| Series | Episodes |
| Ultraman Max | |
| Ultraman Max is the 19th entry in the Ultra Series | |
 | |
| Format: | Tokusatsu, Science fiction |
| Created by: | Tsuburaya Productions |
| Starring: | Sota Aoyama, Shusuke Kaneko, Kai Shishido, Hitomi Hasebe, Hikari Mitsushima |
| Opening Theme: | Ultraman Max |
| Ending Theme: | NO LIMITED |
| Country Of Origin | Japan |
| Number Of Episodes | 39 (40 with special) |
| Running Time | Approx. 24 mins per episode |
| Original Channel | Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting ABS-CBN (Philippines) TOKU (US) |
| Original Air Date | July 2, 2005 |
| Preceded by | Ultraman Nexus |
| Succeeded by | Ultraman Mebius |
| Watch on Crunchyroll | |
| Watch on Hulu | |
| Watch on TOKU | |
Many actors (and characters) from previous shows make cameos, most notably professor Yukari Yoshinaga and chief Kenzo Tomioka, who are played by the actors Hiroko Sakurai (Akiko Fuji) and Susumu Kurobe (Shin Hayata) from the original Ultraman. One episode (#29) revolves around the filming of the 1964 program Ultra Q the first entry in the Ultra series. Two actors from that show appear as themselves.
Max has a strong environmental message: most monster and alien attacks have something to do with the environment.
The tagline is Strongest! Fastest!! Max Power! Max Speed!! (最強! 最速!! Max Power! Max Speed!! Saikyō! Saisoku!! Max pawā! Max Speed!!)
On January 27, 2017, the US television channel TOKU announced that the series will be broadcast in the United States on its channel beginning February 27, 2017, making it the fifth Ultra Series to air in the United States after Ultraman, Ultra Seven, Ultraman: Towards the Future and Ultraman Tiga. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Series overview
Promotional Flyer
Just like his predecessors, Ultraman Max is from Nebula M78 and is supported by DASH (Defense Action Squad Heroes), a branch of the UDF (United Defense Federation). His human host is Touma Kaito. He bears many resemblances to Ultraseven, such as his armor and his eye-slugger. His superior, Ultraman Xenon, appears in episodes 13 and 39.
Team DASH is stationed in a harbor and their base is called the Base Titan. They have a main airplane called the Dash Mother which releases two other small planes known as Dash Bird 1 and 2. A third plane called the Dash Bird 3 appears in episode 23.
Team DASH also has an android operator, named Elly, who learns a bit about human behavior in some episodes. She also has a small ball shaped robot called Koko which makes a high pitched sound to respond to queries.
This series is notable for it's attack team containing both an android member, and, for the first time, a foreigner. (The latter would carry on to later series such as Ultraman Mebius.)
Characters
Defense Action Squad Heroes (DASH)
- Main article: DASH (Defense Action Squad Heroes)
- Captain Shigeru Hijikata: The team leader of DASH.
- Kenjiro Koba: The marksman and sharpshooter of DASH.
- Mizuki Koishikawa: The ace pilot and token female member. She is Kaito/Ultraman Max's love interest.
- Sean White: The team inventor/scientist/joker. He was transported from DASH North America branch.
- Elly: The robot operator (android) of DASH. She learns human behavior and once wished to become a human. She even cried in Episode 16 and in the final episode. During the series she shows a growing interest in Kenjiro Koba, even admitting at a certain point during the series that she likes him. She also has a steam when gets mad.
- Kaito Touma/Ultraman Max: The team's latest recruit. After he lost his parents during an earthquake while he was traveling, he resolved to do his best to protect others, so that no one would experience the loss he did. In order to do this he tried joining DASH, but failed the test the first time. He was saved by Ultraman Max from a certain death and was given the Max Spark, so that he could transform whenever needs arose.
Supporting characters
- Chief Kenzo Tomioka: A UDF general, the supervisor of DASH.
- Professor Yukari Yoshinaga.
- Ultraman Xenon (ウルトラマンゼノン Urutoraman Zenon): He appears once to help Ultraman Max when he is in danger and is also the one that gives Ultraman Max the Max Galaxy. He also appeared in episode 39 to wait for Ultraman Max to leave after Ultraman Max defeats Giga Berserkes.
Monsters
| Ultraman Max Kaiju & Seijin | |
|---|---|
| Grangon | Lagoras | Eleking | Baby Eleking | Reguila | Alien Sran | Pigmon | Red King | Salamadon | Paragler | People of Nebula KJ-K5 (Kesam, Kerus, Kedam) | Bugdalas | Natsunomeryu | Metacisus | Antlar | Halen | Alien Zetton | Zetton | King Joe | IF | Mike, Kuro and Tama | Nina | Eraga | Alien Shamer | Alien Tarla | Gilfas | Cloudos | Gomora | Madeus | Flygler | Alien Metron | Alien Neril | Alien Godley | Unizin | Alien Pitt | Eleking II | Luganoger | Lilika | Geronga | Lagoras Evo | Moetaranga | Tiny Baltan | Dark Baltan | Hophop | Adam | Eve | Red King II | Alien Satun | Keplus | Delos people | Auto Maton | Scout Berserke | Satellite Berserke | Giga Berserke | |
Super Battle Special
After the broadcast of Ultraman Max, an eight minute special was released on DVD. This special was a five minute clip show giving a review of Ultraman Max's back story and primary attacks up until Ultraman Xenon gives him the Max Galaxy. After the clip show, the monster Red King attacks Max with Zetton shortly joining in. The special ends with Max defeating both of them.
Cast
- Kaito Touma (トウマ・カイト Tōma Kaito): Sōta Aoyama (青山 草太 Aoyama Sōta)
- Shigeru Hijikata (ヒジカタ・シゲル Hijikata Shigeru): Kai Shishido (宍戸 開 Shishido Kai)
- Mizuki Koishikawa (コイシカワ・ミズキ Koishikawa Mizuki): Hitomi Hasebe (長谷部 瞳 Hasebe Hitomi)
- Kenjiro Koba (コバ・ケンジロウ Koba Kenjirō): Nobuyuki Ogawa (小川 信行 Ogawa Nobuyuki)
- Sean White (ショーン・ホワイト Shōn Howaito): Sean Nichols (ショーン・ニコルス Shōn Nikorusu)
- Elly (エリー Erī): Hikari Mitsushima (満島 ひかり Mitsushima Hikari)
- Kenzo Tomioka (トミオカ・ケンゾウ Tomioka Kenzō): Susumu Kurobe (黒部 進 Kurobe Susumu)
- Yukari Yoshinaga (ヨシナガ・ユカリ Yoshinaga Yukari): Hiroko Sakurai (桜井 浩子 Sakurai Hiroko)
- Ultraman Max (voice) (ウルトラマンマックス（声） Urutoraman Makkusu (koe)): Kazuya Nakai (中井 和哉 Nakai Kazuya)
- Narration (ナレーション Narēshon): Shirō Sano (佐野 史郎 Sano Shirō)
Songs
- Opening theme
- "Ultraman Max" (ウルトラマンマックス Urutoraman Makkusu)
- Lyrics: Neko Oikawa (及川 眠子 Oikawa Neko)
- Composition & Arrangement: Yasuharu Takanashi (高梨 康治 Takanashi Yasuharu)
- Artist: TEAM DASH with Project DMM
Ending theme: "NO LIMITED"
Fight theme: "DASH Alpha"
2017 English Dub
On January 27, 2017, the television channel TOKU announced that the series will be broadcast in the United States on its channel beginning February 27, 2017.[5] Days later, it is confirmed that the series will be dubbed in English. [6] The series was broadcast Monday through Friday at 7pm ET with replays every day during the morning or afternoon and was finalized on March 24, 2017.
 Ultraman on TOKU |  Premieres are coming to TOKU in February!-0 |
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Other Media
Cameo
- Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009), Max along with Xenon help the M78 Ultra Warriors to fight against the evil Ultraman Belial.
DVD Releases
Trivia
- Max's opening credits, the hero and some kaiju silhouetted on moving multicolored lights, are a tribute to Ultraman 80, which used a similar opening.
- Multiple Showa actors, including Ryu Manatsu and Kohji Moritsugu make cameos in episodes.
- In one episode the scene where Kaito and an alien were having a conversation about the alien's past with ancient Earth shows a village. This is the same village from Ultraman Tiga Gaiden: Revival of the Ancient Giant, the footage had just been updated and a few new scenes were added.
- This series along with Ultraman The Movie: Here Comes! Our Ultraman and Ultraman Ginga S The Movie: Showdown! The 10 Ultra Warriors! were dubbed in English, marking the first time an Ultraman related movie or series was dubbed since the Ultraman Tiga 4kids Dubbing.
References
- ↑ https://twitter.com/TOKUHD/status/825056164979281921
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/Tokuhd/photos/a.148214171888360.25677.110214429021668/1306434126066353/?type=3
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BPx2gFXltZ4/?taken-by=tokuhd
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhsTugTqhLU
- ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2017-02-09/toku-announces-the-network-premiere-of-ultraman-max/.112057
- ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-08/toku-to-premiere-ultraman-max-series-with-english-dub/.111973
External links
Start a Discussion Discussions about Ultraman Max (series)
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TOKU Channel to premiere ULTRAMAN MAX in February
2 messages-
Olympusat, Inc. TOKU channel, formerly the FUNimation channel, gave English-speaking Ultra series fans a cause to rejoice. Announced last Fri...
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Is anyone planning to record this? It seems to be an extremely obscure channel -- I for one have no way of accessing it.
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