Ultradad

Ultradad
Data
Human Host(s)/Form	Professor Sato
Home World	Land of Light, Nebula M78
Race	Ultra
Family	Ultraman (son)
Affiliation	KDF
Number of Appearances	1 (Movie)
First Appearance	Ultraman: Rising
Voice Actor(s)	Gedde Watanabe (EN) Fumiyo Kohinata (JP)

Ultradad , formerly known as Ultraman , is Professor Sato's original appearance, a Giant of Light from the Land of Light who came to Earth 30 years ago.

On Earth, he found himself maintaining balance between humanity and the Kaiju, but after sustaining a crippling injury, he asks his son, Ken Sato, to take up the mantle of Ultraman.

Conception

Etymology

Ultradad's name is a portmanteau of Ultraman and dad, as the father of the current Ultraman. Originally, he was simply called Ultraman.

Design

As Ultraman: Rising's equivalent of the original Ultraman, Ultradad borrows design cues from the hero of light, and the similarities are particularly striking in Ultradad's younger appearance. As he aged, Ultradad grew a moustache not unlike the facial hair of older Ultras like Father of Ultra, Ultraman King and Ultraman Chuck.

In the initial design sketches proposed by Shannon Tindle, Ultradad's eye color was white/pale. However, to distinguish him from the original Ultraman and because Tindle thought blue eyes were more sympathetic, especially with the moving pupils, the eye color was changed to its current appearance.

History

Ultraman: Rising

30 years ago, Ultraman arrived on Earth and helped to maintain balance between humanity and the Kaiju, fighting against monsters such as Bemular and Neronga, and became recognized as a hero among the populace. He took on the form of Hayao Sato, a kaiju researcher who worked alongside Emiko, who he would establish the KDF with, and later join hands in marriage. It was she who "taught him what it meant to be human", and together they raised a son, Kenji Sato.

When Kenji was but a small child, Hayao responded to a sudden attack by Gigantron and transformed into Ultraman, but almost put his family in danger. Realizing the danger he would put his family in as Ultraman, Hayao decided to distance himself and requested that Emiko take Kenji to the United States. Confused as to why their father would abandon them in a faraway place, this would drive a wedge in the relationship between Kenji and his father growing up.

Years later, Professor Sato would sustain a crippling injury that hindered his activities as Ultraman, forcing him to reluctantly call on Ken to return to Japan and continue his role. This led to a series of events, with Ken adopting a baby kaiju, Emi, and calling on Professor Sato to help foster her together. After a surprise attack by the KDF, Professor Sato was presumed dead.

Fortunately, Professor Sato had narrowly escaped his demise, and later rescued his son in the battle against Mecha Gigantron, as Ultradad. The two joined forces with Gigantron and Emi in the climatic battle against the KDF's Destroyer piloted by Dr. Onda, who placed significant blame on Ultradad for not protecting his family years ago. In the height of the fight, Ultraman and Ultradad reunited and crossed hands to unleash a father-son Spacium Beam, joining Gigantron and Emi as the four giants put a stop to Onda's machinations once and for all.

In the epilogue, he is seen alongside his son Ken, as well as Emi and Gigantron, as the newfound family headed to Kaiju Island.^{Ultraman: Rising}

Profile

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• 2

Fan recreation of Ultraman (Hayao) based on the movie

Stats

• Height: Unknown
• Weight: Unknown
• Origin: Land of Light, Nebula M78

Body Features

• Color Timer: The standard Color Timer, but instead of measuring his energy levels, Professor Sato's time as Ultradad relies on striking a balance with his emotions. A state of heightened, impulsive emotion would cause his Color Timer to go off in minutes, but Ultradad was able to fight indefinitely upon recalling his family.
• Eyes: Unlike most Ultras, Ultradad's eyes are blue, and the white lights in his eyes appear to reflect the movement of his gaze.

Transformation

Though Ultradad transformed offscreen, it can be assumed that his method of transformation is similar to Ken's.

Abilities

• Flight: Though left unseen, it can be assumed that Ultradad also possesses the power of flight.

Techniques

Special

• Spacium Beam : Ultraman's iconic finisher, a powerful energy beam fired from arms crossed in the '+' position. In the battle against the Destroyer, Ultradad assisted his son in firing the Spacium Beam, with his horizontal left arm supporting Ken's vertical right.
• Ultra Slash: Though left unseen, it can be assumed from his son's move set that Ultradad can also use the Ultra Slash.

Spacium Beam

Spacium Beam (with Ultraman)

Physical

• Energy Punch: Ultradad channels energy into his arms to enhance his barrage of punches.

Energy Punches

Other

• Force Shield: An energy barrier deployed by Ultradad to block incoming attacks, or as a dome to protect people.

Force Shield

Force Shield (dome type)

Merchandise

S.H.Figuarts

• Ultradad (Ultraman: Rising) (2025)
  • Release Date: Janaury 2025
  • Price: 8,250 yen
  • JAN/ISBN: 4573102668882
  • Materials: PVC, ABS
  • Accessories: ??? pairs of hand parts, alternate "looking below left" head, 1 pair of Energy Fists, Spacium Beam/Right Hand for Ultraman (Ultraman: Rising)

The S.H.Figuarts iteration of Ultradad is a collectible action figure that stands a little shorter than his son from the very same line. Aside from his regular hand parts and the usual "looking at the lower left" head", Ultradad also comes with his signature Energy Fist effects, and an additional Spacium Beam/right hand for the SHF Ultraman (U:R).

Ultradad is released exclusively for the Tamashii Webshop.

Gallery

Ultraman: Rising

Concept Art

Concept art by Shannon Tindle

Model by Michel Guillemain

Concept art by Nacho Molina

Trivia

• In the predecessor project of the film, Made in Japan/Gamma Man, the character was envisioned as a Japanese superhero named "Gamma dad." His appearance was considered to be an older version of Gamma Man.

The concept art for Made in Japan/Gamma Man by Ovi Nedelcu.

Painting by Ryan Lang

• Unlike other Ultras, this version of Ultraman exhibits a complete physiological linkage before and after transformation, including aspects like aging and injuries.
  • As seen before and after the time skip, Professor Sato's physical age as a human is reflected in his Ultra form (even retaining his moustache), and the difference can be seen between his and his son's physical structure, with Professor Sato's Ultraman having a leaner body as compared to the defined musculature of Ken's Ultraman.
  • Like most Ultras with human forms, their injuries carry over between their two personas, evidently in Professor Sato's crippled leg.
• Coincidentally, the combined Spacium Beam technique used by Ultraman and Ultradad is remarkably similar to the joint Spacium Beam attack depicted in the Japanese manga Ultraman Story 0, performed by the original Ultraman and Ultraman Jack.
• The artistic swirl that appears behind Ultradad when angered is a reference to the swirling title card of Ultra Q and Ultraman.