Ultraman Ace

Ultraman Ace (ウルトラマンA（エース）, Urutoraman Ēsu) is the 5th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, the series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from April 8, 1972 to March 31, 1973, with a total of 52 episodes.

Ultraman Ace
Genre
Created byTsuburaya Productions
Developed byShinichi Ichikawa
Directed byMasanori Kakehi
Starring
Composer(s)Tōru Fuyuki
Country of originJapan
No. of episodes52
Production
Running time24 minutes (per episode)
Release
Original networkTBS
Original releaseApril 8, 1972 –
March 31, 1973
Chronology
Preceded byThe Return of Ultraman (Ultraman Jack)
Followed byUltraman Taro

Starting with this show, the Ultra Series heads in a notably different direction, slowly shifting from a sci-fi/mystery adventure to a full-blown superhero fantasy fare. All previous Ultramen (Ultraman, Ultra Seven, Ultraman Jack and Zoffy) make regular appearances in this series, whereas they only made guest appearances in the previous show The Return of Ultraman.

Plot

From another dimension, Yapool orchestrated attacks on Earth using biological weapons called "Terrible-Monsters" (超獣, Chōjū) that surpassed ordinary monsters. The first Terrible-Monster Verokron managed to destroy a city and the Earth Defense Force (地球防衛軍, Chikyū Bōeigun) that was dispatched to fight it. A pair of youths Seiji Hokuto and Yuko Minami lost their lives in protecting nearby civilians as the fifth Ultra from M78, Ultraman Ace fused with them. The pair were given Ultra Rings (ウルトラリング, Urutora Ringu) each per person and transforms into Ace whenever they perform the Ultra Touch (ウルトラタッチ, Urutora Tatchi).[1] Ever since Ultraman Ace fought on Earth, Seiji and Yuko were enlisted into TAC (Terrible-monster Attacking Crew) with the Ultra Brothers and Father of Ultra occasionally appeared to help them. Yapool on the other hand would send more Terrible-Monsters, including external help from various forces and occasionally went face-to-face with TAC and Ace themselves.

In the middle of the series, Yuko was revealed to be one of the last natives from the moon and gave her Ultra Ring to Hokuto, leaving the Earth in episode 28 as Hokuto was on his own in succeeding episodes. In the final episode, Yapool masqueraded as the child of Alien Simon and combined his past Terrible-Monsters into Jumbo King. When Yapool allowed himself to be killed as the children lost their faith in Seiji, the latter exposed his identity to them and fought the combined Terrible-Monsters. Ace departed from Earth afterwards, but not before giving a handful of advise to the children.

Cast
  • Seiji Hokuto (北斗 星司, Hokuto Seiji)： Keiji Takamine (高峰 圭二, Takamine Keiji)[1]
  • Yuko Minami (南 夕子, Minami Yūko): Mitsuko Hoshi (星 光子, Hoshi Mitsuko)[1]
  • Gorō Ryū (竜 五郎, Ryū Gorō): Tetsurō Sagawa (瑳川 哲朗, Sagawa Tetsurō)[1]
  • Ichirō Yamanaka (山中 一郎, Yamanaka Ichirō): Shunichi Okita (沖田 駿一, Okita Shun'ichi)[1]
  • Tsutomu Konno (今野 勉, Kon'no Tsutomu): Masaaki Yamamoto (山本 正明, Yamamoto Masaaki)[1]
  • Noriko Mikawa (美川 のり子, Mikawa Noriko): Keiko Nishi (西 恵子, Nishi Keiko)[1]
  • Kōzō Yoshimura (吉村 公三, Yoshimura Kōzō): Mitsuhiro Sano (佐野 光洋, Sano Mitsuhiro)[1]
  • Yōichi Kaji (梶 洋一, Kaji Yōichi): Katsumi Nakayama (中山 克己, Nakayama Katsumi)
  • Dan Umezu (梅津 ダン, Umezu Dan): Akinori Umezu (梅津 昭典, Umezu Akinori)
  • Kayoko Umezu (梅津 香代子, Umezu Kayoko): Rie Miyano (宮野 リエ, Miyano Rie)
  • Ultraman Ace (ウルトラマンA, Urutoraman Ēsu, Voice): Gorō Naya (納谷 悟朗, Naya Gorō)
  • Yapool (ヤプール人, Yapūru-jin, Voice), Alien Antira (アンチラ星人, Anchira Seijin, Voice; 10): Hirofumi Takada (高田 裕史, Takada Hirofumi)[2]
  • Narrator: Shin Kishida (岸田 森, Kishida Shin)[1]

Episodes
  1. Shine! The Five Ultra Brothers (Air Date: 04/07/72)
  2. Surpass the Chouju (Air Date: 04/14/72)
  3. Burn! Chouju Hell (Air Date: 04/21/72)
  4. 30,000 Year Chouju Appears (Air Date: 04/28/72)
  5. Giant Ant Chouju vs. Ultra Brothers (Air Date: 05/05/72)
  6. Pursue The Mystery of The Transformation Chouju (Air Date: 05/12/72)
  7. Kaiju vs. Chouju vs. Seijin (Air Date: 05/19/72)
  8. Life of the Sun, Life of Ace (Air Date: 05/26/72)
  9. 10,000 Chouju! Surprise Attack Plan (Air Date: 06/02/72)
  10. Battle! Ace vs. Goh Hideki (Air Date: 06/09/72)
  11. The Chouju is Ten Women? (Air Date: 06/16/72)
  12. The Red Flower Of Cactus Hell (Air Date: 06/23/72)
  13. Execution! The Five Ultra Brothers. (Air Date: 06/30/72)
  14. The Five Stars that Scattered Throughout the Galaxy (Air Date: 07/07/72)
  15. Curse of The Black Crab (Air Date: 07/14/72)
  16. Monster Story: Cow God Man (Air Date: 07/21/72)
  17. Monster Story: The She-Devil of Firefly Field (Air Date: 07/28/72)
  18. Lend Me The Pigeon (Air Date: 08/04/72)
  19. Mystery of The Kappa's Residence (Air Date: 08/11/72)
  20. The Star of Youth - The Star of a Couple (Air Date: 08/18/72)
  21. I Saw The Phantom of a Heavenly Woman (Air Date: 08/25/72)
  22. Yapool, Demon of Revenge (Air Date: 09/01/72)
  23. Comeback! Zoffy Now Arrives (Air Date: 09/08/72)
  24. Look! A Giant Transformation in The Middle of The Night (Air Date: 09/15/72)
  25. The Pyramid is a Chouju's Nest! (Air Date: 09/22/72)
  26. Total Annihilation! The Five Ultra Brothers (Air Date: 09/29/72)
  27. Miracle! The Ultra Father (Air Date: 10/06/72)
  28. Farewell Yoko, Sister Of The Moon (Air Date: 10/13/72)
  29. The Sixth Ultra Brother (Air Date: 10/20/72)
  30. The Ultra Star That Even You Can See (Air Date: 10/27/72)
  31. From Seven To The Hand of Ace (Air Date: 11/03/72)
  32. With A Prayer Upon The Ultra Star (Air Date: 11/10/72)
  33. Shoot That Hot-Air Balloon (Air Date: 11/17/72)
  34. A Chouju Dances on an Open Rainbow (Air Date: 11/24/72)
  35. A Gift From Zoffy (Air Date: 12/01/72)
  36. This Chouju's 10,000 Phones (Air Date: 12/08/72)
  37. The Star of Friendship Forever (Air Date: 12/15/72)
  38. Resurrection! The Ultra Father (Air Date: 12/22/72)
  39. The Life of Seven! The Life of Ace! (Air Date: 12/29/72)
  40. Give Back the Panda! (Air Date: 01/05/73)
  41. Ghost Story! Lion Drum (Air Date: 01/12/73)
  42. Mystery! The Resurrection of The Monster Woo (Air Date: 01/19/73)
  43. Ghost Story! Cry of The Yeti (Air Date: 01/26/73)
  44. Setsubun Ghost Story! The Shining Bean (Air Date: 02/02/73)
  45. Big Pinch! Save Ace! (Air Date: 02/09/73)
  46. Ride Beyond The Time Machine (Air Date: 02/16/73)
  47. Curse of The Salamander (Air Date: 02/23/73)
  48. Revenge Of Velokron (Air Date: 03/02/73)
  49. The Flying Jellyfish (Air Date: 03/09/73)
  50. Mass Chaos in Tokyo! Traffic Signals Gone Haywire (Air Date: 03/16/73)
  51. Life-Sucking Sound (Air Date: 03/23/73)
  52. Tomorrow's Ace To You! (Air Date: 03/30/73)

Songs

Opening Theme
  • "Ultraman Ace" (ウルトラマンエース, Urutoraman Ēsu)
    • Lyrics: Kyōichi Azuma (東 京一, Azuma Kyōichi)
    • Composition & Arrangement: Masahiko Aoi (葵 まさひこ, Aoi Masahiko)
    • Artist: Honey Knights (ハニー・ナイツ, Hanī Naitsu), Misuzu Children's Choral Group (みすず児童合唱団, Misuzu Jidō Gasshōdan)

Insert Song
  • "Song of TAC"
    • Lyrics: Tokyo Ichi
    • Composition & Arrangement: Touki Fuoki
    • Artist: Honey Knights, Misuzu Children's Choir
  • "One week of TAC"
    • Lyrics: Tokyo Ichi
    • Composition & Arrangement: Touki Toki
    • Artist: Ace Mennen Call

Home media

The series was released on Blu-ray in the United States by Mill Creek Entertainment.[3] It was originally scheduled to come out on April 21, but then got delayed to May 12 and it was finally released on May 26, 2020

References
  1. "ウルトラマンA　Blu-ray BOX　Standard Edition" (in Japanese). Bandai Visual. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  2. 円谷プロ画報. 第1巻. Takeshobo. 2013. pp. 216–217. ISBN 978-4-8124-9491-2.
  3. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Ultraman-Ace-Blu-ray/261265/
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