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Ultra Rider
The following contents of this article or section are considered to be non-canon or not part of the main canon. The events featured may not have actually happened/existed in-universe.


The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army (ウルトラ6兄弟VS怪獣軍団, Urutora Roku Kyōdai tai Kaijū Gundan), known in Thailand as Hanuman Meets 7 Supermen (หนุมาน พบ 7 ยอดมนุษย์, Hanuman pob Jed Yodmanud), is a tokusatsu Science-Fiction/kaiju/superhero film produced in 1974 by Tsuburaya Productions of Japan and Chaiyo Productions of Thailand. It was released theatrically in Japan on March 17, 1979.

In 1984, the film was reissued in Thailand in an edited form, known as Hanuman Meets 11 Supermen (หนุมาน พบ 11 ยอดมนุษย์, Hanuman pob Sibed Yodmanud), which contained the unauthorized use of footage from the compilation film Ultraman ZOFFY, and was later edited into the also unauthorized English language film, Space Warriors 2000.

Due to the many legal issues faced by Tsuburaya Productions because of Chaiyo, the company has, at least unofficially, disowned this movie.

Summary[]

This film has the 6 Ultra Brothers, Zoffy, Ultraman, Ultraseven, Ultraman Jack, Ultraman Ace and Ultraman Taro, teaming up with the Hindu monkey-god Hanuman, who was merged by Mother of Ultra with a young Thai boy who was cruelly murdered by a group of robbers, to fight five evil monsters. They are Gomora (from Ultraman), Dustpan (originally from Mirrorman), Astromons, Tyrant and Dorobon (all from Ultraman Taro), which were accidentally awakened by a rocket test gone terribly wrong.

Plot[]

A young boy named Kochan visits a temple in Thailand to carry out a rain dance, believing it could cure the world of an ongoing drought caused by the Sun becoming closer to Earth. Three robbers arrive, stealing priceless artefacts from the temple. When the boy tries to intervene, the robbers beat him, but he gets up and gives chase, only to be shot in the face when he climbs aboard their jeep, killing him. Fortunately, Mother of Ultra, witnessing the incident from Nebula M78, revives the child, granting him the ability to transform into the legendary deity Hanuman. As Hanuman, Kochan tries to persuade Surya to move the Sun back to its normal location, but he turns back to normal briefly when the robbers reappear and try to shoot him. However, the bullets harmlessly bounce off his skin, and he transforms into Hanuman again to take revenge, crushing the thieves with his fist.

Meanwhile, a weather modification experiment is being conducted using sounding rockets. While the first rocket test goes ahead as planned, causing rainfall, the second explodes on its launchpad, causing a chain reaction that destroys the others at the test site in a massive detonation. The explosion creates an earthquake which in turn causes a fissure to form in the ground, from which emerge five evil monsters. They are Gomora (from Ultraman), Dustpan (originally from Mirrorman, being the only monster out of the set to not originate in a main Ultra Series entry), Astromons, Tyrant and Dorobon (all from Ultraman Taro), which were accidentally awakened by a rocket test gone terribly wrong. Koh transforms into Hanuman, but is rapidly overpowered by the monsters. Hanuman calls on the Six Ultra Brothers for help; Ultraman, Zoffy, Ultraseven, Ultraman Jack, Ultraman Ace, and Ultraman Taro, who travel from the Land of Light to aid him. Eventually, the seven heroes triumph over the monsters, and all return home.

Appearances[]

  • Kochan: A religious boy who died chasing after the robbers. He is later revived as Hanuman.
  • Annan: Kochan's friend.
  • Marissa: Annan's sister.
  • Dr. Wisut: A scientist who, dismissing religious beliefs and prayer, tries using scientific ways to resolve the drought.
  • Sipuak: A pilot working at Dr. Wisut's center, he often fools around with his partner.
  • Sisuliya: A pilot working at Dr. Wisut's center, he often fools around with his partner.
  • Robbers: A gang of robbers who steal the head of a religious statue.

Ultras and Other Heroes[]

Kaiju[]

Cast[]

  • Sanit Kaewadee as Koh
  • Yupon Thammasri as Hanuman (voice), Narrator
  • Ouab Somchat as Annan
  • Yodchai Meksuwan as Dr. Wisut
  • Pawana Chanajit as Marissa
  • Sipuak as Himself
  • Sisuliya as Himself
  • Kaan Boonchoo as Robber in Green
  • Prida Somthobsuuk as Robber in Blue
  • Jan Wanpen as Robber in Black
  • Kinichi Kusumi as Surya, Ultraman (suit)
  • Pu Jindanuch as Little Girl at Temple
  • Tukta Jindanuch as Girl at Temple
  • Sompote Sands as Reporter

English Dub

  • Ted Thomas as Hanuman, Narrator, Sipuak, Robber In Green
  • Chris Hilton as Dr. Wisut, Robber in Black
  • Lynne Wilson as Koh, Marissa
  • Warren Rooke as Sisuliya, Ultraman, Robber in Blue, Robber in Green (some scenes)
  • Ron Oliphant as Helios, Robber in Black (one scene)

Japanese Dub

  • Ai Sakuma as Koh
  • Issei Futamata as Hanuman
  • Sumiko Shirakawa as Annan
  • Ryuji Nakagi as Dr. Wisut
  • Yoko Kuri as Marissa
  • Junpei Takiguchi as Sipuak
  • Shingo Kanemoto as Sisuliya
  • Tetsuo Mizutori as Robber in Green
  • Shigeo Hashimoto as Robber in Blue
  • Toshio Furakawa as Surya, Ultraman
  • Uesaka Taeko as Mother of Ultra, Flower of Life

Production[]

This film, along with Jumborg Ace & Giant, marked the only time Tsuburaya Productions and Chaiyo Productions officially worked together. Decades after this film was made, relations between the two companies have deteriorated, leading to the court battle over rights to the Ultraman characters (specifically the ones depicted in this film) and even Jumborg Ace.

Copyright Dispute[]

As of early 2008, Chaiyo Production claimed to hold the copyright for this work, while Tsuburaya Productions neither affirmed nor denied this claim. Consequently, the parties that had previously asserted a "co-production" status no longer existed. According to Japanese copyright law, the rights of both parties do not expire, meaning the work is still considered a co-production.

In February 2008, the Supreme Court of Thailand ruled that only Tsuburaya Productions holds the copyright. In other countries, on December 24, 2008, Chaiyo transferred the usage rights to UM Company. However, it was later discovered that Chaiyo had sold the rights to exercise these usage rights to Bandai in 1998. Thus, while Chaiyo's rights are recognized in various jurisdictions, UM cannot exercise these rights without Bandai's permission. If Tsuburaya's rights remain valid, UM would not possess the usage rights either.[1]

In Japan[]

In the 1990s, the relationship between Tsuburaya Productions and Chaiyo Production deteriorated due to disputes over Ultraman's overseas copyright, leading to the cessation of any further releases of visual products related to this film.

The film's ambiguous copyright status has resulted in no re-releases of any related visual materials, interviews, books, newspapers, or magazine articles. Additionally, pages about the film were removed when older publications were republished as e-books. Reportedly, staff members involved in the film, such as Shohei Tojo and Kazuo Sagawa, have stated that they "do not have any particular feelings" about the film being "sealed".

To date, one of the few references made to the film by Tsuburaya Productions is the inclusion of its theme song, "Bokura no Ultraman", in albums, such as the 2016 albums Ultraman Series 50 Years: Ultraman Theme Song Complete Collection 1966-2016[2] and Ultraman Theme Song and Insert Song Complete Works,[3] as well as the 2021 digital release Ultraman Legend Song Collection.[4]

In TSUBURAYA CONVENTION 2021 SPECIAL PROGRAM in 2021, the film was listed in the chronology of works alongside Akio Jissoji's Ultraman.

International distribution[]

Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers Studio acquired the film for international distribution from Chaiyo and created a 95-minute version initially released in Mandarin-speaking markets under their jurisdiction, with most Hinduist and Buddhist religious aspects of the film deleted or altered to become mythological in nature. Hanuman was renamed Ultraman, while also being referred to as "an Ultraman" and "the Ultraman," Anjana is named "the goddess," and Surya is renamed "Helios." The shorter export version was edited on the film's original negative, and the scenes cut back into the film at a later date, as distinct tape splices appear on the uncut film specific to where edits were made in the export version.

Shaw Brothers released the film theatrically in Hong Kong as 飛天超人 (, Fēitiān Chāorén, lit. Flying Superman) on February 26, 1975, using the English title The Ultraman in newspaper ads. It was shown as the headliner of a double feature with Shaw Brothers' The Flying Guillotine, held over from its premiere engagement. Shaw Brothers then retitled the film 猴王与七超人 (, Hóu wáng yǔ qī chāorén, Monkey King and the Seven Supermen) with the English onscreen title Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen (or Hanuman & the 7 Ultramen on publicity materials) and released it in Singapore and Sandakan, Malaysia on May 22 and October 5, 1975, respectively. A VHS rip of Shaw Brothers' retitled Mandarin release turned up on YouTube in 2014.

In Taiwan it was released by Hongdae Pictures as 猴王大戰七超人 (, Hóu Wáng dàzhàn Qī Chāorén, lit. Monkey King vs. Seven Supermen) on June 27, 1975. It is thought that the version shown was probably identical to Shaw Brothers' retitled Mandarin release other than the title card and distributor logo. Taiwanese posters note that the film was also shown in 70mm. It was reissued in Taiwan on January 25, 1985 in a version apparently adapted from the 1979 Japanese theatrical cut.

Shaw Brothers created an English export dub for their version entitled Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen with dialog based on the English theatrical subtitles for their Mandarin version. It was recorded in Hong Kong at Shaw House and features the voices of Ted Thomas, Chris Hilton and Warren Rooke. This English dubbed version is known to have at least been released in Beirut, where it was distributed during the Lebanese Civil War by Sannan Brothers with dual Arabic and French subtitles, most likely imported from a Middle Eastern Francophone country. This release was later put out on VHS in the 1980s by an unknown distributor before a VHS copy surfaced in 2022 and was preserved.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Sompote Sands himself appears as a photographer at the rocket base. He also narrates a thank you message at the end of the film. (Original 1974 Cut)
  • The rocket base was filmed at Japan, the MAC logo was visible to seen in the door. The same base was filming as Ultraman Leo.
  • The two vehicles from TV series was MAC Rody and TAC Car were also shipped to Thailand for filming in rocket explosion scene. After movie was complete, Tsuburaya brought MAC Rody and TAC Car back for storage.
  • The movie states that:
    • The Land of Light had eternal peace, ignoring the Ultimate Wars that was brought up in Ultraman Taro.
    • The Land of Light's 300 cities are heated up by 900 heaters. [DVD Subtitle]
    • Ultraman Taro taught the Ultra Brothers how to fight. [DVD Subtitle]
    • Mother of Ultra seems to be mother to all the Ultra Brothers, who also seem to be literal blood brothers.
  • Stock footage from episode 17 of Fireman is used during the rocket explosion scene.

Differences between the Thai & Japanese theatrical cuts[]

  • Editorial changes to the film overall:
    • The Japanese version reworks the majority of the film's sound design from the ground up, and while it shares many of the same Toru Fuyuki cues, they are arranged and placed in the film differently, and none of the cues from Mirrorman heard in the Thai score are utilized. All instances of Thai traditional music are also replaced or removed.
    • Chaiyo logo removed from the opening sequence.
    • The Japanese title sequence has the credits layered over footage of the monster battles from later in the film instead of the composite of the solar system seen in the Thai version. The Thai Hanuman pob Jed Yodmanud theme is also replaced with Bokura no Urutoraman.
    • The Japanese version heavily cuts the subplot with Sripuak and Sisuliya, two pilots who work at Dr. Wisut's rocket center.
    • The rain dance sequences are heavily abridged and edited to focus more on Koh and Anan at times.
  • During Hanuman's vengeance on the robbers:
    • Many shots deemed unimportant/redundant are removed from Hanuman's pursuit of the robbers.
    • Hanuman's killing of the final robber is censored, cutting before the bloodshed is shown.
  • During the fight sequence between Hanuman/Ultra Brothers & Gomora:
    • The Thai cut uses the instrumental version of Ultra Roku Kyodai, while the Japanese cut uses Bokura no Ultraman.
    • Hanuman dancing after he uses the Crescent Cutter is shortened in the Japanese cut.

See also[]

  • Hanuman and the Five Riders, another film produced by Chaiyo featuring Hanuman teaming up with the first five Kamen Riders, unlike this movie, it was produced without involvement or permission from Toei Company

References[]


Productions
Showa Series Ultra Q | Ultraman | Ultraseven | Return of Ultraman | Ultraman Ace | Ultraman Taro | Ultraman Leo | Ultraman 80
Heisei Series Ultraman Tiga | Ultraman Dyna | Ultraman Gaia | Ultraman Cosmos | Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy | Ultraman Nexus | Ultraman Max | Ultraman Mebius | Ultraseven X | Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle | Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey | Neo Ultra Q | Ultraman Ginga | Ultraman Ginga S | Ultraman X | Ultraman Orb | Ultraman Geed | Ultraman R/B
Reiwa Series Ultraman Taiga | Ultraman Z | Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga | Ultraman Decker | Ultraman Blazar | Ultraman Arc
Outside of Japan Ultraman: The Adventure Begins | Ultraman: Towards the Future | Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero | Ultraman: Rising
Original Video and TV Special Ultra Fight | Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider | Ultra Super Fight | Ultraman Nice | Heisei Ultraseven | Ultraman Neos | Ultraman: Super Fighter Legend | Ultra Idemitsujin | Ultra Zone
Showa Movies Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature | Ultraman, Ultraseven: Great Violent Monster Fight | Return of Ultraman | The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army | Ultraman (1979) | Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle | Return of Ultraman: MAT Arrow 1 Takeoff Order | Ultraman ZOFFY: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army | Ultraman Story
Heisei Movies Ultra Q The Movie | Revive! Ultraman | Ultraman Zearth | Ultraman Zearth 2 | Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna | Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Dyna, & Ultraman Gaia | Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey | Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact | Ultraman Cosmos 2 | New Century Ultraman Legend | Ultraman Cosmos vs. Ultraman Justice | New Century 2003 Ultraman Legend | ULTRAMAN (2004) | Ultraman Mebius & the Ultra Brothers | Superior 8 Ultra Brothers | Mega Monster Battle Ultra Galaxy: The Movie | Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial | Ultraman Saga | Ultraman Ginga Theater Special | Ultraman Ginga Theater Special: Battle Royale | Ultraman Ginga S The Movie | Ultraman X The Movie | Ultraman Orb The Movie | Ultraman Geed The Movie | Ultraman R/B The Movie
Reiwa Movies Ultraman Taiga The Movie | Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z | Shin Ultraman | Ultraman Decker Finale | Ultraman Blazar The Movie
Spin-Offs Andro Melos | Ultraman Zearth: Parody Chapter | Revival of the Ancient Giant | The Return of Hanejiro | Gaia Again | Ultra Q Kaiju Legend | Ultraman Kaiju Legend | Hikari Saga | Armored Darkness | Ghost Rebirth | Ultraman Zero VS Darklops Zero | Q - Door to Another Dimension | Killer the Beatstar | Ultra Zero Fight | Ultra Fight Victory | Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA | Ultra Fight Orb | New Generation Heroes | The Absolute Conspiracy | Sevenger Fight | The Struggle of Special Section 3 | The Destined Crossroad | Continued Ultra Fight | Shin Ultra Fight | Return of Special Section 3 | Ultraman Regulos | Ultraman Regulos: First Mission | Ultraseven IF Story | SKaRD Break Room
Rebroadcast Shows Ultraman Retsuden | New Ultraman Retsuden | Ultraman Zero: The Chronicle | Ultraman Orb: The Chronicle | Ultraman New Generation Chronicle | Ultraman Chronicle: ZERO & GEED | Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey | Ultraman Chronicle D | Ultraman New Generation Stars
Informational Ultraman The Prime | ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES | Ultra Science Fantasy Hour | Ultra Fight Club | UlSummer Information Station | Ultra Information Center | Professor Teruaki's "Blazar Kaiju Academy" | Super Power! Ultra Encyclopedia! | Ultra Construction Tour | THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN | Ultraman 4K Discovery
Docudramas Fly in the Sea Breeze! Ultraman | The Men Who Made Ultraman | My Beloved Ultraseven | The Man Who Wanted to Be Ultraman | Kaiju Club | The Two Ultramen
Other Series and Movies Kaiju Booska | Captain Ultra | Mighty Jack | Fight! Mighty Jack | Operation: Mystery | Chibira-kun | Mirrorman | Redman | Triple Fighter | Emergency Directive 10-4·10-10 | Iron King | Horror Theater Unbalance | Fireman | Jumborg Ace | Mirror Fight | Jumborg Ace & Giant | Mars Men | Army of the Apes | Pro-Wrestling Star Aztecaser | The Last Dinosaur | Dinosaur Expedition Born Free | Dinosaur Great War Izenborg | Star Wolf | Dinosaur Squadron Koseidon | Anime-chan | Gridman the Hyper Agent | Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad | Moon Spiral | Cyber Beauties Telomere | Booska! Booska!! | Otasuke Girl | Mysterious Incident Special Investigation Team SRI | Mirrorman REFLEX | Bio Planet WoO | Operation: Mystery - Second File | Mirror Fight 2012 | Operation: Mystery - Mystery File | Gridknight Fight
Anime The☆Ultraman | Ultraman Kids | Ultraman Graffiti: Wild! Ultra Country | Ultraman: Super Fighter Legend | Ultra Nyan | Ultra Nyan 2: The Great Happy Operation | Ultraman M78 Theater Love & Peace | Gridman the Hyper Agent: boys invent great hero | The・Ultraman: Jackal vs. Ultraman | Kaiju Sakaba Kanpai! | Kaiju Girls | SSSS.GRIDMAN | ULTRAMAN (2019) | Kaiju Step Wandabada | SSSS.DYNAZENON | KAIJU DECODE | GRIDMAN UNIVERSE
Outlaw Content Space Warriors 2000 | Project Ultraman | Ultraman The Animation | Ultraman: A Little Journey on Earth | Fun... English with Ultraman | Young Ultraman | Ultraman Big Transformation | Sinic Q | Red Jade | Dragon Force: So Long Ultraman | Dragon Force: Rise of Ultraman
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