Ultraman Max (series)

Ultraman Max (ウルトラマンマックス) was an Ultraman TV series which started airing on 7 July 2005, and produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Co., Ltd.. The show tried to return to the true formula of new monsters every week and being a fast paced show like previous series with the exception of Ultraman Nexus. The show is full of homages to past series by having three of the original cast members from the first Ultraman series (and one original cast member from Ultra Seven) being featured in an episode, updated versions of classic monsters like Red King, Eleking and Pigmon among others. One unusual episode (#29) revolves around the filming of the 1964 program Ultra Q which was the predecessor to the first Ultraman show in 1966. Two actors from that show appear as themselves.

Series overview
Although certain monsters from the previous Ultra Series appear here in this series, the characters do not actually recognize them. This series does not have any direct continuity to any of the other Ultra Series (except episode 24: "The Untargeted Town" which seems to be a sequel to the Ultra Seven series episode 8: "The Targeted Town").

Just like his predecessors, Ultraman Max is from Nebula M78 and is supported by DASH (Defense Action Squad Heroes), a branch of the UDF (United Defense Federation). His human host's name is Touma Kaito. Ultraman Max is based on Ultra Seven and has two main weapons at his disposal, the Maxium Cannon fired from his left hand and the Maxium Sword which is a hand held boomerang cutter.

Another Ultraman known as Ultraman Xenon, or Janos, appears for the first time in episode 13, and again briefly in episode 39. While Ultraman Xenon is summoning a new weapon from the sky to use against Zetton, he is attacked by Zetton and the weapon attaches itself to Max's right wrist. Ultraman Max then uses the new weapon known as the Max Galaxy to destroy Zetton.

Team DASH is stationed in a harbor and their base is called the Base Titan. They have a main airplane called the Dash Mother which releases two other small planes known as Dash Bird 1 and 2. A third plane called the Dash Bird 3 appears in episode 23.

Team DASH also has an android operator, who learns a bit about human behavior in some episodes. Her name is Elly and she has a small ball shaped robot called Koko which makes a high pitched sound to respond to queries.

This series was also unique as it was the first time a gaijin (foreigner) was an official member of the Ultraman team. The character's name is Sean White (played by actor Sean Nichols who is famous in Japan for being on the popular children's program Eigo de Asobo-Let's Have Fun with English).

Defense Action Squad Heroes (DASH)

 * Captain Shigeru Hijikata: The team leader of DASH.
 * Kenjiro Koba: The marksman and sharpshooter of DASH.
 * Mizuki Koishikawa: The ace pilot and token female member. She is Kaito/Ultraman Max's love interest.
 * Sean White: The team inventor/scientist/joker. He was transported from DASH North America branch.
 * Elly: The robot operator (android) of DASH. She learns human behavior and once wished to become a human. She even cried in Episode 16 and in the final episode. During the series she shows a growing interest in Kenjiro Koba, even admitting at a certain point during the series that she likes him. She also has a steam when gets mad.
 * Kaito Touma/Ultraman Max: The team's latest recruit. After he lost his parents during an earthquake while he was traveling, he resolved to do his best to protect others, so that no one would experience the loss he did. In order to do this he tried joining DASH, but failed the test the first time. He was saved by Ultraman Max from a certain death and was given the Max Spark, so that he could transform whenever needs arose.

Supporting characters

 * Chief Kenzo Tomioka: A UDF general, the supervisor of DASH.
 * Professor Yukari Yoshinaga.
 * Ultraman Xenon (ウルトラマンゼノン): He appears once to help Ultraman Max when he is in danger and is also the one that gives Ultraman Max the Max Galaxy.
 * Natsumi Oda

Episodes

 * 1) Ultraman Max Arrives! (ウルトラマンマックス誕生!)
 * 2) The Girl Who Keeps a Monster (怪獣を飼う女)
 * 3) Proof of a Brave Man (勇士の証明)
 * 4) Infinite Invaders (無限の侵略者)
 * 5) Monster Island Appears! (出現、怪獣島!)
 * 6) 5 Seconds Before Bombing (爆撃、５秒前)
 * 7) Destructor of the Star (星の破壊者)
 * 8) DASH Annihilated!? (DASH 壊滅!?)
 * 9) The Dragon's Lover (龍の恋人)
 * 10) Young DASH (少年DASH)
 * 11) Prophecy of Baradhi (バラージの予言)
 * 12) Pursuit at Supersonic Speed (超音速の追撃)
 * 13) Daughter of Zetton (ゼットンの娘)
 * 14) I Love King Joe (恋するキングジョー)
 * 15) Miracle of the Third Planet (第三番惑星の奇跡)
 * 16) Who am I? (わたしはだあれ?)
 * 17) Ice Beauty (氷の美女)
 * 18) Bright World (アカルイセカイ)
 * 19) Person Coming from the Door (扉より来たる者)
 * 20) Drifting Monster (怪獣漂流)
 * 21) Challenge from Underground (地底からの挑戦)
 * 22) Butterfly Dream (胡蝶の夢)
 * 23) Youth Again (甦れ青春)
 * 24) The Untargeted Town (狙われない街)
 * 25) A Distant Friend (遥かなる友人)
 * 26) Elly of Christmas (クリスマスのエリー)
 * 27) The Taken Max Spark (奪われたマックススパーク)
 * 28) Attack of the Evil (邪悪襲来)
 * 29) Why do Monsters Appear (怪獣は何故現れるのか)
 * 30) Courage is from the Heart (勇気を胸に)
 * 31) Burn! Earth!! (燃えつきろ! 地球!!)
 * 32) Elly Destruction Directive (エリー破壊指令)
 * 33) Welcome! To the Earth: Part 1: The Science of the Planet Baltan (ようこそ! 地球へ 前篇 バルタン星の科学)
 * 34) Welcome! To the Earth: Part 2: Farewell! Alien Baltan (ようこそ! 地球へ 後篇 さらば!バルタン星人)
 * 35) Adam and Eve of M32 Nebula (M32星雲のアダムとイブ)
 * 36) Alternate Dimension World (イジゲンセカイ)
 * 37) Constellation Thief (星座泥棒)
 * 38) Prelude to Ground Annihilation (地上壊滅の序曲)
 * 39) Hold On To! Future (つかみとれ! 未来)
 * 40) Special Finale -To the Ultra Future- (スペシャルフィナーレ ～ウルトラの未来へ～)

Super Battle Special
After the broadcast of Ultraman Max, an eight minute special was released on DVD. This special was a five minute clip show giving a review of Ultraman Max's back story and primary attacks up until Ultraman Xenon gives him the Max Galaxy. After the clip show, the monster Red King attacks Max with Zetton shortly joining in. The special ends with Max defeating both of them.

Cast

 * Kaito Touma (トウマ・カイト): Sōta Aoyama (青山 草太)
 * Shigeru Hijikata (ヒジカタ・シゲル): Kai Shishido (宍戸 開)
 * Mizuki Koishikawa (コイシカワ・ミズキ): Hitomi Hasebe (長谷部 瞳)
 * Kenjiro Koba (コバ・ケンジロウ): Nobuyuki Ogawa (小川 信行)
 * Sean White (ショーン・ホワイト): Sean Nichols (ショーン・ニコルス)
 * Elly (エリー): Hikari Mitsushima (満島 ひかり)
 * Kenzo Tomioka (トミオカ・ケンゾウ): Susumu Kurobe (黒部 進)
 * Yukari Yoshinaga (ヨシナガ・ユカリ): Hiroko Sakurai (桜井 浩子)
 * Ultraman Max (voice) (ウルトラマンマックス（声）): Kazuya Nakai (中井 和哉)
 * Narration (ナレーション): Shirō Sano (佐野 史郎)

Songs
Ending theme: "NO LIMITED"
 * Opening theme
 * "Ultraman Max" (ウルトラマンマックス)
 * Lyrics: Neko Oikawa (及川 眠子)
 * Composition & Arrangement: Yasuharu Takanashi (高梨 康治)
 * Artist: TEAM DASH with Project DMM

Fight theme: "DASH Alpha"

Cameo

 * Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009), Max along with Xenon help the M78 Ultra Warriors to fight against the evil Ultraman Belial.