On Thursday, June 10, Tsuburaya Productions held a promotional livestream event for the new TV series Ultraman Trigger, premiering July 10, 2021 on the TV Tokyo Network.

 

 

Appearing in the livestream event were Main Director Koichi Sakamoto and members of the main cast including Raiga Terasaka in the starring role as Kengo Manaka, Runa Toyoda as Yuna Shizuma, Shunya Kaneko as Akito Hijiri, Tadashi Mizuno as Tesshin Sakuma, Meiku Harukawa as Himari Nanase, Katsuya Takagi as Seiya Tatsumi, Kei Hosogai as Ignis, and Shin Takuma as Mitsukuni Shizuma. In anticipation of the broadcast premiere, the cast talked passionately about how much there is to look forward to in the new show.

 

 

A new promotional poster featuring the entire cast was unveiled. The new poster includes not only Ultraman Trigger himself, but new characters announced during the show alongside their respective voice actors. They are expert team GUTS-Select member Alien Metron Marluru and the three Dark Giants, who woke up from 30 million years of slumber; Carmeara, the Captivating Warrior; Darrgon, the Herculean Fighter; and Hudram, the Agile Tactician.

 

For the first time ever, the cast and fans all together got to listen to the opening theme, “Trigger” by Takao Sakuma and ending theme, “Nanairo no Tane (Rainbow Seeds)” by ChouCho, both songs coming fresh out of the recording studio. The new theme music charmed both cast and online viewers alike.

 

In addition, series composer, Naoki Hayashi, and members of the writing and directing team were introduced. The latest TV series in the franchise, Ultraman Trigger, was designed to be the spiritual successor to Ultraman Tiga, the most important work in the popular Heisei Trilogy (also called “TDG”), which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It is an all-new story that could be called “Ultraman Tiga of the new era”, following in the footsteps of “Tiga” in terms of the story concept revolving around the legend of the ultra-ancient Giants of Light, as well as and the “Type Change” idea invented for the first time in the history of the franchise.

 

 

Comments from the Guests

Raiga Terasaka (as Kengo Manaka)

When I watched the footage from the show today, all I could think was, “Man, it’s good to be alive” (lol) I already started missing my time on set, and I felt that I finally truly became the hero of the show. I am completely overcome with gratitude to be able to work with such amazing people on this show and even more grateful to all the Ultraman fans whose love and support has given me this incredible opportunity. I’m absolutely positive that everyone will really love Ultraman Trigger, and I can’t wait to laugh, share and enjoy the show together with you all!

 

Runa Toyoda (as Yuna Shizuma) 

Playing the heroine of the show comes with a lot of pressure, but I’m learning so much on set and everyone has been so kind and supportive. I really believe this is a show that has the power to bring hope and a smile to viewers all across the world, so tune in for the premiere! 

 

Shunya Kaneko (as Akito Hijiri)

I’ve been a fan of Ultraman since I was a little kid, and I was really impressed with how awesome the series came out and how every character’s personality really came through. I can’t wait for all the fans to see the GUTS Sparklence that Akito developed, and his rivalry with Kengo!

 

Tadashi Mizuno (as Tesshin Sakuma)

I’ve really gotten into my role so much that I’ve started saying “Trigger, Trigger” even in my dreams! The cast and staff have all been working really hard to make this show great. Whether you are a longtime fan, or visiting the Ultraman universe for the first time, I really believe this is a show that everyone can enjoy. This is an amazing show you just can’t miss out on!

 

Meiku Harukawa (as Himari Nanase)

The vibe on set is fun and laid back because every cast member would easily be the life of the party all on their own! Watching the new footage today got me even more pumped up for the premiere. Of course I can’t wait to see the story unfold, but the part I really can’t wait to see is how the fight scenes between Ultraman and the monsters will look after all the tokusatsu scenes are added. I hope you all will enjoy watching the show as much as I have enjoyed making it!

 

Katsuya Takagi (as Seiya Tatsumi)

Finally, it’s livestream time! I can’t wait to see the hard work of all my fantastic castmates finally come together. My role as the Captain is… well, you’ll just have to wait and see in the show… as long as I’m not edited out. (lol) The show has so many amazing scenes, and at its core has an uplifting message about growing, learning and never giving up. I hope you will enjoy the show!

 

Kei Hosogai (as Ignis)

It is a true honor to appear in this show commemorating the 55th anniversary of Ultraman.

I’m really enjoying playing a character who pops up unexpectedly in all sorts of places, and I found myself looking forward to every shoot because everyone really gets along great together on set. We have the best staff and cast ever, and I can’t wait for you all to see the show! 

 

Shin Takuma (as Mitsukuni Shizuma)

As Yuna’s dad I’ve got to keep a sharp eye on the two handsome boys in our squad, but with Tesshin and the Captain, I’ve got nothing to worry about. Those two are no threat. (haha!) Raiga is a good kid with a sunny personality perfectly fit for our lead role. So don’t let us down, kid! We’re all counting on you! (haha!)

 

Koichi Sakamoto (Main Director)

Our intention and hope behind the show is to make something that will put a smile on the face of everyone who watches.

As you can see with all of us here on the set, we’re a noisy, rambunctious crew. (lol) The set is always full of smiles, and I really hope that that positivity comes through on screen. The show is action-packed, but I think the real magic is in everyone’s teamwork.

 

 

New Characters and Voice Actors

 

■ Alien Metron Marluru

A wandering alien from Planet Metron who came to Earth shortly after the establishment of the Terrestrial Peaceable Union (TPU). Marluru has a wealth of knowledge on intergalactic monsters, and is assigned as operator for Expert Team GUTS-Select. Despite the cute and cuddly appearance, has a razor sharp tongue.

 

<Voiced by: M・A・O>

M・A・O made her debut as a voice actress in 2012 after developing an interest in voice acting from her experiences working on a tokusatsu TV series. She has been highly acclaimed for her natural acting that captures the true spirit of the characters she voices. Always evolving and taking on the next challenge, she is currently bringing her vocal talents to a variety of roles in a number of different productions.

 

<Comment from M・A・O>

Hello everyone! My name is M・A・O, and I will be voicing the character Marluru in Ultraman Trigger. I’m thrilled and honored to be in such a beloved and long-running series. I’m ready to join the team and do my part to protect the planet!

In a way I will be the kind-of unofficial mascot of GUTS-Select, and I will do my very best to make Marluru the cute, but sassy character you just can’t stay mad at!

 

■ Carmeara, the Captivating Warrior (Height: 49 meters / Weight: 39,000 tons)

Leader of the Dark Giants, in the Ultra-Ancient times this formidable female warrior threatened to plunge the world into eternal darkness. Breaking the seal that locked her away for 30 million years, she once again appears on our planet with Darrgon and Hudram. She uses dark monsters as henchmen to wreak havoc on Earth as she relentlessly pursues Trigger with her weapons of terrible power: the Carmeara Whip, a whip made from deadly beams, and the fearsome Carmeara Baton. What twisted goal have they come here to accomplish? What sinister plan lies in store?

 

<Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka>

Sumire Uesaka made her voice acting debut in 2011. Since then, she has appeared in a number of popular works, and in 2013, launched her career in music. With interests that cross genre lines, this truly unique voice-over artist continues to take on new challenges across a wide variety of fields.

 

＜Comment from Sumire Uesaka>

I’m very honored to be a part of this monumental show of the Ultraman series. I will be voicing the character Carmeara. Carmeara has a graceful and beautiful aesthetic that I was immediately drawn to. I will give my utmost to portraying Carmeara’s intense love and hatred for Trigger! Really hope everyone enjoys it!

 

■Darrgon, the Herculean Fighter (Height: 62m / Weight: 68,000 tons)

One of the Dark Giants that appear on Earth with Carmeara. Darrgon, a brutish fighter cut from military cloth, values raw strength above all else and lives only for the thrill of the fight. His special move, the “Fire Beat Crusher”, sends shockwaves of flame driving through the earth with tremendous destructive power.

 

＜Voiced by Shunichi Maki>

Making his voice acting debut in 2015, Shunichi is a sports lover, known for his comically booming voice that reverberates from his powerful, sturdy frame. In the sixth episode of Ultraman Taiga, he voiced Abel, the younger brother of the Alien Gapiya played by Koichi Yamadera.

 

＜Comment from Shunichi Maki>

Hello! I’m Shunichi Maki, and I’ll be joining Ultraman Trigger as the voice of Darrgon.

Ultraman Tiga was such a huge thing for my generation that I still sing “Take Me Higher” when I do karaoke, so I was over the moon when I heard I got the part. I want to pay my respects to the long history of the series and work with everyone involved in the show to build Darrgon into a fully developed and exciting character. Thank you for the support and I hope you enjoy the show!

 

■Hudram, the Agile Tactician (Height: 57 meters, Weight: 52,000 tons)

One of the Dark Giants that appears on Earth with Carmeara. He is comparatively weak, but what he lacks in strength, he makes up for with his nimble maneuvering and brutal cunning on the battlefield. His specialty is psychological warfare, provoking his opponent’s emotions and using their own mind against them. The Hudrast, a slashing, vacuumous wave released from the blade on his arm, overwhelms his enemies with a powerful wind.

 

＜Voiced by Ryosuke Takahashi>

Ryosuke made his acting debut on a popular TV drama in 2004. The following year, he starred in tokusatsu hero productions and has since expanded his activities on TV, on the big screen and on stage. With regular appearances on the anime SSSS.GRIDMAN, he has come into his own as a voice actor.

 

<Comment from Ryosuke Takahashi>

Finally! Ultraman! I’m truly thrilled to be offered this role! 15 years ago, when I was starring in a tokusatsu production, I remember watching the voice actor next to me who was playing the enemy general and being completely blown away by how awesome he sounded, now that it’s my turn I can hardly believe it! Since that day, one stroke of good fortune has led to the next, until now – I feel like I won the lottery in getting this part! (lol)

I’m so grateful for these opportunities, and I’ll give this role everything I’ve got to hopefully inspire kids out there to pursue their own dreams. I hope you enjoy the show!

 

* An edited version of the Ultraman Trigger Livestream event  will be uploaded to the ULTRAMAN OFFICIAL YouTube Channel from July 12 (Sat), 9:30 AM (JST).

 

 

【ULTRAMAN TRIGGER – Series Overview】

Start Date: July 10th (Sat), 2021

Broadcast Time: Every Saturday 9:00~9:30 A.M. (JST)

Broadcast Channel: TXN Network and others

Production Companies: Tsuburaya Productions, TV Tokyo, and Dentsu

Official Series Website (Japanese): http://ani.tv/ultraman_trigger/

Official ULTRAMAN TRIGGER Website (Japanese): https://m-78.jp/trigger/

Official Series Twitter (Japanese): https://twitter.com/ultraman_series/

Actors: Raiga Terasaka, Runa Toyoda, Shunya Kaneda, Tadashi Mizuno, Meiku Harukawa, Katsuya Takagi, Kei Hosogai, Shin Takuma and more

Voice Actors: M・A・O, Sumire Uesaka, Maki Shunichi, Ryosuke Takahashi

Main Director: Koichi Sakamoto

Chief Editors: Naoki Hayashi, Jyunichiro Ashiki

Direction: Masayoshi Takesue, Kiyotaka Taguchi、Takanori Tsujimoto, Tomonobu Koshi, Naoyuki Uchida

Screenplay: Toshizo Nemoto、Keigo Koyanagi、Sotaro Hayashi、Sumio Uetake、Jun Tsugita

Opening Theme Song: Takao Sakuma, “Trigger”

Ending Theme Song: ChouCho, “Nanairo no Tane (Rainbow Seeds)”

Copyright ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN TRIGGER PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO

 

【STORY】

30 million years ago, the world was engulfed in terrifying darkness.

But that darkness was sealed deep in space by the Giant of Light.

His power spent, the Giant of Light sleeps in the red star,

and is forgotten to time…

The Terrestrial Peaceable Union hurries to gather the expert team GUTS-Select, while Kengo Manaka lives peacefully on now-colonized Mars as a botanist.

However, his peaceful life suddenly comes to an end one fateful day.

The darkness that the ancient civilization sealed away breathes once more!

As a monster bears down on the Martian settlement, Kengo’s fate leads him to a chance encounter.

A chance encounter with none-other than the sleeping Giant of Light.

How will Kengo’s meeting with the Giant of Light influence his destiny and the destiny of Earth?

The Giant of Light is reborn after an eternity. His name: Ultraman Trigger!