Heisei Ultraseven is a sequel to the 1967 series Ultraseven. Ignoring the mainstream Land of Light continuity, it takes place in a world where Ultraseven is the only Ultra to have travelled to Earth.
The series consists of four parts that were released from 1994 to 2002, the first of which aired on Nippon Television, while the rest were released direct-to-DVD:
- NTV Specials[1]
- Ultraseven 30th Anniversary Memorial Trilogy [1]
- Ultraseven 1999: The Final Chapters Hexalogy [1]
- Ultraseven 35th Anniversary: EVOLUTION Pentalogy
Production[]
In 1990, following the conclusion of the broadcast of Ultraman: Towards the Future in Japan, a new movement in the "Ultraman series" adapted to the multimedia era was initiated for the first time in the form of an Original Video Series.[2][1]
In 1993, with strong demands from fan communities for the revival of Ultraman in the form of a television series, Tsuburaya Productions responded by resuming television series production with Gridman the Hyper Agent. Concurrently, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry designated March 21st as "Sun Day". To promote this concept, Tsuburaya Productions received sponsorship from the Japan Solar System Development Association and, led by Yomiuri Advertising, proposed a plan for a television special program. Initially planning to focus on an anime production, it was decided, upon the suggestion of Yomiuri Advertising producer Fujinami Toshihiko, to produce Ultraseven - Operation: Solar Energy, set in the worldview of the original Ultraseven series about a decade later. Due to this setting, to avoid confusion, the decision was intentionally made to abandon the Ultraseven setting from Ultraman Leo.[2]
Volume 37 of the Tsuburaya Productions Fan Club, published in 1994, covers the production process of the two television specials[3]
In November 1993, the script written by Masakazu Migita, a member of the Department of Literature, was completed. The filming team opted to use videotapes for shooting, primarily enlisting the assistance of personnel from the production team of Gridman the Hyper Agent to gain insights into special effects production. To generate buzz, there was also public promotion for the "UG team member recruitment" among the general populace. It's reported that approximately 3,000 people signed up for recruitment. Due to the setting being over a decade later, all members of UG were also to be updated. Artistic designs, including mechanical elements, were adjusted to suit contemporary society and customs. In the second special episode, Planet of the Earthlings, Kohji Moritsugu was once again invited to portray Dan Moroboshi.[2]
In 1994, only two television special programs were produced. Initially, there was an idea for a third piece, but due to various reasons, it was ultimately not realized.
In 1996, Tsuburaya Productions collaborated with VAP to air a three-episode science fiction television drama titled Moon Spiral on Nippon Television's late-night slot. Following the completion of this project, a new plan emerged between VAP's planner Hiroshi Chikasada and Masahiro Tsuburaya, which involved a reimagining of Ultraseven in the form of Original Video. Thus, ensuring budgetary concerns and with the premise of releasing on videotape, the production of Ultraseven 30th Anniversary Memorial Trilogy officially commenced in 1997, with three works slated for release in 1998.[4][5]
In 1999, following the commercially successful trilogy, the production continued directly with Ultraseven 1999: The Final Chapters Hexalogy. This six-part series aimed to be the definitive version of Heisei Ultraseven, introducing a new theme called the "Friendship Plan" based on the setting of Nonmalt from the original series' episode 42 "Ambassador of the Nonmalt". The series production commenced in mid-October 1998.[1][5]
After the completion of Ultraman Neos in December 2000, Masahiro Tsuburaya once again planned the Ultraseven 35th Anniversary: EVOLUTION Pentalogy. This series, centered around the Akashic Records, narrates the story of the entire Memory Universe, exploring the theme of who should be entrusted with the future of Earth.[5][6][7]
Synopsis[]
This series presents a storyline distinct from the previous Ultraseven and subsequent Return of Ultraman series, imagining what the world of "Ultraseven" would be like if its original narrative had continued uninterrupted.
From the 1994 TV specials onwards, it became a full-length series of 16 episodes, including original videos. Furuhashi, who was a team member, aged and took on the role of captain and strategist, and the cast from that time appeared in their original roles. The events that occurred in the 1967 TV series serve as the key to the unfolding narrative, questioning the significance of both Ultraseven and the Earthlings. A hard-hitting story that further advances the original science fiction elements is depicted.[8]
Characters[]
Protagonists[]
TDF[]
UG[]
- 1994
- 1998/1999/EVOLUTION
Others[]
- Anne
- Professor Kusuhara
- Dan
- Professor Tonezaki
- Shiori Satomi
- Kyoko Murata
- Rei Murata
- Eijiro Inada
- Yutaka Kanemitsu
Ultras[]
Kaiju[]
- 1994
- 1998
- 1999
- Alien Valkyrie
- Daitekkai
- Alien Garo
- Alien Kyuloo
- Alien Remojo
- Bolajo
- Windom
- Dairyuhkai
- King Joe II
- Nonmalt
- Zabangi
- Miclas
- 2002
Cast[]
- Dan Moroboshi : Kohji Moritsugu
- Shigeru Furuhashi : Sandayu Dokumamushi
- Kaji : Shigeki Kagemaru
- Sanshiro Shiragane : Koji Nanjo
- Masaki Kazamori : Katsuyuki Yamazaki
- Keisuke Shima : Kunio Masaoka :
- Takuma Mizuno : Wataru Koga :
- Satomi Hayakawa : Kaoru Ukawa
- Rumi Honjou : Rieko Adachi
- Takenaka : Kenji Sahara
Semi-regular Cast[]
- Togo : Takashi Matsuyama
- Lisa : Ami Suzuki
- TDF Staff Officers :
- Taro Suwa
- Tsuyoshi Nakano
- Yoshiteru Yoshida
- Inagaki : Masahiro Noguchi
- Yuki Kisaragi : Mika Katsumura
- Saijou : Masaki Nishimori
- Suwa : Kyoji Kamui
- Tashiro /Alien Garut : Tomokazu Seki
- Mitsuko : Saori Nara
Voice Actors[]
- Narrator (1994 ep. 1, 1998, 1999, 2002): Kohji Moritsugu
- Narrator (1994 ep. 2): Hikaru Urano
Suit Actors[]
- Ultraseven (1994 ep. 1-2): Kazushi Takahashi
- Ultraseven (1994 ep. 1), Dinosaur: Akitoshi Otaki
- Ultraseven (1994 ep. 2, 1999 ep. 1-3), Eleking, Dinosaur, Alien Guts, Sulfas, Banderas: Hiroyuki Okano
- Ultraseven (1998, 1999 ep. 4-6): Hisataka Kitaoka
- Ultraseven (2002), Windom: Satoshi Yamamoto
- Eleking: Toshio Miyake
- Eleking, Alien Metron, Alien Viyell, Alien Guts, Alien Valkyrie, Alien Remojo, Windom, Bolajo, Miclas, Neo Pandon, Gaimos: Kazunori Yokoo
- Alien Pitt: Motoko Nagino
- Alien Pitt: Akiko Yoshio
- Daitekkai: Takenori Ito
- Alien Remojo: Rikako Suzuki
- Alien Remojo: Tsuyoshi Matsubara
- Dairyuhkai: Kotaro Fujimoto
- King Joe II, Zabangi: Koichi Toshima
- Alien Pegassa: Hiroki Tonomura
- Alien Godola, Alien Garut: Keita Hirai
Staff[]
- Director: Shinichi Kamizawa
- Screenwriter: Masakazu Migita
- Special effects director: Shinichi Kamizawa
- Supervisor: Akira Tsuburaya
- Producers: Shinichiro Maeda (Nippon Televsion), Minoru Ohno (Yomiuri Advertising, ep. 1), Masahiko Fujinami (Yomiuri Advertising, ep. 1), Masahiro Tsuburaya (Tsuburaya Productions), Shuji Imai (Yomiuri Advertising, ep. 2)
- Editors: Akira Matsuki, Shinichi Kamizawa
- Action choreographer: Akitoshi Otaki
- Directors: Shinichi Kamizawa, Toshiyuki Takano
- Screenwriters: Shinichi Kamizawa, Junki Takegami, Masakazu Migita
- Special effects director: Shinichi Kamizawa
- Planning: Kazuo Tsuburaya
- Producers: Masahiro Tsuburaya, Hiroshi Chikasada
- Editor: Yuko Sato
- Action choreographers: Akitoshi Otaki, Hiroyuki Okano
- Directors: Shinichi Kamizawa, Toshiyuki Takano
- Screenwriters: Junki Takegami, Shinichi Kamizawa, Toshinobu Oi, Masakazu Migita, Ai Ota
- Special effects directors: Shinichi Kamizawa, Hiromasa Mitsudome, Toshiyuki Takano
- Original draft writer: Yasuo Akihiro (ep. 5)
- Planning: Kazuo Tsuburaya
- Producers: Masahiro Tsuburaya, Hiroshi Chikasada
- Editors: Yasuo Sato, Yuko Sato, Shinichi Kamizawa
- Action choreographers: Akitoshi Otaki (main story), Hiroyuki Okano (special effects)
- Directors: Naoki Ohara, Toshiyuki Takano
- Series compositor: Junki Takegami
- Screenwriters: Kazuhiko Goudo, Shin Yoshida, Junki Takegami
- Special effects directors: Toshiyuki Takano
- Planning: Kazuo Tsuburaya
- Producers: Masahiro Tsuburaya, Hiroshi Chikasada, Kenichi Hoyama
- Editor: Miyoko Tominaga
- Action choreographer: Akitoshi Otaki
Music[]
- 1994 TV Specials and 1998 30th Anniversary Memorial Trilogy
- Ultraseven no Uta
- Lyrics: Kyoichi Azuma
- Arrangement & Composition: Toru Fuyuki
- Artist: Misuzu Children's Choir, The Echoes
- 1999 The Final Chapters Hexalogy
- Ultraseven no Uta 99
- Lyrics: Kyoichi Azuma
- Arrangement & Composition: Toru Fuyuki
- Artist: Isao Sasaki
- 2002 EVOLUTION Pentalogy
- Ultraseven no Ballad
- Lyrics: Isao Sasaki
- Arrangement & Composition: Toru Fuyuki
- Artist: Isao Sasaki
- ULTRA SEVEN 99
- Lyrics: Kyoichi Azuma
- Arrangement & Composition: Toru Fuyuki
- Artist: Isao Sasaki
- Chorus: Shinichi Ishihara, Naoto Fuuga, Nagato Fuchigami
Home Media[]
Each episode was originally released on a separate DVD. The complete series was later released in a DVD box set titled Ultraseven 1994～2002 Perfect Collection on April 18, 2012.[9][10]
Novels[]
In 2002, two novels titled Ultraseven EPISODE: 0 and Ultraseven EVOLUTION written by Junki Takegami were released. The first novel is a condensed novelization of The Final Chapters Hexalogy, mainly focusing on episode 1 and episode 6, and also serves as a prequel to the second novel, which is based on the EVOLUTION Pentalogy. Both of these novels generally follow the same storylines as the video series with some differences, such as Kiriyama appearing.
Gallery[]
Images[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- Some of the background music was reused from Return of Ultraman, Ultraman Ace, The☆Ultraman, Ultraman 80, Mirrorman, Fireman, and Dinosaur Expedition Born Free.
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 https://web.archive.org/web/20190410073125/http://www.vap.co.jp/u-seven/old/history.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 39: Ultraseven 1994/1998/1999/2002 (Heisei Ultraseven) / Ultraseven X, pg 4
- ↑ https://twitter.com/accumlater/status/1603352079191662592
- ↑ https://www.monomagazine.com/56283
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 39: Ultraseven 1994/1998/1999/2002 (Heisei Ultraseven) / Ultraseven X, pg 5
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20190410073042/http://www.vap.co.jp/u-seven/index.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20190410073145/http://www.vap.co.jp/u-seven/story.html
- ↑ https://m-78.jp/videoworks/heisei_ultraseven/
- ↑ https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/moritsugu-kohji/43534
- ↑ https://m-78.jp/news/n-1362