Ultraman Taro (character)

"Dark Lugiel! No matter what you destroy, what you take away, humans will stand up, no matter how many times, they will every time. Ultraman was not saving humans but always fighting together with humans!"

- -Taro words to Dark Lugiel when he mocked humanity.

Ultraman Taro (ウルトラマンタロウ), also known as Master Taro by the Ultra Brothers, is the son of Father of Ultra and Mother of Ultra. He was trained ever since he was a young boy, in order to become the most powerful Ultraman. He currently resides as a teacher in the Land of Light, where he teaches young and adult warriors alike how to fight at the Ultra Coliseum.

Ultraman Taro
Taro was sent to Earth 7 years after Ultraman was. Unlike many other Ultras, he didn't go to Earth. The human that was chosen for him (who was recently killed by Astromons) was brought to him by the other Ultra Brothers. After the merge was complete, Kotaro Higashi was taken back to present day Earth to be the human host of Taro, and as Astromons was ravaging a city when Kotaro turned into Taro. Not long after Astromons's defeat, Kotaro joined ZAT and fought in a new era of kaiju. Many foes young and old would threaten the Earth, but Taro and ZAT defeated them time and again with occasional help from the other five Ultra Brothers, from the weaklings to monsters only Taro could defeat. After Samekujira attacked and Valkie fled, Kotaro wanted to show the other Ultras he wanted to keep his humanity by no longer wanting to be Taro's host. Taro may be the only Ultra to go to Earth to fight off an age of aliens or monsters and not have a human host afterwards, but he would come back to Earth to assist Ultraman Mebius when it was his time to prove himself.

Ultraman Story
Taro appeared as one of the main protagonists against Grand King. Taro was facing Enmargo and went straight to the planet.The Ultra Brothers fused into Taro and then they were able to defeat Grand King

The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army
Taro reappeared in this movie.

Hanuman sent out some SOS and the Ultra brothers came and face off the monster army with Taro helping the Ultra brothers

Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers
During the great battle against U-Killersaurus Neo, the Ultra Brothers and Ultraman Mebius were already running out of energy. However, suddenly two lights emerge form the darkness of the sky, and Captain Zoffy and Taro appear, descending from the sky. They gave energy back to the Ultras and they were prepared to fight against the mighty chouju. During the battle, Taro is the first Ultra to use his signature move, the Storium Ray. After Mebius was trapped in the monster's claws, all the Ultra Brothers combined into one with Mebius, forming Mebius Infinity, and destroying U-Killersaurus and Yapool's reign of terror.

Ultraman Mebius
Taro reappears in episodes 24 Yapool's Rebirth, 29 Day of Separation, 30 The Flame of Promise, & 50 Words from the Heart -Final Trilogy III-. Back in the Land of Light Mebius was one of his students and Taro trained him to fight. He is first seen with Zoffy in the Temple of Light and was about to head to Earth due to sensing a rising evil (Yapool's revival) but was stopped by Zoffy who commented that Taro should have more faith in his student and that Mebius was not alone, he was fighting with crew GUYS.

Taro later appeared on Earth to rescue Mebius, who disobeyed the command to return and fought with Imperializer, causing Mebius to be severely injured. Taro appeared at the end when Mebius was too exhausted to maintain his Ultra form. After Mebius returned to human form, Taro dealt with the robot destroying it's top half with the Storium Ray, but it was still operational and teleported away for repairs. Somehow Taro knew where it would appear next and sent a message to GUYS to prepare for this. Taro fought with GUYS but when their plan ultimately failed Taro was left to fight the machine alone. He refused to allow Mebius to transform, stating he had potential to become very powerful. Taro used the Ultra Dynamite but even that was not enough. Mebius transformed and fought with his teacher, convincing him to let him stay. With Mebius newly achieved Burning Brave Mode, Master and student destroyed the alien. Taro agreed to let Mebius remain on Earth.

Taro later appeared with the other Ultra brothers to free the sun from Alien Empera's darkness coating.

Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie
Ultraman Taro first appears at the Ultra Coliseum watching his students train to become Ultra Warriors when they grow up. Moments later, after Ultraman Belial was freed, Taro's students were all fighting against Belial in the Space Prison, with Belial easily defeating them all. Suddenly Taro appeared and started fighting with Belial. Taro used his Storium Ray but Belial avoided it, and Taro quickly grabbed Belial and they both fell into the Land of Light. After they both crash on the planet, Belial reveals that Taro was defeated by him, and threw him unconscious to the ground. Belial then fought against every Ultra Warrior, and the Ultra Brothers, and after he defeated Father of Ultra and Mother of Ultra, he was going to shoot them to kill them. But when Belial fired his beam, Taro appeared and almost sacrificed himself to save his father and mother from death. Belial took away the Plasma Spark, thus causing the death of the Land of Light, but Ultraman Taro manages to prevent the Land of Light's destruction by saving the last remaining light.



Some time later, Ultraman, Ultra Seven and Mebius appear to restore their Ultra forms, they see Taro completely frozen due to the death of the Land of Light. After Taro sees them, he restores their Ultra forms, and says that this light is "our last chance", and he then falls into a frozen trance while still cradling the remaining light. Ultraman, Ultra Seven, and Mebius then go to the Plasma Spark Tower to regain enough energy to fight Belial. Taro is revived for a brief second, but he still frozen and gives the Ultra trio his remaining energy before going back into his dormant state.

He is later revived with every other Ultra being in the Land of Light, and joins his parents and Zoffy as they attend Ultraman King's closing speech.

Ultraman Zero the Movie: The Revenge of Belial
Taro is seen early in the film, assisting the Ultra Brothers in facing off against Kaiser Belial's squadron and several Darklops. After the origins of Belial's Squadron are revealed, Taro assists the Ultras in creating a Universal Travel Sphere for Ultraman Zero to use in order to travel to another universe. Towards the climax, Taro also participates in helping the Ultra Brothers in facing off against another, much larger squadron of Belial's forces and ultimately winning.

Ultraman Ginga
Dark Spark War Prior to the Ultraman Ginga tv series, Ultraman Taro participated in the Dark Spark War but this time he fought not only alongside with the Ultra Brothers but, with the other Ultras that came from other universe and their allies against Evil side. In the War, Ultraman Taro faced Alien Temperor while in their midst battle, Dark Lugiel turned every Ultra alongside their allies, monsters and aliens into Spark Dolls. With the war over an unknown warrior appeared and faced Dark Lugiel but like others he also turned into Spark Dolls but he was kept within his Ginga Spark and fall to the Earth, in Star Fall Town, alongside other Spark Doll.

While on Earth, Taro tried to find a way to restore himself and during this time Misuzu Isurugi, one of the former Starry School students and priestess of the Ginga Shrine tried to restore him but to no vail.

One day, after witnessing Hikaru Raido's brave act for rescuing Misuzu, he suspects him for being the chosen one foretold by the Ginga Spark. He met Hikaru later that night, only to be mistakened as an action figure as he disappears. Hikaru goes to the Forest to meet Taro, only for him to disappear again. While trying to find Taro he met Misuzu Isurugi. while mid conversation, Taro appears and told them the History of Dark Spark Wars and told HIkaru that he's the choosen one.

Hikaru tried the Ginga Spark on Taro, but like Misuzu before him, it failed and Taro is still sad that he can't turn big. Suddenly the Ginga Spark detected something and Hikaru pick it up and it's revealed to be Black King's Spark Doll he scanned it and Ultra Lived into Black King. Just as Hikaru seemed to be having fun in his new form, he was ambushed by Thunder Darambia)/Taro watch the fight and saw Hikaru start to lose, but Hikaru does not want to give up, causing the Ultraman Ginga Spark doll to emerge, to Taro's surprise as he never saw that Ultra before. He then sees as Ginga defeats Darambia.

Taro later saves Misuzu and Hikaru from a mad biker that would become Kemur Man. He even told Hikaru about the history of the Ultras to Hikaru while still having no idea on Ultraman Ginga's backstory. He would later accidentally get himself abducted by Tomoya Ichijouji/Jean Killer, another of Dark Lugiel's servant until when he was freed after Tiga Dark assaulted them from behind. Taro managed to get them to safety but at the cost of all of his energies. After learning that Tomoya's life was always living under his father's shadows, Taro revealed that back in his childhood, he was scholded by the Father of Ultra due to his desire for following his footsteps. Though dissapointed, but his mother cheered him up, motivated Taro to be more successful than his dad instead.

When Hikaru was not able to transform due to the Ginga Spark stolen, Taro attempts to use his powers against Zaragas, but the kaiju easily swats Taro away. In the end, he was shocked to see Ultraman Dark assault Ginga.

In the final episode of Ginga, Taro's curse is broken due to the hopes of everyone that want to revive the light in the Ginga Spark. Multiple Ginga Light Sparks hit the mark on his foot, and Taro was back! Upon appearing in full size, Ultraman No. 6 engages Lugiel. immediately in combat. Taro overpowers his opponent until Lugiel gets his hands back on the Darkness Spark, and Taro fires the Storium Ray. He soon realizes that Ginga and Hikaru are the key to defeating Lugiel, and he sacrifices himself to revive Ginga, which he does.

After Ginga's victory, Taro bids Hikaru and friends farewell as he returns to Nebula M78.

Ultraman Ginga S
As revealed in Shin Ultraman Retsuden episode 54, Taro detected a new oncoming threat from Hikaru's universe. The rest of the Ultra Brothers gave their powers to Taro as a sign of support, enabling him to transform into Strium Brace, a new item that would give Ultraman Ginga his new form: Ultraman Ginga Strium.

After his first appearance in the series, Taro had became the closest support to Ginga/Hikaru while in his time as a UPG member, with the other one that aware of his existence was none other than Hikaru's friend Tomoya Ichijouji. Taro (Strium Brace) supported Ginga and Hikaru with his power and knowledge. After Ginga and Victory destroyed Vict Lugiel (the revived Dark Lugiel), Taro bids farewell and departed back to his world. It is also presumed that he had gave back the other five Ultra Brother powers back to their owners.

Profile

 * Weight: 55,000 tons
 * Height: 53 meters
 * Flight Speed: Mach 20
 * Running Speed: Mach 1
 * Swimming Speed: 160 knots
 * Jumping Height: 600m
 * Human Form: Kotaro Higashi
 * Transformation Item: Ultra Badge
 * Dislikes: Buns, Bullying
 * Home Planet: Land of Light
 * Occupation: Space Garrison Branch Chief, Head Instructor of the Space Garrison
 * Family:

Body Features

 * Color Timer: The standard Color Timer.
 * Eyes: Taro's eyes can see vast distances and clearly in dark places. Like any Ultra from M78 his eyes can see beyond than the visible spectrum.
 * Beam Lamp: Taro's small green gem on his forehead, it is most likely a trait from his mother's side of the family, seen as his cousin Ultraseven has them. But  unlike Seven's, it is only used it to fire beams.
 * Ultra Horns: A genetic trait inherited from his Father, that only appear on the male progeny of Ultra Father's bloodline. Taro's are not as powerful as his father's but can manipulate large amounts of energy, both in terms of techniques and transference.
 * Protector: The armor on the upper part of his chest Like any protector, they provide extra protection against attacks,similar to Ultraseven, however, unlike his cousin's, Taro's protector is not used to recharge.
 * Strength: Taro is said to be the strongest of the Ultra Brothers in terms of natural brute strength, he has been known to pick up a 160,000 ton tanker. The only Ultra Brother that appears to be stronger than him is Leo, whose body is constantly being conditioned and trained.
 * Ultra Armor: Taro armor possess the standard strength of any Showa Ultra, he is resistant to fire and lasers but vulnerable to cold, although his tolerance for it seems to be better than most.

Transformation
Ultra Badge: Presented to him by Mother of Ultra, Kotaro takes the Ultra Badge and holds it up above his body before shouting "Taro!" signaling Taro to appear. At the series's end, the Ultra Badge was ultimately returned back to Mother of Ultra at Kotaro's request to retain his humanity.

Spark Doll
Ultraman Taro became a Spark Doll in the conclusion of the Dark Spark War, due to the Darkness Spark's powers. Fortunately, he his consciousness remained, allowing him to communicate with Hikaru and co. This Spark Doll has been used on three occasions by two and a group of people:

After Dark Lugiel's defeat, Ultraman Taro's Spark Doll is likely to have been reverted back to its original form and departs Earth to return home.
 * In Episode 1 (Town of Falling Stars) where Hikaru tried to change Taro back to his original form, but failed.
 * Before the events of Ginga, where Misuzu Isurugi tried to Ultra Live Taro with the Ginga Spark, back to his original form, but failed.
 * In Episode 11 (Your Future) where the crowd of people visiting the school receive Ginga Light Sparks, and successfully managed to Ultra Live Taro back to his original form. But this was only temporary.
 * In Ultraman Ginga Theater Special 2, he has been seen in the trailer in his original form.

Techniques

 * Storium Ray: Taro's signature move involves Taro charging up energy throughout his entire body form and firing the beam in a T-shaped pose, where his left fist rests on the bottom of his right arm, somewhat an inverse version of the usual Energy Rays of other Ultramen.
 * Twin Energy Stream: Ultraman Taro can fire two beams of blue energy from his hands. These beams, like his other beams, is capable of annihilating entire creatures in one shot.
 * Neo-Storium Ray: A plus-style variation of the Storium Ray, similar to the regular Specium Ray.
 * Foot Beam: When needed, Ultraman Taro can fire a red beam from his foot, this beam can destroy entire monsters in one shot. He rarely uses this, however.
 * Taro Lightning: Bolts of lightning fired from his horns, the Taro Lightning combines into one bolt and is used to severe body parts from his opponents.
 * Teleportation: As a spark doll, Taro can teleport from one place to another.
 * Energy Arrows: Ultraman Taro can fire explosive energy arrows from the sides of his head.
 * Taro Cutters: Ultraman Taro can fire a round cutter beam from his hands. While this beam is extremely small, it can cut entire kaiju in two.
 * Wipe Beam: Ultraman Taro can fire a beam of energy from his hands that will turn an enemy into a two dimensional object that he can wipe away with his hands.
 * Swallow Kick: From 600 meters up.
 * Atomic Punch: Propelled by his transformation momentum.
 * Multiple Flips Taro makes a jump and performs some backflips in mid air before delivering a powerful flying kick, usually at the start of a battle.
 * Rapid Punches : Taro can fire off consecutive punches to stun an enemy. Used on Dark Lugiel in Ultraman Ginga Episode 11.
 * Ultra Freezer: A stream of liquid Ultraman Taro fires from his hands, it is cold enough to freeze monsters solid.
 * Twinkle Way: A tunnel he creates to gain access to the Land of Light.
 * Ultra Nenriki (Willpower): Makes his enemy think that Taro gets his head chopped off (against Enmargo). Also used several times in Ultraman Ginga to assist Hikaru.
 * Taro Bracelet: Taro's personal Ultra Bracelet. Converts into a lance and fires blue rings of light (Set Beam).
 * King Bracelet: An upgrade of the Taro Bracelet delivered by the Mother of Ultra. Converts into a muzzle, a plastic blue bucket filled with water for waking up drunken monster Beron, and a "magic hand." Fires a Bracelet Beam. Also allows Taro to divide into two and confuse enemies.
 * Ultra Slash-like: ring of light (episode 47).
 * Revival Ray: Taro can revive beings using his King Bracelet.
 * Ultra Six-in-One (or Ultra Overlapping): Where he merges with the Five Ultra Brothers so that he is strong enough to enter the fires of the Ultra Tower to retrieve the Ultra Bell to defeat Mururoa (episode 25). This technique apparently requires his Ultra horns
 * Cosmo Miracle Beam: A powerful laser he shoots from his raised arm and the side of his body, including his armpit, after combining with his five other brothers. Used only in Ultraman Story movie against Grand King.
 * Guts Needle: Beam fired from his fists and an Ultra Funryū (a six-colored smoke screen).
 * Ultra Dynamite (ウルトラダイナマイト): A dashing attack in which Taro is engulfed in flames. The impact causes a massive and powerful explosion, destroying enemies with ease. Taro then reforms back to normal. This ability also has a dangerous side-effect for Taro. Because it takes a lot of his energy to make, upon reforming, Taro is both physically and energetically exhausted.
 * Ultra Shield: Taro can summon a shield to block attacks. First seen in Ultraman Ginga. It was destroyed by Dark Lugiel's combined attacks.
 * Light Transfer: Taro can transfer energy to allies, reviving them.
 * Energy Transfer: Taro can transferred his energy to allies,replenish their color timer.
 * Taro Fire: Taro can use his King Bracelet and heat up a fire and burn the foe.Use against Mushroom.
 * Bracelet Beam: Taro can fire a blue beam from his bracelet.
 * Red Beam: Taro can fire a red beam from his bracelet.
 * Taro Rings: Taro can fire blue rings from his both hands using his bracelet, use to revive Pandora's son.
 * Ultra Thawing: While being freeze, Taro can use his King Bracelet to melt the ice by firing a red beam.
 * Taro Shot: Taro can fire a 'L' style ray from his hands.Used when he was young.

Taro Manga
There is a Taro manga drawn by Ken Ishikawa, an asssistant Mangika (Manga Artist) to Go Nagai. Like his mentor's more famous work, the manga is very dark and graphic despite its cartoonish appearance, it also follows a different story.

Commercials
Taro appears in several commercials with the other Ultra Brothers and his parents. There is one where a young Taro goes out and buy cooking oil for his mother.

M78 Love and Peace:
Although Taro himself does not have a starring role, he is one of the many Ultras and Kaiju who came to cheer up Seabozu with an orchestra/samba.

Imagin Anime
Ultraman Taro shows up in the final episode of the Kamen Rider Den-O spinoff series Imagin Anime, "You Will Find The U*tra Planet". Ryutaros brings him in, introducing him as "Ultraman Taros" (a play on the Taros Brothers' names), intending on having him join them while the other Imagin are trying to stop Momotaros and his plan to take over the Toei Productions mascot spot. When that fails, Taro mentions that he doesn't want them to protect the future of the planet, something the other Taros' are happy to oblige to, going for the more smaller role of "protecting the future of Den-O".

Toy Release Information
Bandai has released Ultraman Taro's toy. Bandai released taro as the 6th release of the Ultra Hero Series figure. The figure was released on 2000 and was repainted/re-sculpted in 2009. A downside in one of the figures are the legs. As of, the downside was the legs were not aligned, putting the figure looking down, but it is possible to make the figure straight, but ruining the position of the legs.

Trivia

 * Ultraman Taro's Storium Ray is the first ray not to be formed in the traditional "+" shape or "L" shape beam.
 * Ultraman Taro is the only Ultra Brother not to retain his human host, Kotaro, as Kotaro asked Mother of Ultra for his humanity back meaning Taro had to leave.
 * Taro is the very first Ultraman to merge with another, he fused with the previous Ultra Brothers in Ultraman Story. Unlike newer ultramen, Taro did not form change or become a new Ultra, instead his appearance remained the same but his power was increased exponentially.
 * Ultraman Taro guest starred in the Kamen Rider Den-O anime short, Imagin Anime Season 3 episode 12 "You can get the Ultra Star too" where is often referred to by the Taros as "Ultraman Taros". Keeping with the naming tradition of Momotaros, Urataros, Kintaros, and Ryuutaros.
 * Taro's kanji is also can be read "Tarou". His name is a common Japanese name often used for male protagonists in fairytales which is appropriate given that his series was meant to have the feel of one.
 * Taro's multiple flips are perhaps a reference to his adopted brother, Ultraman Ace.
 * Ultraman Taro is the only Showa Ultraman to be shown as a child and the first to have his biological parents shown.
 * Taro is the Ultra with the most students. He was teacher/mentor to Ultraman Mebius and Ginga, as Head Instructor of the Space Garrison he also trained all new Space Ranger Candidates.
 * Taro was in his time the Ultraman Zero of his era, a young Ultra of great potential growth who was stronger than his peers.
 * Taro is currently voiced by Hiroya Ishimaru.
 * Taro, along with Gomora, appeared in a background gag of Urusei Yatsura, when space succubi Ran beleived Lum lost her horn, thus making her powerless. Taro, Gomora, and a slew of other horned beings ran by the camera as Ran screamed with joy.
 * Young Taro starred in his very own cooking oil commercial.
 * Taro himself appeared in a Sentai Stage Show, showing up to help a Kamen Rider and a Sentai team.
 * Taro himself, as seen by many people, is an Ultraseven with horns.