The real highlights of “Shin Ultraman” for even light fans

No core spoilers.

It is safe to say that this is one of the main films of 2022. The movie “Shin Ultraman,” which many people have been waiting for a long time for its release, opened in theaters on May 13.

The production announcement was made in the summer of 2019, and the film was originally scheduled to be released in early summer of 2021. The film’s release was postponed for about a year due to the Corona disaster, and fans who have been looking forward to the film since its production announcement will be able to see it “face to face” over the next three years.

The film is planned and written by Hideaki Anno and directed by Shinji Higuchi, a tag team that has produced numerous masterpieces. The cast includes Takumi Saito, Masami Nagasawa, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Hiroki Arioka (Hey! Say! JUMP), and Akari Hayami, and the theme song is sung by Genshi Yonezu. In addition, Kenjiro Tsuda and other members of the film’s splendid cast have joined the voice cast (details to be confirmed at the theater).

The film was completed at the end of April, and the completion debriefing was held on May 2, so the finishing touches must have really been put in place until the very last minute. The main part of the filming took place in 2019, making it a tour de force that was produced over a longer period of time than most Japanese film schedules.

Shin Ultraman” is a reboot of “Ultraman,” which began airing in 1966. Based on the first Ultraman, the story unfolds in the setting of what would happen if Ultraman came to modern Japan. The story unfolds in the setting of “What if Ultraman came to modern Japan?

Therefore, while it contains many elements that will please the core fans of Ultraman, it is also an entertainment that can be understood by light fans and beginners.

This article will introduce the contents of “Shin Ultraman” from the perspective of such light to middle-class viewers. Please be assured that I will not spoil the core of the film.

What kind of story was “Ultraman” to begin with?

Ultraman, an alien who came to earth in pursuit of the escaped space monster Bemura, engulfs and kills Hayata, a member of the Science Special Search Party (Katsutsukutai), in the process.

Ultraman saves Hayata’s life by becoming one with him, and together they try to protect the peace of the earth. …… is the rough plot. Hayata transforms into Ultraman by using a device called the Vator Capsule and fights the monsters and aliens that attack the Earth.

Shin Ultraman” is the same in that Shinji Kaminaga (Takumi Saito) becomes Ultraman and fights kaiju and alien creatures.

However, by setting the story in “modern Japan,” the essence of the political drama and explanations of various events are more detailed, and the reality of the story seems to have been strengthened.

For example, before Ultraman, many mysterious giant creatures appeared “only in Japan” for some reason, collectively called “Kaiju,” and the Self-Defense Forces responded to them, establishing a special unit of the Disaster Prevention Agency’s Disaster Prevention Office, known as “Katokutai.

In addition, it is necessary to cooperate with related ministries and agencies when defeating the evil beast, and to purchase weapons from the U.S. (there is also a reference to the use of nuclear weapons).

It is also interesting to note that the story casually depicts a society in which “the evil beast has become an everyday thing,” where ordinary citizens hold informal meetings about the evil beast and when they encounter the giant unknown creature, they take pictures of it with their smartphones and upload them to Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. In other words, the timeline of “Shin Godzilla,” which was the first contact with the giant creature, is depicted as an “event of the past.

Keywords such as “monster” and “special forces” have been renewed, and words similar to “emergency declaration” also appear in the film. Anno’s talent for incorporating the word “disaster” into the script in 2019, before the Corona disaster, is nothing short of astonishing.

The story is also very well thought out, with concerns that arise from the appearance of Ultraman unfolding on multiple axes.

In addition to the battle between Ultraman and the disastrous beasts (there are many visual highlights such as specium rays and flashy aerial battles), there is also a strong element of diplomatic suspense as the Japanese government struggles to deal with the appearance of foreign aliens such as Zarab and Mephilus.

The structure of the film is such that everything is a chain reaction, from the outbreak of the disastrous beast in Japan, to Ultraman’s intervention, to the shocking incident that occurs afterwards. In this sense, the story is not only extremely strong, but also smooth and easy to understand.

In addition, while simulating the “What would happen if Ultraman came to modern Japan” if, the catchphrase “Imagination and Romance. And friendship. The film also does a good job of moving into the catchphrase, “Imagination, Romance, and Friendship.

The film is not only serious, but also contains gags at key points, as well as an emotional drama that depicts the bond between Ultraman, an “alien,” and the “human,” the “disaster special team.

Therefore, the emotions that arise after watching this film are likely to be highly exhilarating. Just as the “Ultraman” series gave children dreams, this film is filled with hope.

On top of that, there are numerous subplots that fans of the “Ultraman” series will love, and elements that overlap with “Evangelion” and “Shin Godzilla” in both the story and visuals, making this a “swamp element” that can be enjoyed two or three times! The film is also equipped with a “swamp element” that can be enjoyed twice or thrice.

It is certain to generate enthusiastic repeat viewers, and we will keep a close eye on the future trends at the box office.

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Shin Ultraman” will open in Toho theaters nationwide on May 13, 2022 (Friday)