Ultraman Ace
| Ultraman Ace | |
|---|---|
 Logo | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Tsuburaya Productions |
| Developed by | Shinichi Ichikawa |
| Directed by | Masanori Kakehi |
| Starring |
|
| Voices of | Gorō Naya |
| Composer | Tōru Fuyuki |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 24 minutes (per episode) |
| Production companies | Tsuburaya Productions TBS |
| Original release | |
| Network | JNN (TBS) |
| Release | April 7, 1972 – March 30, 1973 |
| Related | |
| Return of Ultraman Ultraman Taro | |
Ultraman Ace (ウルトラマンA, 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 30, 1973, with a total of 52 episodes.
Starting from this show, the Ultra Series begins to shift from a sci-fi/mystery adventure to superhero fantasy fare. All previous Ultramen (Ultraman, Ultraseven, Ultraman Jack, and Zoffy) make regular appearances in this series, whereas they only made guest appearances in the previous show Return of Ultraman.
Plot
[edit]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, short for Terrible-monster Attacking Crew (超獣攻撃隊, Chōjū Kōgekitai), 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 Seiji, leaving Earth in episode 28. Seiji was on his own in succeeding episodes. In the final episode, Yapool masqueraded as the child of Alien Simon and combined several of 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 chimeric monster, eventually triumphing over Jumbo King. With Yapool's first attempt (of what would become many) at taking over the Earth thwarted at last, Ace departed the Earth to return home.
Episodes
[edit]| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Shine! The Five Ultra Brothers" Transliteration: "Kagayake! Urutra Go Kyōdai" (Japanese: 輝け！ウルトラ五兄弟) | Masanori Kakehi Kazuho Mitsuta | Shinichi Ichikawa | April 7, 1972 | |
| In 1972, sometime after the second age of monsters had ended. A new threat has arrived in the form of the Yapool, a race of interdimensional beings. They bring with them genetically, altered cyborgian creations called Terrible-Monster, or Super Beasts; more powerful lifeforms unlike any other seen before. The first such creature leading the attack is Verokron. Sent to destroy Fukuyama, the Earth Defense Force is powerless to stop the monster's advance. Seiji Hokuto, a bakery delivery man, and a nurse named Yuko Minami are killed in the destruction while trying to help fleeing citizens. Ultraman Ace, accompanied by four other Ultra Brothers, appears and revives the two bestowing upon them Ultra Rings that, when shining, allows them to transform into Ultraman Ace. Seiji and Yuko become members of TAC (Terrible-monster Attacking Crew), a Self Defense Force funded by the global combat organization tasked with battling the Yapoolian threat and their army of inter-dimensional monstrosities. Verokron is seen again with new missiles used by it. TAC weakens the beast with Seiji and Yuko being told by Ace about the Ultra Rings. Then as Verokron destroys Seiji's plane, Seiji and Yuko turn into Ultraman Ace. Ace is nearly defeated by Velekron but Ace uses the Metalium Beam to finish Verokron. The age of Yapool and the Terrible-Monster had begun. | |||||
| 2 | "Surpass the Giant Terrible-Monster!" Transliteration: "Dai Chōjū o Koeteyuke!" (Japanese: 大超獣を越えてゆけ！) | Masanori Kakehi Kazuho Mitsuta | Shōzō Uehara | April 14, 1972 | |
| An enormous silver-colored egg is found at a construction site. With curiosity getting the best of him, a worker is absorbed into the huge egg shortly before it submerges below ground. TAC investigates, but finds no traces of the construction worker, or the egg. Later, a golden egg-shaped flying object is detected. Seiji intercepts it, seemingly destroying the UFO. Later on during a party for Seiji and Yuko, the golden egg reappears in the city nestling atop a building. Shortly thereafter, the silver egg reemerges and combines to form a super egg with the golden one. TAC discovers that a similar occurrence is described in an ancient Egyptian text about a giant creature named Chameleking hatched from a golden and silver egg that attacked Atlantis. It is surmised that Yapool is attempting to recreate this ancient scenario on Earth. | |||||
| 3 | "Go Up in Flames! Terrible-Monster Hell" Transliteration: "Moero! Chōjū Jigoku" (Japanese: 燃えろ！超獣地獄) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Shigemitsu Taguchi | April 21, 1972 | |
| On patrol, Yuko witnesses the sky crack open and a monster emerges. Destroying a bridge with a little boy on it, a passenger plane flies overhead and it, too, is destroyed. TAC investigates the wreckage and finds no sign of the little boy, nor the monster Yuko described. Seiji finds the yellow hat belonging to the boy which happens to have his name, Shiro Nakamori, printed on it. Seiji locates his parents and upon meeting the boy, realizes something is wrong with him after he swipes his gun and attempts to kill him with it. It's discovered the boy has been possessed by the Yapool, using him as a host for the monster Vakishim. Luring the main TAC members away with a decoy, Vakishim is sent to destroy the TAC headquarters at the base of Mount Fuji. | |||||
| 4 | "A 300-Million-Year-Old Terrible-Monster Appears!" Transliteration: "San'oku-nen Chōjū Shutsugen!" (Japanese: 3億年超獣出現！) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Shinichi Ichikawa | April 28, 1972 | |
| 5 | "The Giant-Ant Terrible-Monster vs. the Ultra Brothers" Transliteration: "Ōari Chōjū Tai Urutora Kyōdai" (Japanese: 大蟻超獣対ウルトラ兄弟) | Tadashi Mafune | Shōzō Uehara | May 5, 1972 | |
| 6 | "Solve the Mystery of the Transforming Terrible-Monster!" Transliteration: "Henshin Chōjū no Nazo o Oe!" (Japanese: 変身超獣の謎を追え！) | Tadashi Mafune | Shigemitsu Taguchi | May 12, 1972 | |
| 7 | "Monster vs. Terrible-Monster vs. Alien" Transliteration: "Kaijū Tai Chōjū Tai Uchūjin" (Japanese: 怪獣対超獣対宇宙人) | Masanori Kakehi | Shinichi Ichikawa | May 19, 1972 | |
| 8 | "Life of the Sun Is the Life of Ace" Transliteration: "Taiyō no Inochi Ēsu no Inochi" (Japanese: 太陽の命 エースの命) | Masanori Kakehi | Shōzō Uehara | May 26, 1972 | |
| 9 | "100,000 Terrible-Monsters! Surprise Attack Plan" Transliteration: "Chōjū Jūman-biki! Kishū Keikaku" (Japanese: 超獣10万匹！奇襲計画) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Shinichi Ichikawa | June 2, 1972 | |
| 10 | "Duel! Ultraman Ace vs. Hideki Go" Transliteration: "Kessen! Ēsu Tai Gō Hideki" (Japanese: 決戦！エース対郷秀樹) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Shigemitsu Taguchi | June 9, 1972 | |
| 11 | "Terrible-Monster Is Ten Women?" Transliteration: "Chōjū wa Jū-nin no On'na?" (Japanese: 超獣は10人の女？) | Kazuo Hirano | Shōzō Uehara | June 16, 1972 | |
| 12 | "The Red Flower of a Vicious Cactus" Transliteration: "Saboten Jigoku no Akai Hana" (Japanese: サボテン地獄の赤い花) | Kazuo Hirano | Shōzō Uehara | June 23, 1972 | |
| 13 | "Death Penalty! 5 Ultra Brothers" Transliteration: "Shikei! Urutora Go Kyōdai" (Japanese: 死刑！ウルトラ5兄弟) | Yasuo Yoshino | Shigemitsu Taguchi | June 30, 1972 | |
| 14 | "5 Stars Scattered in the Galaxy" Transliteration: "Ginga ni Chitta Itsutsu no Hoshi" (Japanese: 銀河に散った5つの星) | Yasuo Yoshino | Shinichi Ichikawa | July 7, 1972 | |
| 15 | "Summer Horror Series: Curse of the Black Crab" Transliteration: "Natsu no Kaiki Shirīzu Kuroi Kani no Noroi" (Japanese: 夏の怪奇シリーズ 黒い蟹の呪い) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Shigemitsu Taguchi | July 14, 1972 | |
| 16 | "Summer Horror Series: Scary Story of the Cattle God-Man" Transliteration: "Natsu no Kaiki Shirīzu Kaidan Ushigami Otoko" (Japanese: 夏の怪奇シリーズ 怪談・牛神男) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Toshirō Ishidō | July 21, 1972 | |
| 17 | "Summer Horror Series: Scary Story of the Demon Woman of Hotarugahara" Transliteration: "Natsu no Kaiki Shirīzu Kaidan Hotarugahara no Kijo" (Japanese: 夏の怪奇シリーズ 怪談 ほたるヶ原の鬼女) | Tadashi Mafune | Shōzō Uehara | July 28, 1972 | |
| 18 | "Give the Pigeon Back!" Transliteration: "Hato o Kaese!" (Japanese: 鳩を返せ！) | Tadashi Mafune | Shigemitsu Taguchi | August 4, 1972 | |
| 19 | "The Mystery of the Haunted Kappa Mansion" Transliteration: "Kappa Yashiki no Nazo" (Japanese: 河童屋敷の謎) | Masanori Kakehi | Masao Saitō | August 11, 1972 | |
| 20 | "Stars of Youth Is the Stars of Two" Transliteration: "Seishun no Hoshi Futari no Hosi" (Japanese: 青春の星 ふたりの星) | Masanori Kakehi | Shigemitsu Taguchi | August 18, 1972 | |
| 21 | "I Saw a Vision of the Celestial Maiden" Transliteration: "Ten'nyo no Maboroshi o Mita" (Japanese: 天女の幻を見た！) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Toshirō Ishidō | August 25, 1972 | |
| 22 | "Vengeance Demon Yapool" Transliteration: "Fukushūki Yapūru" (Japanese: 復讐鬼ヤプール) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Shōzō Uehara | September 1, 1972 | |
| 23 | "A Game Changer! Here Comes Zoffy" Transliteration: "Gyakuten! Zofi Tadaima Sanjō" (Japanese: 逆転！ゾフィ只今参上) | Tadashi Mafune | Tadashi Mafune | September 8, 1972 | |
| 24 | "Behold! Midnight Transformation" Transliteration: "Miyo! Mayonakano Dai Henshin" (Japanese: 見よ！真夜中の大変身) | Tadashi Mafune | Kazuo Hirano Tadashi Mafune | September 15, 1972 | |
| 25 | "Pyramid Is a Terrible-Monster's Nest!" Transliteration: "Piramitto wa Chōjū no Su da!" (Japanese: ピラミットは超獣の巣だ！) | Masanori Kakehi | Masao Saitō | September 22, 1972 | |
| 26 | "Total Defeat! The 5 Ultra Brothers" Transliteration: "Zenmetsu! Urutora Go Kyōdai" (Japanese: 全滅！ウルトラ5兄弟) | Masanori Kakehi | Shigemitsu Taguchi | September 29, 1972 | |
| 27 | "Miracle! Father of Ultra" Transliteration: "Kiseki! Urutora no Chichi" (Japanese: 奇跡！ウルトラの父) | Masanori Kakehi | Shigemitsu Taguchi | October 6, 1972 | |
| 28 | "Goodbye Yuko, Sister of the Moon" Transliteration: "Sayōnara Yūko yo, Tsuki no Imōto yo" (Japanese: さようなら夕子よ、月の妹よ) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Toshirō Ishidō | October 13, 1972 | |
| 29 | "The 6th Ultraman Brother" Transliteration: "Urutora Roku-banme no Otōto" (Japanese: ウルトラ6番目の弟) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Shūkei Nagasaka | October 20, 1972 | |
| 30 | "You Can See the Star of Ultra" Transliteration: "Kimi ni mo Mieru Urutora no Hoshi" (Japanese: きみにも見えるウルトラの星) | Makoto Okamura | Shigemitsu Taguchi | October 27, 1972 | |
| 31 | "From Ultraseven to Ultraman Ace" Transliteration: "Sebun kara Ēsu no Te ni" (Japanese: セブンからエースの手に) | Makoto Okamura | Masahiro Yamada | November 3, 1972 | |
| 32 | "With Hopes in the Star of Ultra" Transliteration: "Urutora no Hoshi ni Inori o Komete" (Japanese: ウルトラの星に祈りを込めて) | Masanori Kakehi | Shigemitsu Taguchi | November 10, 1972 | |
| 33 | "Shoot That Airship!" Transliteration: "Ano Kikyūsen o Ute!" (Japanese: あの気球船を撃て！) | Masanori Kakehi | Toshirō Ishidō | November 17, 1972 | |
| 34 | "A Terrible-Monster Dances on a Rainbow Over the Sea" Transliteration: "Umi no Niji ni Chōjū ga Odoru" (Japanese: 海の虹に超獣が踊る) | Hiroshi Shimura | Shūkei Nagasaka | November 24, 1972 | |
| 35 | "A Gift from Zoffy" Transliteration: "Zofi kara no Okurimono" (Japanese: ゾフィからの贈りもの) | Takumi Furukawa | Keiji Kubota | December 1, 1972 | |
| 36 | "A Terrible-Monster Registering 10,000 Phons?" Transliteration: "Kono Chōjū Ichiman Hōn?" (Japanese: この超獣10,000ホーン？) | Masanori Kakehi | Shūkei Nagasaka | December 8, 1972 | |
| 37 | "Star of Friendship Forever" Transliteration: "Yūjō no Hoshi yo Eien ni" (Japanese: 友情の星よ永遠に) | Masanori Kakehi | Fumio Ishimori | December 15, 1972 | |
| 38 | "Resurrection! Father of Ultra" Transliteration: "Fukkatsu no Urutora no Chichi" (Japanese: 復活！ウルトラの父) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Toshirō Ishidō | December 22, 1972 | |
| 39 | "Seven's Life! Ace's Life!" Transliteration: "Sebun no Inochi! Ēsu no Inochi!" (Japanese: セブンの命！エースの命！) | Eizō Yamagiwa | Shigemitsu Taguchi | December 29, 1972 | |
| 40 | "Return the Panda!" Transliteration: "Panda o Kaeshite!" (Japanese: パンダを返して！) | Toshitsugu Suzuki | Shigemitsu Taguchi | January 5, 1973 | |
| 41 | "Winter Horror Series: Scary Story! Lion Drum" Transliteration: "Fuyu no Kaiki Shirīzu Kaidan! Shishi Daiko" (Japanese: 冬の怪奇シリーズ 怪談！獅子太鼓) | Toshitsugu Suzuki | Toshirō Ishidō | January 12, 1973 | |
| 42 | "Winter Horror Series: Mystery! Monster Woo Rises Again" Transliteration: "Fuyu no Kaiki Shirīzu Shinpi! Kaijū Ū no Fukkatsu" (Japanese: 冬の怪奇シリーズ 神秘！怪獣ウーの復活) | Hidetaka Ueno | Shigemitsu Taguchi | January 19, 1973 | |
| 43 | "Winter Horror Series: Scary Story! Yeti's Cry" Transliteration: "Fuyu no Kaiki Shirīzu Kaidan Yuki Otoko no Sakebi!" (Japanese: 冬の怪奇シリーズ 怪談 雪男の叫び！) | Hidetaka Ueno | Toshirō Ishidō | January 26, 1973 | |
| 44 | "Setsubun Scary Story! Sparkling Beans" Transliteration: "Setsubun Kaidan! Hikaru Mame" (Japanese: 節分怪談！光る豆) | Masanori Kakehi | Fumio Ishimori | February 2, 1973 | |
| 45 | "A Desperate Situation! Save Ace!" Transliteration: "Dai Pinchi! Ēsu o Sukue!" (Japanese: 大ピンチ！エースを救え！) | Masanori Kakehi | Toshirō Ishidō | February 9, 1973 | |
| 46 | "Ride Over the Time Machine!" Transliteration: "Taimu Mashin o Norikoero!" (Japanese: タイムマシンを乗り越えろ！) | Takumi Furukawa | Toshirō Ishidō | February 16, 1973 | |
| 47 | "Salamander's Curse!" Transliteration: "Sanshōuo no Noroi!" (Japanese: 山椒魚の呪い！) | Takumi Furukawa | Toshirō Ishidō Kiyokazu Yamamoto | February 23, 1973 | |
| 48 | "Revenge of Verokron" Transliteration: "Berokuron no Fukushū" (Japanese: ベロクロンの復讐) | Akiyasu Kikuchi | Shinichi Ichikawa | March 2, 1973 | |
| 49 | "The Flying Jellyfish" Transliteration: "Sora Tobu Kurage" (Japanese: 空飛ぶクラゲ) | Akiyasu Kikuchi | Toshirō Ishidō | March 9, 1973 | |
| 50 | "Tokyo Great Panic! The Mad Traffic Signals" Transliteration: "Tōkyō Dai Konran! Kurutta Shingō" (Japanese: 東京大混乱！狂った信号) | Kiyozumi Fukazawa | Toshirō Ishidō | March 16, 1973 | |
| 51 | "The Life-Sucking Sound" Transliteration: "Inochi o Sū Oto" (Japanese: 命を吸う音) | Masanori Kakehi | Toshirō Ishidō | March 23, 1973 | |
| 52 | "You Are the Ace of Tomorrow!" Transliteration: "Asu no Ēsu wa Kimi da!" (Japanese: 明日のエースは君だ！) | Masanori Kakehi | Shinichi Ichikawa | March 30, 1973 | |
Cast
[edit]- 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]
Songs
[edit]- 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)
- Used as ending theme of episode 52
- Insert themes
- "TAC no Uta" (TACの歌, Takku no Uta, "Song of TAC")
- Lyrics: Kyōichi Azuma
- Composition & Arrangement: Tōru Fuyuki
- Artist: Honey Knights, Misuzu Children's Choir
- "TAC no Isshūkan" (TACの一週間, Takku no Isshūkan, "One week of TAC")
- Lyrics: Kyōichi Azuma
- Composition & Arrangement: Tōru Fuyuki
- Artist: Ace Mennen Call
International Broadcasts & Home media
[edit]In July 2019, Mill Creek Entertainment announced that it had acquired most of the Ultraman library from Tsuburaya Productions through Indigo Entertainment, including 1,100 TV episodes and 20 films.[3] Mill Creek released the series on Blu-ray and digital on May 12, 2020, in standard and steelbook sets.[4]
- In the Philippines, the series was aired on ABS-CBN in 1993.
In July 2020, Shout! Factory announced to have struck a multi-year deal with Alliance Entertainment and Mill Creek, with the blessings of Tsuburaya and Indigo, that granted them the exclusive SVOD and AVOD digital rights to the Ultra series and films (1,100 TV episodes and 20 films) acquired by Mill Creek the previous year. Ultraman Ace, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "ウルトラマンA Blu-ray BOX Standard Edition" (in Japanese). Bandai Visual. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ 円谷プロ画報. Vol. 第1巻. Takeshobo. 2013. pp. 216–217. ISBN 978-4-8124-9491-2.
- ^ "Exclusive – Mill Creek Entertainment Acquires the Ultraman Library For Physical and Digital Home Entertainment Distribution Across North America". SciFi Japan. July 10, 2019. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ "Mill Creek Entertainment To Bring Ultraman Ace And Ultraman X On Blu-ray In Spring 2020". SciFi Japan. January 16, 2020. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ Patrick Frater (July 10, 2020). "Shout! Factory Strikes 'Ultraman' Digital Distribution Deal With Mill Creek". Variety. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
External links
[edit]- Ultraman Ace at IMDb
- Official website of Tsuburaya Productions (in English)
- Ultraman Connection — Official website (in English)
- Official Ultraman channel at YouTube