WINR (Worldwide Investigation Network Response) is a military team formed in the USA and was the featured defense team of Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero.[1]
Overview[]
WINR is a specialized investigative agency led by the United Nations, established with the aim of investigating, researching, and responding to abnormal events caused by supernatural phenomena, monsters, aliens, and the like. The operational funding for this organization comes from donations from various countries, and it has multiple branch offices worldwide.[2]
Initially, WINR was primarily an investigative agency, with its main mission being to protect human lives and public property when monsters appeared while also attempting to ensure the survival of the monsters. However, as incidents caused by monster disasters continued to increase, WINR strengthened its response capabilities. In order to maintain the safety of human society, their mission scope gradually expanded, with a primary focus on combat missions against monsters.
In some cases, WINR may cooperate with the armed forces of various countries, but according to its policies, they retain the veto power to intervene in conflicts between nations to ensure that their actions do not pose a threat to international peace and security.
History[]
Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero[]
After WINR analyzed a mysterious object, they concluded it belonged to an insect-like alien creature.
When initially introduced, WINR was actively investigating a mysterious object that resembled a cocoon. Subsequently, WINR unexpectedly discovered an unidentified satellite with the distinctive feature of being enormous, measuring up to 1.6 kilometers in length, and moving at astonishing speed, posing significant challenges for capture and analysis. IDC's satellites attempted to destroy this mysterious satellite but were met with an attack from a sudden appearance of a red energy sphere.
During further investigation, WINR members traveled to the landing site of the red energy sphere using a Strike VTOL. Simultaneously, they received reports from the city police department about two missing officers and initiated a parallel investigation. The landing spot of the red energy sphere had formed a massive crater. During the investigation, a member named Kai encountered the red energy. At the same time, three Alien Baltan appeared in the city, merging their bodies into a giant Alien Baltan creature. Faced with this threat, a mysterious giant known as "Ultraman Powered" appeared in the city and successfully defeated the Alien Baltan creature.On a Mission from M78
Afterwards, WINR regarded Ultraman Powered as an ally and began collaborating on various investigative and combat missions to counter ongoing supernatural threats.
Following numerous missions, the mother ship of the Alien Baltan suddenly launched an object into space, which subsequently crashed onto Earth. After analyzing images, WINR members discovered that this object bore similarities to the Baltan cocoon but had significantly increased in size.Falling Stars Spell Trouble
WINR's headquarters is destroyed by Zetton.
After an intense battle with Dorako, WINR's base came under a direct attack from Zetton's cocoon from space, resulting in severe damage to the base. WINR members were unable to return to the base and sought refuge at a nearby Air Force base. Finally, during the mission to confront Zetton, two beams of red light suddenly appeared, destroying the Baltan aliens' mothership. All the members then witnessed the scene of Ultraman Power and his companions leaving Earth together.The Final Showdown?
Base[]
WINR North American branch headquarters
The North American branch headquarters is located in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, USA, and is constructed using the latest seismic and fire-resistant technology to ensure safety. This base serves as not only WINR's tactical command center but also has various functions, including equipped with large monitors and supercomputers for tracking and analyzing data related to supernatural events.
Additionally, the base has a medical room to provide necessary healthcare. Scientific laboratories are used for researching and analyzing unexplained phenomena and conducting related studies. Private rooms are provided for team members. The Sky Hunter's hangar and the elevator for launching the Strike Beetle are located underground at the base.
Members[]
Russel Edlund
- Main article: Russel Edlund
Russel Edlund is the captain and chief commander of operations, he has a wealth of practical experience. His task of attitude was strictly pragmatic.
Kenichi Kai
- Main article: Kenichi Kai
Kenichi Kai is WINR's only Japanese-American member. Usually responsible for collecting intelligence and rear support, etc., and sometimes pilots Hawk jets but also is proficient in a variety of weapons knowledge.
He transforms into Ultraman Powered.
Theresa Beck
- Main article: Theresa Beck
Julie Young
- Main article: Julie Young
Julie Young is one of WINR's pilots, she can give full play STRIKE VTOL performance. She was the one who was with Kai when investigating Ultraman's ship. She is commonly on the job with Rick, and her brother in law becomes the monster Jamila.
Rick Sanders
- Main article: Rick Sanders
Rick Sanders is the WINR's marks man and one of their pilots, he loves his job and somtimes disobays orders to shoot at monsters. He also loves talking about American jokes, like the typical American. He also hates to be called by the wrong name.
Arsenal[]
Attire[]
WINR Uniform
- WINR Helmet: All members are equipped with battle helmet with built-in camera.
- WINR Uniform: The uniform is primarily blue, and when members are on duty, they wear a combat jacket with an identification card. The jacket features the WINR. emblem on the left arm. Each member's last name in English letters is printed on the left chest area of the jacket. The back of the jacket displays the member's identification number.
- The design of the uniform is overseen by Elizabeth Jett.[3]
- Radiation Protection Suit: A yellow protective suit used when working with uranium bullets.
- Heat-Resistant Suit: A special protective suit for members to venture into hot environments.
- Insulated Suit: An insulated suit with high-voltage current isolation capabilities.
Equipment[]
- Interface Communicator: Wrist-mounted communication devices carried by members, allowing long-distance communication unaffected by electromagnetic interference. The sender's image is displayed on a circular screen.
- WINR SHOOT: WINR's 0.6mm caliber carried by all the members, an electromagnetic railgun with the trigger located at the front of the firing mechanism. It can launch small destruction rounds through powerful electromagnetic acceleration. Extending the barrel switches it to LAUNCHER MODE, capable of firing 9mm rockets.
- Stinger launcher: A highly destructive weapon, often used by Rick in ground combat.
- Small 4-Rocket Launcher: A rocket launcher with four firing ports, typically stored in the ROVER's rear seat.
- Rocket Launcher: A high-impact weapon primarily used in ground combat, known for its destructive power.
- Element Detector: A detector capable of identifying elements.
- Experimental satellite: An artificial satellite located in Earth's orbit, equipped with a powerful laser cannon for ground-based attacks.
Mecha[]
- Sky Hunter: A 313-meter-long mobile transport carrier capable of sub-stratospheric flight. It is a multi-purpose rigid airship that can act as a mobile base. In addition to two Strike VTOLs, it can carry the Special Submarine S-22 and various land vehicles. Its optional weapons are a powerful laser cannon and large missile launchers. The ship can also transport monsters with the use of a system of mechanical arms.
- Strike VTOL/HAWK: WINR's main two-seater anti-monster fighter. WINR possesses at least four of them in WINR Headquarters, and two can be loaded into the Sky Hunter.
- ROVER: An all-terrain four-wheel vehicle, with speed up to 240km. It can seat six people.
- Special Submarine S-22: An all-purpose submarine capable of operating at depths of 10,000 meters. It is armed with two torpedoes.
- WINR Armored Vehicle: The WINR specialized armored vehicle, designed for ground attacks against monsters and extraterrestrials, though it was not utilized in the series.
Gallery[]
Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero[]
Miscellaneous[]
Trivia[]
- The initial concept was to establish a scientific special investigation team called "SUIT" (Scientific Ultimate Investigation Troop).[3]
- The WINR North American branch headquarters was designed by Eric Lloyd Brown, with modelmaker Gary Young constructing the vast majority of it and Ted Van Doorn handling the painting of the model. Brown also designed, built, and/or detailed the docking bay, docking arms, and boarding section of the WINR airship, as well as various other small components. In an interview, Brown mentioned that Tsuburaya Productions did not interfere with their work and essentially allowed the production team to have creative freedom.[4]
- Regarding the cast for WINR, director King Wilder mentioned in an interview that the production team was informed they could assemble a cast, typically selecting three to four actors for each lead role—excluding walk-ons or day parts—and hold an interim casting session with Tsuburaya Productions from Japan. Ultimately, Tsuburaya Productions would make the final decision on the actors for each of the main roles. The only exception was Kane Kosugi, who was secured from the start. The other roles were determined through a smaller casting session.[5]
References[]
- ↑ https://m-78.jp/character/winr/
- ↑ Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 18: Ultraman Great / Ultraman Powered, pg 20
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 『テレビマガジン特別編集 新・ウルトラマン大全集』ISBN 4-06-178418-8
- ↑ https://vantagepointinterviews.com/2022/08/01/ultraman-flies-into-hollywood-eric-brown-on-his-design-and-modelmaking-work-on-ultraman-the-ultimate-hero/
- ↑ https://vantagepointinterviews.com/2018/08/07/the-ultimate-director-king-wilder-on-directing-americas-take-on-ultraman/
| Defense Teams | |
|---|---|
| Showa Defense Teams | SSSP | TDF (UG, MAT, TAC, ZAT, MAC, UGM) | Science Guard Party |
| Heisei Defense Teams | UMA | WINR | HEART | Mydo | TPC (GUTS, Super GUTS, Black Buster Corps, Neo Super GUTS) | GUARD (XIG) | GOKAZOKU | SRC (EYES, Team SEA), JADF | BCST | TLT (NR) | UDF (DASH) | GUYS | DEUS | ZAP SPACY | Team U | UPG | UNVER (Xio) | VTL | AIB |
| Reiwa Defense Teams | EGIS | GAF (STORAGE) | TPU (GUTS-Select) | SSSP | GGF (SKaRD) | KDF | GDF (SKIP) |
| Other Defense Teams | Inter Galactic Defense Force | Space Patrol | MIGHTY JACK | SRI | SGM | Team Mouri | SAT | SAF | PAT | Koseidon Corps | MAT | SWORD | SSSP | USP | GIRLS |