It’s Not Just “Ultraman”! “Tsuburaya Productions’ Groundbreaking Masterpieces” That Shattered the Conventions of Tokusatsu [Rare Photos]

The “Ultraman Series,” which began with the 1966 broadcasts of *Ultra Q* and *Ultraman*, celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2026. The Ultra Heroes remain active on the front lines today, not only in Japan but as global heroes as well.

Tsuburaya Productions, the studio behind these works, has created many other masterful tokusatsu dramas in addition to the Ultraman Series.

Let’s explore the “masterpiece tokusatsu dramas” scattered throughout its 60-year history by delving into *TV Magazine Special Edition: Ultraman Series 60th Anniversary Commemorative Complete Ultraman Record Compendium* and introducing Tsuburaya Productions’ works outside the Ultraman Series, accompanied by rare photos.

Special Effects and Anime Combine! Thrilling Action in a Dinosaur World

First up are *Dinosaur Exploration Team Bone Free* (1976) and *The Great Dinosaur War: Eisenborg* (1977). Produced more than 15 years before *Jurassic Park*, these are hybrid works combining special effects and animation, set in a world where dinosaurs have been brought back to life.

*Bone Free* depicts the Bone Free Squad working to protect dinosaurs that have emerged onto the surface due to tectonic shifts, while *Eisenborg* depicts the D-Squad, piloting the Eisen, and the giant warrior Eisenbo as they battle the dinosaur emperor Ururu—who has been revived with psychic powers—and his dinosaur army.

In both works, while the human characters were rendered in animation, the dinosaur world serving as the backdrop, the resurrected dinosaurs, the heroic super mecha, and the hero Eisenboh were all created using live-action special effects, resulting in spectacular battles.

Even in the midst of the anime boom, it was likely the desire to convey the appeal of Tsuburaya Productions’ signature special-effects action to viewers that gave rise to such challenging works.

A human—not a superhero—as the protagonist!?

*Kaiki Daisakusen* (1968) is a story depicting the private organization SRI as it pursues criminals who use advanced scientific tricks. The criminals’ covert activities and SRI’s exploits were portrayed using special effects, which, combined with the drama’s gravitas, became major highlights of the series.

In addition to ordinary humans, the criminals included sci-fi monsters such as vampires, phosphorescent humans, cryogenically frozen humans, and aquatic humans. The confrontations with SRI—which fought using advanced gadgets—were so full of intensity that you wouldn’t even notice the absence of a superhero.

Another series featuring human protagonists is *Emergency Order 10-4・10-10 (Ten-Four-Ten-Ten)* (1972). This series depicts the investigations and resolutions of cases by the “Radio Special Investigation Squad,” a group of enthusiasts of CB radio (a type of simple radio requiring no license), which was popular at the time.

The Radio Special Investigation Squad faced a diverse array of adversaries, ranging from criminals who misused science to plant monsters, giant subterranean monsters, mummy villains, mermen, cavemen, rat monsters, giant slugs, and even aliens, making it a special-effects action drama brimming with unconventional charm.

Not a “Kaiju,” but a “Kaiju” on a Rampage!? Its Name Is Booska!

“Kaiju Booska” (1966), which began airing the same year as “Ultraman,” is a sci-fi comedy with a unique twist. Booska, the “Kaiju,” was created when Daisaku, an inventive young boy who wanted to create a monster, powered up his pet iguana with a special nutritional diet.

As suggested by the vague description of “about 2 meters tall and about 100 kilograms,” Booska—with his fluffy, soft appearance featuring prominent eyes and mouth, darting about here and there—is nothing short of adorable!

He understands human speech, and his “Booska-speak”—such as “Barasabarasara” when he’s happy and “Puripurinokirinko” when he’s angry—adds to the fun and charm of this adorable “Kaiju.”While he possesses superpowers such as superhuman strength and the ability to fly, he loses these abilities if the “Bo-Crown” on his head is removed—a trait that adds to his immense charm as a character.

Boosuka teams up with children—including the young protagonist Daizaku—to get into all sorts of chaotic, slapstick adventures involving evil adults, monsters, yokai, and aliens. Although it’s science fiction, it also has strong fantasy elements. Since it’s a black-and-white series, it might seem a bit daunting at first, but it’s definitely a show worth watching.

Is the Hero of Justice a 2D Character? Or an Underground Dwellers?

Tsuburaya Productions has produced numerous giant hero series in addition to the Ultraman series, and here we’ll introduce some of the more unusual protagonists from those works.

First up is *Mirrorman* (1971), which features a young man named Kyotaro Kagami—whose father is a 2D being and whose mother is an Earthling—as the protagonist.

To protect Earth from invasion by alien invaders and monsters, Kyotaro transforms into the giant hero Mirrorman by diving into reflective surfaces like mirrors.

His ability to teleport from mirror to mirror and run at the speed of light are unique to a hero with two-dimensional ancestry. He puts on spectacular battles against monsters with a diverse array of light beam techniques.

He is also the origin of Mirror Knight, a member of the “Ultimate Force Zero” that fights alongside Ultraman Zero.

And the series *Fireman* (1973) features a hero who, despite being an underground dweller, fights for the sake of humanity.

Speaking of subterranean superheroes, Ultraman Victory—who fought alongside Ultraman Ginga—was also a subterranean being who transformed, but a great predecessor was already active 40 years before Victory’s debut.

The inhabitants of the Avan Continent, which sank to the ocean floor 11,500 years ago, were living underground. Upon learning that monsters were appearing on the surface, they sent a young man named Misaki—who could transform into Fireman—to save the day.

Misaki transforms into the giant hero Fireman using magma energy, defeating the monsters that appear one after another with techniques that harness the power of fire, such as Fire Flash and Fire Dash. Fireman is also the hero who served as the origin of Glen Fire, a member of “Ultimate Force Zero.”

A Never-Ending Challenge: The Essence of Tsuburaya Productions’ Special Effects

Alongside the Ultra Heroes that thrilled us as children, there are countless masterpieces that have captivated us and, at times, left a vivid impression. Even as the times change, their innovative action sequences and original world-building—which have never lost their luster—continue to capture the hearts of tokusatsu fans to this day.

Published in this milestone 60th anniversary year, *TV Magazine Special Edition: Ultraman Series 60th Anniversary—The Complete Encyclopedia of All Ultraman*, is a treasure trove of an archive that condenses the history of these diverse masterpieces, the pride of Tsuburaya Productions.

Why not spend this weekend diving back into the world of those nostalgic yet fresh masterpieces for the first time in a while, while letting your thoughts wander over the many rare photos featured inside?

“TV Magazine Special Edition: Ultraman Series 60th Anniversary Commemorative Complete Ultraman Encyclopedia” (List price including tax: 16,500 yen. Published by Kodansha)

*Ultra Q*This definitive volume of over 300 pages features not only every title in the Ultraman series—from *Ultraman* to *Ultraman Theo*—but also more than 30 other masterpiece tokusatsu dramas produced by Tsuburaya Productions, including *Kaiju Booska*, *Kaiki Daisakusen*, *Mighty Jack*, and *Mirrorman*.We highly recommend keeping this volume right by your side while enjoying Tsuburaya Productions’ works.