Destroy Earthquake Epicenter X

Destroy Earthquake Epicenter X
Ultraseven, episode 20
Information
Airdate	February 18, 1968
Directed by	Samaji Nonagase
Written by	Bunzo Wakatsuki
Special Effects Directed by	Toru Matoba
Continuity
Previous	Project Blue
Next	Pursue the Undersea Base!

Destroy Earthquake Epicenter X is the twentieth episode of Ultraseven.

Synopsis

Dan and Soga visited Professor Iwamura, who is known as a stubborn old man, at International Nuclear Research Center, to request for corporation for the frequent earthquakes hitting the Aosawa mountainous area, but got turned away at the door.

Shortly after, UG met a college girl who was engaged in a mountain rally and finds out she carried substance called "Ultonium", a nuclear that form Earth. This stunned Dr. Iwamura and he started to fear that Earth may collapse.

Cast

• Dan Moroboshi/Ultraseven : Kohji Moritsugu
• Anne Yuri : Yuriko Hishimi
• Shigeru Furuhashi : Sandayu Dokumamushi
• Kaoru Kiriyama : Shoji Nakayama
• Soga : Shinsuke Achiha
• Amagi : Bin Furuya
• Takenaka : Kenji Sahara

Guest Actors

• Sakaki /Alien Shaplay : Takashi Kitahara
• Professor Iwamura : Yoshio Yoshida
• Mitsuko : Yuka Matsudaira
• Reiko : Maki Wakayama

Suit Actors

• Ultraseven : Koji Uenishi
• Giradorus :
  • Eichi Matsushima
  • Yoshimi Kato
• Alien Shaplay : Teruo Aragaki

Appearances

Ultras

• Ultraseven

Kaiju

• Giradorus
• Alien Shaplay

Home Media

• Ultraseven Volume 5 features episodes 18-21.

1999 release

2009 version

Trivia

• According to an interview with episode director Samaji Nonagase by Yoichi Iwasa:
  • This episode employs classic suspense storytelling techniques, including the common misdirection trope where an austere-looking doctor initially appears to be the mastermind, only for the seemingly unassuming assistant to be revealed as the true villain. The approach mirrors mystery novels but is executed here with an alien twist.
  • Regarding Yoshio Yoshida's portrayal of Professor Iwamura, this casting choice felt especially fitting. Yoshida was often associated with playing sharp and intense villainous roles in his younger years. However, as he aged, his smile took on a warm and gentle quality, and on set, he exuded the presence of a kind elder.
  • At the time, the production team was adamant about introducing the underground drill vehicle, Gumalyzer, as soon as possible. This led to the script being developed under the premise that the Magma Shuttle had to appear, a concept refined in collaboration with screenwriter Bunzo Wakatsuki.
  • As for Giradorus, the weather-controlling kaiju, there was likely subconscious inspiration from Peguila. To Nonagase, the quintessential kaiju image was shaped by Godzilla and Peguila, making it natural for some influence to emerge.
• Following a series of alien-centric episodes, Giradorus marked a return to traditional kaiju. The initial design aimed for a "space monster" concept, but practical filming concerns led to adjustments. The suit required the performer to kneel inside, controlling its head movements with their hands.
  • Yoichi Iwasa noted that while Giradorus was a rare kaiju design from Tohl Narita, it carried an intentional misdirection. Despite appearing to be a quadrupedal creature at first glance, it was actually not—a design choice reminiscent of Alien Iyros, reinforcing Narita's tendency to break the conventional bipedal and quadrupedal classifications.

The script cover titled "The Cave of Terror"

• In the final draft, the title was changed to "The Cave of Terror" ". However, due to the story setting being shifted to a land-based battle, the title was revised. Additionally, many of this episode's creative concepts were derived from Bunzo Wakatsuki's canceled script, "The Vanished 47,000 People" .
  • In the draft, Alien Shaplay collapsed a city with a population of 47,000 and took its residents hostage, planning for migration to Earth. The climax of the story was originally planned to be the battle between Giradorus and Ultraseven in a massive underground cave.
  • In the draft, Alien Shaplay retained Sakaki's appearance while summoning Giradorus. During a confrontation with Professor Iwamura, Shaplay would transform, pushing the Ultra Guard members into a desperate situation. In the final version, however, Shaplay revealed its true form in front of Professor Iwamura and Anne, only to be immediately shot down by Anne using the Ultra Gun.
  • The draft featured an extended and intense kaiju battle sequence, meticulously detailing Ultraseven's struggle against Giradorus. A particularly striking scene involved Ultraseven attempting to use the Eye Slugger, only for Giradorus's roar to generate such violent winds that the weapon stalled mid-air, producing a sharp "shuu—" sound. Giradorus then seized the moment, spewing flames and lunging at Ultraseven to pin him down.
  • In a climactic moment, Ultraseven summoned all his strength to break free, standing tall as the still-hovering Eye Slugger suddenly spun with a piercing shriek, slicing through Giradorus's back before snapping back into Ultraseven's head with a sharp "kacha!" sound, ending the battle. In the final version, much of the Eye Slugger sequence was omitted.
• Alien Shaplay and Alien Bado from previous episode "Project Blue", were originally designed as conceptual opposites but were swapped during production. The initial design for Alien Shaplay only included an upper-body model, but due to a tight filming schedule, there was no time to create a properly fitted mold for the actor. As a result, the concept was abandoned.
• dditionally, the shadow shown by Sakaki to Anne was actually a repurposed Alien Godola and Alien Pedan costume with added embellishments.