Ultraman 80 (series)

Ultraman 80 (ウルトラマン80) is the 9th entry in the Ultra Series, airing from April 2nd, 1980, to March 25th, 1981, and returning the series to its original live-action format. It was produced by Tsuburaya Productions and aired on the Tokyo Broadcasting System channel. 80 introduced the second female ultra, Yullian, as well as the first female human form of an ultra since Ultraman Ace, excluding the Lady in Green. Unfortunately, its ratings were not steadily high, causing the Ultra Series to go on hiatus for sixteen years, until the franchise's revival with Ultraman Tiga.

Plot
The ninth member of the Ultra Brothers, Ultraman 80 comes to earth under the guise of Takeshi Yamato. He becomes a school teacher, but in the first episode also becomes a member of UGM (Utility Government Members).

For the first thirteen episodes Takeshi must keep his identity secret from his students and balance life between his multiple commitments: defending the earth as a member of UGM and as an ultra, and teaching students going through puberty.

This plot line, however, was dropped later in the series in favour of a more Ultraman-like story focusing on the defence team members exploring various monster-related mysteries. The school and (now grown) students, however, would make an appearance in episode 41 of Ultraman Mebius.

Later in the series Yullian, princess of Nebula M78, shows up to aid 80 in a few of his battles. After the UGM defeats Margodon, 80 and Yullian leave the earth, confident that it is safe in the hands of the humans.

UGM (Utility Government Members) Members
etc.
 * Captain Kazuki Oyama
 * Chief Junkichi Ito
 * Takeshi Yamato (human disguise of Ultraman 80)
 * Hiroshi Tajima
 * Emi Jouno
 * Android Emi Jouno
 * Ryoko Hoshi
 * Climb Ikeda
 * Taki Harada

Monsters
List of Ultraman 80 Kaiju

Reception
Ultraman 80 had average ratings due to tokusatsu not being popular during the time (in the 80's anime was having big fame). 80 is considered among the least known of the Showa era Ultra series. In other countries, like France, due to the show being named Ultraman 80, in many promos 80 was named "Ultraman 2080". Tokuriders.com commented that the series are "a little conserved and a little new; it seems the creators had a drought of ideas, and had the imagination with the handbrake on, yet it has points of interest and valuable aspects...". The series currently has a 7.1 rating on the Internet Movie Database.

Cast

 * Takeshi Yamato/Ultraman 80 (voice) (矢的猛 / ウルトラマン80 (声)): Hatsunori Hasegawa (長谷川初範)
 * Kazuki Oyama (オオヤマ一樹): Hitoshi Nakayama (中山仁)
 * Emi Johno (城野エミ)/Android Emi Jouno: Eri Ishida (石田えり)
 * Hiroshi Tajima (タジマ浩): Shuhei Nitta (新田修平)
 * Junkichi Ito (イトウ順吉): Masaaki Daimon (大門正明)
 * Kazuki Oyama (オオヤマ一樹):
 * Tokihiko Harada (ハラダ時彦): Daisuke Muso (無双大介)
 * Shinpachiro Fujimori (フジモリ新八郎): Masashi Furuta (古田正志)
 * Ryoko Hoshi/Yullian (星涼子/ユリアン): Sayoko Hagiwara (萩原佐代子)
 * Noboru Ikeda (イケダ登): Tatsuya Okamoto (岡本達哉)
 * Sera Teruo (セラ照夫): Akihiko Sugisaki (杉崎昭彦)
 * Yuriko Kosaka (小坂ユリ子): Oriko Shirasaka (白坂紀子)
 * Narrator (ナレーター): Yusaku Yara (屋良有作)

Suit Actors

 * Ultraman 80 (ウルトラマン80):Junichi Akasaka (赤坂順一): Koichi Nara (奈良光一), Ichibu Hanashino (話の一部), Yoshitake Iwaizumi (岩泉芳武), & Hiroshi Fukuda (福田浩)
 * Yullian (Yurian): Maki Kiyota (清田真妃)

Opening Theme

 * "Ultraman 80" by TALIZMAN
 * "Ganbare Ultraman 80" by TALIZMAN

Ending Theme

 * "Let's go UGM!" by TALIZMAN
 * "We Are Earthlings" by TALIZMAN

A CD featuring the OST of the show was released.

Availability/DVD Sets
Ultraman 80 is available streaming with English subtitles on Crunchyroll.

Ultraman 80 Complete DVD-Box features all episodes, & Ultraman 80 30th Anniversery Memorial Box I features episodes 1-28 & Box II features episodes 29-50.

Trivia

 * This is the first entry in the ultra series to have an ending theme.

ウルトラマン80