Ultraman

"The energy that UltraMan gets from the Sun diminishes rapidly in Earths' atmosphere. The Warning Light begins to blink! Should it stop completely, it means UltraMan will NEVER RISE AGAIN!!!"

In every episode, the above passage let you know that UltraMan was gonna kick some major-league booty! It was cheesy as hell, but a lot of fun. This was your standard guy-in- a-rubber suit Japanese sci-fi thriller, but somehow it developed a very loyal fan base both here in the U.S. and its' native Japan.

In the not-too-distant future, our hero Hayata (tall, perfect hair, firm jaw) is a stalwart member of The Science Patrol. Their mission is to investigate strange happenings that baffle the local authorities. During one fateful mission, Hayata is tragically (and inadvertently) killed by the arrival of an interstellar visitor, the mysterious UltraMan! UltraMan is so distraught by this accident, that he fuses his life and Hayata's. They will live symbiotically. Whenever danger threatens, Hayata has only to activate the Beta Capsule and he becomes the 200 foot tall champion of humanity, the mighty UltraMan!

I was lucky enough to live in an area on the United States that had a station that aired Ultraman and Johnny Sokko & His Flying Robot in the 70's. I was a big Speed Racer fan(now on the SPEED Channel), but was more into the live action tv shows like Jason of Star Command, Ark II, Space Academy, Land of the Lost, Six Million Dollar Man, etc. I've seen many different Ultraman series but this is my favorite and the one I saw in the 70's. The silver praying mantis looking face, the crossing of the arms to shoot an electric charge, it was just great entertainment. Iota was a great character to turn into Ultraman with a great team to fight monsters. TBS aired Ultra 7 for a while, I guess Ted Turner owns the rights, it's similar to this Ultraman series but the production and voice over quality isn't nearly as good. Don't miss it!!!

Of all the Japanese monster movies/TV shows, Ultraman has a special place in my heart. Produced by the same man who brought us Gojira (Godzilla) Eiji Tsuburaya brings to the small screen a more refined giant-sized, judo/jujitsu-throwing, eco-friendly, solar-powered, silver, flying hero.

Who could ask for anything more? :-)

Ultraman helps our gallant friends of the equally valiant Science Patrol, who seek out and confront strange new monsters on the city streets of Japan's urban hubs. When the Science Patrol finds they're in over their heads (ever episode, to be exact ;-)), Hyata calls upon his two-hundred foot symbiot. A fight usually ensues in downtown Tokyo, committing city hall to a perpetual state of Urban Renewal plans.

Seriously. Ultraman is the show they don't make anymore for kids, but should. Despite all the violence of Ultraman mixing it up with monsters on miniature sets, the show teaches some fundamental values and etiquette for young minds.

If you're a parent of a young child, do him/her a favor and go out and get either the VHS or DVD of Ultraman Volume 1.

To the best of my recollection the show was shot at TOHO studios (where Tsuburaya shot nearly all his Godzilla films), and stared Akiji Kobayashi, Susumu Kurobe and Hiroko Sakurai. The acting is typically Japanese (think high energy here), but entertaining all the same. And the actress who plays Fuji is easy on the eyes :-)

Ultraman is da BOMB! Accept no substitutes!

In my house we have no cable TV for a great reason. We do have a DVD player for a greater reason.

I like simple TV like the adventures of Superman faster than a speeding locomotive USA 1951,or Starman the creature made of THE strongest steel Japan 1965 an now ULTRAMAN 1966 My 3 y/o son can sing the theme song better than my 5 y/o daughter ,and my 5 y/o daughter only view'd 2 episodes 8 an 10. We watched them together a few times, my son has not view'd any. he's to young so why or how could he sing the Ultraman theme song since its not on the tube for him?

thru the minds of kids imagination follow art of life.

Those swirling colors that opened the show and the weird music always got me excited as a kid. Ultraman was simply awesome, and although I have not seen the show in over thirty years I can hear him yelling "Hyata" and see the red dotted laser lines emanating from his crossed arms. That ever slowing flashing heart. Discovering as I did just now that one man was responsible for bringing us this and Speed Racer makes me happy Peter Fernandez was around when I was a kid. Ultraman and Speed were both well written for children, suitably violent for a violent world and instrumental in teaching me that evil and wrong are to be put down, even at the risk of personal sacrifice. "Hyata!"