Ultraman: Monster Bible

Ultraman: Monster Bible
Information
Release Date(s)	Unproduced
Directed by	Akio Jissoji
Written by	Mamoru Sasaki

Ultraman: Monster Bible is an unreleased film. The film was initially planned in the 1980s, with Tsuburaya Productions and Art Theatre Guild co-producing it. Due to various reasons, the project was eventually not completed.

After the production was canceled, the screenplay of the film was published in 1984. Additionally, some ideas were later extracted and became part of the 1990 film Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars.

Production

The film was originally featured in an article in the magazine "Scholar" in 1982, outlining the plot and story of the film. The planned director, Akio Jissoji, described it in the article as "a story full of human touch." The film, a commemorative work for the 15th anniversary of Tsuburaya Productions, had a budget of hundreds of millions of yen, promising impressive special effects. Masashi Sada was scheduled to perform the theme song. Filming was expected to begin in the summer of that year.

Based on the synopsis, the film can be described as a sharper portrayal of the themes depicted by Akio Jissoji and Mamoru Sasaki so far, including issues derived from the episode 23 "My Home Is Earth" of Ultraman and the episode 25 "I Will Buy Kyoto" of Operation: Mystery. It integrates elements such as Jomon culture, critique of the imperial system, legends like the Dragon Palace and the Feather Robe, the theory of a horseback-riding ethnic conquest dynasty, as well as sharp criticisms of contemporary Japanese society at that time.

However, in the postcard response sent to fans by Tsuburaya Productions in the same year inquiring about the commencement of the film, Tsuburaya Productions mentioned that the preparation progress for Ultraman: Monster Bible was slow, and the specific start date has not been confirmed yet. It might be in spring 1983, but there could also be changes.

The film's production was eventually halted due to content issues, and the script was included in the "Mamoru Sasaki Script Masterpieces: Ultraman The Monster Graveyard" in 1984. In addition to showcasing the film's script, the book also includes a dialogue between Jissoji and Sasaki, as well as Sasaki's afterword.

In 2011, an unreleased script of the film was discovered in the Mamoru Sasaki Memorial Room in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture. It was exhibited for the first time at the Nomi City Museum during the Mamoru Sasaki Special Exhibition in July.

Synopsis

One day in 1967, inside a spaceship resembling a Dogu figure, an alien appeared. He carried a mirror capable of reflecting the past and the future, showing images of World War II and future space colonization plans.

The Dogu spoke to Ultraman, saying, "A belligerent planet like Earth should be destroyed." This left Ultraman deep in thought...

Plot

The script for this film was included in "Mamoru Sasaki Script Masterpieces Ultraman The Monster Graveyard," published in 1984.

In 1967, Japan, despite experiencing numerous historical events, continued its ongoing development. However, in recent years, many abnormal phenomena have occurred. Among them, there were close calls where seawater almost engulfed atomic power plants, while newly constructed international airports experienced incidents of land sinking.

The SSSP received reports of the Tokyo Tower being attacked by the mysterious monster Isuragon and proceeded to the scene for a confrontation mission. This event was resolved with the intervention of Ultraman. However, upon investigation, the SSSP discovered that the incident was caused by "Alien Kananga", with Isuragon being a monster brought from Alien Kananga's homeland. Alien Kananga operated in the form of a Dogu and communicated using ancient Japanese language, understandable only to Dr. Miyako Katsuragi, a researcher specializing in ancient Japanese studies.

After making contact with Alien Kananga, Mayako learned that the aliens' purpose was to halt human space development. It was said that within the next 2 to 30 years, humans would embark on rapid space development and colonize planets throughout the universe. To prove this point, Alien Kananga came to Earth and showed Mayako and Hayata a mirror reflecting the past and future. In the future world shown in the mirror, Japan would become an economic powerhouse after the 1980s and would pursue space development, becoming a leading nation in space colonization.

Alien Kananga originally planned to destroy all humans except for Mayako and Hayata. The fact that humans would become aggressors in the near future also shocked Ultraman. According to Alien Kananga's prophecy, they chose Japan as the representative of humanity, and to warn Earth, they deemed it necessary to first destroy Japan.

Hayata transformed into Ultraman and battled Isuragon. Alien Kananga questioned Ultraman, claiming that Ultraman was also an alien being. He expressed concern that once humans gained power, they would eventually reach Ultraman's homeland, the Land of Light, and turn it into a colony for humans, exploiting its resources and bringing them back to Earth. Alien Kananga demanded that Ultraman abandon his human identity as Hayata, believing that humans were enemies of all alien beings. As a friend of the universe, he urged Ultraman to cease supporting humanity.

Ultraman was troubled by Alien Kananga's words and lost his will to fight while battling Isuragon, ultimately reverting to his human form. However, Mayako was caught in a landslide caused by Isuragon and tragically lost her life. The anger from losing Mayako reignited Hayata's determination, prompting him to transform once again into Ultraman and successfully defeat Isuragon.

After the battle, Ultraman engaged in a conversation with Alien Kananga. Alien Kananga expressed that Ultraman's actions would make him an enemy of all alien beings and questioned whether Ultraman also supported humanity's space colonization project. Ultraman responded by stating that humans were also part of the universe and had the right to make their own choices. Alien Kananga countered, claiming that humans considered themselves granted by God the authority to rule over all creatures. Ultraman promised that if humans indeed became aggressors in the universe, he would use all his power to eradicate them. He acknowledged the sorrowfulness of such an act but asserted that if that day came, he would do everything in his power to protect Earth.

Upon understanding Ultraman's determination, Alien Kananga ceased his attack on Earth and entrusted Ultraman to oversee humanity. Suddenly, from Dogu, a red fireball shot out and vanished into space.

Cast

• Shin Hayata : Susumu Kurobe
• Toshio Muramatsu : Akiji Kobayashi
• Akiko Fuji : Hiroko Sakurai
• Daisuke Arashi : Sandayu Dokumamushi
• Mitsuhiro Ide : Masanari Nihei
• Mayako Katsuragi

Appearances

Ultras

• Ultraman

Kaiju

• Isuragon
• Alien Kananga

Gallery

Trivia

• In the initial draft, the film's title was annotated with the word "Original ", but this term was later removed in the script selection published in 1984.
• The film is not a sequel or a new installment of the television series Ultraman, but rather a reboot that inherits the setting while completely changing the cast. Initially, the plan was for Susumu Kurobe, Akiji Kobayashi, Hiroko Sakurai, Sandayu Dokumamushi, and Masanari Nihei to reprise their roles as SSSP members in the film. They were invited to reprise their roles, but all five declined. Therefore, there were plans to replace the cast with new actors to play the SSSP members. However, due to the cancellation of the film, it is currently unclear whether the cast was actually replaced.
• The film is set in the autumn of 1967. According to the personal views and political experiences of the screenwriter Sasaki, he believed that this era was a period of cultural revolution and active student movements in Japan. During this time, young people were striving for the realization of the communist revolution, which inspired his script.
• In the script of the film, there are mentions of "Sakinori No Uta" by Masashi Sada (the theme song of the film The Fall of Ako Castle) and "Gunjou" by Shinji Tanimura (the theme song of the film Imperial Navy). They are directly criticized as "folk singers who should sing for peace but are singing for war." In the descriptions involving the future world, Jared K. O'Neill's "Space Habitat Project" is highlighted.