"Fate - Prepare to decide."
- ―Series tagline
Ultraman Geed is the 27th entry of Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman Series.
The series can be watched on Shout TV, Tubi, Pluto, and Roku.
Production
Unlike previous Ultraman backgrounds, the protagonist of this series, Ultraman Geed, is uniquely portrayed as the son of Ultraman Belial. Therefore, his appearance and eyes incorporate elements reminiscent of Belial.
Since the broadcast of Ultraman Orb in 2016, the category of "New Generation Heroes" was established, redefining the concepts of "justice" and "light" in modern "Ultraman." The TV series format was set to have 25 episodes, with a theatrical version produced after the final episode. Starting with "Orb," the continuous production system of the new Ultraman series gradually improved. The new series project began airing about six months after "Ultraman Orb" ended, although preparations had already started before Ultraman Orb aired.[1]
The series was initially named Ultraman Go , and for the casting, Tatsuomi Hamada, who played the protagonist Riku Asakura, was the youngest human host actor in the history of the Ultraman series.[2][3] This was also his second appearance in an Ultraman series. The trademark was applied for by Tsuburaya Productions on March 6, 2017. The program was announced on April 27, 2017, and the main cast was revealed at a production press conference on June 1, 2017.[4]
In the early Ultraman production system, the role of series composition was relatively rare. To avoid a uniform and stereotypical style, each episode intentionally had a different style, emphasizing the impact of diversity. After the mid-1990s, the Heisei Ultraman series gradually moved towards enhancing the settings. Screenwriters unified the series' worldview while ensuring the story remained interesting and fulfilling their duties as series composition.[1]
By the 2010s, this approach had become almost standard. In the "New Generation Heroes" series, each work would designate a screenwriter and director responsible for the series composition. As the series progressed, the awareness of the series composition increased, achieving certain results. However, with the fifth series in the "New Generation Heroes" series, audiences expected a more decisive, bold, and powerful series. Therefore, the production team chose a more orthodox approach for "Ultraman," further expanding the content in terms of screenwriting.[1]
Compared to series that air four seasons per year with around 50 episodes, a two-season series unfolds with a limited number of episodes. Thus, creating the richness of today's "New Generation" cannot rely solely on the diversity of individual episodes. To make an impact within a certain number of episodes, Tsuburaya Productions' producer, Yukinobu Tsuruta, invited famous light novel, mystery, and horror writer Otsuichi in August 2016 to be the series composer for the new series. Otsuichi mentioned that he became a fan of Ultraman because his son was watching Ultraman X. He believed that if a work had the sci-fi tones of "Ultraseven" combined with a horror atmosphere, he could contribute significantly. However, Tsuburaya Productions aimed for a brighter tone, and this direction was established. Meanwhile, Koichi Sakamoto was appointed as the director of Ultraman Geed around September of the same year.[1][5]
The idea of the protagonist being the son of Ultraman Belial was initially proposed by Tsuburaya Productions, coincidentally, Otsuichi also suggested the same idea. Otsuichi, inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End, proposed the essence of Ultraman, and from this starting point, he conceived the "Little Star" concept. He wrote the scripts for the opening and the last 10 episodes of the series under his real name, Hirotaka Adachi. The Ultraman Geed transforms by using the powers of two different Ultraman. Considering similarities with Orb, a unique combination proposal was put forward, and significant changes were made in the presentation. Therefore, the combat poses vary significantly depending on the form, with Sakamoto responsible for the design adjustments, character image, and special move-related imagery for the five forms from the Primitive form to the Royal Megamaster form.[6][7][8]
Ultraman Geed features rich layers of human drama. Due to budget constraints, realistic depiction of the defense team was not feasible, so the elements of the defense team were discarded, becoming a major direction for Geed. Considering that children might lose interest due to darker plot developments, an ensemble cast approach was adopted, and a bright tone was used to leave a deep impression on the audience with the characters.[7][9] Since the show revolves around the protagonist's blood feud with the villain, Sakamoto linked the storyline with the plot of Devilman.[10]
The main actors of Ultraman Geed participated in the production press conference.[11][12][13]
The main characters intertwine with each other, developing along multiple opposing axes and perspectives, forming an overlapping ensemble drama. Unlike the character relationships in Orb, the relationships in Geed are intertwined. Riku Asakura, whose character is designed to have a positive personality capable of facing any difficulty, aiming to avoid darker elements associated with being "Belial's son" for the audience. However, from the perspective that heroes are protagonists, Leito Igaguri, who shares his body with Ultraman Zero, also serves as another main character, thus structuring the series with dual protagonists. Drawing inspiration from the case of Dan Moroboshi, the main character of Ultraseven, who played a major role in Ultraman Leo, Sakamoto ensured that Ultraman Zero could appear as an indispensable partner in the protagonist group in Geed.[14][15]
The orchestrator of the events that the two main characters oppose, Kei Fukuide, becomes their adversary. Laiha Toba, who shares a deep bond with Riku, harbors hatred towards Kei due to the murder of her parents, which becomes a significant driving force for her actions. Kei, as the primary antagonist, thus forms a parallel oppositional relationship with the three main characters. Additionally, with the background of the AIB collaborating with Riku, AIB also opposes Kei. Behind all these events, Ultraman Belial, the mastermind, becomes Kei's supporter from behind the scenes.[6][16]
These multi-layered oppositional structures do not overly complicate the plot. It is precisely because of such intricately intertwined relationships that Riku ultimately realizes that nothing can be born from emptiness. Whether friends or foes, having opposition itself is a form of happiness. Therefore, with determination, one can change their fate—there is no fate that cannot be changed. "Even if I don't become Ultraman..." This statement from Riku in his process of reaching this final understanding may be the closest expression to what Ultraman represents. [6]
Expressing the power of Ultraman through the concept of "light" and affirming that this power is accessible to anyone. Ultraman is not a special existence. This conclusion no longer attributes Ultraman to mystery or fate but approaches it as a universal value close to truth. The understanding and strength Riku gains through his struggles embody this realization in the series. This also becomes the main axis of Ultraman Geed, overturning the fate of the powerful by reversing GENE and DESTINY, determined by genes.[6][7]
Synopsis
After escaping from the raid of giant monster Skull Gomora, Riku Asakura and his partner Pega stumble upon a secret base 500 m underground. Given the Geed Riser and Ultra Capsules by operating system RE.M., he transforms into a hero named Ultraman Geed.
While fighting Skull Gomora, the townspeople are well aware of Geed's similarity to Belial. Under the impession of being Ultraman Belial's son, Riku came across the monster hunter Laiha Toba, AIB agent Moa Aizaki and office worker Leito Igaguri that bonded with Ultraman Zero.
Through these encounters, Riku resolves to fight against the fate imposed onto his genetics. Standing in front of Riku is a man with the Kaiju Capsules - Kei Fukuide. The monster Skull Gomora is in fact Kei's Fusion Rise. During the fight with Kei, the secret behind Riku's birth and Belial's grand plan will gradually come to light.
Characters
Protagonist
Supporting Characters
AIB
Igaguri Family
Toba Family
Antagonists
Others
- Don Shine
- Haruo Kume
- Eri Hara
- Ryoko Hara
- Toru Honda
- Takashi Arai
- Koji Hara
- Toko Sakura
- Fujio Maga
- Tetsuro Matsumoto
Ultras
- Ultraman Geed
- Ultraman Belial
- Ultraman Zero
- Ultraman Hikari
- Ultraman King
- Father of Ultra
- Mother of Ultra
- Ultraman (Flashback and Cameo)
- Ultraseven (Flashback and Cameo)
- Ultraman Leo (Flashback and Cameo)
- Ultraman Cosmos (Cameo)
- Ultraman Mebius (Flashback)
- Ultraman 80 (Flashback)
- Astra (Flashback)
- Ultraman Taro (Flashback)
- Ultraman Ace (Flashback)
- Ultraman Jack (Flashback)
- Zoffy (Flashback)
Kaiju
- Skull Gomora
- Dada
- Darklops Zero
- Alien Hook
- Alien Pitt Tree-Tip
- Eleking
- Samekujira
- Lunah
- Arstron
- Thunder Killer
- Galactron
- Tyrant
- Alien Zobetai Nabia
- Zandrias
- Alien Groza
- Alien Serpent
- Alien Pedan
- Alien Zelan
- Alien Doble
- Alien Neril
- Alien Bado
- Pedanium Zetton
- Alien Ckalutch
- Zegun
- Cicada Woman
- Alien Godola (Godo-Wynn)
- Chimeraberus
- Legionoid Dada Customize
- Zaigorg
- Mecha Gomora
- Star Bem Gyeron
- Lecuum
- Gubila
- King Galactron
- Lidorias (Cameo)
- Alien Reiblood (Flashback)
- Reibatos (Flashback)
- Alien Mefilas Sly (Flashback)
- Alien Hipporit Jatar (Flashback)
- Alien Temperor Villainous (Flashback)
- Alien Groza Grocken (Flashback)
- Alien Deathre Deathlogue (Flashback)
Cast
- Riku Asakura : Tatsuomi Hamada
- Leito Igaguri : Yuta Ozawa
- Laiha Toba : Chihiro Yamamoto
- Moa Aizaki : Mayu Hasegawa
- Kei Fukuide : Kunito Watanabe
- Zenna : Hideyoshi Iwata
- Haruo Kume : Tadashi Mizuno
- Lumina Igaguri : Hitomi Hasebe
- Mayu Igaguri : Mirei Shimizu
- Ryoko Hara : Hitomi Miwa
- Eri Hara : Mirai Uchida
Voice actors
- Alien Pegassa Pega : Megumi Han
- RE.M. : Suzuko Mimori
- Ultraman Zero : Mamoru Miyano
- Ultraman Belial : Yuki Ono
- Alien Shadow Zenna : Shintaro Asanuma
Staff
- Directors: Koichi Sakamoto (main director),[17] Ryuichi Ichino, Masayoshi Takesue, Suguru Tomita, Kiyotaka Taguchi, Ryo Ikeda, Ryoichi Ito[18]
- Series compositor: Otsuichi[17][18]
- Series composition cooperation: Uiko Miura[18]
- Screenwriters: Hirotaka Adachi/Otsuichi, Uiko Miura, Sachio Yanai, Misaki Morie, Junichiro Ashiki, Toshizo Nemoto, Kyoko Katsuya[18]
- Supervisor: Shinichi Ooka
- Planning: Takuhiro Sakai, Kei Kurosawa, Nobuhiko Momoi (Bandai), Kenji Hamada (Bandai Visual), Kazuto Goga (Bandai Namco Entertainment), Yukio Haruyama (Banpresto), Yosuke Imai (Dentsu)
- Chief producer: Tsugumi Kitaura
- Producers: Yukinobu Tsuruta, Aya Yoshino (TV Tokyo), Hayato Saga (Dentsu)
- Line producer: Kazuyuki Murayama
- Music: Kenji Kawai[18]
- Music producer: Shuntaro Suzuki (rooM78)
- Cinematographers: Sou Takahashi, Takeshi Arai
- Assistant director: Tomonobu Koshi
- Assistant special effects director: Naoyuki Uchida
- Action coordinator: Daisuke Terai
- Suit actor support: Hiroyuki Okano
- VFX/CG: Nippon Eizo Creative, Undergraph, Q-Tech, TSUBAKI, Pagoda, LLC, Octigraphica
- Miniatures: Marbling Fine Arts
- Character designer: Masayuki Gotoh
- Production: Tsuburaya Productions, TV Tokyo, Dentsu
Music
- Opening Theme
- GEED no Akashi
- Arrangement: Kenji Kawai
- Artist: Tatsuomi Hamada with voyager
- Ending Theme
- Kibou no Kakera
- Lyrics: voyager's TAKERU & Chiaki Seshimo
- Arrangement: Takao Konishi
- Artist: voyager
- Insert Theme
- Fusion Rise! (Ep 17)
- Artist: voyager
Home Media
The series has released episodes of the series in several volumes, in both DVD and Blu-ray formats.[19]
BlueRayCover.png "Geed(Primitive)BlueRayCover.png (132 KB)")
BlueRayCoverVol2.png "Geed(RMM)BlueRayCoverVol2.png (273 KB)")
Spin-offs
Ultra Capsule Navi is a segment at the end of the show where Riku will showcase the Ultra Capsule and Kaiju Capsule of the week.
Pega's Ultraman Geed Action Files
Though not part of the main series itself, a miniseries featuring Pega is aired every week on YouTube, which shows how certain actions are completed.
- Episode 1: Fusion Rise
- Episode 2: Wrecking Burst
- Episode 3: Strike Boost
- Episode 4: Emerium Boost Beam
- Episode 5: Atmos Impact
- Episode 6: Diffusion Shower
- Episode 7: Corkscrew Jamming
- Episode 8: Balkey Chorus
- Episode 9: Wide Beyond Shot
- Episode 10: Smash Moon Healing
- Episode 11: Neo Fusion Rise
- Episode 12: Big Bustaway
- Episode 13: Pega's Darkness One Legged Strike Pose
- Episode 14: Mega Electric Horn
- Episode 15: Arrayzing Geed Barrier
- Episode 16: Quattro Slugger
- Episode 17: Royal End
- Episode 18: Strium Flasher
- Episode 19: Spacium Flasher
- Episode 20: Slugger Spark
- Episode 21: Vertical Spark
- Episode 22: 87 Flasher
- Episode 23: Don Shine's Superhero Pose
- Episode 24: Twin Giga Break
- Episode 25: Geed's Fighting Pose
Another Gene
- Main article: Another Gene
Another Gene is a spin-off comic of the series, written by Junichiro Ashiki and illustrated by Gurihiru. It was released on TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION on July 15, 2022,[20][21] after first being announced during TSUBURAYA CONVENTION 2021 SPECIAL PROGRAM on December 13, 2021.[22][23]
Gallery
Images
Videos
Trivia
- Although Koichi Sakamoto addressed that this series takes place in the World of the Land of Light, official sources state that it actually takes place in the World of Side Space.
External Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 15: Ultraman Geed, pg 4
- ↑ https://www.kobe-np.co.jp/rentoku/omoshiro/202303/0016172536.shtml
- ↑ https://realsound.jp/movie/2018/03/post-170112.html
- ↑ https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/170601-geed-2
- ↑ https://www.sankei.com/article/20170613-HGAZDB5AOFOX3NP76ZVS55FTKI/
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 15: Ultraman Geed, pg 5
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 https://v-storage.jp/talk/interview/75432/
- ↑ https://spice.eplus.jp/articles/130583
- ↑ Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 15: Ultraman Geed, pg 33-34
- ↑ https://www.sankei.com/article/20170603-UJBZ55Y26VLPDCZXTWMZ6LQ2PM/
- ↑ https://v-storage.jp/report/event/66508/
- ↑ https://www.moview.jp/958961575.html
- ↑ https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20170707-ultraman/
- ↑ https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20170707-ultraman2/3
- ↑ https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/001/837/1837520/
- ↑ https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20170707-ultraman2/4
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 http://m-78.jp/news/n-4686
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 https://m-78.jp/geed/staff/
- ↑ https://m-78.jp/news/n-4886
- ↑ https://m-78.jp/news/post-6392
- ↑ https://x.com/Gurihiru/status/1547805334806614016
- ↑ https://m-78.jp/news/post-6168
- ↑ https://tsuburaya-prod.com/news/3854