Nightmare of Planet No. 4

Nightmare of Planet No. 4
Ultraseven, episode 43
Information
Airdate	July 28, 1968
Directed by	Akio Jissoji
Written by	Takashi Kawasaki Shozo Uehara
Special Effects Directed by	Koichi Takano
Continuity
Previous	Ambassador of the Nonmalt
Next	The Terrifying Super Ape-man

Nightmare of Planet No. 4 is the forty-third episode of Ultraseven.

Synopsis

TDF's automated space rocket "Scorpion" was undergoing a test flight. After awakening from a 20-day sleep, Dan and Soga arrived on Planet No.4 where robots ruled the residents. Dan and Soga meet the General Center Commander to find out that that Earth is in danger of colonization by Planet No.4.

Cast

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

Guest Actors

• Robot Chief : Masahiko Naruse
• Robot Commissioner : Bin Moritsuka
• Ali : Machiko Ai
• Ali's Brother : Katsuaki Kawada
• Gio : Kozaburo Onogawa

Voice Actors

• Narrator : Hikaru Urano

Suit Actors

• Ultraseven : Koji Uenishi

Appearances

Ultras

• Ultraseven

Kaiju

• Robot Chief
• Robot Commissioner
• People of the Fourth Planet

Home Media

• Ultraseven Volume 11 features episodes 42-45.

1999 release

2009 release

Trivia

• This episode centers on the dystopian theme of "The Fourth Planet," depicting a world ruled by robots and exploring humanity's fate after being replaced by machines. It offers a critical view of scientific progress and the rise of mechanical civilization. Visually, the episode transforms familiar real-world settings into surreal, alienating imagery, creating a striking style. Critics note that Akio Jissoji's direction shows influences from Jean-Luc Godard's 1965 film AlphaVille and the 1968 movie Planet of the Apes.
• Due to viewership ratings and budget limits, Akio Jissoji returned from Kyoto to direct this episode. At Jissoji's request, Shozo Uehara wrote the script.
• Jissoji said the idea of an "anti-universe" was a common topic then, reflecting Japan's shift toward a computerized society. He developed the theme of "robot domination" inspired by AlphaVille, a film that told a sci-fi story without special effects or typical genre gimmicks. He sought to achieve a similar effect here. Notably, both works were made with relatively low budgets.

• Originally, episode 43 was proposed as "Aliens 15 + Monsters 35," featuring over 50 monsters. This idea was deemed too complex and canceled, leading to this episode's production instead.
• Uehara later cited this episode as inspiration when writing episode 12 of Inazuman Flash, as both explore fears arising from scientific progress and material civilization.
• In My Television Chronicle, Jissoji recalled feeling reluctant to direct another alien-themed story upon returning to Tokyo from Kyoto. He asked the production to keep the episode simple, minimizing special effects and focusing on essentials.
  • Jissoji also noted the loss of enthusiasm among Tsuburaya Productions staff compared to the original Ultraman. Nearing Ultraseven's end, the team aimed mainly to finish the remaining episodes, leading to a drop in technical quality and creativity. He was shocked by the rocket base design for the Fourth Planet, which was made from simple props like syringes and enema kits. Although the special effects team defended it as adequate for wide shots and blamed budget limits, Jissoji saw it as a lack of imagination.
• The execution ground scenes were shot at Komazawa Gymnasium. Due to a staff strike at TBS, an assistant director led this segment.
  • Assistant director Tatsumi Ando revealed that Jissoji himself played one of the snipers, though his face was hidden by a helmet. No additional lighting was used, causing dark shadows on actors' faces—an intentional choice to set the mood.

• The episode was filmed on location in a residential area near Tama Plaza, later used for Mirrorman.
  • The exterior of the Integrated Center, where Dan and Soga are taken, was filmed at the under-construction "Kashima Corporation Headquarters Building" in Moto-Akasaka, Tokyo, which was demolished in 2007.
  • The final scene showing Dan and Soga walking was shot beside the newly completed Tomei Expressway.

• Special effects art director Noriyoshi Ikeya designed the Fourth Planet's rocket model using syringes as the main material. The endless hallway scene was likely created under Itsumu Iwasaki's supervision. The episode also featured the largest plaster structure ever built for the series, which was destroyed during filming.
• Special effects cinematographer Masao Nakabori said this episode had few effects shots, focusing mainly on story. He barely remembered attending a screening and only rediscovered the episode in archives years later, as he was preoccupied filming the two-part finale.
• The gears inside the Robot Chief's head were later reused for the giant robot Big Q in Fight! Mighty Jack. The gear parts were made by mechanical technician Shigeo Kurakata.

The script cover titled "Human Hunt"

• Due to a rushed schedule, no draft scripts were made; only two final versions existed. The first, titled "Human Hunt" , was credited to Takashi Kawasaki (a pseudonym for Jissoji) and Shozo Uehara, but Uehara actually wrote it alone.
  • The broadcast title was reportedly inspired by Japanese playwright Kōbō Abe's Inter Ice Age 4.
  • In the first final version, the story shows a revolutionary uprising where the Fourth Planet's inhabitants join Ultraseven to overthrow the robots. After landing from the Scorpion spacecraft, Dan and Soga decide their route by flipping a coin. They encounter the Robot Commander and, during an escape, receive help from local youths including a character named Ali. The Robot Commissioner and Chief capture Dan and the youths.
  • While being led to execution, Soga fights the guards but is injured. Taking advantage of a distraction, Dan transforms into Ultraseven and fights the robots. Despite heavy fire, he disarms and defeats them. Inspired by Ultraseven's heroism, the oppressed rise up, seize weapons, and kill the Commissioner and Chief. With Ultraseven's help, they destroy the robots' plan to invade Earth, ending their reign.

• • The second final script version changes the climax: Ultraseven crushes the Commander's jeep, ending the story decisively.

The reality date display on the "Scorpion" shows August 30, 2000.

• When Dan and Soga's ship, the "Scorpion," reaches the Fourth Planet, the date display shows August 30, 2000.
• The episode's story was adapted into the game Hero Senki: Project Olympus.
• A trailer for this episode narrated by Hiroki Touchi was released on August 1, 2023 as part of a series of trailers created to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Ultraseven, that also promoted the episode being made free on TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION for a month.