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Ultra Q (ウルトラQ, Urutora Kyū, the "Q" stands for "Question") is a tokusatsu sci-fi/kaiju series made in the tradition of Toho's many tokusatsu sci-fi/horror films.

Produced in black and white by Tokyo Broadcasting System/Tsuburaya Productions, this is actually the first of the long-running Ultraman Series, and was broadcast at every weekend at 19:00-19:30 (JST) on Tokyo Broadcasting System from January 2 to July 3, 1966 (the final episode was preempted until December 14, 1967), with a total of 28 episodes. This series was followed a week later by the more popular Ultraman, the second entry in the Ultraman Series.

This show can be watched on Shout TV, Pluto TV, Tubi, and Prime Video.

Synopsis[]

As supernatural events and monster attacks rock Japan, the military and government look to be overwhelmed. Three intrepid young investigators—two pilots and a reporter—take it upon themselves to study these unexplained phenomena in order to inform and protect the public.

With allies and science aiding them on their journey, the trio must separate myth from history as they explore the greater mysteries of these occurrences: are they unrelated, or is this barrage somehow a portent of even worse things to come?[1]

Characters[]

Protagonists[]

Kaiju[]

Production[]

Ultra Q can be described as a half-hour Toho kaiju film. Although series creator Eiji Tsuburaya intended this series to be more like The Twilight Zone and focus less on the monsters, TBS convinced Eiji to add more monsters onto the show, as Godzilla and Gamera were very popular at the time.[2] This series predates The X-Files with continuing characters who investigate strange supernatural phenomena, including giant monsters, aliens, ghosts, and other assorted calamities. Perhaps the closest parallel in American TV is The Outer Limits, which in its original 1960s version generally featured a monster each week.

The original planned title of this project was UNBALANCE, and was subsequently renamed Ultra Q (inspired by "Oba-Q", the nickname of the title character of the then-popular anime series Obake no Q-Taro, and "Ultra C", a popular term used for women's gymnastics during the 1964 Summer Olympics, where a Russian gymnast created an extremely difficult maneuver called the "Ultra C"). The series was produced beforehand all through 1965 (it went into production as far back as 1964) and was broadcast at the beginning of the next year. At the time, it was the most expensive TV series in Japan.[2]

Monsters[]

Gomess

The monster Gomess from episode 1. The monster was brought to life with a modified Godzilla suit from the films Mothra vs Godzilla and Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster.

Because Eiji Tsuburaya had a high standing with Toho, he was able to use various suits and props from the various Toho kaiju films for this series. The Manda prop was used for the Dragon as well as the head being used as the front portion of a Viking ship seen in episode 12, the giant octopus prop from King Kong vs. Godzilla was used to portray Sudar, while the Maguma suit from Gorath was used to portray Todora. As well, various other suits and props were refurbished to play some of the monsters such as Godzilla for Gomess, King Kong for Goroh, Baragon for Pagos, and a small Rodan prop for the giant birds Larugeus and Litra.

English Dub[]

Page from United Artist Television's Press Kit

Page from United Artists Television's press kit

In 1967, Ultra Q was licensed from Tsuburaya Productions and TBS by CBS Films, producers of The Twilight Zone. It was a package deal that not only included Ultra Q, but also Ultraman. For the task of dubbing, CBS hired Film House in Toronto, Canada, which is now DeLuxe Toronto. Tsuburaya provided translated scripts, plus English-language opening and closing credits, and a custom swirling title card. The series itself was dubbed in its 28-episode entirety. At some point, CBS Films backed out of licencing the series, and it was picked up, along with Ultraman, by United Artists Television, producers of The Outer Limits. With dubbing of Ultra Q complete, United Artists hired Titra Studios to dub Ultraman. Ultraman was syndicated; however, Ultra Q was not, due to being in black-and-white at a time when most television series were switching to color. After Ultraman finished its run in syndication, audio and film masters and other materials of both series were stored in the MGM vaults. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, all materials reverted back to, and were collected by, Tsuburaya.[2] [3]

It is commonly believed that only one episode, specifically episode 3, was dubbed as a pilot. This has proven not to be true, as other episodes have been found either in audio prints, like episode 3, or film or video prints. From here it can be concluded that this was not the only episode produced.

Radio Drama[]

Ultra Q's success earned it a weekly radio drama, starring the voices of the human cast from the original Ultra Q with some of the old monsters, such as Kemur, Garamon, Gorgos, and Namegon. Other new monsters included:

  • Monster Ukami,
  • Kijimuna,
  • Devil,
  • Angel,
  • Kidnapping Phantom Kemuru Hito,
  • Monster Princess (a female version of the "The Prince of Monsters" from the two-part Gomora episode of Ultraman),
  • Tyrant Monster Staking,
  • Primitive Elephant Monster Kibamanmosu,
  • Aquatic Monster Amarin,
  • Sea Monster Takoyangu,
  • Viper Monster Habugirasu,
  • Monster Alien,
  • Giant Bird U-PiCA,
  • Kagemushan,
  • Pegasus,
  • Pin Weight,
  • Snowman,
  • Mermaid,
  • A huge floating object.

Cast[]

  • Jun Manjome (万城目 淳, Manjōme Jun): Kenji Sahara (佐原 健二, Sahara Kenji)
  • Ippei Togawa (戸川 一平, Togawa Ippei): Yasuhiko Saijo (西條 康彦, Saijo Yasuhiko)
  • Yuriko Edogawa (江戸川 由利子, Edogawa Yuriko): Hiroko Sakurai (桜井 浩子, Sakurai Hiroko)
  • Dr. Ichinotani (一の谷博士, Ichinotani Hakase): Ureo Egawa (江川 宇礼雄, Egawa Ureo)
  • Deskworker Seki (関デスク, Seki Desuku): Yoshifumi Tajima (田島 義文, Tajima Yoshifumi)
  • Assistant Honda (本多助手, Honda Joshu): Tadashi Okabe (岡部 正, Okabe Tadashi)
  • Reporter Soma (相馬記者, Soma Kisha): Haruya Kato (加藤 春哉, Kato Haruya)
  • Photographer Sugimoto (杉本カメラマン, Sugimoto Kameraman): Koji Uno (宇野 晃司, Uno Kōji)
  • Narration (ナレーション, Narration): Koji Ishizaka (石坂 浩二, Ishizaka Kōji)

Suit Actors[]

  • Gomess, Pagos: Haruo Nakajima (中島 春雄, Nakajima Haruo)
  • Goro, Gameron, Mongula, Todola: Yukio Fukutome (福留 幸夫, Fukutome Yukio)
  • Peguila: Yukihiro Seino (清野 幸弘, Seino Yukihiro)
  • Gorgos, M1, Kanegon, Peter: Haruyoshi Nakamura (中村 晴吉, Nakamura Harayoshi)
  • Garamon: Minoru Takahashi (高橋 実, Takahashi Minoru)
  • Kemur, Ragon: Bin Furuya (古谷 敏, Furuya Bin)

Staff[]

Legacy[]

In the years following the show's original run, a live action film called Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars was released in 1990. A radio program featuring the voices of the three original stars of the show (playing their classic characters) called The Ultra Q Club aired on Japanese radio from 2003-2004. Also in 2004, a new TV series called Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy was produced, while another TV series called Neo Ultra Q began airing in early 2013.

The original concept of the show (when it was going to be called Unbalance) was ultimately used for a 13-episode horror anthology series entitled Horror Theater Unbalance that was produced by Tsuburaya Productions in 1973.

Various Ultra Q monsters were reused or redressed for various monsters in Ultraman. Kemur and Ragon (both now giant-sized) returned, while the Garamon suit was reused and the monster was renamed Pigmon. Other suits were altered into other monsters, such as Peguila being altered into Chandlar, Kemur being altered into Alien Zetton, Pagos being altered into Neronga, Magular, and Gabora, the Cicada Human being altered into Alien Baltan, and Peter being altered into Guesra.

Home Media[]

Shout! Factory released the complete series of Ultra Q on DVD on August 13, 2013.[4]

Total Natural Color Ultra Q Box I features episodes 1-14, and Box II features episodes 15-28. Both of these box sets were released during the 45th anniversary of the show. Ultra Q Deluxe Edition features all 28 episodes. In 2019, Mill Creek Entertainment released Ultra Q as standard and SteelBook Blu-ray releases in the United States.

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. https://tsuburaya-prod.com/business/titlelist/3352
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters: Defending the Earth with Ultraman and Godzilla, by August Ragone, Chronicle Books (2007), ISBN 978-0-8118-6078-9
  3. http://www.grnrngr.com/documents/ultraq.txt
  4. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Urutora-Q-The-Complete-Series/18445

  • The Q-Files, Complete Ultra Q Episode Guide by Jim Cirronella & Kevin Grays, Originally published in KAIJU-FAN Issue # 4 November 1996.
  • Ultraman Monster Ultra Large Collection (orig.: ウルトラ怪獣大全集), Domdom (1995), ISBN 978-4-09-101411-5
  • So Crazy Japanese Toys!, by Jimbo Matison, Chronicle Books (2003), ISBN 978-0-8118-3529-9
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
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 | The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army | Ultraman (1979) | Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle | 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 | Super 8 Ultra Brothers | Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie | Ultraman Zero The Movie | 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 | The Kaiju Club | The Two Ultramen
Other Series 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 | Army of the Apes | Pro-Wres no Hoshi Azteckaiser | 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 Girl Telomere | Booska! Booska!! | Otasuke Girl | Mirrorman REFLEX | Bio Planet WoO | Mirror Fight 2012 | 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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