Ultraman Leo
Ultraman Leo (ウルトラマンレオ, Urutoraman Reo) is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the 7th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Ultraman Leo was aired between April 12, 1974, and March 28, 1975, with a total of 51 episodes. Tatsumi Nikamoto was the in-suit actor of Ultraman Leo.
Ultraman Leo | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Created by | Tsuburaya Productions |
Developed by | Shigemitsu Taguchi |
Directed by | Tadashi Mafune |
Starring | Ryu Manatsu, Kōji Moritsugu, Mieko Mita, Tomoko Ai |
Composer(s) | Tōru Fuyuki, Makoto Kawaguchi |
Country of origin | Japan |
No. of episodes | 51 |
Production | |
Running time | 24 minutes (per episode) |
Release | |
Original network | TBS |
Original release | April 12, 1974 – March 28, 1975 |
Chronology | |
Preceded by | Ultraman Taro |
Followed by | The☆Ultraman (Anime) |
Plot
Ultraman Leo comes from Nebula L77 (Leo constellation), and takes the human form of Gen Ootori. Ultraseven appears to fight a new foe, Alien Magma and his two "pets", the Red and Black Giras. Ultimately, Ultraseven is greatly overpowered and his leg is graphically broken by Black Giras. Ultraman Leo drives off the foes, but Ultraseven is confined to his human form because of his injuries and due to the Ultra Eye being damaged when he attempted to transform. Dan then maintains his role as Captain of MAC (Monster Attack Crew). Gen is a gymnastics teacher on the side and joins MAC to defend the Earth. Gen and Dan regularly train together, allowing Ultraman Leo to learn many moves in human form. In episode 34, Dan asks Ultraman Jack to take the Ultra Eye back to M78 to be restored while he heals on Earth. However, in Episode 40 MAC is destroyed by Silver Bloome, a saucer monster that belongs to Commander Black. During the attack Dan asks Leo to keep defending the Earth and disappears in the conflagration. It is later shown that he was taken back to M78 to be fully healed and restored as Ultraseven. Gen is now unemployed and spends most of his time training the kids to defend themselves as well as defending the Earth as Ultraman Leo. Commander Black and Alien Bunyo capture Gen when he cannot transform completely. Gen as Leo is then dismembered, only to be brought back to life by Ultraman King. Leo would then face Black's final monster, Black End, with the kids he trained, the latter of whom kill Black, and hand the sphere used to control Black End to Leo. Finishing his mission, Gen removes his Leo Ring and sets off to tour Earth, his "second home".
Episodes
- When Seven Dies! Tokyo Submerges!
- The Big Sink! The Last Day of the Japanese Archipelago
- Goodbye Tears...
- A Vow Between Men
- Don't Cry! You Are a Man
- You're a Man! Burn On!
- A Beautiful Man's Disposition
- Certain Kill! Monster Challenger
- Bridge of Friendship That Spans Space
- The Wandering Monster of Sorrow
- One Man Covered with Mud
- The Travellin' Dude Has Come!
- Huge Explosion! A Desperate Couple of Aliens
- Certain-Kill Fists! A Young Boy Who Calls Up a Tempest
- The Way to Kill in Darkness! The One Strike with Fighting Spirit
- The Woman Who Disappeared in the Middle of the Night
- Bride of the Wolfman
- Vampire! The Bat Girl
- The Revival of the Half-Fish Man
- The Strange Lad of Ursa Minor
- I Saw a Goddess in the Far North!
- The Leo Brothers vs. The Monster Brothers
- The Mischievous Alien Who Fell Out of Bed
- The Beautiful Woman of Virgo
- The Rhinoceros Beetle is a Space Invader!
- Ultraman King vs. the Magician
- You're Strong! Momotaroh!
- Return of the Bearded Captain!
- Reunion of Fate! Dan and Anne
- The Returning of a Monster's Favor
- The White Flower that Protects Earth
- Farewell, Princess Kaguya
- The Leo Brothers vs. the Evil Space Spirit Alien
- Ultra Brothers, Eternal Vows
- I'm a Monster General!
- Fly! Leo Brothers, Save the Space Base!
- Mystery! The Mirror in Which a Devil Lives
- Battle! The Leo Brothers vs. The Ultra Brothers
- The Leo Brothers and the Ultra Brothers, Time of Victory
- MAC Annihilated! The Flying Saucer was a Living Creature!
- A Flying Saucer Beast Came from an Evil Planet!
- Leo is in Danger! The Assassin is a Flying Saucer Beast
- Challenge! The Terror of the Vampire Saucer
- The Shooting Star from Hell!
- The Phantom Girl
- The Fighting Leo Brothers! The End of the Flying Saucer Beast!
- The Evil Stardust-Collecting Girl
- The Giant Monster Bird Saucer Attacks the Japanese Archipelago!
- The Red Assassin Who Beckons Death!
- The Life of Leo! The Miracle of King!
- Goodbye, Leo! Take off Toward the Sun
Cast
- Gen Ootori (おゝとり ゲン, Ōtori Gen): Ryu Manatsu (真夏 竜, Manatsu Ryū).[1]
- Tooru Umeda (梅田 トオル, Umeda Tōru): Tsunehiro Arai (新井 つねひろ, Arai Tsunehiro).[1]
- Dan Moroboshi (モロボシ・ダン, Moroboshi Dan): Kohji Moritsugu (森次 晃嗣, Moritsugu Kōji)[1]
- Shōji Ōmura (大村正司, Ōmura Shōji, 1-22): Yū Fujiki (藤木 悠, Fujiki Yū)[1]
- Momoko Yamaguchi (山口 百子, Yamaguchi Momoko, 1-40): Kaori Okano (丘野 かおり, Okano Kaori)[1]
- Takeshi Nomura (野村 猛, Nomura Takeshi, 1-40): Yukio Itō (伊藤 幸雄, Itō Yukio)[1]
- Kaoru Umeda (梅田カオル, Umeda Kaoru, 1-40): Yoshiko Masumoto (増本 美子, Masumoto Yoshiko)[1]
- Commander Black (ブラック指令, Burakku Shirei, 40-51): Takeshi Ōbayashi (大林 丈史, Ōbayashi Takeshi)[2]
- Narrator: Tetsurō Sagawa (瑳川 哲朗, Sagawa Tetsurō)
Semi-regular
- Akio Kuroda (黒田 明雄, Kuroda Akio, 1-8): Kenzō Kuroda (黒田 健三, Kuroda Kenzō)
- Ichirō Aoshima (青島 一郎, Aoshima Ichirō, 1-11, 13-16): Yūichi Yanagisawa (柳沢 優一, Yanagisawa Yūichi)
- Kiyohiko Akashi (赤石 清彦, Akashi Kiyohiko, 1-16): Kenji Ōshima (大島 健二, Ōshima Kenji)
- Haruko Momoi (桃井 晴子, Momoi Haruko, 1-10, 16): Kyōko Aratama (新玉 恭子, Aratama Kyōko)
- Junko Shirakawa (白川 純子, Shirakawa Junko, 1-40): Mieko Mita (三田 美枝子, Mita Mieko)
- Atsushi Hirayama (平山 あつし, Hirayama Atsushi, 9-18): Nobuo Hirasawa (平沢 信夫, Hirasawa Nobuo)
- Daisuke Satō (佐藤 大介, Satō Daisuke, 19-40): Shigeo Tedzuka (手塚 茂夫, Tedzuka Shigeo)
- Jun Shirato (白土純, Shirato Jun, 6, 17-40): Masaharu Matsusaka (松坂 雅治, Matsusaka Masaharu)
- Ippei Kajita (梶田 一平, Kajita Ippei, 17-19, 22-40): Takashi Asakura (朝倉 隆, Asakura Takashi)
- Haruko Matsuki (松木 晴子, Matsuki Haruko, 26-40): Tomoko Ai (藍 とも子, Ai Tomoko)
- Miyako Ōtsuki (大槻 美也子, Ōtsuki Miyako, 23 & 25): Midori Ōhara (大原 みどり, Ōhara Midori)
- Commander Tatakura (高倉司令長官, Takakura Shirei Chōkan, 13, 36, 39): Takashi Kanda (神田 隆, Kanda Takashi)
- Sakiko Miyama (美山 咲子, Miyama Izumi, 40-51): Masumi Harukawa (春川 ますみ, Harukawa Masumi)
- Izumi Miyama (美山 いずみ, Miyama Izumi, 40-51): Fujiko Nara (奈良 富士子, Nara Fujiko)
- Ayumi Miyama (美山 あゆみ, Miyama Ayumi, 40-51): Kaoru Sugita (杉田 かおる, Sugita Kaoru)
Voice actors
- Astra (アストラ, Asutora, 39), Imit-Astra (にせアストラ, Nise Asutora, 39): Junji Maruyama (丸山 純二, Maruyama Junji)[3]
- Ultraman King (ウルトラマンキング, Urutoraman Kingu, 39, 50), Dark Alien Alien Babarue (暗黒星人 ババルウ星人, Ankoku Seijin Babarū Seijin, 39): Motomu Kiyokawa (清川 元夢, Kiyokawa Motomu, 39), Hiroshi Masuoka (増岡 弘, Masuoka Hiroshi, 50)[3]
- Zoffy (ゾフィ, Zofi, 39): Satohiro Sakai (酒井 郷博, Sakai Satohiro)[3]
- Original Ultraman (初代ウルトラマン, Shodai Urutoraman, 39): Shinya Nazuka (名塚 新也, Nazuka Shinya)[3]
- Returned Ultraman (帰ってきたウルトラマン, Kaettekita Urutoraman, 39): Takashi Takeuchi (竹内 喬, Takeuchi Takashi)[3]
- Ultraman Ace (ウルトラマンA, Urutoraman Ēsu, 39): Shingo Toyokawa (豊川晋吾, Toyokawa Shingo)[3]
- Ultraseven (ウルトラセブン, Urutorasebun, 51): Kenji Nakagawa (中川謙二, Nakagawa Kenji)
Songs
Opening Theme Songs
- "Ultraman Leo" (ウルトラマンレオ, Urutoraman Reo)
- Lyrics: Yū Aku (阿久 悠, Aku Yū)
- Composition & Arrangement: Makoto Kawaguchi (川口 真, Kawaguchi Makoto)
- Artist: Ryu Manatsu, Mizuumi Boys and Girls Choir (少年少女合唱団みずうみ, Shōnen Shōjo Gasshōdan Mizuumi)
- "Tatakae! Ultraman Leo" (戦え! ウルトラマンレオ, Tatakae! Urutoraman Reo, episodes 14 - 51)
- Lyrics: Yu Aku
- Composition & Arrangement: Kawaguchi Makoto
- Artist(s): Yuki Hide (credited as Hideyuki ), Lake Boys and Girls Choir (Tokyo records )
Insert Songs
- "The March of MAC"
- Lyrics: Yu Aku
- Composition & Arrangement: Makoto Kawaguchi
- Artist: Ryu Manatsu, Shonen Girl Choir Mizuumi (Tokyo Records)
- "The Ballad of the Starry Sky"
- Lyrics: Yu Aku
- Composition & Arrangement: Makoto Kawaguchi
- Artist: Ryu Manatsu (Tokyo Record)
US television premiere and streaming release
- Honolulu, Hawaii-based on-air broadcaster of Japanese programming, KIKU-TV, the home of the tokusatsu or Kikaida craze of the 1970s, began airing all 51 episodes of the series on Friday, January 3, 2014, at 6:30 PM (Hawaiian Standard Time) in Japanese with English Subtitles.[4] In 1975, an English-dubbed version of Ultra Seven was broadcast on Honolulu's NBC affiliate KHON-TV.
- On November 12, 2014, Crunchyroll obtained the streaming rights to the series from Tsuburaya Productions and began posting the Hawaiian subtitled episodes on their streaming service for the US, Canada, Latin America, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.[5][6]
- The television network TOKU premiered the series with English subtitles in the United States on November 29, 2017.[7]
Other appearances
Besides the Shōwa period, Ultraman Leo's popularity and fighting ability enabled him to make guest appearances in the following Ultra Series after the end of the original TV series.
- Princess Comet: Guest appearances in episode 63.
- Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle, Ultraman Story, Ultraman Zoffy: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army, Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider: All these movies used Leo's stock footage in the original series.
- Ultraman Mebius: Appeared in episode 1, 34, and 50. Ultraman Leo returns in Ultraman Mebius episode 34, "A Man Without a Home to help", in his human form Gen Ohtori. He trained and helped Mebius to defeat Alien Reflect.[8]
- Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy, Ultra Galaxy Legend Side Story: Ultraman Zero vs. Darklops Zero, Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial and Ultraman Saga: See here
- Ultraman Ginga, Ultraman Ginga S The Movie and Ultra Fight Victory: See here
- Ultraman X: See here
- Ultraman Geed: here
International broadcast
In Thailand, Ultraman Leo first aired in 1995 on IBC7 (now called TrueVisions).
Home media
They are plans to release the series to Blu-ray in the United States in the Summer of 2020 by Mill Creek Entertainment, but it might get delayed because of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.[9]
References
- "充実の特典映像は必見!「ウルトラマンレオ Blu-ray BOX」発売!" (in Japanese). m-78.jp. 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
- "1/20(土)~28(日)のウルトライベント情報!" (in Japanese). m-78.jp. 2018-01-19. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- 円谷プロ画報. 第1巻. 竹書房. 2013. p. 231. ISBN 978-4-8124-9491-2.
- http://kikutv.com/
- "New Fall Titles: Ultraman Leo". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
- ""Ultraman Leo" Begins Streaming on Crunchyroll". crunchyroll.com. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- "TOKU to Air Ultraman Leo TV Series". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "ウルトラマンメビウス M78星雲「光の国」". hicbc.com. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- http://kaijuhometheatre.blogspot.com/2019/09/mill-creek-lists-timeframe-for-multiple.html?m=1