MAT (Return of Ultraman: MAT Arrow 1 Takeoff Order)

This may not be the article you are looking for. For the original counterpart, see MAT (Monster Attack Team).

MAT
Data
Members	Captain Ibuki Member Hayakawa Member Ibuki Member Yamaga Member Imamura Member Nishi
Designations	To protect the Earth and its people from alien threats and monster attacks
Affiliation	TDA (Terrestrial Defense Agency)
First Appearance	Return of Ultraman: MAT Arrow 1 Takeoff Order

The Monster Attack Team（モンスターアタックチーム） is the defense team appearing in the independent special effects film Return of Ultraman: MAT Arrow 1 Takeoff Order produced by DAICON FILM. This team is a reinterpretation and homage to the similarly named defense team that appeared in Tsuburaya Productions' Return of Ultraman.

The main mission of this defense team, corresponding to the original series, is to combat monsters that pose a threat to cities and countries. They face a crisis involving a monster, Kiruan, released by a fallen meteorite in the film.

History

Return of Ultraman: MAT Arrow 1 Takeoff Order

MAT received detection reports from the surveillance satellite Cyclops, indicating that Hinatsune City has suffered severe damage.

One morning, Hinatsune City was suddenly hit by a catastrophic event. A meteorite named "Lambda 1" plummeted from the sky, crashing directly into the downtown area, turning it into ruins and unleashing a disaster akin to a landslide. Upon receiving the report, MAT learned that this disaster had caused enormous losses, including the collapse of over 1300 homes and the deaths or disappearances of more than 16,000 people.

Based on collected data, MAT used computer simulations to assess the situation of the meteorite impact and the extent of the city's damage. Scientists determined the diameter and mass of the meteorite through methods like optical measurements and soon discovered three life forms emerging from it, beginning to move within Hinatsune City.

Under the command of the captain, MAT members piloted fighter jets to engage in combat. However, when they were preparing to launch flame bombs to deal with these life forms, the three life forms merged into a giant monster, designated by MAT as "BugJewel". Due to BugJewel's powerful protective shield, MAT's attacks were ineffective. In the intense battle, the aircraft piloted by member Hayakawa was attacked by the monster and crashed, turning Hinatsune City into a sea of flames. Within the team, Hayakawa recognized BugJewel as "Kiruan", the strongest monster in the universe.

Despite more than 20 hours passing, an effective means of attacking the monster had yet to be found. Upon returning to the base, the higher-ups at TDA decided to use nuclear weapons. Captain Ibuki expressed his willingness to take responsibility and insisted on taking control of the mission himself. However, Hayakawa believed that there might still be survivors in the area and that member Ibuki might still be alive, so he strongly opposed the use of nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, Captain Ibuki rebuked him and issued an order for his confinement.

The next morning, Captain Ibuki personally piloted the MAT Arrow 1 equipped with nuclear weapons. Later, Hayakawa transformed into Ultraman Jack to resolve the crisis. In the end, the monster was eliminated, and the explosion of the nuclear weapons on the ground was prevented. In the final scene, the MAT members who arrived for the rescue expressed joy at finding Captain Ibuki and member Ibuki alive and well.

Bases

The headquarters of MAT.

The MAT headquarters is depicted as a massive military building located in the city center, boasting grand architecture. The command room serves as the core of the headquarters, where not only permanent members but also multiple analysts work as assistants, responsible for tasks such as communication and intelligence analysis.

The base also features individual rooms for members to provide accommodation and rest spaces. Additionally, it has a huge hangar and an airport runway used for storing and launching fighter jets like MAT Arrow 1, 2, and 3 for missions against monsters.

Command room

Hangar

Runway

Members

• Captain Ibuki
• Member Hayakawa
• Member Ibuki
• Member Yamaga
• Member Imamura
• Member Nishi

Gengorou Ibuki

Gengorou Ibuki is the captain of MAT, known for his calm and composed demeanor. Upon receiving orders from the Earth Defense Force headquarters to use nuclear weapons against monsters, he transitions the base to "Level 4" readiness and personally pilots the MAT Arrow 1, which is equipped with nuclear weapons, for the mission.

The character's name is derived from the second captain of MAT, Ryu Ibuki, with actor Jun Negami serving as the prototype for his character.

Ibuki is portrayed by Yasuhiro Takeda .

Ken Hayakawa

Ken Hayakawa is a member of MAT, aged 21. He serves as the pilot of MAT Gyro 3. His secret identity is Ultraman, thus he is aware of Kiruan's true identity.

The character's name is derived from the protagonist Ken Hayakawa in the 1977 tokusatsu TV series Kaiketsu Zubat, as well as from the titular character in the self-produced film series of the same name made by DAICON FILM.

Hayakawa is portrayed by Joiichi Hayashi .

Shingo Ibuki

Shingo Ibuki is a member of MAT and also the son of Captain Ibuki. He serves as the pilot of MAT Arrow 1 to attack the monster Kiruan, but due to Kiruan's barrier, he is attacked and shot down by the monster. Later, he miraculously survives and is rescued by his father.

Ibuki is portrayed by Takeshi Sawamura .

Yamaga

Yamaga is a member of MAT and also serves as one of the pilots of MAT Arrow 1. He was once caught in a crisis when captured by Kiruan's tentacles, but later rescued by the supporting fire from MAT Gyro.

Yamaga is portrayed by Takashi Nyoten .

Imamura

Imamura is a member of MAT and serves as the pilot of MAT Gyro 2 during missions.

Imamura is portrayed by Nishigaki Toshihiko .

Yuki Nishi

Yuki Nishi is the only female member of MAT, primarily serving as the operator in the command room of the base.

Nishi is portrayed by Yuki Nishi .

Arsenal

Mecha

• MAT Arrow 1
• MAT Gyro
• MAT Jeep
• MAT Sub

Main article: MAT Arrow 1

The MAT Arrow 1 is the main combat attack aircraft of MAT. It is also a VSTOL aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing as well as short takeoff and landing. Its primary armaments include air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, rocket pods, and the fixed weaponry of the Vulcan cannon. Various detachable containers can be carried on the rear of the aircraft.

MAT Gyro : A type of aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing, resembling a helicopter, and functioning as a tilt-rotor ground support attack aircraft and transporter. It is equipped with a three-barrel Gatling gun fixed at the front bottom of the fuselage. Additionally, it can carry a large number of weapons such as napalm bombs and rocket launchers. In this work, Gyro 1 to 3 appear.

MAT Jeep : The vehicles appearing in the MAT base scenes are represented solely in the form of small-scale models.

MAT Sub : A special submarine appears only in the opening title screen.

Gallery

Return of Ultraman: MAT Arrow 1 Takeoff Order

The MAT laser unit is a weapon equipped on the MAT Arrow 1.

MAT MK VIII

Miscellaneous

Trivia

• The uniforms of MAT were designed by director Hideaki Anno. The costume design is considered to have been influenced by the UG featured in Ultraseven and the Earth Federation uniforms seen in Mobile Suit Gundam, as there were no specialized cosplay costume stores or prop shops during that era. These costumes were made based on design sketches by Anno and then ordered through regular clothing stores. One staff member had connections in the clothing industry, so they were customized through a familiar clothing store and completed two weeks later. However, due to the mismatch between clothing sizes and the actors' body shapes, adjustments were ultimately made only through boots, belts, and small accessories to balance them out.
• At the beginning of the main film, the map of Hinatsune City displayed on the computer monitor in the MAT base was actually modeled after the map of Hiroshima City. However, the real-life urban scenes of Hinatsune City, such as the opening credits and the final scenes, were filmed in Osaka Prefecture.
• All the MAT mechas and scale models featured in the film were made entirely of paper (including paper balls and construction paper). The models used in the filming at that time are still preserved today.
  • In 2021, in conjunction with the Hideaki Anno Exhibition, the model maker Toru Saegusa, who participated in the production of the models for this work, recreated the models of MAT Arrow 1 and MAT Gyro using the same paper specifications.

References

Defense Teams
Showa Defense Teams	SSSP, Defense Force | TDF (UG, MAT, TAC, ZAT, MAC, UGM) | Science Guard Party
Heisei Defense Teams	UMA | WINR | HEART | Mydo | TPC (GUTS, Super GUTS, Black Buster Corps, Neo Super GUTS) | GUARD (XIG) | GOKAZOKU | SRC (EYES, Team SEA), JADF | BCST, JSDF | TLT (NR) | UDF (DASH) | GUYS | DEUS | ZAP SPACY | Team U | UPG | UNVER (Xio) | VTL | AIB
Reiwa Defense Teams	EGIS | GAF (STORAGE) | TPU (GUTS-Select) | SSSP | GGF (SKaRD) | KDF | SKIP, GDF | KSCT, NDF
Other Defense Teams	Inter Galactic Defense Force | Space Patrol | MIGHTY JACK | SRI | SGM | Team Mouri | SAT | SAF | PAT | Koseidon Corps | MAT | SWORD | SSSP | USP | GIRLS