraman."
Living as Ibuki Mitsuishi, a third-year veterinary student at Meishin University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, he led a peaceful college life, bonding with the animals he loved, even as he struggled to adapt to Earth’s customs and conventions. But then, the same space monsters that destroyed his home world suddenly attacked Earth, plunging the planet into crisis. When his fierce determination to "protect" others finally steels his heart—a heart still trembling with the trauma of the past—a blinding flash of light engulfs Ibuki, transforming him into a towering Giant of Blue Light!
New Special Teaser Promo Video Released
A new teaser video for ULTRAMAN TEO is now on the official Ultraman YouTube channel and the Ultra subscription service "TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION".
Japanese Trailer: https://youtu.be/Az1nPL50Z6I
English Language Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_qzmQ7LH5g
The New Hero, Ultraman Teo
Ultraman Teo. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
The Giant of Blue Light into whom the protagonist, Ibuki Mitsuishi, transforms. When Ibuki grasps the "Teo Crystar" (テオクリスター, Teo Kurisutā) — imbued with his fervent desire to "protect"— his body becomes enveloped in a dazzling radiance, transforming him into a colossal figure.
By touching the Color Timer located on his chest, he can ignite his latent energy to unleash a variety of light-based techniques. His signature move is the "Teocium Beam" (テオシウム光線, Teoshiumu Kōsen), in which he charges his arms with glowing yellow energy, crosses them in a cruciform pattern, and fires the beam.
Height: 45 meters (148 feet)
Weight: 36,000 tons
Aoi Iwasaki as Ibuki Mitsuishi. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
Main Character: Ibuki Mitsuishi
Mitsuishi is an extraterrestrial born on the planet H12—located somewhere in the vast universe. After losing his home world to an invasion by monsters from another star system, he fled to Earth, where he now lives under the identity of Ibuki Mitsuishi, a third-year student in the School of Veterinary Medicine at Meishin University. Still unaccustomed to Earth's customs and norms, he occasionally engages in rather outlandish behavior.
Possessing a gentle and mild-mannered nature, he has little fondness for combat; however, the transforms into a giant to save lives in danger. As he confronts monsters and cosmic threats, he grapples with his own resolve to fight, gradually evolving into a true "Ultraman."
The transformation item, the Teo Crystar. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
Transformation Device: Teo Crystar
The Teo Crystar is silver device that Ibuki Mitsuishi uses to transform into Ultraman Teo. It contains a precious ore that every inhabitant of his home planet, H12, receives at birth; the light emitted by this ore allows him to transform into a blue giant.
It also serves as a talisman and is deeply cherished by Ibuki.
Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
Regarding the Design of Ultraman Teo / Comment from Designer Masayuki Gotoh
In designing Ultraman Teo, I was keenly conscious of the fact that he is a "life-sized hero"— one whom the protagonist, a university student, transforms into. Since the story follows his growth as a hero one step at a time, I strove to strike a careful balance: creating a design that feels approachable and relatable, while still retaining that signature "coolness" characteristic of an Ultraman.
I truly believe that Teo will become a friend to all of you! I sincerely hope you will come to love him.
Main Character and Staff Profiles
Aoi Iwasaki. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
■ Aoi Iwasaki
21 year-old actor Aoi Iwasaki plays the story’s protagonist, Ibuki Mitsuishi, who is the Earthly form of Teo, an alien who has come to Earth.
Iwasaki was born June 12, 2004 and is from Kanagawa Prefecture. He stands 181 cm (approximately 5'9") tall, is a movie buff, and a skilled basketball and soccer player.
He is affiliated with the talent agency A-Plus. In 2024, he participated in the “My Graduation” (私の卒業, Watashi no Sotsugyō) project, a a renowned gateway for aspiring young actors. After a rigorous audition process involving over 1,000 applicants, he was chosen as a member of the 6th cohort and took his first steps as a professional actor.
In 2025, Iwasaki made his screen debut in the feature film produced by the project's 6th cohort. Furthermore, driven by a fervent desire "to become a hero," he secured the lead role in ULTRAMAN TEO, marking his first starring role in a TV drama.
Comment: I’m Aoi Iwasaki, and I’ll be playing the role of Ibuki Mitsuishi.
As someone who used to watch Ultraman Zero with wide-eyed wonder as a child, I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to transform into “Ultraman” in this milestone 60th anniversary year. Now, it is my turn to become that figure of aspiration—and driven by a strong desire to inspire courage and hope in everyone who watches, I have poured every ounce of my strength into *Ultraman Teo*. I am still very much a novice, both as a person and as an actor; however, I look forward to growing alongside Ibuki Mitsuishi and Ultraman Teo! My sincere hope is that Ibuki Mitsuishi—who once walked a lonely path—and Ultraman Teo will come to be loved by people all around the world.
Shigenori Tanabe. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
■ Series Compositor/Head Writer: Shigenori Tanabe
Shigenori Tanabe was born on July 3, 1974 in Nagano Prefecture. He is 51 years old.
He began his theater career while in college and went on to found his own theater troupe. He served as both playwright and director for all of the troupe’s productions, and after graduating from college, he continued to participate in outside productions as well.
Around 2006, he began working full-time as a screenwriter for film and television. Since then, he has served as series compositor and screenwriter for numerous TV dramas and anime series. In 2019, he wrote the screenplay for a drama centered on the *tokusatsu* genre, which garnered significant attention for its skillful portrayal of the daily worries and struggles faced by tokusatsu fans.
In 2026, ULTRAMAN TEO marks his first collaboration with Tsuburaya Productions.
Comment: I have long harbored a wish to one day participate in a tokusatsu production.
With ULTRAMAN TEO, that dream has finally come true.
And coincidentally, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the broadcast premiere of the original ULTRAMAN— a truly momentous milestone. It is a realization that fills me with a profound sense of responsibility. Through my participation in this project, I have come to realize something anew: the reason this series has been so deeply cherished and has endured for so long is precisely because every single Ultraman born throughout its history has been an irreplaceable, special entity in their own right. I consider it a tremendous honor to receive that baton and carry it forward into the future. For me, Ultraman Teo has become an irreplaceable, special entity. And if this work can become a special Ultraman for someone else as well, nothing would bring me greater joy.
Takashi Ninomiya. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
■ Lead Director: Takashi Ninomiya
Takashi Ninomiya was born November 3, 1979 in Oita Prefecture. He is 46 years old.
He is affiliated with the video production company Office Crescendo. He made his directorial debut in television dramas in 2009 and has since directed numerous TV series. Highly acclaimed for his meticulous directorial style—which sensitively portrays the inner emotions and interpersonal dynamics of characters across various genres—he received the Excellence Award in the TV Drama category at the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association (JCB) Awards in both 2018 and 2024.
In 2025, he made his debut as a film director with WHO CARES? THE MOVIE (映画 おっさんのパンツがなんだっていいじゃないか!, Eiga Ossan no Pantsu Ganan Datte ī Janai Ka!), expanding the scope of his work. He has also directed and edited a wide array of opening sequences for dramas and live events, as well as music videos.
In this project — marking his first collaboration with Tsuburaya Productions — he serves as the Lead Director, undertaking the task of building a brand-new world for Ultraman.
Comment: I was utterly astonished to find myself, as someone who has watched the Ultraman series since childhood, actually participating in it. To be entrusted, on my very first project in the franchise, with the monumental role of Lead Director — and for the 60th-anniversary production, no less — was truly mind-boggling. I was completely taken aback, but my excitement far outweighed my nervousness, so I decided to dive right in. As a complete novice to the world of tokusatsu productions, I was initially overwhelmed by everything I didn’t know; however, the staff of the Ultraman series welcomed me with such genuine warmth that, thanks to their collective support, I was able to shoot many wonderful scenes. And for the special effects sequences, our team of seasoned and battle-tested Special Effects Directors has delivered a wealth of spectacular, stunning shots.
This series tells the story of the growth of Teo and the other characters as they grapple with — and ultimately accept and support — beings of vastly different natures: Earthlings, Ultraman, aliens, and monsters. We invite you to witness their "youth," their "struggles," and their "friendships"— as well as a brand-new kind of Ultraman unlike any before: one who is "bad at fighting."
Takanori Tsujimoto. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
■ Lead Special Effects Director: Takanori Tsujimoto
Takanori Tsujimoto was born on August 30, 1971 and hails from Osaka Prefecture. He is 54 years old.
A film director with a unique background as a former dental technician, he has won numerous awards for his independent productions while pursuing his dream of becoming a film director. His unique style of action direction was highly acclaimed, and he made his debut as a commercial director in 2003. After working on numerous films, TV dramas, and animations, in 2011 he joined the production of ULTRA ZONE (ウルトラゾーン, Urutora Zōn, 2011-12), marking the beginning of his participation in works by Tsuburaya Productions,. His first participation in the New Generation Ultraman series was ULTRAMAN X in 2015, and in 2024, he took on the role of Lead Director for the first time with ULTRAMAN ARC (ウルトラマンアーク, Urutoraman Āku, 2024-25).
For this series, he serves as the Lead Special Effects Director, helming the exploits of Ultraman Teo with a directorial style brimming with a deep love for tokusatsu filmmaking.
Comment: In the autumn of the year before last, I received a jaw-dropping offer: “We want you to take the leadon the special effects for a new series.” To my surprise, the plan this time called for splitting the directorial duties between the main narrative and the special effects — and they wanted *me* to be the very first one up to bat for the effects side.
"Well, hold on a second," I thought, hesitating slightly. "I just finished serving as the main director for ULTRAMAN ARC; I’m not sure I’m quite in the right headspace yet..." But just as I was dragging my feet, I heard a truly seductive phrase: "You’ll be the Lead Special Effects Director." That’s it! "Special Effects Director"! TThat sparkling, dazzling title I had idolized ever since I was a child! "Whoa!" Overcome with sheer excitement, I devoured the project proposal and script with trembling hands. What was described there was a brand-new Ultraman worldview unlike anything seen before. Is this destiny? Or perhaps... fate? There’s no turning back now... I’m in! With a smile — a big, bright smile — it’s time to unleash my imagination!!
Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
ULTRAMAN TEO Series Overview
Premiere Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026 (JST)
Broadcast Time: Every Saturday 9:00-9:30 a.m. (JST)
Broadcast Channel: TV Tokyo Network (Six Stations) and others
Broadcasting Websites in Japan: TVer, video.tv-tokyo, TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION, ULTRAMAN OFFICIAL YouTube Channel, and others
Series Compositor/Head Writer: Shigenori Tanabe
©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
YouTube Ultraman Official Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/tsuburaya
YouTube Ultraman Official Kids Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UltramanKidsOfficial>
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Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TEO PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO
About Tsuburaya Productions
Tsuburaya Productions, creator and copyrights owner of the superhero ULTRAMAN series was founded in 1963 by Eiji Tsuburaya, world-renowned special effects wizard also known for his special effects work on the Godzilla series. With more than fifty years’ experience, it is one of Japan’s oldest and most respected independent film and television production houses. Its popular Ultraman TV and film series which premiered in 1966 has been seen in over 100 territories worldwide and has spawned over 3,000 licensed products. In addition to production, the company also handles character licensing and program distribution and staging live stage shows both domestically and internationally.