Changes: Ultraman Series/Cultural References

Revision as of 07:10, 28 July 2018

Cultural References

As one of Japan's popular Tokusatsu which falls into daikaiju and kyodai genre, the Ultra Series had been parodied and referenced in popular culture multiple times, ranging for the first Ultraman's Specium Ray to rising scenes.

Anime/Manga

Main article: Ultra Series/Cultural References/Anime and Manga

Cartoons

The Simpsons

A couch gag which is first seen in the fifteenth season has the members of the family appear as well-known anime, manga and tokusatsu characters in Tokyo. Marge is Jun from Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, Lisa is Usagi Tsukino from Sailor Moon, Bart is AstroBoy, Maggie is Pikachu and Homer appears as Ultraman himself. He is initially seen in the background as a giant, then flies and shrinks in front of the TV, performs a few attacks and finally uses his Specium Ray to turn on the TV.

X-Men: The Animated Series

In episode 14 of the fifth season of X-men: The Animated Series, an alien that bears a strong similarity to Alien Flip appears in a sequence montage of aliens that live in the universe.

Another Alien Flip also appeared in the episode entitled 'Mojo Vision' as one of the many alien spectators.

Ben 10 franchise

The alien Way Big, the Omnitrix's DNA sample of a Tokustar, is designed after Ultraman in body form, color scheme, and height. Ultimate Way Big also seems to be based off Ultraman Taro in body form, but his color scheme is more closely related to Ultraman Cosmos. Coincidently, the transformation is used under a time limit much like the color-timer.

Way Big

Ultimate Way Big

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012 series)

In the episode "T.C.R.I", Michelangelo is watching a show with a giant blue being similar in appearance to Ultraman firing a ray and destroying a giant monster.

In the episode "The Legend of Kuro Kabuto", a professional burglar named Anton Zeck (Bebop) had a power where he could use the crest on his helmet and throw it at enemies similar to Ultraseven's Eye Slugger.

Olive the Other Reindeer

In the holiday special, near the end as Olive, Santa Claus, and the other reindeer as they were passing by Japan a giant monster referencing Godzilla, and a giant super hero referencing Ultraman were seen singing the end song with each other

Regular Show

In the 100th episode special episode "A Bunch of Full Grown Geese", during the final battle between the giant Baby Ducks and the giant Full Grown Geese, the ducks used a attack similar to Ultraman's Specium Ray the only difference being that he fired it from his left side instead of his right like Ultraman.

Robot Chicken

In episode 100 one of the segments called "Power Forest Rangers" though a parody of the series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger) while the Forest Rangers was fighting Yogi Bear, the yellow ranger fires a beam at Yogi similar to Ultraman's Specium Ray except from his left side and with his cross hand backwards similar to Ultraman Hikari.
In episode 120 in the segment called "Appeasing the Gods" a parody of the movie "Cabin in the Woods" while the teenagers are looking at all the collectibles in the basement a figure of Red King can be seen on the table and a figure of Alien Baltan can be seen on one of the shelves on the wall.

South Park

In the episode "Mecha-Streisand", Leonard Maltin transform into a Ultraman like being and fights Mecha-Streisand alongside Sidney Poitier who becomes a giant Gamera-like monster but, is eventually beaten by Mecha-Streisand.

Comic Books

Marvel

Miclas, un-related to the one that appeared as a capsule monster, appeared on the Marvel Universe, Earth-616's Monster Isle with creatures like Skreeal, Giganto, Tricephalous and Ugu. Miclas was one of the many monsters to terrorize the Skrull scouting party and their leader, Bag Le. He was subdued with Slave Darts and teleported around the globe in order to increase the mental stress level across the planet and cause mass confusion.

Trivia

Miclas in the Marvel universe is the only one depicted as an evil entity.
The Marvel Miclas has not shown to have any powers besides brute strength.
Miclas managed to show up in Marvel comics due to Popy liscensing their Ultraseven sofubi toys to Mattel for distribution in the United States, who integrated them into a spinoff of their Shogun Warriors toy line called Godzilla's Gang. At the time, Mattel had Marvel market these toys through their comics.

DC

During the New Earth Green Lantern comics, a Sinestro corpsman resembling Alien Baltan appeared during the Sinestro Corps War.

Videogames

Pokémon

Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon, has said that it was Ultraseven's Capsule Kaiju that inspired him to have the collected Pokémon inside containers that could be carried in ones pocket. Also noted that the original concept of Pokeballs were small capsules that indeed based on said capsule monsters.

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3

An adult Chi-Chi was made as one of the game's playable character. However, since she never used chi-based skills, she was given one, Power Slugger and Super Power Slugger, where she fired an energy blade projectile from her head, mirroring Ultraseven's Eye Slugger and her childhood's helmet.

Attack of the Friday Monsters: A Tokyo Tale

Cleaner Man Vs Monster — Cleaner Man (right) facing off against the monster.

The game is essentially a love letter to the Ultra series. Several of the monsters on the Monster Cards are reminiscent of monsters from the Ultra Series, there's a defense force, and towards the end of the game, the protagonist's father, who runs a laundromat, transforms into the Ultra-themed giant Cleaner Man to fight against a real monster

The Kirby Franchise

One of Kirby's common copy abilities, Cutter is very similar to Ultraseven's weapon, the eyeslugger in shape and how they're used and they are both crest weapons. Sir Kibble is also similar to Ultraseven.

City Shrouded in Shadow

City Shrouded in Shadow is a survival horror video game that features Ultraman, Imitation Ultraman Dada, Ultraseven, Pandon, Ultraman Taro, Ultraman Tiga, Kyrieloid II, Ultraman Zero and Ultraman Belial. Along with them are other tokusatsu kaiju like Godzilla and Gamera. Ultraman and Imitation Ultraman appear in Stage 1, Tiga and Kyrieloid II appear in Stage 7, Dada appears in Stage 11, Taro, Zero and Belial appear in Stage 14 and Seven and Pandon appear in Stage 17.

Monmusu Harem

In 9 August 2016, Ultra Kaiju Gijinka Keikaku's official website announce the collaboration event with Monmusu Harem smartphone game. Anthropomorphic versions of Agira, Miclas, Windom, Zetton, and Pigmon will appear in the game.

Ace Attorney

The character Steel Samurai from the first Ace Attorney seems to be a huge homage to Ultraman, both are red and blue Japanese warriors who fight evil, both aware targeted at kids but have adult fans too, and both have a female character (Mother of Ultra and Pink Princess) that had a different type of person play them, Mother of Ultra was originally played by a man, and Pink Princess was played contrary to her name by an old woman(Wendy Oldbag) Also, Steel Samurai appears to have what looks like a Color Timer. Both also have stageshows many people go to, and both always win in the end.

Movies

Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called: The Adult Empire Strikes Back

In this movie, the Nohara family (sans Hiroshi) can be seen wearing the SSSP uniform. Later, a monster themed after Gomora appears with Hiroshi being an Ultraman, save for his normal human head.

BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui

Lhikan heartlight — Turaga Lhikan's heartlight.

Right near the film's falling action, while Turaga Lhikan was slowly dying from the impact after protecting Toa Vakama from Makuta Teridax' Shadow Hand, the Heartlight on his chest slowly blinks until it faded away when Lhikan died. This was likely a reference to the Ultra Troupe when an Ultra died, his Color Timer slowly blinked and completely faded. The whole Heartlight concept may be a reference to the Ultraman franchise.

Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage: Mirai no Tomodachi

A group of girls at Ayumi's school discuss themselves about the Pretty Cures' successful battle against Fusion. One of the fangirls performs a "Pretty Cure beam" by placing her hands in a + position, a reference to Specium Ray, the signature attack of Ultraman.

Big Hero 6

The 2014 Disney movie Big Hero 6, during one of the scenes in Hiro Hamada's bedroom, you can see a mask of Ultraman. Yet this was interesting since the boy lives in the City of Fransokyo (a combination of Tokyo, Japan and San Francisco, America).

Pee-Wees Big Adventure

A figure of Ultraman and Red King can be seen in Pee Wees room.

Other Tokusatsu

Gekisou Sentai Carranger

Braking has a weapon which he detaches from his head similar to Ultraseven's eye slugger. Its name is the King Slugger.

Radiacar Robo does a rise similar to Ultraman's when growing bigger and is under a one minute time limit

Godzilla vs. Hedorah

PDVD 010 — Godzilla performing the Specium Ray pose while being shot by Hedorah's lasers.

Godzilla performs Ultraman's Specium Ray in Godzilla vs. Hedorah.

Terror of Mechagodzilla

Vlcsnap2012032101h57m31 — Telesdon's "cameo" in Terror of Mechagodzilla

In the film, one of Dr Mafune's anatomical drawings of dinosaurs is Telesdon.

Kure Kure Takora

In the full version of intro, Takora can be seen with Alien Baltan, Eleking, Godzilla, Peguila, Alien Mefilas, Kanegon, Gyaos, Garamon, and Booska. The verse roughly translates to "He is famous among kaiju".

Armor Hero

In the Chinese tokusatsu series Armor Hero, the message boards member "model freak" has ultraman action figures in his room. When made an admin of said message boards, one of the characters makes the specium ray gesture.

Tensou Sentai Goseiger

One of Atlata's transformations mimics the rising scene of an ultra.

Kamen Rider OOO Net Videos

In one of the Kamen Rider OOO net videos, Date compares Os' Shauta form to Ultraman. The copyrighted name is censored.

Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Otsu: Heroo! Answers

A blurred image and silhouette of Alien Baltan appeared in the Kamen Rider Accel Story of the Super Hero Taisen Z Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Otsu: Heroo! Answers. Alien Baltan appeared as an ex-boyfriend of Electro-Wave Human Tackle

ToQger

In episode 43 of Ressha Sentai ToQger, Right briefly made the specium ray gesture after his attack was blocked.

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger

Takaharu; the AkaNinger, in his Chozetsu form does an ultra rise scene upon growing to giant size to fight alongside his OtomoNin in Episode 26.

Kamen Rider Drive

In episode 40, the Booster Tridoron in Type Wild used an attack that was similar to the Gun Loader's Bringer Fan when it's in Maneuver Mode.

HE-LOW

In the 2018 Indie Tokusatsu movie directed by Hassei Takano (who played Fujimiya Hiroya), a character played by Takeshi Yoshioka tries to transform into Gaia (Which also makes an allusion of Gamu Takeyama's transformation , with his censored Esplender in-hand), only to be stopped by Akagiri & Co..

Live-Action Shows

Takeshi's Castle had an episode called the "Monster Special". Most of the people on the program were dressed up as folklore figures or even dressed as animals, and items. In the program, A list of few people dressed up as Ultra monsters with very, very low budget suits, With something different to them. The monsters were:

In the American version of Takeshi's Castle, MXC, Mostly some of the monsters have names, And short backstories.

Alien Baltan is named "Redeye", Zetton is called "Queerwig" and crawls into teen's ears making them gay, Black King is called "Tupacashaft" and is the star of Mons-Ploitasion films, Veron is called the "Flemlazor", And comes from the planet Emphisimia, Gomora is called the "Monster under the Bed", Alien Icarus doesn't have much, Except he is slightly called "Blue-Flamor at the beginning.

Seabozu is named the "Closet Monster", Eleking is called "Alazilla Babaganoush" and is said to be a mutated eggplant with his sidekick, Shiskebabatron, Kanegon does not do much but simply named "Clamula the Giant Hairless Clam. Pigmon is named "Inoperable Tumera", Gora is called "Drunk-Step Dad", and Red King does not have no name, Nor backstory.

Here are some additions on the suits with some monsters:

Veron has smaller horns, Instead of longer horns.
Gomora's suit has stripes on the back of it.
Seabozu has a longer tail and shorter face.
Pigmon appeared with two suits: One with mouth open and lighter red, While the other has a smaller mouth and darker colors.
Gora has a more ape-like face instead of a feline face.

Gallery:

Real-life Influences

These are list of peoples and real life-related things whose inspiration towards Ultraman had influence their life.

Emoticons

While the Ultra Series franchise had gotten more popular, two of the franchise's most popular character, the original Ultraman and Alien Baltan had their own emoticons.

Ultraman: (o|o)
Alien Baltan: (V)o￥o(V)

Line App Global

Line stickers of the Ultra Series' characters, ranging from Ultra Heroes to Ultra Kaiju had been sold under the price of USD $1.99.

Akira Toriyama

Akira Toriyama (鳥山明, Toriyama Akira) born on April 5, 1955, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture) is a widely acclaimed Japanese manga and game artist who lives in Kiyosu. Akira had mentioned himself as a big fan of Ultra Series and Godzilla films, putting several elements from the Ultra Series into his works such as Dragonball, Dr. Slump, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman and Wonder Island.

Geek Crash Course

The webseries logo

Geek Crash Course is a weekly webseries created and hosted by Michael Nixon and Diana Dekajlo. The show airs every Wednesday on Blip, Youtube, and their Facebook page.

Ultraman_(Viewer_Request_Month_5)_-_Geek_Crash_Course

The show's purpose is to educate newcomers to their friend's geeky things they don't quite understand in a simple condensed format that gives the viewer the basics of what its about. Occasionally, Michael and Diana give the viewers homework assignments in the form of recommendations and sometimes what to avoid in terms of long-running franchises as well as trivia on the subject.

Michael Nixon is a big tokusatsu fan, so on February 2012, the month of his birthday, he declared that he would do a month of Toksusatsu videos on GCC including a video on Ultraman on July 31, 2012.

The show also features special GCC episodes designed to prep moviegoers for films based on pop-culture properties or centered in the Sci-Fi or Fantasy genre.

On December 18, 2013, the two announced in a vlog that Michael had moved to Los Angeles and thus the show's format would change in 2014. The first and last week of each month would be a Geek Crash Course "Classic" episode, where the two would tackle a subject together like before while the other weeks would feature a Geek Crash Course East or Geek Crash Course West episode where Diana or Michael would tackle a subject individually.

References

Geek Crash Course | Wikizilla, the Godzilla Resource and Wiki

External Links

Steven Moffat

Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat is shown in DWM issue 480 with a Hugo Award - and a silver Ultraman.

BrickCon 2010

5760680793 05dd5c514f — Ultraman vs. Baltan

The LEGO BrickCon of 2010's main theme was "Big in Japan" and featured a model of Ultraman vs. Baltan, along with other toku characters, such as Gundams, MechaGodzilla and Guyver IV. The Ultraman diorama was made by Lino Martins, and appeared in Beckett Build magazine.

2015 Google Doodle

In July 7, 2015, Google celebrated Eiji Tsuburaya's 114th birthday by creating a mini game Google Doodle, where players would help him in his studio in filming a scene for the Ultraman-like hero fighting against several Kaiju.

The Google Doodle's site

@@ Line 174: / Line 174: @@
 ===Kure Kure Takora===
-In the full version of intro, Takora can be seen with [[Alien Baltan]], [[Eleking]], [[Godzilla]], [[Peguila]], [[Alien Mefilas]], [[Kanegon]], Gyaos, [[Garamon]], and [[Booska]]. The verse roughly translates to "He is popular among kaiju".
+In the full version of intro, Takora can be seen with [[Alien Baltan]], [[Eleking]], [[Godzilla]], [[Peguila]], [[Alien Mefilas]], [[Kanegon]], Gyaos, [[Garamon]], and [[Booska]]. The verse roughly translates to "He is famous among kaiju".
 [[File:クレクレタコラ フルコーラスＭＴＶ|thumb|left|335 px]]