Ultra Series/Cultural References/Anime and Manga

Wonder Island
Wonder Island (ワンダー・アイランド) is a two part one-shot manga written by Akira Toriyama. It is notable for being Toriyama's first published manga. The setting of this manga, Wonder Island, appears later on in Dr. Slump.

In the second chapter, while waiting for Dirty Harry's arrival, Gyaosu and his men play war between Ultraman and Godzilla.

This second chapter of Wonder Island is a second chance given to Akira Toriyama by his editor Kazuhiko Torishima to demonstrates his talents. Toriyama introduces many references to popular culture in this chapter (Godzilla, Ultraman, Astro Boy, King Kong, Star Wars). Despite this, the manga will not gain the sympathy of the Shōnen Jump readers.

Kinnikuman
In Kinnikuman, the Ultra Brothers are on vacation.

Mobile Suit Gundam
MSM-07 Z'Gok mobile suit had it's design based on Alien Zarab. Of course, Tsuburaya would return the favor with two characters themed after two mobile suits: Apatee based on MS-06 Zaku II and Gan Q based on MSM-04 Acguy.

Dr. Slump
Dr. Slump manga, later adapted into anime series Dr. Slump &amp; Arale-chan written by Akira Toriyama, features several characters and references in the Ultra Series. In the first manga, Akira's chibi caricature of the original Ultraman was shown. While in the first episode of the anime series, Ultraman was seen pulling up the sun with his fishing rod. Ultraseven appeared in every episode at the start of the series during the introduction.

Arale Norikami, the main character is a big fan of the original Ultraman series and often pretends to be him. At one instance, in the 18th chapter of the manga and the second part of the sixth episode named Arale is Kidnapped!, while Arale was (unknowingly) kidnapped with Gatchan by a bank robber, she thought that the robber wanted to play so she pretend to be the original Ultraman.

In the 24 chapter, Barber Shop Panic: Part 2, a female cop named Polly Buckets sang Ultraman no Uta, Ultraman's opening song. While an old woman wants Gyaosu's microphone, Ultraseven made a cameo appearance in the back.

Several characters in the Penguin Village seems to have tributes to the Ultra Series' characters. Among them are Nekotoraman and Nekotora-7. Alien Baltan rarely shown hanging on a tree.

In 82nd chapter, Space Patrol Squad, a group of comical alien invaders rode a spaceship that resembles Ultraman's head.

Dragonball
The manga later anime series of Dragonball written by Akira Toriyama featured the female character Chi-Chi, whom as a child worn a helmet that allowed her to initiate attacks that similar to Ultraseven's Emerium Ray and Eye Slugger. In one episode, she comically uses the move 'Stay Away From Me!' to launch the Eye Slugger into Roshi's forehead, and although he was none the worse for wear, he had to wear a large plaster over the wound for the rest of the episode. Chi-Chi wear this helmet in every games that features her as a child.

Also noted that the company owned by Bulma's father, Capsule Corporation developed transformable capsules which said item may had inspired from the concept of Ultraseven's Capsule Monsters. These capsules firstly appeared in one of Akira Toriyama's one-shot manga, The Adventures of Tongpoo.

Ranma ½
In episode 62, Ranma and Ryoga are racing against each other in a desert wasteland in order to win a trip to China. One of the obstacles they encounter is a sand trap with a robot bearing the appearance of an Alien Baltan.

In episode 94, an old man is shown wearing a green Ultraman mask.

Urusei Yatsura
Ultraman and his kaiju enemies appear multiple times in this series and its movies.

Ultimate Muscle
Mantaro Kinniku, the main character for Ultimate Muscle had his name being originated from Ultraman Taro. Similarly, the series they starred in originally portrayed as lighthearted and humorous but in certain occasions, there were also matured and cold scenes. But even if that's the case, if looked closely on Mantaro's mask, it bears a head crest which appeared to be based on Ultraseven's Eye Slugger.

Pokémon
In a episode of the Advanced series called 'A Corphish Out of Water', Team Rocket mimics Alien Baltan while they were performing their motto.

Digimon Adventure
Agumon's Champion form, Greymon was inspired from the Ultra Kaiju Gomora. This is clearly visible by the Digimon's durable cranial skin, mimicking said Kaiju's horn.

In episode 51, Piemon, the Clown from Hell, the title screen features Piemon rising in a similar manner to Ultraman's rising sequence.

Sgt. Forg/Keroro Gunso
Sgt. Frog, called Keroro Gunso in Japan or Sgt. Keroro in certain region in the world was made by Mine Yoshizaki. Both anime and manga had a small relation with several companies such as Bandai and Toei, explaining the existence of multiple parodies from famous Japanese franchises and shows (Ultraman, Gundam, Kamen Rider, Metal Hero, Super Sentai, etc).

Lucky Star
During the theme song, Konata Izumi does the Specium Ray pose.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
During the Endless Eight arc, boot leg masks of the popular tokusatsu and anime characters appear at a Bon Festival, and Yuki Nagato always buys the one resembling Ultraman.

Gin Tama

 * The whole plot in episode 93 were parodied from the original Ultraman. The character of the week, Spacewoman bears resemblance to Ultraman, even sharing same statistics such as height and weight. Among the monster she defeated in the past had a similar appearance to King Joe, Takkong and Gomora. His lover, Hiroshi, whom also a giant like her also had the appearance to that of Ultraman, despite his blue color, but if looked closely, he seemingly had a necktie-like shape on his chest, referring to the SSSP's uniforms. The episode's villain, Space Cherry Colonel had his appearance (excluding the head) being near-identical to Alien Viyell.
 * In episode 194 of Gintama, Isao Kondou stated that he comes from the Snot Nebula M78, referencing the home planet of the Ultras.

Jaco the Galactic Patrolman
Jaco the Galactic Patrolman (銀河パトロール　ジャコ), is an eleven-chapter comedy manga by Akira Toriyama. It ties in with his Dragon Ball manga. It is part of Toriyama's "Galactic Patrol series", along with Sachi-chan Gū!! and Jiya.

The main character, Jaco was designed after Ultraman and Frieza's fourth form from Dragonball.

Haitai Nanafa
Moe anthropomorphisms of King Joe, Eleking, Alien Temperor, Zetton and Alien Mefilas made their appearance in the 20th episode of the series.

Yo-Kai Watch

 * Yokai Baku, the Yokai of the week in episode 19 of Yo-Kai Watch casts all of Keita's classmates into slumber in order to consume their dreams. One of them, Kuma, dreams himself as Super Kuma Man, a gigantic humanoid hero which appears to be a parodied version of Ultraman though retained his human head, fighting a kaiju and eliminates it with Kuma Beam (a parody of Ultra Beam). He even uttered Ultraman's signature grunt, Shuwatch!. Also to be noted that there is the digit number "90" on his chest, which is a slight reference to Ultraman 80.
 * In a commercial for season two (episode 77 in overall seasons) of Yo-Kai Watch, Inaho Misora, one of the new protagonists performs an Ultra Beam pose when she introduced herself (she shouts "Shuwatch", which is a reference to the word "watch" from Yo-Kai Watch). It is also noted that Inaho is an Otaku and a fan of science fiction stories, having mistaken Yokai races for aliens, further cementing another trope of the Ultra Series.

Yuki Yuna is a Hero
When the girls first transform, many of their poses reference Ultra rises. This could also be a reference to the fact that this magical girl series has the heroes fighting daikaiju as opposed to smaller opponents.