Shin Ultraman

Shin Ultraman (シン・ウルトラマン, Shin Urutoraman) is an upcoming Japanese kaiju film directed by Shinji Higuchi and written and produced by Hideaki Anno. A reimagining of Ultraman,[1] the film is a co-prooduction between Toho Pictures and Cine Bazar, with the film presented by Tsuburaya Productions, Toho, and Khara. The film is scheduled to be released in Japan in 2021, commemorating the 55th anniversary of the Ultra Series.[2]

Shin Ultraman
Teaser poster
Directed byShinji Higuchi
Produced byHideaki Anno
Screenplay byHideaki Anno
Starring
Music byShiro Sagisu
Production
company
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • 2021 (2021)
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Cast

Other announced cast members include Daiki Arioka, Akari Hayami, Tetsushi Tanaka, Koji Yamamoto, Ryo Iwamatsu, Kyusaku Shimada, Toru Masuoka, Kenshi Nagatsuka, Hajime Yamazaki and Soko Wada.[4]

Production

The early production was dated as far as February 2019, but Hideaki Anno's participation in Shin Ultraman was a late addition as he was originally involved with the production of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.[5] The project was formally announced in August 2019, with Higuchi as the director and Anno as the screenwriter. Masami Nagasawa, Hidetoshi Nishijima and Takumi Saito were named to star in the film. The film would be co-produced between Tsuburaya Production, Toho and Khara, with an aim for a 2021 release. Higuchi commented, "A baton has been entrusted to me that has been shining ever since I was small child. I will solemnly strive to fulfill my responsibility to pass on that heavy, radiant baton created by my seniors."[6] The rest of the cast members were announced in September of that same year.[4]

Design

Ultraman, the titular hero of the movie, had his design unveiled in Tsuburaya's 2019 convention Tsubucon. The concept is based on an Ultraman painting by the late Tohl Narita in 1983 called “Incarnation of Truth, Justice, and Beauty” (真実と正義と美の化身, Shinjitsu to Seigi to Bi no Keshin).[7][8] The first concept art was made by Anno in October 3, 2018 under the likeness of Bin Furuya, the hero's original suit actor in the 1966 series.[9] This redesign of the original hero was based on Hideaki Anno's desire to revisit Tohl Narita's original design, going as far as to seek permission from Narita's son, Kairi. The design in question has the mask modeled after Akira Sasaki, body frame of Bin Furuya and eliminating elements such as the Color Timer, and the back fin and peepholes that were part of the actor's costume. Likewise, Anno also had an experience in directing his own fan film of Return of Ultraman during his days as a filming student.[3]

A statue of the redesigned Ultraman in Spacium Beam pose was put on display in Sukagawa, Fukushima to commemorate Eiji Tsuburaya's birthplace.[10]

The official website of Bandai confirmed that the two monsters that appear in the first trailer were Neronga and Gabora of Ultraman.[11]

References
  1. "An opening to a new page of the History of ULTRAMAN is underway! "SHIN ULTRAMAN", a dawning of a brand new entertainment presented for everyone around the world has just began!". Tsuburaya Productions. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  2. "A Special Teaser Trailer and Astonishing Visuals Unveiled for SHIN ULTRAMAN, an ULTRAMAN 55th Anniversary Celebration Film! The Official Twitter Account Is Now Live!". Tsuburaya Productions. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  3. "「TSUBURAYA CONVENTION 2019」オープニングセレモニーにて、映画『シン・ウルトラマン』ウルトラマンのデザインが明らかに！斎藤工さん「ずっと見ていられる美しさ」" (in Japanese). m-78.jp. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. "Additional cast of SHIN ULTRAMAN announced: Daiki Arioka (Hey! Say! JUMP), Akari Hayami & Tetsuji Tanaka joins! Director Shinji Higuchi and leading actor Takumi Saito will show up at the opening ceremony of "TSUBURAYA CONVENTION 2019" on December 14, (Sat)!". Tsuburaya Productions. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. "NEWS RELEASE – A NEW FILM "SHIN ULTRAMAN"". Khara. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  6. Mark Schilling (August 1, 2019). "'Shin Ultraman' in the Works Through Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi". Variety. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  7. "The Secrets Behind the Hero Design for the Movie SHIN ULTRAMAN Unveiled?!". Tsuburaya Productions. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  8. "SHIN ULTRAMAN Revealed!". SciFi Japan. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  9. @khara_inc (December 29, 2019). "先日ツブコンでデザインが発表となった『 #シン・ウルトラマン 』、..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. "2021年初夏公開決定！『シン・ウルトラマン』立像が初お披露目、"特撮の神様"円谷英二の出身地・須賀川にてシン・ウルトラマンの"スペシウム光線ポーズ"が明らかに！" (in Japanese). 3 November 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  11. "映画 『 シン・ウルトラマン 』 のキャラクターが最速立体商品化！その姿を大公開！" (in Japanese). Bandai. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
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