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Ultraman: The Adventure Begins

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Ultraman: The Adventure Begins
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMitsuo Kusakabe
Ray Patterson (supervising)
Written byJohn Eric Seward
Produced byNoboru Tsuburaya
StarringMichael Lembeck
Chad Everett
Adrienne Barbeau
Stacy Keach Sr.
Edited byNaoyuki Masaki
Music byShinsuke Kazato
Production
companies
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • October 12, 1987 (1987-10-12)
Running time
75 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Japan
LanguagesEnglish
Japanese

Ultraman: The Adventure Begins (ウルトラマンUSA, Urutoraman Yū Esu Ē, Ultraman USA) is a 1987 American-Japanese animated superhero film jointly produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Tsuburaya Productions and animated by both Studio Sign and Ashi Productions. It is the second foreign Ultra Series production overall, and the second foreign Ultraman film after The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army. Originally intended as a pilot for an animated series, no such series ever emerged and the pilot was made into a full-length film. It was broadcast on television in the United States on October 12, 1987, with a Japanese theatrical release following on April 28, 1989. The costumes based on the three main heroes (the Ultra Team) were made for use in stage shows in Japan.[1][2]

Plot

[edit]

A stunt pilot trio, the "Flying Angels" (Scott Masterson, Chuck Gavin, and Beth O'Brien), is caught in a bizarre flash of light and crash, only to emerge unharmed. They are later informed by an agent of an interstellar peace-keeping agency (whose secret identity is the groundskeeper at a Pebble Beach golf course) that they have become the hosts to three warriors from the planet Altara in M78 to capture escaped monsters from the destroyed planet Sorkin who have arrived on Earth. They become the Ultra Force, headquartered within Mount Rushmore, and are assisted by a trio of robots (the pint-sized Andy, the strong Samson, and the twitchy Ulysses). Although equipped with futuristic fighter crafts, inevitably one or more of the team is required to transform into an Ultraman, a gigantic red and silver superhuman being, to battle the monsters. After destroying the most powerful Sorkin monster, the constantly growing King Maira, the Ultra Force remains together to combat further threats to Earth.[1][3][4][5][6]

Characters

[edit]

Ultra Force

[edit]

Ultra Force (ウルトラフォース, Urutora Fosu) is an organization formed by a mysterious old man, Walter Freeman. The headquarters is in the basement of the Georgia National Golf Club and there is a mechanic hangar at Mount Rushmore.

Members
  • Scott Masterson (スコット・マスターソン, Sokotto Masutāson): The story's young protagonist. Transforms into Ultraman Scott (ウルトラマンスコット, Urutoraman Sukotto). 25 years old. Integrated with Ultraman Scott. A character with no eyes on young women. He is pleased with Susan. He is voiced by Michael Lembeck in English and Tōru Furuya (古谷 徹, Furuya Tōru) in Japanese dub.[7][5]
  • Chuck Gavin (チャック・ギャビン, Chakku Gyabin): The toughest and oldest of the team and the de facto leader of the Ultra Team. Transforms into Ultraman Chuck (ウルトラマンチャック, Urutoraman Chakku), one of the Ultra warriors who came to the earth with other Ultra team members following the Sorkin Monster. 35 years old. Integrated with Ultraman Chuck. Leader rank at the battle scene. He is voiced by Chad Everett in English and Shinji Ogawa (小川 真司, Ogawa Shinji) in Japanese dub.[8][5]
  • Beth O'Brien (ベス・オブライエン, Besu Oburaien): The cool-headed female of the team. Transforms into Ultrawoman Beth (ウルトラウーマンベス, Urutoraūman Besu). A woman Ultra fighter who came to the earth with another Ultra Team member following the Sorkin Monster. 26 years old. Integrated with Ultra Woman Beth. She attends a dance class on a holiday. She is voiced by Adrienne Barbeau in English and Hiromi Tsuru (鶴 ひろみ, Tsuru Hiromi) in Japanese dub.[9][5]
  • The Robot Trio (ロボトリオUSA, Robo Torio Yū Esu Ē): A group of support robots built to assist the Ultra Force. Their true names were too long for the team to remember, so they were given nicknames by Scott (who came up with "Ulysses" and "Samson") and Beth (who came up with "Andy"). The initials in their names form the letters "USA".[10][5]
    • Ulysses (ユリシーズ, Yurishīzu): The thin and effeminate robot in orange. His true name is Combot Model MF842. He is voiced by William Callaway in English and Isamu Tanonaka (田の中 勇, Tanonaka Isamu) in Japanese dub.
    • Samson (サムソン, Samuson): The big and strong robot in blue. His true name is Combot Model BA666. He is voiced by Ronnie Schell in English and Hiroshi Ōtake (大竹 宏, Ōtake Hiroshi) in Japanese dub.
    • Andy (アンディ, Andi): The pint-sized robot in red. His true name is Utiloid Model ZQ14582. In charge of the Transportation System. He is voiced by Charlie Adler in English and Kyoko Yamada (山田 恭子, Yamada Kyōko) in Japanese dub.
  • Walter Freeman (ウォルター・フリーマン, Worutā Furīman): An elderly man in his late 60s who forms the Ultra Force. He explains to the heroes the true cause of their accident and the origins of their powers. His relation to the Ultra beings and how he knows about them is never revealed. He is voiced by Stacy Keach, Sr. in English and Kōhei Miyauchi (宮内 孝幸, Miyauchi Takayuki) in the Japanese dub.[11][5]
  • Dr. Susan Rand (スーザン・ランド, Sūzan Rando): A young scientist from the Federation for Extraterrestrial Research (or F.E.R. Labs). She has sympathy towards the Sorkin Monsters fought by the Ultra Force. She gets romantically connected with Scott. She is voiced by Lorna Patterson English and Rihoko Yoshida (吉田 理保子, Yoshida Rihoko) in Japanese dub.[7][5]
Mecha

Ultra Force has a mecha used to defend the Earth against the Sorkin Monsters.

  • Ultra Force Headquarters: Located in the basement of the Georgia National Golf Club and there is a mechanic hangar at Mount Rushmore.
  • Mothership (マザーシップ, Mazāshippu): Ultra Force's mother ship. Equipped with three Ultra Jets. In the game against King Mylar, it is possible to collect sunlight by supplementing it with the parabola installed on the Ultra team that was running out of energy or to carry the Ultra Team to the outside of the atmosphere. Vertical takeoff and landing is possible with the wing engine.[5]
  • Ultra Jets (ウルトラジェット, Urutora Jetto): A fighter that Scott and others pilot it. The flight speed is Mach 7.3. Equipped with anti-monster missiles and a laser. The canopy painted in Scott's jet is blue, Beth's jet is red and Chuck's jet is yellow.[10][11][5]

Ultras

[edit]

The three Ultra warriors are from Planet Altara (惑星アルタラ, Wakusei Arutara) in Nebula M78.

Ultraman Scott

[edit]

One of the Ultra warriors who came from the M78 Nebula which came to Earth following the Sorkin Monster. It became a one-sided entity living in Captain Scott Masterson of the American Air Force's acrobat flight team "Flying Angels" (フライング・エンジェルス, Furaingu Enjerusu), initially able to transform himself during a crisis, but also became able to transform on his own will in the middle. Having a buckle with a blue star shape in the abdomen, when the solar energy decreases, the beam lamp on the forehead flashes from blue to red and issues a warning sound. He threw Garuballade at power plants, etc., and they are good at the somewhat rough fighting way. He is voiced by Michael Lembeck in English and Tōru Furuya in Japanese dub.[5]

Stats
Weapons
  • Granium Light Ray (グラニウム光線, Guraniumu Kōsen): A group of rays that gathers energy of the granite, combines both hands in a cross and releases it. Although it is a common technique of the 3 warriors, only Scott used it alone. If three people shoot at the same time Ultra Synchro Beam (ウルトラ・シンクロビーム, Urutora Shinkuro Bīmu) will increase its power.[13][12][14][5]
  • Ultra Energy Ball (ウルトラ・エナジー・ボール, Urutora Enajī Bōru): Condensed energy discharged from the waist buckle and thrown into the light bulb. It damaged the main Im of the Garuballade.[15][11][5]
  • Ultra Slicer (ウルトラ・スライサー, Urutora Suraisā): A technique to make the granular energy into a circular saw and throw it. He threw it in two consecutive angles to the Im damaged by the Ultra Energy Ball and it split into four. Then he gave out the Granium Rays and extinguished the Im.[15][11][5]
  • Ultra Push Beam (ウルトラ・プッシュビーム, Urutora Pusshu Bīmu): After assembling the arms in the opposite shape to the Granium Ray, it is a yellow ray that shoots like a strip from the left hand he stood. It emanates on the Zoon wrapped in Ultraman Chuck's "Ultra Bubble Beam" and pushes it towards the Andromeda Nebula's planet M11.
  • Triple Power (トリプルパワー, Toripuru Pawā): A counterattack to an enemy approaching at high speed.
  • Ultra Throw (ウルトラ投げ, Urutora Nage): A technique to throw away the opponent with a mighty power. He threw away a huge Garuballade boasting a body length of 150m or more from the city of San Francisco to the Alcatraz Island in the offing.[5]
  • Ultra Attack (ウルトラアタック, Urutora Atakku): After rushing at a tremendous speed, with a meatball skill that hits the whole body weight against the enemy, it has the power to blow huge enemies by hundreds of meters. They extended out of the air towards the third form of King Myra who had destroyed the city area of New York and temporarily broke it.[15][5]

Ultraman Chuck

[edit]

Like Scott, Captain Chuck Gavin, one of the Flying Angels, and became one and the same. It is close to the command tower that dealt with things calmly and instructs the other two people. When the solar energy decreases, the beam lamp on the forehead flashes from blue to red and issues a warning sound. He is voiced by Chad Everett in English and Shinji Ogawa in Japanese dub.[5]

Stats
Weapons
  • Granium Light Ray: The Plus style laser weapon.[13]
  • Ultra Bubble Beam (ウルトラ・バブル・ビーム, Urutora Baburu Bīmu): An energy beam that creates a bubble around a monster to transport them through space.[16][11][5]

Ultrawoman Beth

[edit]

Just like the other two, who lived in Lieutenant Beth O'Brien at Flying Angels. When the solar energy decreases, the beam lamp on the forehead flashes from blue to red and issues a warning sound. At the time the movie was released in Japan she was known as Ultra Woman. She is voiced by Adrienne Barbeau in English and Hiromi Tsuru in Japanese dub.[12][17][5]

Stats
Weapons
  • Granium Light Ray: The Plus style laser weapon.[13]
  • Ultra Spout (ウルトラ・スパウト, Urutora Supauto): A laser weapon she can fire from her hands when she is above a body of water.[16][12][11][5]
  • Ultra Chop (ウルトラチョップ, Urutora Choppu): Attack attacking enemies with hand-swords while releasing energy from the body to the hand. She quickly tore up the tentacles of Green Shocks.[16][5]
  • Ultra Power (ウルトラパワー, Urutora Pawā): A strong technique that throws enemies many times higher than herself.[16][5]

The Sorkin Monsters

[edit]

The Sorkin Monsters (ソーキン・モンスター, Sōkin Monsutā) are from Planet Sorkin (惑星ソーキン, Wakusei Sōkin) in Nebula M78.

Green Shocks

[edit]

Plant Monster Green Shocks (植物怪獣 グリンショックス, Shokubutsu Kaijū Gurin Shokkusu) is a vegetation monster. Has accelerated regeneration and powerful vines.[5][a][b]

Stats

Garuballade

[edit]

Electromagnetic Monster Garuballade (電磁怪獣 ガルバレード, Denji Kaijū Garubarēdo) is an electronic machinery monster. Superficially resembles a crystal ball (with a creature face in the center) and uses scrap metal from machinery to construct itself a monster body. The ball phase, standing on its long spinal tail, is called Electromagnetic Ball Beast Im (電磁球獣 イーム, Denji Kyū-jū Īmu) (pronounced "eem").[5][c][d][e]

Stats

Zoon

[edit]

Comical Child Monster Zoon (ひょうきん子怪獣 ズーン, Hyōkin Ko Kaijū Zūn) is a friendly, dragon-like monster of stout stature. Zoon landed in Utah, where his presence at a ski resort caused the US Military to confront him. Fortunately, Ultraman Chuck intervened and guided him back to space, sending him on his way to a new home.[5][f]

Stats

King Myra

[edit]

Super Transforming Monster King Myra (超変身怪獣 キングマイラ, Chō Henshin Kaijū Kingu Maira) is the most powerful of the Sorkin Monsters. He can double his size every 90 minutes without limit. He can also become invisible. His initial infant form Wylon (ウィロン, Wiron) is actually small and adorable. The Ultra Force had the most difficult time with him as his increased growth spurts resulted in deadlier abilities used against them.[5][g][h]

Stats

Voice cast

[edit]
Character English Japanese
Scott Masterson/Ultraman Scott Michael Lembeck Tōru Furuya
Chuck Gavin/Ultraman Chuck Chad Everett Shinji Ogawa
Lt. Beth O'Brien / Ultrawoman Beth Adrienne Barbeau Hiromi Tsuru
Walter Freeman Stacy Keach, Sr. Kōhei Miyauchi
Andy Charlie Adler Kyoko Yamada
Old Lady Adrienne Alexander Unknown
Woman
Ulysses William Callaway Isamu Tanonaka
Clarinetist Al Fann Unknown
Paramedic
General Cooper Ed Gilbert Takeshi Aono
Newsman Robert David Hall Unknown
Scientist
Colonel Baldinger/Colonel Bodinger Allan Lurie Masaharu Satō
Dr. Susan Rand Lorna Patterson Rihoko Yoshida
Cajun Peter Renaday Unknown
Paramedic
Samson Ronnie Schell Hiroshi Ōtake
Mark Watkins Mark L. Taylor Kaneto Shiozawa
Aide Vince Trankina Unknown
Doctor #2
Photographer
Dr. Philby Les Tremayne Yasuo Tanaka

Crew

[edit]
  • Director: Mitsuo Kusakabe
  • Screenplay: John Eric Seward
  • Character design: Kazuo Iimura
  • Hero design: Hitoshi Yoshida
  • Mechanic design: Tomohiko Sato
  • Monster design: Keita Amemiya, Hirotoshi Murayama, Chisato Sugiura
  • Art director: Akira Furuya
  • Color: Koji Wakai, Yuko Koshiba
  • Drawing directors: Kazuo Iimura, Osamu Tsuruyama, Yuuki Kudo, Nobuyoshi Habara
  • Storyboards: Seiji Okuda, Satoshi Nagao, Mitsuo Kusakabe, Toshio Ohba
  • Cinematographer: Toshiaki Morita
  • Editor: Naoki Masaki
  • Sound director: Noriyoshi Matsuura
  • Japanese version directed by: Riku Matsukawa
  • Sound effects: Swara Productions
  • Development: Tokyo Development Office
  • Music: Shingo Futo
  • Music producer: Hidetoshi Kimura
  • Creative producers: Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward
  • Supervising director: Ray Patterson
  • Production supervisor: Ken Mimura
  • Creative design: Iwao Takamoto
  • Key character design: Floro Dery
  • Key background supervisor: Al Gmuer
  • Editorial supervisor: Larry Cowan
  • Voice director: Gordon Hunt
  • Animation casting director: Andrea Romano
  • Talent coordinator: Kris Zimmerman
  • Executive producer: Jane Barbera
  • Executive coordinator: Kiyotaka Ukawa
  • Associate producer: Shizuka Tamagawa
  • Executive producers: Noboru Tsuburaya, William Hanna, Joseph Barbera
  • Animation producers: Masayoshi Ozaki (Studio Sain), Go Eto (Tsuburaya Productions)
  • Cooperation: Studio Zain, Sakai Production, Ryu Production
  • Production partnership: Tsuburaya Productions, Hanna-Barbera Productions, Kodansha, Nippon Columbia, Bandai
  • Production: Tsuburaya Productions

Music

[edit]

Songs

[edit]
Main theme
Image theme
  • "Sky High Hero" (スカイ・ハイ・ヒーロー, Sukai Hai Hīrō)
    • Lyrics: Yū Aku
    • Composition: Shunichi Tokura
    • Arrangement: Shinsuke Kazato
    • Artist: Shinichi Ishihara, Koorogi '73

Soundtrack

[edit]

The music was composed by Shinsuke Kazato and released by Nippon Columbia. The soundtrack was released as a limited edition printing of 5,000 copies.

Home media

[edit]

Ultraman USA was released in Japan by Bandai Home Video on VHS (Japanese dub only) on September 29, 1989 and on LaserDisc (bilingual) on July 25, 1991.[21][22] In North America, a VHS was released by Ultra Action Video and L.A. Hero Inc. on June 2, 1993.[23][24]

Tsubaraya announced that Bandai Visual will release a remastered version of the film on Blu-ray in Japan on September 26, 2018.[25][26][27][28]

Other appearances

[edit]
  • Ultraman Legend, This cast gets new live-action footage in this short, which features fight scenes of each of the 28 Ultras from the original Ultraman to Ultraman Cosmos.
  • Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend The Movie (2009), Ultraman USA, along with other M78 Ultra Warriors, fights against the evil Ultraman Belial. This marks their second-ever live appearances onscreen, after the "Shinseiki Ultraman Densetsu" featurette.
  • Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad (2022), the 3 main Ultras appeared in the fourth episode of the web series in which they confront Absolute Titan at Planet Babel.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "Louisiana wetlands" was mentioned in "Ultraman Dictionary".[14]
  2. ^ Spelt as "Grinshocks" in the original soundtrack.
  3. ^ "San Francisco" was mentioned in "Ultraman Dictionary".[19]
  4. ^ In the "Ultraman Dictionary", mentioned it as "E.M.M.".[19]
  5. ^ Spelt as "Galbarade" in the original soundtrack.
  6. ^ "Utah ski resorts" was mentioned in "Ultraman Encyclopedia".[7]
  7. ^ "New York" was mentioned in "Ultraman Encyclopedia".[20]
  8. ^ Spelt as "King-Maera" in the original soundtrack.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b 白書 1991, p. 230, 「ウルトラマンUSA」
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 円谷プロ全怪獣図鑑 2013, pp. 200–201, 「ウルトラマンUSA」
  3. ^ 以上の内容は円谷英明 (2013). "第三章 厚かった「海外進出」の壁". ウルトラマンが泣いている 円谷プロの失敗. 講談社現代新書. 講談社. pp. 81–83. ISBN 978-4-06-288215-6.より。
  4. ^ 『大怪獣バトル ウルトラ銀河伝説 THE MOVIE』劇場パンフレットにおける坂本浩一監督のインタビューより。
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am 画報 下巻 2003, pp. 54–57, 「ウルトラマンUSA」
  6. ^ 二見書房『懐かしのヒーロー ウルトラマン99の謎』（著：青柳宇井郎・赤星政尚）p.123の記述より。ただし実際にはアメリカのヒーロー作品においてマントを付けずに空を飛ぶキャラクターは決して少なくはない。
  7. ^ a b c d e 大辞典 2001, pp. 176–185, 「す」
  8. ^ 大辞典 2001, p. 213, 「ち」.
  9. ^ 大辞典 2001, p. 288, 「へ」.
  10. ^ a b 白書 1991, p. 146, 「ウルトラフォース」
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 大辞典 2001, pp. 37–60, 「う」
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h 白書 1991, p. 37, 「ウルトラマンUSA」
  13. ^ a b c 超技全書 1990, p. 116
  14. ^ a b c d 大辞典 2001, pp. 112–121, 「く」
  15. ^ a b c 超技全書 1990, p. 117
  16. ^ a b c d 超技全書 1990, p. 118
  17. ^ 「週刊ウルトラマンオフィシャルデータファイル」の記載より[full citation needed]。ソフビ人形の初期発売分には「ウルトラマンベス」の刻印が足裏にある。1990年代中頃のウルトラマンフェスティバルのチラシからウルトラウーマンベスの表記が使用されている。
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h 白書 1991, p. 120, 「劇場用ウルトラ怪獣」
  19. ^ a b c d 大辞典 2001, p. 95, 「か」
  20. ^ a b c 大辞典 2001, p. 111, 「き」
  21. ^ "Amazon.co.jp: ウルトラマンUSA [VHS]: 古谷徹, 小川真治, 鶴ひろみ, 吉田理保子, 宮内幸平, 田中康郎: ビデオ". 29 September 1989.
  22. ^ "LaserDisc Database - Ultraman: The Adventure Begins [BELL-419]".
  23. ^ Amazon.com: Ultraman - The Adventure Begins [VHS]: Peter Fernandez, Earl Hammond, William Kiehl, Peggy Lobbin, Corinne Orr: Movies & TV. ASIN 6302737931.
  24. ^ 『ウルトラマンUSA』27年ぶりに復活！幻の日米合作アニメが、鮮やかな映像でファン待望のブルーレイ化!! - 電撃ホビーウェブ
  25. ^ "ファン待望！幻の名作が鮮やかな映像で27年ぶりに復活！日米合作アニメ作品『ウルトラマンUSA』Blu-ray発売決定 2018年9月26日（水）発売". 31 May 2018.
  26. ^ 円谷プロ全怪獣図鑑 2013, p. 201, 「column 実写版スーツ」.
  27. ^ "権利者を捜しています | 公益社団法人著作権情報センター CRIC". Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  28. ^ "（タイトル無し）" (PDF). 公益社団法人著作権情報センター. Retrieved 2018-04-14.

Sources

[edit]
  • ウルトラ戦士超技全書. てれびくんデラックス愛蔵版. 小学館. 1990-09-10. ISBN 4-09-101423-2.
  • 宇宙船編集, ed. (1991-09-30). 不滅のヒーロー ウルトラマン白書 (第3版 ed.). 朝日ソノラマ. ISBN 4-257-03322-3.
  • ウルトラマン大辞典. 中経出版. 2001-12-21. ISBN 4-8061-1556-8.
  • 竹書房/ブレインナビ編, ed. (2003-05-09). ウルトラマン画報 光の戦士三十五年の歩み. Vol. 下巻. 竹書房. ISBN 4-8124-0999-3.
  • 大石真司・江口水基・島崎淳・間宮尚彦 (2013-03-11). 円谷プロ全怪獣図鑑. 円谷プロダクション監修. 小学館. ISBN 9784096820742.
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