"What will you call me? "The"...?
"Next", maybe"
Ultraman the Next Ultraman Noa that he reverted into while he was chasing Beast the One upon entering Earth's atmosphere. In this form many of his powers were locked, which he later regained as time passed. The Next was also made as a remake of the original Ultraman, as a result he also known simply as "Ultraman" in his universe, with "The Next" being his code name from the military.
, or simply called 'Ultraman' in his world, is the devolved form ofConception
Etymology
The Next's name is meant to symbolize that this Ultra is the start of the Next Generation of the Ultraman Series.
Design
Eiji Tsuburaya's original intention for Ultraman's appearance was used for the Next. It was where the red parts of Ultraman were to represent organic tissue while the silver parts were space metal. This also makes the Next the first Ultra to have visible organic tissue. This idea was also stated to be a representation of hardened lava in Anphans and running burning lava in Junis.
The Next's Anphans form was deliberately designed to appear 'incomplete' or underdeveloped which runs in the French word 'enfance,' which means 'childhood'. It is also because of Maki's and the Next's unfinished Merger.
Anphans' mask has a rough rocky texture to simulate Ultraman's Type A suit, where Junis simulates the Type C suit used later in the series, showing both of the character's developments.
History
ULTRAMAN
Becoming the Next
Arriving on Earth and merging its life with F-15 pilot Shunichi Maki, the being slowly grew within him. After the Japanese self-defense force lost the One, they brought the man under custody, believing he could be the one to lure the beast back. The plan worked, but The One had increased in power and size by absorbing a swarm of lizards right before their eyes. However, trapped in a cell beneath the floor, Maki began to change. Blowing the door off with a burst of light and emerging, the human was swatted like an insect and sent flying into the wall where his change began to go full force.
Facing the One
Maki transformed into the Next, a humanoid warrior from the stars. The two titans battle raged within the warehouse, but when the creature threatened Sara’s life, Next dove in front of the tail, taking several whips before forcing the creature into retreat where it broke through the wall and vanished into the wilderness.
When Sara and Maki met up with the creature, it lashed out again after tricking Sara. The fight between the two was once again raging, but when it became evident that he could not defeat the hero, the beast absorbed a swarm of rats and grew into an even bigger form. Once the monster escaped, it began to attack the city. By the time Next came out of the hole, buildings were burning and falling. One building was about to fall on a young girl and her mother.
Advent to Junis
Rushing toward the falling building that was going to crush the young girl and her mother, Next evolved into his next form. The super being propped himself under the structure and held it up long enough for the pair to escape, but The One saw this and attacked. The battle for the city, and possibly the world, started yet again. When the creature began unleashing balls of energy from its jaws, the Next took to the skies.
After absorbing a flock of crows, the One followed vigorously. The two warriors began to dog fight, dodging and attacking one another until the monster used its tail to hold the giant still and pull him in. It began to bash the hero and feed on his energy until the air force arrived, attacking the monster and allowing Ultraman to escape and hit the fiend with two energy cutters, severing its wings and sending the beast falling to the ground.
Once landed, the red and silver giant had little trouble, using his most powerful attack, the Evol-Ray Schtrom, the space beast was vaporized. After this Ultraman honored Maki's request to fly with his son and revived his life force. However as a result Ultraman was forced to go to sleep to regain his energy back. ULTRAMAN
Ultraman Nexus - Later Years
- Main article: Ultraman Nexus (character)
Many years after the Next finished his battle with the One, Ultraman awoke from his slumber bearing his fully developed form, Nexus. In this form he merged with other humans, and recovering some of his powers. After he merged with Kazuki Komon, he obtained all of his powers, and became Ultraman Noa, his true form, and defeated his sworn enemy, Dark Zagi, and then stayed on Earth to defeat the remaining Space Beast, with Kazuki Komon as his host.
Ultraman Ginga
The Next is seen as one of the Ultras seen fighting the deluge of monsters during the Dark Spark War, being transformed into a Spark Doll by the Dark Spark at the war's conclusion. Unlike his prior appearance, he was fighting in his Anphans form as a giant like the other Ultras.
Profile
Stats
- Age: 350,000 years or older
- Home World: Unknown
- Time Limit: None
Body Features
- Eyes: The Next appeared to have no difficulty fighting the One in a dimly lit environment.
- Energy Core: The Next's equivalent to a Color Timer, unlike the normal one it is located with in the body not outside. It goes off when the Dunamist is reaching their physical limits. Unlike a normal Color Timer, it does not change color but flashes yellow and makes a noise similar to a heartbeat.
- Stratos Edge : The blades on the Next's arms, with concentration they can charge energy either for the Elbow Cutter or Lambda Slasher. In Junis, they are enhanced and fully developed allowing for the use of the Evol-Ray Schtrom. They are the precursors of Nexus' Armed Nexus.
- Ultra Armor: Unlike most Ultras, the Next's Ultra Armor does not cover his entire body leaving his sinew like flesh exposed. In Junis where the armor was fully developed, while not immune to the momentum, took the One's fireballs without visible damage, whereas entire buildings were being destroyed by them.
Transformation
Unlike most Ultras and his succeeding form, the Next doesn't use any manner of device to transform. Maki transformed by pure will although the first time may have been due to the blow he received and the light was trying to save his life. Afterwards he transformed by his own volition. The process begins with his eyes glowing red and the Next's energy lines appearing all over his body as it glows, the light turns blue and he transforms. The blue also appears when he changes back.
Forms
Anphans
is the Next's first form, it has all the basic powers attributed with Ultramen. It was the result of Maki's and Ultraman's incomplete merger and Maki's unpreparedness. Afterwards it served as the Next's default mode as Maki fought in it against the One's third form, unlike other Ultra hosts Maki fought in Ultra form but did not have Ultraman's knowledge to guide him meaning he had to discover all of his abilities as he went along.This form is said to be incomplete, implying that unlike normal Ultra forms, this one only exists simply as a result of Maki and the Next's unfinished merger. The Next's abilities in this form can be seen as underdeveloped.
- Stats
- Height: 10 ~ 40 m
- Weight: 2.5 ~ 26,000 t
- Maximum Flight Speed: Mach 2.5
- Abilities
- Travel Sphere: The Next can traverse vast distances as a ball of light.
- Assimilation: The Next can fuse with a human host, reviving them if they are dead and granting them abilities such as increased strength, durability and well as ESP.
- Acceleration: The Next can move quickly as a glowing blur of light.
- Size Change: The Next can grow in size, at the same time moving at super speed.
- Style Change : The Next can change into Junis while at the same time moving at super speed and changing his size.
- Techniques
- Special
- Stratos Edge
- Elbow Cutter : Charging his Stratos Edge with energy, the Next flings an arc of energy at his opponent.
: The blades on the Next's arms, they can be charged with energy through concentration or be used as cutting blades.
- Physical
- Punches: The Next fights with the skills of a boxer, using conventional shots, hooks and uppercuts.
- Kicks: Although normal kicks, the Next's kicks are relatively beyond human abilities. One such blow sent the One flying across the room.
- Headlock: The Next possesses a powerful headlock, which with his strength is near impossible to get out of. When he does this he usually follows up with several knee strikes to the opponent's head.
Junis Armed Nexus later seen in Nexus.
is the Next's evolved form, it offers greater strength and speed to that of Anphans. The Next retains all the powers of his previous form but they are now more powerful versions of his prior form's. His Stratos Edge blades have evolved to become more powerful. It is the precursor of theThis form is first used in the last battle against the One when he grew to his second last form and rampaged in the city. Maki transformed while increasing his size and using acceleration to save a little girl and her mother from a falling building. It is in this form that Maki and Ultraman complete their assimilation with each other, only to separate shortly after the battle was won.
- Stats
- Height: 40 m
- Weight: 26,000 t
- Maximum Flight Speed: Mach 3
- Abilities
- Ultra Powers: Junis is the true form of the Next, since Anphans was his underdeveloped form, Junis boasts greater strength, speed, and durability as well as more developed attacks (Stratos Edge blades). All of the techniques from his previous form are accessible in this form but would be more powerful given his evolved state.
- Flight: Like any Ultra, the Next can fly under his own power, but Maki only discovered this in Junis.
- Techniques
- Special
- Stratos Edge
- Lambda Slasher : The Next can now fire much larger arcs using both hands or by charging up both arms for twin attacks.
- Evol-Ray Schtrom : The the Next's finisher beam. Unlike normal Ultra Beams, the particles do not flow evenly, instead in an oscillating fashion. It has the feature of causing the target to break down at the molecular level into glowing blue particles, a trait inherited by the later 'Ray Schtroms' used by Nexus.
: The blades on the Next's arms, they can be charged with energy through concentration or be used as cutting blades. In this form, they are fully developed.
Other Media
Ultraman Nexus (video game)
The Next in his Junis form appears in this game as one of the secret playable characters. To unlock him, the player must complete Battle Mode using Ultraman Nexus Junis form.
Merchandise
Ultra Hero Series
- Ultraman The Next (Junis) (2004)
- Release Date: December 2004
- Price: 700 yen
- JAN/ISBN: 4543112253460
- Materials: PVC
- Ultra Hero Series Ultraman The Next is a 6-inch figure based on his Junis form in the climax, and he features 3 points of articulation on the arms and the waist.
- Ultraman The Next (Anphans) (2004)
- Release Date: December 2004
- Price: 700 yen
- JAN/ISBN: 4543112253453
- Materials: PVC
- This Ultra Hero Series Ultraman The Next figure is based on his Anphans form seen in the first half of the movie.
- Ultraman The Next (Anphans) (Limited Edition, 2004)
- Release Date: 2004
- Materials: PVC
- This Ultraman The Next (Anphans) is a redeco of the titular mold, featuring colorless translucent plastic with some clear yellow sprays to represent his first appearance where he communicated with Maki. This figure is only available at Lawson, where customers must purchase it along with advance tickets of the movie.
HG Series
Hyper Hero Real Action Doll Collection
- Ultraman The Next (Junis) (2005)
- Release Date: May 18, 2005
- Price: 5,940 yen
- JAN/ISBN: 4534598000754
- Materials: PVC, ABS
- Additional accessories: 1 pair Knife-hands, 1 pair of fists
- Released as part of the "Hyper Hero Real Action Doll Collection" line by Ootsuka Planning, this action figure of Ultraman The Next features an articulated frame (decoed in red) with wearable body parts of the Ultra himself.
- Ultraman The Next (Anphans) (2005)
- Release Date: August 1, 2005
- Price: 5,940 yen
- JAN/ISBN: 4534598000761
- Materials: PVC, ABS
- Additional accessories: 1 pair Knife-hands, 1 pair of fists
- 3 months later, the Anphans version of The Next is also available for the line.
Gallery
ULTRAMAN
Miscellaneous
Trivia
- When Next was still in the production stage it was being produced under the name Project Yellow Eyes, which may or may not have been done in the spirit of Ultraseven which started out under the name Ultra Eyes.
- The Next is the first Ultra to have a rise scene after his transformation. It appeared during a mental conversation between Maki and Ultraman, during which they finished their merger. The rise scene showed to signify this and their renewed strength.
- Unlike his succeeding forms, the Next experienced the three minute rule, but for a different reason than expected. Because his merger with Maki Shunichi was incomplete, he could be active only for a short time before the two were onset by great pain and fatigue. During his second fight, he lasted for much longer and when the two completely merged, this limit disappeared.
- Unlike most Ultra hosts, save a few, Maki was in control of both forms, because of their incomplete merger, the minds of Maki and the Next only met in short dream-like intervals. Until the end when the two fully merged, Maki had discovered all of his abilities by accident. His situation is thus different from all the following Dunamists and all other Ultra hosts.
- Of his three forms, Noa's voice is only heard by Shunichi during their final dream state.
- The gloves of the Next would be later recycled for the hands of an Alien Serpent in Ultraman Chronicle: ZERO & GEED.
See Also
References