The Ultraman series 60th anniversary documentary film THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN  is scheduled for release on Friday, July 3. Planned by acclaimed filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda, known for works such as Shoplifters, this documentary approaches the fundamental question “What is ‘Ultraman’?” through the unique perspectives of leading filmmakers and creators active on the front lines both in Japan and worldwide, including Guillermo del Toro, Hideo Kojima, Hideaki Anno, and Shinji Higuchi. Celebrating its impending release, support comments have arrived from past cast members who have starred across the history of the Ultraman series, as well as prominent figures who hold a deep affection for the franchise.

 

These comments from passionate cast members and celebrities beautifully convey the origins of Ultraman, reimagined through this film, alongside each individual’s personal reflections upon watching it.

 

■ Support Comments 

 

• Takumi Saitoh (Shinji Kaminaga / Ultraman in Shin Ultraman)

 

 

Ultraman is a creative cornerstone for master filmmakers worldwide and a modern mythology.

The shining eyes of the speakers in this film taught me that Ultraman is a vehicle not only for nostalgia, but also a lens that allows us to re-examine our world with the heart of a child.

While a being of light arrived to better the planet, the kaiju cannot simply be dismissed as evil, carrying their own reasons for being. 

There lies a delicate equilibrium in the mythology of Ultraman, where destruction and protection exist as two sides of the same coin.

The scripts by Tetsuo Kinjo and Toshihiro Iijima, alongside Tohl Narita’s beautiful designs, captured a deep complexity and a gaze of hope. Once again, I was deeply shaken by the earnest prayer these pioneers wove into tokusatsu.

After watching this film, I feel like I finally understand the real reason Shin Ultraman was born.

 

• Michihiko Yanai (Creative Director; Professor, Tokyo University of the Arts)

 

 

Imagination births creation, creating new imagination and new creation.

The fountainhead of it all.

Light born from light. Love born from love.

Depict the unseen. Never stop the fantasy.

And hand what comes next to the next light.

 

• Takeshi Tsuruno (Shin Asuka / Ultraman Dyna)

 

 

Witnessing the dreams and prayers of Director Eiji Tsuburaya and the other creators reminded me why Ultraman is loved across generations and borders.

Perhaps Ultraman is the true archetype of the “super being” that lives within all our hearts.

I first encountered that light as a child, and I was incredibly fortunate to become an Ultra Hero myself. Holding that joy, along with the responsibility of carrying on this legacy, close to my heart, I want to keep passing the Ultra-light forward into the future.

 

• Taiyo Sugiura (Musashi Haruno / Ultraman Cosmos)

 

 

The world of Ultraman that Eiji Tsuburaya created.

I was deeply moved all over again, especially by how it expresses the balance of cosmos (order) and chaos through the sheer beauty of its design.

Discovering the franchise’s origins during this milestone 60th anniversary has made my love for Ultraman grow even deeper.

I take immense pride in being part of the Ultra family, and I want to connect this bond of light to the future together with all of you.

 

• Takuya Negishi (Hikaru Raido / Ultraman Ginga)

 

 

“Even after we die, we are Ultraman.”

Director Eiji Tsuburaya and so many other pioneers built this tokusatsu culture and shaped the history of Ultraman. Today, their passion still lives on inside all of us.

Watching this made me realize all over again that it is our mission to take the “Ultra-spirit” we inherited, pass it down to the next generation, and keep this culture alive for the future.

 

• Kensuke Takahashi (Daichi Ozora / Ultraman X)

 

 

Ultraman has always been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Hearing and seeing the deep passion of the original creators who brought Ultraman to life, as well as those who carried the torch forward, was profoundly moving. The passion of so many individuals has “united” to pass down this legacy. As someone who has been a part of the Ultraman family myself, and as a child who learned so much from Ultraman, I left this film with a renewed desire to help carry this legacy into the future. I highly recommend this film to everyone.

 

• Takaya Aoyagi (Jugglus Juggler)

 

 

I fell even deeper in love with Ultraman. I wanted to know more, and I wanted to share it with someone else. 

It made me so happy to see Ultraman loved worldwide, across oceans, borders, and generations, and to know we are all connected by this shared passion. And ultimately, it made me love myself for loving Ultraman.

 

• Tatsuomi Hamada (Riku Asakura / Ultraman Geed)

 

 

This documentary made me realize all over again how Ultraman, a series that first aired 60 years ago, has never stopped bringing the light to people, crossing borders far beyond Japan. 

Watching it has truly made me get ready to stand as an actor who will carry that same light to many people in the future.

 

• Yuya Hirata (Katsumi Minato / Ultraman Rosso)

 

 

Once again, I was reminded that Ultraman is truly one of a kind.

This film shines a spotlight on so many different sides of the franchise, and it deeply moved me.

It was incredibly powerful to hear from the people who shaped this history; their words carried so much weight, and every single one resonated with me.

I hope as many people as possible get to see this!

 

• Ryosuke Koike (Isami Minato / Ultraman Blu)

 

 

Watching this film felt like reliving a time before “Ultraman” even existed. 

He was an iconic symbol during post-war Japan, a presence that gave people a genuine glimpse of the future. 

It made me realize that, as someone who brings Ultraman to life in the modern era, I want to always be by the children’s side, just as he has always been.

 

• Arisa Sonohara (Asahi Minato / Ultrawoman Grigio)

 

 

Learning about the deep passion of Director Eiji Tsuburaya, the original crew, and all the people who have been inspired by Ultraman made me want to go back and rewatch the Ultraman series. I truly hope that the story of Ultraman, humanity, and the kaiju will continue forever.

 

• Yuki Inoue (Hiroyuki Kudo / Ultraman Taiga)

 

 

What exactly is “Ultraman”?

A hero, cool, strong, giant, able to fly… Of course, he is all of those things.

But why does he continue to be loved by so many people for so long?

Hearing the answers directly from those who love Ultraman made me feel like I finally understand what he truly represents.

If a situation can be resolved without defeating the enemy, then don’t.

Seeing this way of fighting made me love Ultraman even more.

 

• Koshu Hirano (Haruki Natsukawa / Ultraman Z)

 

 

Ultraman connects people across borders. The innovative tokusatsu techniques, the art design, and the creative ideas for the energy beams have never lost their shine. They are still being passed down today. This film really lets you feel the true history and impact of Ultraman, a hero who continues to live on in the hearts of so many people, including myself.

 

• Raiga Terasaka (Kengo Manaka / Ultraman Trigger)

 

 

Hearing these words shining with dreams and wonder left me surprised, smiling, and in absolute awe.

Watching this might take you right back to your own roots, reminding you why you fell in love with “Ultraman” in the first place.

Through this film, let’s pass down this history of light and carry it into a hopeful future.

Smile, smile!

 

• Tomoya Warabino (Gento Hiruma / Ultraman Blazar)

 

 

Long before I was born, the being known as Ultraman was brought to life from nothing. 

Times have changed since then, and so has almost everything we see, touch, and experience in our daily lives.

Yet, the creators never stopped pushing through trial and error to figure out what to convey, what to make people feel, and what to make them think about. Watching this film made me incredibly grateful to have encountered Ultraman, a hero who has written such a beautiful chapter in this long history.

 

• Yuki Totsuka (Yuma Hize / Ultraman Arc)

 

 

Sixty years ago. What exactly did the people standing at the very beginning see when they looked toward the future? 

The raw, firsthand stories of how a divine spirit came to inhabit Ultraman feel incredibly fresh and made my heart swell. I walked away strongly feeling that this documentary exists for the future of Ultraman.

 

• Shori Kondo (Sorato Okida / Ultraman Omega)

 

 

I’m Shori Kondo, and I played Sorato Okida in Ultraman Omega.

I’ve always been a big fan of Director Koreeda’s work, so I’ve been eagerly looking forward to this project ever since I first heard about it.

Watching it brought one thing home for me all over again: the true greatness of Ultraman. Seeing him so deeply loved by creators worldwide made me feel incredibly proud that I got to transform into Ultraman myself.

It also reminded me that heroes are the ultimate root of what I find “cool.” While tracing the history of Ultraman, this film somehow made me want to reflect on my own life, too.

I am so grateful to Tsuburaya for birthing a form of tokusatsu the entire world can admire. I truly hope this film reaches every single Ultraman fan out there!

 

• Aoi Iwasaki (Ibuki Mitsuishi / Ultraman Teo)

 

 

This film beautifully captures Ultraman’s long history and charm.

I had such a wonderful time watching it, discovering so many behind-the-scenes stories and deep feelings I never knew about.

It really made me reflect on what “Ultraman” truly is, and left me thinking deeply about the profound weight and significance that comes with being able to transform.

 

The gathered comments are filled with deep respect for the creators who birthed Ultraman, an enduring passion for the tokusatsu culture passed down through the series, and a collective gaze toward connecting this magic to the next generation.

 

Since its premiere in 1966, the Ultraman series has been beloved across generations. Through invaluable testimony and archival footage, the Film examines the very beginning of this journey and the reasons why it continues to captivate so many today.

 

The film THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN is a definitive piece that allows anyone who has ever experienced Ultraman—as well as those who have yet to—to trace how the hero was born and passed down to the present day. Exploring how Ultraman lives on in the creations and memories of world-renowned filmmakers and creators, the documentary closes in on the ultimate question: “What is Ultraman?” Anticipation continues to build ahead of its release on Friday, July 3.

 

■ THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN Film Introduction

A monumental milestone in Japanese tokusatsu television, Ultraman recorded a peak viewership rating of 42.8% during its original 1966 broadcast, becoming a massive social phenomenon. Today, 60 years later, Tsuburaya Productions continues to deliver new entries in the Ultraman series, expanding its multi-generational world on a global scale.

 

The film features leading creators representing various fields, including film, tokusatsu, and design. A diverse group of commentators from Japan and abroad has gathered, including Guillermo del Toro (Filmmaker), Hirokazu Koreeda (Filmmaker), Hideo Kojima (Game Creator), Hideaki Anno (Director/Producer), Shinji Higuchi (Filmmaker), and Nicolas Winding Refn (Filmmaker). As their insights intertwine, the true essence of Ultraman begins to take shape.

 

The documentary unravels a completely unique universe where, despite the protagonist being a hero, the backgrounds of the kaiju are meticulously crafted. It also explores the immense aesthetic appeal found in the designs of both Ultraman and the kaiju. Furthermore, by shining a light on the brilliant concepts and craftsmanship of Eiji Tsuburaya and his original crew, the film traces the journey of how Ultraman expanded across the globe.

 

■ Credits

Executive Supervisor: Takayuki Tsukagoshi

 

Planning: Hirokazu Koreeda

 

Planning & Production: Kei Minamitani, Takuya Tashiro

 

Planning Assistance & Interviews: Takashi Shimizu

 

Directors: Yu Nakamura, Kazutaka Yoshida

 

Producers: Masahiro Onda, Tomoko Izuta (SlowHand)

 

Cast / Appearances: Guillermo del Toro, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Hideo Kojima, 

Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi, Nicolas Winding Refn, 

Shannon Tindle, John Aoshima, 

Kairi Narita, Pat Cadigan, 

 

Takashi Shimizu, Noi Sawaragi, Hidenori Okada, 

 

Susumu Kurobe, Hiroko Sakurai, Sandayu Dokumamushi, 

Toshihiro Iijima, Kazuo Sagawa, Kiyoshi Suzuki, Sadao Iizuka, Noriko Shishikura

 

Production Company: SlowHand

 

Produced by / Copyright: Tsuburaya Productions

 

Distribution: TOHO NEXT, Tsuburaya Productions

 

©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS