Ultraman Dyna: The Return of Hanejiro

Ultraman Dyna: The Return of Hanejiro
Information
Alternative Title(s)	Ultraman Dyna: Hanejiro Came Back Ultraman Dyna: Return of Hanejiro
Starring	Takeshi Tsuruno Ryo Kinomoto Toshikazu Fukawa Risa Saito Takao Kase Joe Onodera Mariya Yamada
Release Date(s)	February 25, 2001
Country of Origin	Japan
Language	Japanese, English (dub), Malay (dub), Cantonese (dub), Mandarin (dub)
Running Time	46 minutes
Directed by	Masaki Harada
Produced by	Kazuo Tsuburaya
Written by	Hideyuki Kawakami
Music by	Tatsumi Yano
Cinematography by	Takehiro Kuramochi
Editing by	Tomiyo Ohashi
Continuity
Previous	Farewell Hanejiro
Next	Ndamoshite X
Production/Release
Previous	Ultraman Tiga Side Story: Revival of the Ancient Giant
Next	Ultraman Gaia: Gaia Again

Ultraman Dyna: The Return of Hanejiro is a 2001 direct-to-video special set during the events of Ultraman Dyna.

Production

This work is the second installment in the 2001 direct-to-video special series based on the TDG series. Its storyline serves as a continuation of Ultraman Dyna episode 47 "Farewell Hanejiro," and is set prior to the series' final trilogy.

As indicated by the subtitle, the story focuses on the return of Hanejiro and features a screenplay written by Hideyuki Kawakami. The narrative intertwines with Kawakami's Alien Miji, creating a multi-layered plot. Additionally, characters from another Tsuburaya Productions TV series, Booska! Booska!!, also make appearances in this film.

When the production of Ultraman Tiga Side Story: Revival of the Ancient Giant was confirmed, Tsuburaya Productions' president, Kazuo Tsuburaya, proposed creating original video projects for Ultraman Dyna and Ultraman Gaia as well. Subsequently, producer Nobuyuki Koyama approached Masaki Harada, who had previously directed episodes of the TV series, to direct this installment. Harada enthusiastically accepted, and production moved forward smoothly. The initial concept was to serve as a sequel to the series finale, depicting Asuka's return to his original universe with Hanejiro's help after disappearing into another dimension. However, out of respect for the integrity of the finale, the story was instead set after episode 47.

Due to scheduling conflicts with the actors, although all seven members of Super GUTS returned for this production, there were only two scenes in which the entire team appeared together. The team uniforms used in the film were repurposed from the costumes given to the actors as mementos after the TV series concluded.

Director Tsugumi Kitaura, who had overseen the episodes featuring the Alien Miji in the TV series, originally planned to make a cameo appearance but was unable to participate. Instead, Ryuichi Ichino, who had worked on Booska! Booska!!, made a guest appearance in his place.

Synopsis

Since Hanejiro departed for space, one day... a monster named Arwon, capable of absorbing all attacks, appeared, plunging the town into chaos. Amidst the fleeing crowds, the figure of Alien Miji emerged! Super GUTS pursued them relentlessly. However, a mysterious email was delivered to them, revealing Alien Miji's whereabouts. It was none other than Hanejiro, who had returned to Earth to warn of the planet's peril.

The mastermind behind the events, Alien Dehadoh, dispatched the combined invasion weapon beast, One-Z, which finally captured Ultraman Dyna. Dyna's execution loomed the next morning! In a desperate situation, Super GUTS devised an unprecedented plan. They would team up with Alien Miji to defeat One-Z. To rescue Dyna, Hanejiro also takes flight with Alien Miji's trump card!

Appearances

Ultras

• Ultraman Dyna

Kaiju

• Hanejiro
• Alien Miji
• Pochi Garaon
• Booska
• Kamosuke
• Casa Madara
• Arwon
• Alien Dehadoh (Mentioned)
• Alien Fabiras (Hologram)
• One-Z

Cast

• Shin Asuka : Takeshi Tsuruno
• Gousuke Hibiki : Ryo Kinomoto
• Toshiyuki Kohda : Toshikazu Fukawa
• Ryo Yumimura : Risa Saito
• Kouhei Kariya : Takao Kase
• Tsutomu Nakajima : Joe Onodera
• Mai Midorikawa : Mariya Yamada
• Saeko Shiina : Yasumi Maezawa

Guest Cast

• Miji Dolchenko : Kinzou Sakura
• Miji Udochenko : Shinichi Satou
• Miji Kamachenko : Osamu Nakajima
• Female Android: Asami Sawaki
• Shimizu : Kazuya Shimizu
• Daisaku Tonda : Yukio Masuda
• Taemi Tonda : Kumi Seo
• Mayumi Shinjoh : Kei Ishibashi
• Tsukkun : Makoto Kamijo
• Announcer : Yumi Yunoki

Voice Actors

• Booska : Yasuhiro Takato
• Kamosuke : Miki Fujitani
• Hanejiro : Junko Aoki

Suit Actors

• Ultraman Dyna :
  • Koji Nakamura
  • Kazuya Shimizu
• Arwon : Eiji Mori
• One-Z : Toshio Miyake
• Booska : Kazunori Yokoo
• Kamosuke : Tomohiro Nagata

Staff

• Director and special effects director: Masaki Harada
• Screenwriter: Hideyuki Kawakami
• Executive producer: Kazuo Tsuburaya
• Supervisor: Koichi Takano
• Planning: Kazuho Mitsuta, Kazumi Kawashiro (Bandai Visual)
• Producers: Nobuyuki Koyama, Satoshi Kono (Bandai Visual)
• Literary support: Naoyuki Eto
• Art design: Ken Koide, Yuji Terai
• Music producer: Shizuka Tamagawa
• Music: Tatsumi Yano
• Cinematographers: Takehiro Kuramochi
• Lighting: Saifu Sato
• Assistant directors: Hitoshi Ishikawa, Yoshiaki Kondo
• Sound recording: Shoji Hosoi
• Practical effects: Izumi Negishi
• Action choreographer: Nobutoshi Takahashi
• Image boards and designer: Kenji Hashizume
• Editors: Tomiyo Ohashi
• VFX supervisor: Sadami Tashiro
• Assistant producers: Yukiko Omote, Hitoshi Takano (Bandai Visual)
• Produced by: Tsuburaya Productions, Bandai Visual

Music

Opening Theme

• Ultraman Dyna
  • Lyrics: Goro Matsui
  • Composition: Kisaburo Suzuki
  • Arrangement: Tatsumi Yano
  • Artist: Tatsuya Maeda

Ending Themes

• Kimi Dake o Mamoritai (Normal version)
  • Lyrics, Composition: Toshihiko Takamizawa
  • Arrangement: Akira Inoue
  • Artist: Fumiaki Nakajima

• ULTRA HIGH (complete version)
  • Lyrics, Composition, Arrangement: LAZY
  • Artist: LAZY

Home Media

The Return of Hanejiro was released on VHS, DVD, and Blu-rays, with an exception of the Memorial Box DVD Set.

• The VHS was released on February 25, 2001.
• The DVD is released on June 25, 2001.
• The "Complete Edition" of the DTV, with additional behind-the-scenes and never-before-seen footage, was released on November 26, 2004.
• The "Tiga/Dyna/Gaia Memorial Box The Final" Box Set released on November 26, 2007 comes with the Complete Edition version of the DTV.
• The "Ultraman Dyna Complete Blu-ray BOX" set released on September 25, 2015 comes with the Complete Edition version of the DTV.

Original VHS release

Original DVD release

Complete Edition release (VHS)

Complete Edition release (DVD)

Ultraman Tiga/Dyna/Gaia Memorial Box The Final DVD Set

Complete Blu-ray Box

Other

• The movie was also released in Malaysia by Speedy Video, under the "The Return of Hanejiro" title. This release also comes with two additional Malay and Malaysian-English dubbed languages. This release uses the original 2001 version.
• Mill Creek included it in their Ultraman Dyna box set, which released on November 16, 2021.

Mill Creek's DVD box set

Gallery

Trivia

• The prop Lieflasher that was used for the shooting of this spin-off was actually the Bandai DX Lieflasher toy product.
• The special was added to TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION on September 6, 2022, and was exclusive to premium users until November 1.

Errors

• While the special took place between "Farewell Hanejiro" and "Ndamoshite X", Mai's hair is shown to be longer. This is a result of the filming took place 3 years after the original series had been wrapped up, with Mariya Yamada's hair having grown longer at the time of this side story.