Ultraman Mebius
Ultraman Mebius (ウルトラマンメビウス, Urutoraman Mebiusu) is a Japanese television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting. It is the 20th TV series and 40th anniversary production in the Ultra Series, which first began in 1966. It premiered on the Tokyo Broadcasting System on April 8, 2006. Unlike the two prior entries, Ultraman Nexus (2004) and Ultraman Max (2005), Mebius was moved from Saturday mornings to Saturday evenings at 05:30 and the show went on to air in Korea in April 2012,.[1][2]
Ultraman Mebius | |
---|---|
Promotional poster | |
Genre | Superhero Tokusatsu Science fiction Action/Adventure Kaiju Kyodai Hero |
Created by | Tsuburaya Productions |
Developed by | Masanao Akahoshi |
Directed by | Tomoki Sano |
Starring | Shunji Igarashi Masaki Nishina Ai Saikawa Daisuke Watanabe Kenta Uchino Misato Hirata Minoru Tanaka |
Composer(s) | Toshihiko Sahashi, Toru Fuyuki |
Country of origin | Japan |
No. of episodes | 50 + 7 Gaiden |
Production | |
Running time | 30 mins |
Release | |
Original network | Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Co., Ltd.(JPN) |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV), 720p |
Original release | April 8, 2006 – March 31, 2007 |
Chronology | |
Preceded by | Ultraman Max |
Followed by | Ultraseven X |
External links | |
Website |
On October 22, 2014, Crunchyroll announced that the entire series would be available that day on their streaming service for the US, Canada, Latin America, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.[3] On February 26, 2018, Toku announced that they would broadcast the series in the United States on their television channel, starting on March 19, 2018.[4]
The series opens with the introduction of the rookie Ultraman Mebius, who is sent to Earth by the Father of Ultra. The series is set 40 years after the shows of Ultraman (1966), and makes many references from Ultra Q (1966) through to Ultraman 80 (1980). "Mebius" is the Japanese approximation of Möbius; the Möbius strip is a recurring motif in the series.
Story
Mebius is a young but powerful rookie Ultra Warrior and has a lot to look forward to. He is chosen as the new protector of the earth. This series is set in the same universe as the original timeline; when Mebius first appears to fight a monster, it is mentioned that this is the first time an Ultraman has appeared on earth in 25 years. Under the disguise of Mirai Hibino, Mebius joins CREW GUYS, the monster attack force of this series.
At the start of the first episode, all of the original team members of GUYS, except Ryu, are killed off in their first monster battle. Mirai gathers a group of people he meets in an evacuation to join the new GUYS because he feels they have the right heart to be on GUYS.
Characters
Crew GUYS
GUYS (Guards for UtilitY Situation) is an attack team formed at some point of time after UGM's disbandment. As no monster attacks were recorded since the last 25 years, Dinozaur had killed a majority of the original team members, save for the cadet named Ryu Aihara. Once Mirai and Sakomizu joined GUYS, the former recruited several civilians he encountered prior due to their commitment at the height of monster attacks.
- Field members
- Mirai Hibino: see here
- Ryu Aihara: The sole survivor of his original Crew GUYS team during Dinozaur's attack. As he becomes the field commander, Ryu is dedicated to protect his new teammates and eventually acknowledges their skill to be on an equal level with past attack teams.
- Marina Kazama: A former motorcycle racer with enhanced sense of hearing.
- George Ikaruga: A soccer player with enhanced sense of sight and reflexes, which allows him to utilize ranged weapons at a precision rate.
- Konomi Amagai: A kindergarten teacher, her dedication to save the rabbits lead to an assembly of civilians that would become future members of Crew GUYS. Although usually works as an operator, she can also join the battle and guiding the Maquette Monsters.
- Teppei Kuze: A team member who is knowledgeable in the Ultra Brothers' exploits and their fight against monsters. Being a medical student, he was groomed to become the heir of his father's hospital, but gained the blessing from his parents to continue working on Crew GUYS after his bravery in saving the building from Insectus' invasion.
- Shingo Sakomizu: The commander of the new Crew GUYS after Serizawa's seeming death. Despite his appearance as a 40 year old, he was actually a veteran in the defense force and was once an SSSP member whose encounter with Zoffy lead to the foundation of GUYS. His encounter on space resulted in a permanent youthful appearance despite being 70 years old.
- Kazuya Serizawa: The original commander of the previous Crew GUYS, he was thought to be killed by Dinozaur's rampage after saving Ryu, but his body was rescued by Hunter Knight Tsurugi as a human shell to operate on Earth. During Tsurugi's brief death, Serizawa's will resurfaced as he persistent on the Ultra's survival. From that day on, Serizawa becomes a permanent host of Hikari and occasionally assisting Crew GUYS in their fight.
- Staff members
- Aide Toriyama: The leader of the Japanese branch of GUYS, he issues orders to GUYS and gets frantic with joy whenever they accomplish a mission. While generally portrayed as cowardly, sycophantic and bumbling incompetent throughout the series,, he gathers his resolve and stands up to Inspector Shiki when the latter demands that GUYS turn Ultraman Mebius/Hibino Mirai over.
- Secretary Aide Maru: Toriyama's secretary, he follows Toriyama around and often corrects his speech mistakes.
- Yuki Misaki: The acting inspector general, she reports monsters to GUYS.
Ultra Warriors
- Ultraman Mebius: see here
- Ultraman Hikari: A scientist from the Land of Light, who ventured to Earth as Hunter Knight Tsurugi (ハンターナイト ツルギ, Hantā Naito Tsurugi) to exact revenge on Bogar. After killing the monster and freed from the armor, the scientist Ultra adopted the name "Ultraman Hikari" from Ryu and received his membership from the Space Garrison to assist Mebius several of his fights on Earth.
Episodes
- A Fateful Encounter (運命の出逢い, Unmei no Deai)
- Our Wings (俺達の翼, Oretachi no Tsubasa)
- Only One Life (ひとつきりの命, Hitotsu kiri no Inochi)
- Broken Bonds (傷だらけの絆, Kizudarake no Kizuna)
- Reverse Shot (逆転のシュート, Gyakuten no Shūto)
- Two From the Deep Sea (深海の二人, Shinkai no Futari)
- Fanton's Lost Item (ファントンの落し物, Fanton no Otoshimono)
- Terrible Predator (戦慄の捕食者, Senritsu no Hoshokusha)
- Armour of Vengeance (復讐の鎧, Fukushū no Yoroi)
- Pride of GUYS (GUYSの誇り, Gaizu no Hokori)
- Mother's Miracle (母の奇跡, Haha no Kiseki)
- The First Errand (初めてのお使い, Hajimete no Otsukai)
- Marina of the Wind (風のマリナ, Kaze no Marina)
- One Path (ひとつの道, Hitotsu no Michi)
- Phoenix Nest (不死鳥の砦, Fushichō no Toride)
- A Strong Man from Space (宇宙の剣豪, Uchū no Kengō)
- Formation of Our Vow (誓いのフォーメーション, Chikai no Fōmēshon)
- Pressure on Ultraman (ウルトラマンの重圧, Urutoraman no Jūatsu)
- The Isolated Grandstand (孤高のスタンドプレーヤー, Kokō no Sutando Purēyā)
- Connecting Message (総監の伝言, Sōkan no Dengon)
- Cry From Space (虚空の呼び声, Kokū no Yobigoe)
- Daily Future (日々の未来, Hibi no Mirai)
- Ocean Waves of Time (時の海鳴り, Toki no Uminari)
- Yapool's Rebirth (復活のヤプール, Fukkatsu no Yapūru)
- The Program of the Poisonous Moth (毒蛾のプログラム, Dokuga no Puroguramu)
- Flying to Tomorrow (明日への飛翔, Asu e no Hishō)
- Champion of the Fierce Fight (激戦の覇者, Gekisen no Hasha)
- Konomi's Treasure (コノミの宝物, Konomi no Takaramono)
- Day of Separation (別れの日, Wakare no Hi)
- The Flame of Promise (約束の炎, Yakusoku no Honō)
- Thoughts Of Friends (仲間達の想い, Nakamatachi no Omoi)
- The Monster Master's Legacy (怪獣使いの遺産, Kaijūtsukai no Isan)
- Lady of the Blue Fire (青い火の女, Aoi Hi no On'na)
- A Man Without a Home (故郷のない男, Furusato no Nai Otoko)
- An Azurite Light and a Shadow (群青の光と影, Gunjō no Hikari to Kage)
- Mirai's Younger Sister (ミライの妹, Mirai no Imōto)
- Father Returns (父の背中, Chichi no Senaka)
- Isana of the Ocean (オーシャンの勇魚, Ōshan no Isana)
- An Invincible Mother (無敵のママ, Muteki no Mama)
- Lonely Paradise (ひとりの楽園, Hitori no Rakuen)
- Teacher of Memories (思い出の先生, Omoide no Sensei)
- An Old Friend's Visit (旧友の来訪, Kyūyū no Raihō)
- Threatening Mebius-Killer (脅威のメビウスキラー, Kyōi no Mebiusu Kirā)
- Ace's Wish (エースの願い, Ēsu no Negai)
- Deathrem's Plan (デスレムのたくらみ, Desuremu no Takurami)
- Immortal Glozam (不死身のグローザム, Fujimi no Gurōzamu)
- Mephilas's Game (メフィラスの遊戯, Mefirasu no Yūgi)
- Advent of the Emperor -Final Trilogy I- (皇帝の降臨 ―最終三部作Ⅰ―, Kōtei no Kōrin -Saishū Sanbusaku Wan-)
- Dark Clouds of Despair -Final Trilogy II- (絶望の暗雲 ―最終三部作Ⅱ―, Zetsubō no An'un -Saishū Sanbusaku Tsū-)
- Words from the Heart -Final Trilogy III- (心からの言葉 ―最終三部作Ⅲ―, Kokoro kara no Kotoba -Saishū Sanbusaku Surī-)
Side stories
Ultraman Mebius had three side stories in accordance to the series.
- Ultraman Mebius Side Story: Hikari Saga (2006)
The first side story, separated into three parts and launched as FLET's internet television service, before being released on DVD in 2007. The story took place during the series' run, featuring Ultraman Hikari as the main viewpoint character, ranging from his past to his membership in Space Garrison. - Ultraman Mebius Side Story: Armored Darkness (2008)
The second side story, separated into two parts and sold on DVD. The story took place after the final episode of the series. - Ultraman Mebius Side Story: Ghost Reverse (2009)
The third and final side story, separated into two parts and sold on DVD. The story serves as a prologue to the 2009 Ultra Series movie, Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy.
Cast
- Mirai Hibino (ヒビノ・ミライ, Hibino Mirai), Hiroto Ban (バン・ヒロト, Ban Hiroto) - Shunji Igarashi (五十嵐 隼士, Igarashi Shunji)
- Ryu Aihara (アイハラ・リュウ, Aihara Ryū) - Masaki Nishina (仁科 克基, Nishina Masaki)
- Marina Kazama (カザマ・マリナ, Kazama Marina) - Ai Saikawa (斉川 あい, Saikawa Ai)
- George Ikaruga (イカルガ・ジョージ, Ikaruga Jōji) - Daisuke Watanabe (渡辺 大輔, Watanabe Daisuke)
- Konomi Amagai (アマガイ・コノミ, Amagai Konomi) - Misato Hirata (平田 弥里, Hirata Misato)
- Teppei Kuze (クゼ・テッペイ, Kuze Teppei) - Kenta Uchino (内野 謙太, Uchino Kenta)
- Shingo Sakomizu (サコミズ・シンゴ, Sakomizu Shingo) - Minoru Tanaka (田中 実, Tanaka Minoru)
- Aide Toriyama (トリヤマ補佐官, Toriyama Hosakan) - Kenichi Ishii (石井 愃一, Ishii Kenichi)
- Secretary Aide Maru (マル補佐官秘書, Maru Hosakan Hisho) - Yutaka Maido (まいど 豊, Maido Yutaka)
- Yuki Misaki (ミサキ・ユキ, Misaki Yuki) - Saaya Ishikawa (石川 紗彩, Ishikawa Saaya)
- Kazuya Serizawa (セリザワ・カズヤ, Serizawa Kazuya) - Shin Ishikawa (石川 真, Ishikawa Shin)
Guest Cast
- Mystery Woman (謎の女, Nazo no Onna) - Moeko Koyama (小山 萌子, Koyama Moeko)
- Kadokura (カドクラ, Kadokura) - Shigeki Kagemaru (影丸 茂樹, Kagemaru Shigeki)
- Keiko Kuze (クゼ・ケイコ, Kuze Keiko) - Hiroko Hayashi (林 寛子, Hayashi Hiroko)
- Tetsuharu Kuze (クゼ・テツハル, Kuze Tetsuharu) - Ryo Kamon (加門 良, Kamon Ryō)
- Chief Maintenance Araiso (アライソ整備長, Araiso Seibichō) - Katsuhiko Watabiki (綿引 勝彦, Watabiki Katsuhiko)
- Tetsuro Ban (バン・テツロウ, Ban Tetsurō) - Sei Hiraizumi (平泉 成, Hiraizumi Sei)
- Professor Asami Fujisawa (フジサワ・アサミ博士, Fujisawa Asami Hakase) - Kei Ishibashi (石橋 けい, Ishibashi Kei)
- Mitsuhiko Hirukawa (蛭川 光彦, Hirukawa Mitsuhiko) - Kosei Kato (加藤 厚成, Katō Kōsei)
- Gen Otori (おおとり ゲン, Ōtori Gen) - Ryu Manatsu (真夏 竜, Manatsu Ryū)
- Hiroshi Isana (勇魚 洋, Isana Hiroshi) - Kohei Murakami (村上幸平, Murakami Kōhei)
- Takeshi Yamato (矢的 猛, Yamato Takeshi) - Hatsunori Hasegawa (長谷川 初範, Hasegawa Hatsunori)
- Supreme General Chancellor Takenaka (タケナカ最高総議長, Takenaka Saikō Sōgichō) - Kenji Sahara (佐原 健二, Sahara Kenji)
- Man in Black (黒ずくめの男, Kurozukume no Otoko) - Koji Shimizu (清水 綋治, Shimizu Kōji)
- Aya Jinguji (ジングウジ・アヤ, Jingūji Aya) - Aiko Ito (いとう あいこ, Itō Aiko)
- Seiji Hokuto (北斗 星司, Hokuto Seiji) - Keiji Takamine (高峰 圭二, Takamine Keiji)
- Yuko Minami (南 夕子, Minami Yūko) - Mitsuko Hoshi (星 光子, Hoshi Mitsuko)
- Hideki Go (郷 秀樹, Gō Hideki) - Jiro Dan (団 時郎, Dan Jirō)
- Dan Moroboshi (モロボシ・ダン, Moroboshi Dan) - Kohji Moritsugu (森次 晃嗣, Moritsugu Kōji)
- Shin Hayata (ハヤタ・シン, Hayata Shin) - Susumu Kurobe (黒部 進, Kurobe Susumu)
- Inspector Shiki (シキ査察官, Shiki Sasatsukan) - Yōsuke Saitō (斉藤 洋介, Saitō Yōsuke)
Voice actors
- Ultraman Hikari/Hunter Knight Tsurugi (ウルトラマンヒカリ/ハンターナイト ツルギ, Ultraman Hikari/Hantā Naito Tsurugi) - Keiichi Nanba (難波 圭一, Nanba Keiichi)
- Father of Ultra (ウルトラの父, Urutora no Chichi) - Tokuma Nishioka (西岡 徳馬, Nishioka Tokuma)
- Mother of Ultra (ウルトラの母, Urutora no Haha) - Masako Ikeda (池田 昌子, Ikeda Masako)
- Zoffy (ゾフィー, Zofī) - Hideyuki Tanaka (田中 秀幸, Tanaka Hideyuki)
- Ultraman Taro (ウルトラマンタロウ, Urutoraman Tarō) - Hiroya Ishimaru (石丸 博也, Ishimaru Hiroya)
- Deathrem (デスレム, Desuremu) - Daisuke Gōri (郷里 大輔, Gōri Daisuke)
Songs
- Opening theme
- "Ultraman Mebius" (ウルトラマンメビウス, Urutoraman Mebiusu)
- Lyrics: Goro Matsui
- Composition: Kisaburo Suzuki
- Arrangement: Seiichi Kyoda
- Artist: Project DMM (Verse 1, Episodes 1 – 26; Verse 2, Episodes 27 – 50)
- Insert songs
- "Run through! - Wandaba" CREW GUYS ""
- Lyrics: Kazuho Mitsuda
- Composition / Arrangement: Toru Fuyuki
- Artist: Project DMM with TMC
- "Radiance-Ultraman Hikari's Theme"
- Lyrics and composition: Hideaki Takatori
- Arrangement: Hiromasa Kasashima
- Artist: Project DMM
- "Oath to you"
- Lyrics, composition, arrangement: Daimon Kazuya
- Artist: Project DMM
- "Ultra miracle"
- Lyrics, composition, arrangement: Daimon Kazuya
- Artist: Project DMM
Film tie-ins
A theatrical film, entitled Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers, was released in Japan on September 16, 2006. It takes place sometime after the end of episode 15 ("Phoenix's Fortress"), and is referenced in episode 24 ("Yapool's Rebirth").
Other appearances
See also
- Ultra Series - Complete list of official Ultraman-related shows.
References
- http://www.bandaimall.co.kr/search/search_smart.jsp?cq_cate_p=10000000&ex_full_story_name=%EC%99%84%EA%B5%AC%EC%9A%B8%ED%8A%B8%EB%9D%BC%EB%A7%A8%20%EB%A9%94%EB%B9%84%EC%9A%B0%EC%8A%A4-&ex_plugin_name=&ex_age=&ex_scale=&ex_goodslevel=&ex_goodskinds=&minPrice=0&maxPrice=%E2%88%9E&viewResultCount=16&sort=DATE,1&startCount=0&viewResultCount=16&dept=2
- http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?articleid=2012033014065210747&linkid=4&newssetid=1352
- "New Fall Titles: Case Closed! Liar Game Season 2, Ultraman Mebius, GTO Specials!". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
- "TOKU to Air Ultraman Mebius Series in March". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2018-03-12.