Ultraman Gaia (ウルトラマンガイア Urutoraman Gaia) is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the 14th show in the Ultraman Series. It was created by Chiaki J. Konaka and produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Mainichi Broadcasting System.
Synopsis
Gamu Takayama is a 20 year old member of an organization called Alchemy Stars. After a monster known as C.O.V. attacked the Earth, Gamu falls through a portal of light and meets the giant: Ultraman Gaia, who gives him his powers. Later, when Gaia was in trouble in episode three, another Ultraman, Ultraman Agul appeared. Can they save the Earth? Who is Agul, is he friend or foe? Later in the series it is seen that Agul, too, is a being of justice, but only protects the Earth, not humanity. The conflict between the two later leads to a duel, opening a wormhole that allows a giant beast to reach Earth. What will happen then?
Production
Ultraman Gaia takes place in yet another universe, one that is totally different from the world of the Showa-era Ultras (Ultraman to Ultraman 80), as well as the world of Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Dyna. In a departure from most of the other series, there are two Ultramen as the main characters. They have conflicting philosophies in regards to defending the Earth from a mysterious, malevolent and extremely intelligent cosmic entity.
The first half of the series explores the growing tension between them, and their eventual clash. The second half has them reconcile their differences so they can defeat their common enemy.
The show is also different from past Ultraman Series in that the support team, XIG, has more personnel than the defense teams in previous series.
In this series, Ultraman Gaia is the lead, but Ultraman Agul makes many appearances. They are often at odds with each other in the beginning of the series. Their philosophies are as different as their skin colors. Unlike Gaia, Agul is completely blue. Gamu Takayama, the human host of Ultraman Gaia, believes that Gaia is here to save Earth and humanity. On the other hand, Hiroya Fujimiya, the human host of Ultraman Agul, believes Agul to be Earth's natural defense mechanism. He is at first more interested in protecting just the planet itself, even at the expense of humanity (hence the occasional clashes with Gaia). But this was discontinued after Gaia and Agul would work together as one to face more powerful monsters.
Characters
XIG
Operation Crew
- Gamu Takayama (高山 我夢 Takayama Gamu)
- Akio Ishimuro (石室 章雄 Ishimuro Akio)
- Seiichiro Tsutsumi (堤 誠一郎 Tsutsumi Seiichirō)
- Atsuko Sasaki (佐々木 敦子 Sasaki Atsuko)
- Georgie Leland (ジョジー・リーランド Jōjī Rīrando)
- Saika Ukai (鵜飼 彩香 Ukai Saika)
Team Lightning
- Katsumi Kajio (梶尾 克美 Kajio Katsumi)
- Yasushi Kitada (北田 靖 Kitada Yasushi)
- Satoshi Ogawara (大河原 聡志 Ōgawara Satoshi)
Team Falcon
- Tatsuhiko Yoneda (米田 達彦 Yoneda Tatsuhiko)
- Koichi Hayashi (林 幸市 Hayashi Kōichi)
- Toru Tsukamori (塚守 亨 Tsukamori Tōru)
Team Crow
- Miho Inagi (稲城 美穂 Inagi Miho)
- Juri Mishima (三島 樹莉 Mishima Juri)
- Kei Tadano (多田野 慧 Tadano Kei)
Team Hercules
- Satoru Yoshida (吉田 悟 Yoshida Satoru)
- Takanobu Kuwabara (桑原 孝信 Kuwabara Takanobu)
- Mitsugu Shima (志摩 貢 Shima Mitsugu)
Team Seagull
- Atsushi Koyama (神山 篤志 Kōyama Atsushi)
- Renji Matsuo (松尾 蓮二 Matsuo Renji)
- Michael Simmons (マイクル・シモンズ Maikuru Shimonzu)
Team Marlin
- Katsutoshi Yokotani (横谷 勝歳 Yokotani Katsutoshi)
- Gentaro Imai (今井 源太郎 Imai Gentarō)
- Kingo Iwao (巌 均悟 Iwao Kingo)
GUARD
- Tatsumi Chiba (千葉 辰巳 Chiba Tatsumi)
- Hiroyuki Hiiragi (柊 博之 Hiiragi Hiroyuki)
- Kosuke Ranbashi (乱橋 巧介 Ranbashi Kōsuke)
- Ryuichi Senuma (瀬沼 龍一 Senuma Ryūichi)
- Chief Higuchi (樋口チーフ Higuchi Chīfu)
- Doctor Hoshiyama (星山博士 Hoshiyama Hakase)
- Alf Mckay (アルフ・マッケイ Arufu Makkei)
- Jeremy Spinoza (ジェレミー・スピノザ Jeremī Supinoza)
Alchemy Stars
- Hiroya Fujimiya (藤宮 博也 Fujimiya Hiroya)
- Daniel Macffy (ダニエル・マクフィー Danieru Makufī)
- Miku Asano (浅野 未来 Asano Miku)
- Catherine Ryan (キャサリン・ライアン Kyasarin Raian)
- Klaus Eckart (クラウス・エッカルト Kurausu Ekkaruto)
- Alan (アラン Aran)
- Al (アル Aru)
- Natalie (ナタリー Natarī)
- Michel (ミッシェル Missheru)
- Melinda (メリンダ Merinda)
- Azif (アジフ Ajifu)
KCB
- Kenji Tabata (田端 健二 Tabata Kenji)
- Reiko Yoshii (吉井 玲子 Yoshii Reiko)
- Michifumi Inoue (井上 倫文 Inoue Michifumi)
- Umezawa (梅沢 Umezawa)
Others
- Sato (サトウ Satō)
- Makoto (マコト Makoto)
- Nakaji (ナカジ Nakaji)
- Shigemi Takayama (高山 重美 Takayama Shigemi)
- Yuiichi Takayama (高山 唯一 Takayama Yuiichi)
- Kyoko Inamori (稲森 京子 Inamori Kyōko)
- Ritsuko Sasaki (佐々木 律子 Sasaki Ritsuko)
- Megumi Kuroda (黒田 恵 Kuroda Megumi)
- Yuki (ユキ)
Ultras
Kaiju
- Radical Destruction Bringer
- Vision Dragon
- C.O.V.
- Geel
- Apatee
- Primary Mezard
- Mezard
- Bokurag
- Gan-Q Code №00
- Gan-Q Code №01
- Tenkai
- Anemos
- Crabgan
- Rezaito
- C.O.V. II
- Baby C.O.V.
- Varsite
- Mizunoeno Dragon
- Wolf Gas
- Psycho Mezard
- Antimatter
- Reanimated animal corpses
- Deents
- Mother Deents
- Alguros
- Imit-Ultraman Agul
- Diglobe
- Zonnel
- Psycho Mezard II
- Lilia
- Geschenk
- Candea
- Pazuzu
- Gomenos
- Zonnel II
- Geel II
- Zoruim
- Mimos
- Enzan
- Rukulion
- Gokigumon
- Kijuro Mato
- Gan-Q Code №02
- Aeroviper
- Syazac
- Wolf Fire
- Unidentified Aliens
- Algona
- X-Savarga
- Queen Mezard
- Phantom-Ultraman Agul
- Tigris
- Tsuchikera
- Pazgeek
- Σ-Zuigul
- Black Gamu
- Satanbizor
- Spirit Parasites
- Bizorm
- Izac
- Super C.O.V.
- Super Pazuzu
- Blitz Blots
- Tigris II
- Shinryoku
- Mokian
- Deathbringer
- Zebubu
- Dobishi
- Fishman
- Kaiser Dobishi
- Gomenos II
- Geel III
- Tigris III
- Zonnel III
- Syazac
- Zog
Cast
- Gamu Takayama (高山 我夢 Takayama Gamu): Takeshi Yoshioka (吉岡 毅志 Yoshioka Takeshi)
- Hiroya Fujimiya (藤宮 博也 Fujimiya Hiroya): Hassei Takano (高野 八誠 Takano Hassei)
- Akio Ishimuro (石室 章雄 Ishimuro Akio): Hiroyuki Watanabe (渡辺 裕之 Watanabe Hiroyuki)
- Tatsumi Chiba (千葉 辰巳 Chiba Tatsumi): Sei Hiraizumi (平泉 成 Hiraizumi Sei)
- Seiichiro Tsutsumi (堤 誠一郎 Tsutsumi Seiichirō): Takashi Ukaji (宇梶 剛士 Ukaji Takashi)
- Atsuko Sasaki (佐々木 敦子 Sasaki Atsuko): Ai Hashimoto (橋本 愛 Hashimoto Ai)
- Georgie Leland (ジョジー・リーランド Jojī Rīrando): Maria Theresa Gow (マリア・テレサ・ガウ Maria Teresa Gau)
- Saika Ukai (鵜飼 彩香 Ukai Saika): Ayaka Tanaka (田中 彩佳 Tanaka Ayaka)
- Katsumi Kajio (梶尾 克美 Kajio Katsumi): Masami Nakagami (中上 雅巳 Nakagami Masami)
- Yasushi Kitada (北田 靖 Kitada Yasushi): Katsuhiko Hasegawa (長谷川 勝彦 Hasegawa Katsuhiko)
- Satoshi Ogawara (大河原 聡志 Ōgawara Satoshi): Yusuke Sawaki (沢木 祐介 Sawaki Yūsuke)
- Tatsuhiko Yoneda (米田 達彦 Yoneda Tatsuhiko): Kuronosuke Kagawa (賀川 黒之助 Kagawa Kuronosuke)
- Koichi Hayashi (林 幸市 Hayashi Kōichi): Shogo Shiotani (塩谷 庄吾 Shiotani Shōgo)
- Toru Tsukamori (塚守 亨 Tsukamoto Tōru): Shin Ishikawa (石川 真 Ishikawa Shin)
- Miho Inagi (稲城 美穂 Inagi Miho): Tomoko Kawashima (川嶋 朋子 Kawashima Tomoko)
- Juri Mishima (三島 樹莉 Mishima Juri): Izumi Matsuda (松田 いずみ Matsuda Izumi) (Played by Izumiko Matsuda (松田 泉子 Matsuda Izumiko))
- Kei Tadano (多田野 彗 Tadano Kei): Kei Ishibashi (石橋 けい Ishibashi Kei)
- Satoru Yoshida (吉田 悟 Yoshida Satoru): Masaru Matsuda (松田 優 Matsuda Masaru)
- Mitsugu Shima (志摩 貢 Shima Mitsugu): Kei Kagaya (加賀谷 圭 Kagaya Kei)
- Takanobu Kuwabara (桑原 孝信 Kuwabara Takanobu): Koji Nakamura (中村 浩二 Nakamura Kōji)
- Atsushi Koyama (神山 篤志 Kōyama Atsushi): Shunsuke Gondo (権藤 俊輔 Gondō Shunsuke)
- Renji Matsuo (松尾 蓮二 Matsuo Renji): Tom Saeba (冴場 都夢 Saeba Tomu)
- Michael Simmons (マイクル・シモンズ Maikeru Shimonzu): Samuel Pop Aning (サムエル・ポップ・エニング Samueru Poppu Eningu)
- Katsutoshi Yokotani (横谷 勝歳 Yokotani Katsutoshi): Tsukiya Kageura (陰浦 月弥 Tsukiya Kageura) (Played by Tetsuro Shoji (庄司 哲郎 Shōji Tetsurō))
- Gentaro Imai (今井 源太郎 Imai Gentarō): Hiroaki Irisawa (入沢 宏彰 Irisawa Hiroaki)
- Kingo Iwao (厳 均悟 Iwao Kingo): Naoyuki Yokoyama (横山 尚之 Yokoyama Naoyuki)
- Ryuichi Senuma (瀬沼 龍一 Senuma Ryūichi): Hiroshi Ishii (石井 浩 Ishii Hiroshi)
- Catherine Ryan (キャサリン・ライアン Kyasarin Raian): Debbie Regier (デビー・リギアー Debī Rigiā)
- Reiko Yoshi (吉井 玲子 Yoshii Reiko): Yukari Ishida (石田 裕加里 Ishida Yukari)
- Michifumi Inoue (井上 倫文 Inoue Michifumi): Eisuke Tsunoda (角田 英介 Tsunoda Eisuke)
- Kenji Tabata (田端 健二 Tabata Kenji): Hiroshi Tsuburaya (円谷 浩 Tsuburaya Hiroshi)
- Sato (サトウ Satō): Togo Okumoto (奥本 東五 Okumoto Tōgo)
- Makoto (マコト Makoto): Hiroaki Nishijima (西嶋 大明 Nishijima Hiroaki)
- Nakaji (ナカジ Nakaji): Masashi Kagami (加々美 正史 Kagami Masashi)
- Narration (ナレーション Narēshon): Hiroshi Isobe (磯部 弘 Isobe Hiroshi)
Suit Actors
- Ultraman Gaia: Shunsuke Gondo (V1 & V2), Koji Nakamura (Supreme Version)
- Ultraman Agul: Kazuya Shimizu (清水 一哉 Shimizu Kazuya) (Played by Kazuhiko Shimizu (清水 一彦 Shimizu Kazuhiko))
Music
- Opening Theme
- Ultraman Gaia! (ウルトラマンガイア! Urutoraman Gaia!)
- Lyrics: Yasushi Chinka
- Composition: Miki Matsubara
- Arrangement: Kazuya Daimon
- Song: Masayuki Tanaka & Kazuya Daimon
- Insert Themes
- LOVE IS ALIVE (Episode 10)
- Song: Hitomi Sudou
- Power of Gaia (ガイア ノ チカラ Gaia no Chikara) (Episode 1, 27, 30, 34 & 35)
- Lyrics: Kumiko Aoki
- Composer: Yasuo Kosugi
- Arrangement: Kazuya Daimon
- Song: Masayuki Tanaka & Kazuya Daimon
- Ending Themes
- Lovin' You Lovin' Me (Episode 1-26)
- Lyrics: Watanabe Natsumi
- Composer and arranger: P.KAWAI
- Song: B.B.WAVES
- Beat on Dream on (Episode 27-51 & Gaia Again)
- Lyrics: Komuro Mitsuko
- Composer: Daisuke Inoue
- Arranger: Sudou Kenichi
- Song: Kikuta Tomohiko
Home Media
Trivia
- While cleaning out his closet in 2020, star actor Takeshi Yoshioka found production plans for the series. This revealed that the working title of the series was simply "Ultraman '98" at the time, XIG was called DOG, Gamu Takayama was called Gamu Takama (高間我夢 Takama Gamu), and Hiroya Fujimiya was to act as a sort of "elder brother" figure to Gamu.[1]
References
