The Movie website has been updated! Includes the movie trailer and other information.

平成と昭和のウルトラ8兄弟が初共演.

For more scoops, pictures and news update on the upcoming Super Ultra 8 Brothers Movie! Do watch out for this thread: Great Decisive Battle! Super Ultra 8 Brothers
(registration required)

Confirmed Casts are:

* Daigo Madoka / Ultraman Tiga, - Hiroshi Nagano (V6) (長野 博（Ｖ６）, Nagano Hiroshi (Bui Shikkusu)
* Shin Hayata / Ultraman , - Susumu Kurobe (黒部 進, Kurobe Susumu)
* Dan Moroboshi / Ultra Seven , - Kouji Moritsugu (森次 晃嗣, Moritsu Kouji)
* Hideki Goh / Ultraman Jack, - Jiro Dan (団 時郎, Dan Jirō)
* Seiji Hokuto / Ultraman Ace, - Keiji Takamine (高峰 圭二, Takamine Keiji?)
* Shin Asuka / Ultraman Dyna, - Takeshi Tsuruno (つるの 剛士, Tsuruno Takeshi)
* Gamu Takayama / Ultraman Gaia - Takeshi Yoshioka (吉岡 毅志, Yoshioka Takeshi)
* Mirai Hibino / Ultraman Mebius - Shunji Igarashi (五十嵐 隼士, Igarashi Shunji)
* Hiroya Fujimiya - Hassei Takano (高野 八誠, Takano Hassei)

For more scoops, pictures and news update on the upcoming Super Ultra 8 Brothers Movie! Do watch out for this thread: Great Decisive Battle! Super Ultra 8 Brothers
(registration required)

UtramanLAH! wishes each and everyone a Happy New Year! Have a prosperous 2008!

UtramanLAH! wishes each and everyone a Merry X’mas!
May your wishes come true and filled with many many ultratoys.

Scan pics of the Dec Hyperhobby issue is available. A monthly release of the latest toys information and news of Ultraman, kamen rider, sentai and etc.
More scan pics (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Magazine, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
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Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Kun, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
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From hamakei news report:

The movie which becomes the eleventh Heisei ultra man series item in Yokohama-shi and the Tsuburaya production (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo) on October 17 “Armageddon!” I announced that the stage of eight the super ultra brothers (temporary) (director Tsuyoshi Yagi) was decided in Yokohama.
　
　The movie is produced as play Bent of the Yokohama opening of a port sesquicentennial of 2009, and the work theme “sails” as well as a theme of the 150th anniversary opening of a port. The location is performed in city about 30 places of Yokohama Stadium and a Chinatown, a Yokohama Port Masaru Bridge international traveler terminal. Yokohama-shi performs an offer or the public information cooperation of the location through “Yokohama Film Commission” supporting picture production in Yokohama. In addition, from October 18, it recruits about 1,000 extras in a homepage of the commission.

　The photography has already started from October 15 and plans about November 25. I aim at the exhibition of next autumn. About 500,000,000 yen production costs. A star is Hiroshi Nagano of the member of bandwagon V6.

　President Kazuo Tsuburaya of the Tsuburaya production speaks it about this process by an announcement interview that “universal theme “courage I do not give up a dream, and to believe the future” of an ultra man greeting 42 years from birth agreed with a theme of the 150th anniversary Yokohama opening of a port".
　
　To the ultra sisters that Mayor Hiroshi Nakata who watched ultra man on TV to eat visited the Yokohama-shi government office in boyhood is “excited very much". Please protect all of ultra, Yokohama. It is a good opportunity to impress it with “a start on a voyage” that is a theme of the 150th anniversary Yokohama opening of a port through a movie and puts expectation when I want to heap up it in the whole town.

For more news update and info, watch out for this thread: Great Decisive Battle! Super Ultra 8 Brothers
(registration required)

Celebrating Ultra7’s 40th Anniversary, a new tv series has been revived with a new Hero: Ultra7 X. The 12 episodes will be broadcasted on TBS on October 5th (Fri) at 2.25am, on CBC on October 5th (Fri) from 2.15am, and on MBS on October 6th (Sat) from 3.25am. With new CGI effects, ultra7 fans will be relived of the infamous Eye Slugger, Emeriumu ray, the Wide Shot etc….

UltraSeven X - Episode１　『ＤＲＥＡＭ』 premieres on 5 Oct.

Synopsis:
It is handed a red glasses-shaped item by mystery woman Elea (a Kagami early period), and man Jin (与座重理久) who lost memory is entreated to save this world. He who knew that it is an agent of DEUS corners an alien plotting aggression with Kay (side Satoshi) while feeling embarrassment who oneself is. But it was huge alien ガルキメス to have appeared there. And his life-threatening fight began in a hand in a red glasses-shaped item.

For more news update and info, watch out for this thread: Ultra7 X
(registration required)

Scan pics of the Nov Hyperhobby issue is available. A monthly release of the latest toys information and news of Ultraman, kamen rider, sentai and etc.
More scan pics (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Magazine, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
More scan pics of Nov Terebi Magazine (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Kun, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
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UltramanLAH! turns 3 on September 12! We would like to thank each and everyone for your warmest support & contributions in the past 3 years.
Let’s continue to thrive on for more good years ahead.

Cheers!

Scan pics of the Sep Hyperhobby issue is available. A monthly release of the latest toys information and news of Ultraman, kamen rider, sentai and etc.
More scan pics (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Magazine, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
More scan pics of Oct Terebi Magazine (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Kun, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
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Scan pics of the Sep Hyperhobby issue is available. A monthly release of the latest toys information and news of Ultraman, kamen rider, sentai and etc.
More scan pics (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Magazine, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
More scan pics of Sep Terebi Magazine (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Kun, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
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Continuation of Ultraman Mebius adventures after he left Earth. His battles with the other UltraHeroes against the evil Seijins, kaijus etc
Koro Koro Komikku Sep Issue (registration required)

ウルトラセブン　４０年ぶり復活 (Ultraseven revives again after 40 years)
４０年ぶりに復活する「ウルトラセブンＸ」 (Ultraseven X)
Tokusatsu hero Ultraseven who celebrates his 40th birthday this year will be revived this autumn on TBS as [Ultraseven X].
although he has slimmed down, he is still very similar to the old Ultraseven. his henshin method and finishing move
are also similar to before. fans of the old Ultraseven will be able to enjoy this show……….
(Translated by szeli)

For more news update and info, watch out for this thread: Ultra7 X
(registration required)

Every year, Ultraman Festival will feature exclusive toys for the yearly event. For this year in conjunction with Ultra7 40th Anniversary, another SP Ultra7 figure with a special Black King Joe(from Daikaiju monsters card battle) will be released. There’s also a SP Ultraman Jack figure too!

An UltraFestival Special night event will be held on 26 July, where fans will get to see the original actors & actress in person - 森次晃嗣（モロボシ・ダン）、ひし美ゆり子（友里アンヌ）、毒蝮三太夫、満田かずほ監督、五十嵐隼士、平田弥里、ほか

There will be a 2 live-stage shows for this year event, details as follows:

第一部　7/27（金）〜 8/10（金）
ウルトラセブン伝説
〜漆黒の悪魔VS光の戦士達〜

第二部　8/11（土）〜 9/2（金）
ウルトラマンメビウス外伝
〜奇跡の不死鳥（フェニックス）現る！〜

A 2 special battle cards will be given as a present for all children.

Other info:
Updated map of the event
Tickets infomation

For more news update and photos on Ulfes’07, watch out for this thread: Ulfes 2007
(registration required)

Scan pics of the August July Hyperhobby issue is available. A monthly release of the latest toys information and news of Ultraman, kamen rider, sentai and etc.
More scan pics of August Magazine (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Magazine, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
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Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Kun, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
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This issue features a special manga of Ultraman Mebius adventures after he left Earth. His battles with the other UltraHeroes against the evil Seijins, kaijus etc
Koro Koro Komikku (registration required)

Scan pics of the July Hyperhobby issue is available. A monthly release of the latest toys information and news of Ultraman, kamen rider, sentai and etc.
More scan pics of July Terebi Magazine (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Magazine, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
More scan pics of July Terebi Magazine (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Kun, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
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Scan pics of the July Quanto issue is available.
More scan pics of Quanto Magazine (registration required)

The Ultraman Festival 2007 main site has been updated. This year theme will highlight Ultra7 as it marks the 40th Anniverasary of Ultra7.
Details of the sale of tickets, prices and some other information are included.
A map of this event:

Watch out for this thread for more Ulfes’07 info: Ulfes 2007
(registration required)

Scan pics of the Figure O issue 111 is available. A monthly release of the latest toys information and news of Ultraman, kamen rider, sentai and etc. This issue features a special recap of Ultraman Mebius toys, figures etc
More scan pics of Figure O issue 111 (registration required)

Scan pics of the June Hyperhobby issue is available. A monthly release of the latest toys information and news of Ultraman, kamen rider, sentai and etc.
More scan pics of Jun Terebi Magazine (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Magazine, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
More scan pics of Jun Terebi Magazine (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Kun, featuring synopsis, spoilers pictures & information of anime & tokusatsu series.
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Wana know what has happened to Ultraman Mebius when he returned back to M78? What are the battles lying ahead for Ultraman Mebius? And what kind of enemies will he face? The story of Ultraman Mebius continues in the manga…………

Look out for more manga pics in this thread (registration required)

Scan pics of the May Hyperhobby issue is available. A monthly release of the latest toys information and news of Ultraman, kamen rider, sentai and etc.
More scan pics of HyperHobby (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Magazine, featuring synopsis & spoilers pictures & information of the upcoming epsiodes
More scan pics of May Terebi Magazine (registration required)

Scan pics of monthly issue of Terebi Kun, featuring synopsis & spoilers pictures & information of the upcoming epsiodes
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Ultraman Festival(Ulfes), a yearly event usually held at a convention hall in Sunshine City, a megamall located near the Ikebukuro train station. The 2007 Ulfes will start from 27 July - 2 Sep 2007. The festival will comprise of an exhibition, spectacular liveshows, photo-taking with your favourite Ultras, sale of the exclusive toys etc. And this year marks the 40th Anniversary of UltraSeven. Pre-advance sale of the admission tickets will start from 26 May 2007.

Last year Ulfes 2006 event:
Ulfes’06
Ulfes’06 - Special Night info & photos
Ulfes’06 - Photos

For more info on Ulfes’07, watch out for this thread: Ulfes 2007
(registration required)

The last episode of Ultraman Mebius will be telecast on 31st march, 5pm in Japan.
Will Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Hikari and the rest of the Crewguys team able to save the Earth from the Enpera Seijin? Who’s the mysterious host for Zoffy? Will the rest of the Ultraman appear?How did Ultraman Mebius got his final form - Phoenix Brave?

Watch for more scoops and pics here at:

Forum Link1
Forum Link2
(registration required)

UtramanLAH! wishes each and everyone a Merry X’mas and A Happy New Year!
May your wishes come true and filled with many many ultratoys.

Interview with Kazuya Konaka (小中和哉), the director behind the latest Ultraman movie.

And what the fans and cast say:

A week ago, Ultraman had the honour of being the Ambassador for the Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Kobe

Kobe was chosen as the shooting location for the Ultraman Mebius and Ultra Brothers movie, now showing in Japan.

We are 2 years old!

UltramanLah! Second Anniversary Celebrations

Wow. 2006 has been another great year for Ultraman fans.

On April 1st, 2006 Max wraped up it’s 40 episode run which introduced new warriors from Nebula M-78. It brought exposure to new generation fans from veteran Ultra Show actors, Susumu Kurobe (Hayata), Hiroko Sakurai (Fuji), Nihei Masanara (Ito), Koji Moritsugu (Dan Moroboshi/Ultra 7) along with a menagerie of Kaiju and Seijin of days gone by (Eleking, Red King, Pigmon, Antlar, King Joe, Z-Ton, Metron-Seijin, Pitt Seijin, Gomora and the ever popular Baltan-Seijin). A week later on April 8th, we were treated to the beginning of Ultraman Mebius. Mebius continued where Max stopped, reviving fan favourite Kaiju and Seijin such as Gudon, Birdon, Twin Tail, Sadora, Salamandola, Mukatendar, Magma seijin, Valkie Seijin, Astron and Bemstar…with many more to come

On that day, The Father of Ultra presented the rookie Mebius with a new armament - the Mebius Brace. The Commander of the Space Garrison dispatched Mebius from towards Earth to serve as her new protector. (Why do they always send rookies to protect earth?) The Mebius series also introduced Hunter Knight Tsurugi, a warrior similar to those of M-78, yet possessed by the spirits of vengeance struggling against his own peaceful soul. Together they fought the same abominations, yet we were never really sure if they were to be friends or foes until Tsurugi cast off his baggage. The Mother of Ultra received Tsurugi’s body, and restored him into his former self, ressurecting him as a new Warrior of M-78, Ultraman Hikari - an Ultraman from the Blue Tribe.

Now as Ultraman Mebius continues we eagerly await for September 16th for the premiere of the next theatrical Ultraman feature, ULTRAMAN MEBIUS & THE ULTRAMAN BROTHERS which brings the full return to the Ultramen’s cycle of continuity with the appearance of 4 original hosts, Hayata, Dan, Hideki, Hokuto and the actors who played them. Ultraman Mebius is most certainly living up to the concept of the Moebius Strip which brought the inspiration for his name by connecting a beloved series of characters back to their original roots. We hope the cycle will continue uninterupted for all of eternity.

By 12 Sep 2006, it would be two years since UltramanLah! was set up. Since that time we have grown considerably from the backwaters of cyberspace into one that is a buzzing hive of activity. It sure has been a fun ride these two years making friends with Ultraman fans from all over the world! And this friendship shone through on the dark month of February 2006 when our site got hacked. You guys and gals stood by and rallied together, setting up camp at a temporary site while the mods rebuilt the site from Ground Zero. To this end we wish to thank each and every one of you for your patience and support. Now that we have a new home which is slightly older than six months we are happy to see all of you posting and getting to know each other just like before.

Let us all look forward to the future together as Ultraman fans!

EIEN URUTORAMAN!!
永遠ウルトラマン!!

Dear Ultraman Fans,

We’re still alive and kicking

If you wondered where we’ve wandered, we’ve been spending lots of time over at the forum, an ‘open-source’ community where knowledge and information resides.

Got a question about Ultraman? Post it on the forum!

(If you feel lost, just give a shout to Finalburnx or Seijin X. They’d show you the way)

The Ultraman fan community is back online

We thank all Ultraman fans for sticking together during the brief spell of down time.

Return of UltramanLAH!

We’ve returned, amd we’re newer and better!

This forum is a community put up by Ultraman fans, for Ultraman fans

SCHUWATCH!!!

Dear Ultra Fans

Our phpBB forum had been defaced by miscreant pranksters. As such, our forum is temporarily unserviceable at the moment. We have filed a report with the Singapore Police Force regarding the cybercrime (defacing of websites is illegal in Singapore). As part of our effort to assist in the investigations, we’re leaving the hacked forum online as part of our effort to help the Police in the investigations.

Meanwhile, you may wish to re-group with the rest of the Ultraman fan community at these two sites:

While the pranksters appear to be hacking on behalf of “Türkiye & ISLAM & HZ.MUHAMMET", we believe that these people are misguided and are not acting on behalf of their religion.

We urge Ultra fans to show patience while we get the forum up and running again.

With best regards,
Ultraman Lah!

Now, how did this monkey get involved with the Ultraman mythos? And how did this lead to a the birth of the Thai Ultraman (Millenium, Elite & Dark)?

Hanuman - the White Monkey

Back in 1974, Tsuburaya Productions the originator of Ultraman and Chaiyo Productions, a Thai company, jointly produced a film called “Hanuman and the 7 Ultraman (หนุมาน พบ 7 ยอดมนุษย์)". The movie premiered in Japan on 14 March 1979 under the name “Six Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army (ウルトラ6兄弟VS怪獣軍団)".

This movie featured the six Ultra brothers - Ultraman, Zoffy, Seven, Jack, Ace, and Taro - together with Mother of Ultra, and also an original Thai hero known as Hanuman. The White Monkey hero is inspired by the monkey god from the Hindu epic, Ramayana.

The Story

Three treasure hunters sawed off a Buddha’s head among the ancient ruins of a Thai temple. Piko, one of the orphans who lived and played in the ruins tried to stop the robbers but was killed. Far away on M-78, the Ultra brothers witnessed the bravery of Piko and retrieved his body back to the Land of Light. There, Piko was resurrected as the human host of the Thai hero, HANUMAN.

Hanuman returns to Earth and returned the Buddha head back to the decapitated body. During that period, Thailand was experiencing a drought. One of Thailand’s meteorological research agency tried to call in the rain by launching rockets into the skies to seed the clouds. However, it was Hanuman who saved the day when he went up to the heavens to tell Rama to drive his Sun chariot away from the Earth.

During the launch of the rockets, something went wrong and one of the rockets misfired. The ensuring explosion roused the monsters hidden underground from their sleep. The monsters, Gomora (from Ultraman), Dustpan (originally from Mirrorman), Astromons, Tyrant and Dorobon (all from Ultraman Taro) woke and tore up the country side.

Hanuman and the six Ultra brothers saved the day.

Licencing Dispute

Before “Hanuman and the 7 Ultraman” Chaiyo Productions collaborated with Tsuburaya Productions on another movie, “Janborg Ace and Giant (ยักษ์วัดแจ้ง พบ จัมโบ้เอ)” in the same year (1974). In 1976, Chaiyo got a licencing agreement from Eiji Tsuburaya’s son, Noboru Tsuburaya. However, the details of the contract was ambiguous. The legally nebulous agreement would later result in a tussle between Tsuburaya and Chaiyo over the ownership of the intellectual property rights to Ultraman (ウルトラマン).

Noboru Tsuburaya passed away in late 1995. In the following year, Sompote Saengduenchai the founder and president of Chaiyo Productions approached Noboru’s son, Kazuo Tsuburaya who’s the incumbent CEO of Tsuburaya productions to claim ownership of the international copyright from the series ULTRA Q through ULTRAMAN TARO together with the character JANBORG ACE.

Many years later, after the death of Eiji Tsuburaya’s son Noboru Tsuburaya in 1995, Sompote Saengduenchai the founder and president of Chaiyo Productions claimed that the deceased had awarded him a rights contract in exchange for a monetary loan. Tsuburaya issued a letter to validate Chaiyo’s contract, under the intent that it would only be used in the Thai business circles. However, Sompote used the letter as evidence that Chaiyo has the blanket copyrights to Ultraman outside of Japan.

In 1997, Tsuburaya sued Chaiyo for intellectual property rights violations. Three years later, the Thai Intellectual Property and International Trade (IPIT) court’s verdict ruled in favor of Chaiyo, granting the company full copyrights to Ultraman outside of Japan. Tsuburaya raised appealed to the Supreme Court of Thailand, which is still pending a decision. Chaiyo also brought the case to Japan.

On 27 April 2004, the Tokyo High Court in a surprise ruling awarded Chaiyo the merchandising rights for the first six Ultra Series (Ultra Q through Ultraman Taro) and Jumborg Ace outside of Japan. However, the ultimate copyright still remains with Tsuburaya. After years of legal battles, Sompote Saengduenchai was awarded a somewhat favorable decision. However, the decisions in both countries clearly stated that the copyright to all of these programs belonged solely to Tsuburaya Productions of Japan. Furthermore, the decision in Japan emphasized that only Tsuburaya Productions has the legal right to create future Ultraman characters or Ultraman TV shows and films.

At the present time, Tsuburaya Productions is still appealing against Chaiyo Productions for the overseas merchandising rights. Meanwhile, Chaiyo Productions had designed its own proprietry Ultraman characters such as Ultraman Millenium, Ultraman Elite and Ultraman Dark. The company has gone on to issue licences to a China toy-maker to manufacture Ultraman related merchandise. The Thai company had already staged an Ultraman live stage show that featured Ultraman Millenium. It has plans to release a 52 episode Ultraman TV series and to also build an Ultraman Themepark in Thailand.

Sources:

Additional reporting credits: Steelultra

Ekin Cheng, Ultraman Elite and Ray MacDonald

Chaiyo Productions Co Ltd announced the launch of its first Bt100-million ( USD$2.5 million) Ultraman series on 2 Feb 06, which will hit television screens in more than 12 countries throughout Asia.

The 52-episode television series, called “Project Ultraman”, is a joint venture between Chaiyo Productions, which holds about 50 per cent in the project, Apex Toys Co Ltd which holds a 10-per-cent share, and the Chinese toy-maker Ruishi Culture Developing Co Ltd, which has about 40 per cent. Chaiyo expected to realise at least one billion baht (USD$ 25.4 million) from the Ultraman character next year, including gains from merchandise and advertising on TV.

The new series will promote awareness of Chaiyo Productions’ new Ultraman superheroes – Ultraman Elite, Ultraman Millennium, and Dark Ultraman. Hong Kong actor Ekin Cheng is cast as Ultraman Elite, while Mathew Dean is cast as Ultraman Millennium, and Ray McDonald as Dark Ultraman.

The new Ultraman series will first be seen on CCTV’s entertainment channel in China in December, followed by Thailand in December or January, and then Hong Kong and Taiwan, said Perasit Saengduenchai, chief executive officer and director of Chaiyo Productions. He said the company had also been approached by local television stations in Brazil and Argentina, which would like to screen the series. About 40% of the productions had been completed. 80% of on-location photography was filmed in China and the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.

Chaiyo Productions Co claims ownership of the Ultraman copyright worldwide television broadcast and merchandising rights to Ultraman superheroes, except in Japan. Ultraman rights is still disputed in Thailand, the case has gone to the International Trade and Intellectual Property Court. The Tokyo Supreme Court ruled early 2005 that Sompote Sangduenchai, the founder of Chaiyo Productions, owned the rights to Ultraman characters everywhere except Japan, ending a dispute with Tsuburaya Productions.

(Source: The Nation, Bangkok Post)

Watch this thread for more updates.

Chaiyo also has plans to build an Ultraman Theme Park in Thailand. Projected at a cost of Bt 1 billion (USD$25.3 million), this themepark situated in the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya will beging construction in June this year. The expected completion date is in 2009. Watch this thread for updates.

Entrance to Chaiyo’s Ultraman themepark

(Source: Asahi news)

Is this the new Ultraman, Ultraman Moebius?

According to Shochiku (松竹), the Japanese movie production house that brought you the Ultraman Cosmos movies, there will be a “Ultraman Moebius and Ultra Brothers (ウルトラマンメビウス＆ウルトラ兄弟 - 新ヒーローとウルトラ6兄弟が夢の共演)” roadshow this year. Konaka Kazuya (小中和哉) is slated to be the director of this show. Kazuya’s Ultraman movie credits include Ultraman Zearth 2, Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna - The Warriors of Light, Ultraman Tiga, Dyna and Gaia - The Hyper Dimensional Ultimate Battle, and finally ULTRAMAN - The Movie. He also had a hand in the TV series Gridman, Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Dyna, Ultraman Cosmos and Ultraman Nexus. Other noteworthy CV: Astroboy - Testuwan Atom, direct-to-video drama - Black Jack (based on the manga series by Tezuka Osamu)

Keep an eye out on this thread as we bring you more scoop!

Festive Greetings from Ultraman Lah! to all Ultraman fans around the world!

Hope you’ll have a blessed and joyous holiday season ahead!

For those who’re in Singapore on Boxing Day (26 Dec 05), we’ve got a party going on and all Ultraman Lah! members are welcome!!

Please check out the Gathering section on our forum for the details. See you there!! SCHUWATCH!!!

Psyke has prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the smash hit PS2 Game, ULTRAMAN FIGHTING EVOLUTION REBIRTH

Click on this link to read text file. You may also access the text file by clicking the link posted on the sidebar, under ULTRAMAN FAQ.

Credits: Psyke

Doremon found a surprise in her egg! click on arrow to view the videoclip.

Just released in Japan! The first tradepaperback collection of Ultraman Story Zero currently serialised in Kodansha’s Magazine Z.

Writer/Artist: Kazuo Mafune (真船一雄),
Producer: Tsuburaya Production
Publication Date: 21 Sep 05
Size: B6
Pages: 175pp
ISBN：4-06-349220-6
Retail Price (taxes included): 560yen (USD$4.95; SGD$8.37)

Synopsis:

The birth of Ultraman!!

The Ultras like you have never seen them before!!

There is a solar system known as the nebula M-78. The people living in this system built an artificial sun in order to replace the fast dying sun. The people who now wield the eternal light source named their homeland the “Land of Light".

However, as a result of a sinister conspiracy, the light which was to bring hope instead brought about disaster as the lifeforms suffered strange mutations.

Only the young Ultra warriors can save the galaxy from this unprecendented crisis. The legend is thus unveiled!!

Zoffy’s travail, the meeting of Seven and Mikulas are all told in the first volume of this manga. You can order this book from Amazon Japan

Related Posts:
ULTRAMAN STORY 0
New Ultraman Manga From Kodansha

Discuss this manga here

The Super Imaginative Chogokin treatment for Ultraman?

Popbox Collectibles, a new unit from the Hong Kong based Action HQ had obtained licence from Chaiyo Productions (probably through the Chinese partner - T.C.-Ruishi) to produce an original line of collectors’ edition action figures based on Ultraman . Dubbed as the Ultra Realistic Series, the 7″ figures are articulated and done in a style similar to the Super Imaginative Chogokin (SIC) series of figures from Bandai.

The first release features Ultraman the First and Zoffy twin pack “with interchangeable parts and accessories to form two different versions”. The figures are expected to ship in Nov 05, and you can pre-order it at their site.

Concept Sketch for Action Figure Design

Colour Sketch

Colour Sketch - Profile

Finished Sketch

Check out Popbot’s site on this upcoming product. Discuss the upcoming product at our forum too.

*disclaimer - This is not an advertisement. Ultraman Lah! does not receive any kickbacks from non-Tsuburaya Productions to plug their products. We’re merely reporting things thats happening in the Ultraman fan community

Hi Ultra fans.

Ultraman Lah! turns one year old on 12 Sep 05.

The site had gone through some changes over the time, and these changes wouldn’t stop with time - we try to push the envelope and breach creative boundaries. We had given the forum a face lift, and soon our main site will too get a new look.

In the short span of one year, the international Ultraman commune had sprouted from this barren site. Originally intended to be a fan club for Singaporean Ultraman fans, we’ve got a vibrant community with fans from all over the world - across culture, language, religion, and time zone - but with one love for Ultraman. The opportunity to network across culture and nationality has given rise to a modest fan-sub group from within the Ultraman Lah! community too.

Its been a great one year and we’ve made friends from all over - shouts to Anarion and Shinhyata, who’s been providing us with the invaluable and timely release of Ultraman TV serials and other currently on air tokusatsu shows. And to PeteC888, lagarto, Michaelangel66, Urutora sebun for their effort to make subtitles for the english and spanish speaking audiences. UltraSeven21 from Shanghai for the videos, music and connection to the Chinese Ultraman fans. And friends like adrian, Black, UltraM2000, Wurotzman, eclipse_cosmos, anubis, Komon, Kay, Dekared, Gavin25, Ultrawoman Beth, icyisamu, Shonokin, J-McFly, Coop_rw, Ultraman Dork, Kubrick, Basri, rizaliskandar , Abu Rock, Lightning Zero, Garren and some of the newer faces!

We thank you for all the support you people had given to this fan site - its very much our site as it is yours - the Ultra fan community. We continue to look foward to the fan contributions in making information and Ultraman merchandise available to fans from all over the world. While we grow and glow, we hope that you’ll provide us with feedback and suggestions, so that it can become a greater site. We’re also always on the lookout for people who can contribute skills - such as web design. graphics, translation, and also scoops to make this site content rich and eye candilicious. If you are interested, do drop us a note over at the forum or send us an email at ultramanlah@gmail.com

Our crew visited Ultraman Festival 2005 on the opening day (23 July 2005) at Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

You may view the pictures taken at the Festival over at this thread

Ultraman is coming to the United States this August!

Bay Area Film Events (BAFE) will be presenting the movie ULTRAMAN - THE NEXT and other Ultraman shows at Castro Theatre in San Francisco on 26 and 27 August 2005.

Besides the ULTRAMAN - THE NEXT movie, the theatre will also be screening ULTRAMAN ZEARTH and ULTRAMAN TIGA: FINAL ODYSSEY. Selected episodes from the Tsuburaya Production’s classic works as well as the latest Ultraman Max will also be screened.

There will be an Ultraman livestage featuring Ultraman Dyna on the closing night of the event.

The BAFE is organising a special contest in which the winner will walk away with a limited edition Ibanez Iceman guitar designed by Tsuburaya Productions, featuring Ultraman the Next. Ultraman merchandise will also be available at Castro Theatre.

Ultraman Tiga playing the Ibanez Iceman Ultraman custom

Check out the BAFE website and Henshin Online for more details on this Ultra event.

If you hadn’t noticed, there’s a new link right under the ULTRAMAN LAH DATABASE category at the sidebar.

Yes, we’ve set up a page where you can obtain subtitle files to Ultraman Nexus and Ultraman Max. These subtitles are bona fide fan projects contributed by Toku Sensei and PeteC888 from the USA, Largato from Brasil and ah.heng from Singapore - true blue tokusatsu/Ultra fans from across the world.

These works are open source projects, and not for commercial use.

Click on the link Ultraman Fan Subs, right below U-Files to access the page.

The Classic Ultraman Won the Crowd at the Animation Fair Shanghai 2005

(文/摄影：Ultraman Lah! 驻上海记者 - 沙漠白龙)

SMG上海文广新闻传媒集团、上海炫动卡通卫视、VNU亚洲展览集团联手主办的上海卡通总动员将于2005年6月30日-7月4日在上海展览中心登场。本次动漫展的主要内容有：Doraeman（机器猫）、YU-GI-OH!（游戏王）和中国内地火热播放的ULTRAMAN（奥特曼）！

对奥特曼迷来说，中央表演舞台是最吸引人的地方，因为在那会有奥特曼的现场表演秀！还未到表演时间，台前已挤满观看的人群！本次表演上海圆谷不仅派出了上海正热播的UltramanTIGA（迪迦奥特曼），还让当时给我们留下深刻印象的昭和奥特曼登场（元祖、赛文、艾斯、泰罗、雷欧）。

表演先由艾利王和赛文出场，当赛文打败艾利王后，由主持人带领孩子们高喊“迪迦奥特曼”，迪迦奥特曼的表演开始！迪迦先击退了哥尔赞，然后打败了基利艾洛人（本次表演迪迦的三种形态全全出场）。

Tiga Live! With a cute babe by his side

最后随着主持人的声音，把我们的记忆带回从前，元祖、赛文、艾斯、泰罗、雷欧五位奥特曼共同登场，随着主持人的介绍与六位奥特曼摆的招势把气氛带向最后的高潮！(在此帖观看现场录像)

Ultraman Taro!

Ultraman Leo!

当主持人说完“奥特曼给孩子们带来勇气！”后，六位奥特战士相继退场，精彩的表演落下帷幕~~~！
本次上海卡通总动员动漫接待了近10万名观众。奥特曼的人气依旧火爆！奥特曼是孩子们的热爱，也是正义的象征！

The Shanghai Media Group (SMG), Shanghai Xuan Dong Animation Satellite TV, and VNU Exhibitions Asia jointly organised the “Animation Fair Shanghai 2005″. This event was held at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre from 30 Jun 05 to 4 Jul 05. The features for this animation fair were Doraemon, Yu-Gi-Oh and the ever popular character in China now - ULTRAMAN!

The central stage at the exhibition hall was the main draw for Ultra fans because of the Ultraman Livestage. A crowd had already gathered by the stage way before the showtime.

Fans mobbed the stage

Not only did Tsuburaya Shanghai presented Ultraman Tiga before the fans, they also brought back the Showa-era Ultraman - The First, Seven, Ace, Taro and Leo!

Ace and Leo

The Livestage started off with Ultraseven battling Eleking on stage. After Ultraseven was done with Eleking, the MC on stage called upon the kids to cheer for Ultraman Tiga. The multi-form hero appeared, and fought the monster Golza and alien Kiriel. Tiga even changed through his three forms on stage!

The First, Seven, Ace, Taro and Leo then came onstage. Upon the MC’s introduction, each of the Ultraman stepped forward and struck a pose for the cheering fans, bringing the show to the climax. (Watch the video clips of the Livestage here!)

The anime fair attracted around a hundred thousand visitors. Ultraman’s popularity continues to rise and sizzle!

More coverage over at Ultraman Club, China’s Ultraman fan club.

(Text: (Chinese) Ultraseven 21. Translation: Akubon)

MORE PICTURES…

Ultraseven!

Ultraman Ace!

Ultraman Taro meets and greets

Ultraman Tiga Strong Type meets and greets

A new Ultraman video game for PS2 is slated to hit the shelves in October this year. According to the scoop reported in the 1July issue of ファミ通 (Famitsu Weekly).

The official site of the video game is already up:

Fighting Evolution: Rebirth Official Site

This video will feature more intense graphics and animation, and also a series of new characters: the mutated versions of your familiar kaijus and also new (imit) Chaos Ultraman!

So far, the expected list of characters for this game:
Ultraman the First
Ultraseven
Ultraman Tiga
Ultraman Gaia V2
Ultraman Agul V2
Ultraman Cosmos

Baltan seijin
Gomora
Red King
Jeronimon
Tyrant
Kirieroid

Original Characters:
Mutant versions of your familiar kaiju - Eleking, Redking and Tyrant!

And the appearance of Imit Ultras - the Chaosroids!

Choasroid U

Chaosroid T

Chaosroid S

Watch a movie of the upcoming game here!

Keep track of the game developments on our forum, or check out Matsumura Pan’s homepage

The last episode of ULTRAMAN NEXUS, EPISODE FINAL - NEXUS IS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD AT ANARION’s SITE!

In Episode Final:

Unknown Hand finally reveals his identity.

The whole truth is revealed.

Leyte, The Visitors, and all the other mysteries are unveiled.

Nagi Saijyo had been chosen as Ren’s successor. But tragedy awaits her during her transformation.

Who will the “Light” choose? Whose soul is bonded to Nexus?

The fate of Earth will be decided after the battle with the Unknown Hand.

Curtain Call

The Cast, Staff and Crew of the Ultraman Nexus production

(credits to ah.heng for translation)

The new Ultraman manga “ULTRAMAN STORY 0 (ZERO)” will debut in this month’s Magazine Z (マガジン　ゼット) from Kodansha Books.

This series will be authored and illustrated by Kazuo Mafune (真船一雄), who’s known for his work on Super Doctor K (スーパードクターK). This project is supervised by Tsuburaya Production. The debut chapter can be found in the July issue of Magazine Z, released on 28 May

Refer to this earlier article posted on 28 Mar 05

NEW TV AND MOVIE PRODUCTION

Ultraman characters join Sompote Saengduenchai (left), CEO of Tsuburaya Chaiyo Co, and Yang Shui Yuan, managing director of Guanzhou Ruishi Culture Developing, at a press conference held to discuss the production of Ultraman movies in China

Chaiyo Productions, together with its Chinese and Thai partners, are embarking on a 104-million baht (USD$2.6 million) project to produce an Ultraman TV series and movie in a bid to boost the sales of its Ultraman products. At a press conference on 24 May 05, Pheerasit Saengduenchai, Chaiyo’s chief executive officer, announced that Chaiyo Production is collaborating with Ruishi Culture Developing, a Chinese company, and Apex Toys, the Thai toy, to film the Ultraman TV series and movie in China.

Contract Signing

Rui Shi Culture Developing signed a co-production contract with Chiyo Productions Co Ltd to film a 104 million baht (USD$2.6 million) “Ultraman” TV series with 52 episodes. The filming for the tv series will begin in August and to take between eight and 12 months to finish. Eighty per cent of the filming will take place in China. Pheerasit said portions of the TV series would also be shown at a film festival in Italy in October this year as the first step in the programme’s launch onto the European and US markets. The first episode will be screened in Thailand by the end of this year and will be shown in China in July and August next year. Chaiyo’s contribution to the project is 50%, with the series and movie to be marketed in both Thailand and China.

Sompote Saengduenchai and Yang Shui Yuan with Ultraman Elite and the other Ultra brothers

Following the series, Chaiyo will continue to film the Ultraman movie, based on a new script, with four new characters to be introduced. The key selling point of the series and the movie, however, remains their special effects. Pheerasit said the company was planning to spend up to 100 million baht (USD$2.5 million) a year to research and develop new characters for future Ultraman movie scripts.

Chaiyo Ultraman Characters - (from Left to Right) Millenium, Elite and Dark

GROSS PROFITS

Pheerasit added that Tsuburaya Chiyo expected to earn more than 600 million baht (USD$15 million) this year from the Ultraman brand, taking into account licences and TV programmes. He stated that the series and movie would double the company’s revenue in Thailand which was 200 million baht (USD$5 million) last year and had been growing at 20% annually. Encouraged by the new “Ultraman” TV series being made in China, Tsuburaya Chiyo expects the total revenues from the Ultraman business to make a dramatic leap to around 1 billion baht (USD$25 million) next year, 60 per cent of it from the overseas market.

In China, Ultraman sales last year doubled to 100 million baht (USD$2.5 million) . Once the series and the movie are released, Pheerasit said he expected their impact would boost sales in China by between 300% and 400%, with product sales reaching 500 million baht (USD$12.5 million) by the end of next year. Coupled with other revenues, Ultraman revenues in China could reach 800 million baht (USD$20 million) in 2006, he added.

ULTRAMAN MUSEUM

Sompote Saengduenchai, chairman of Tsuburaya Chaiyo, said that 50-metre-high giant models of Ultraman and other alien characters would be created for an Ultraman museum in Ayuthaya.

Ultraman Taro statue

“I will create an Ultraman spectacle in Thailand that will attract children from all over the world,” said Sompote. He added that the giant models would cost 2 million baht each and be on display by next year.

Mother of All Ultras

Sompote said the Ultraman museum would allow children from all over the world to experience M-78, the home of the Ultraman superheroes, as well as giving them a chance to explore the background behind each Ultraman character.

(sources: Bangkok Post,