Kohshu Hirano is endearing as Haruki, the S.T.O.R.A.G.E. Ultraman Z truly earned our excitement, largely because of its wonderful cast. For a brief moment each week, the world felt a little more connected. Every weekend since June, there’s been a flurry of excited reactions from fans around the world, and being a part of that shared experience was wonderful. It’s been easier than ever to watch and enjoy, without the scramble to find a decent stream. The decision to broadcast the programme on YouTube (with subtitles) was a welcome one. Indeed, accessibility has been one of the show’s greatest strengths. Consequently, nods to classic stories and characters haven’t been lost on Westerners or newcomers. While a handful of Ultra shows made their way to DVD in the early 2000s, never before has the franchise been this accessible to fans outside Japan. In fact, Ultraman Z has coincided perfectly with the recent Ultraman blu-ray sets from Mill Creek. Whether it be Ultraman Ace’s guest appearance (titular hero of 1972’s Ultraman Ace ) or sequences that use the visual style of earlier shows, Ultraman Z wears its affection for the franchise on its sleeve. Without giving an exhaustive history of the franchise and its origins, Ultraman Z has offered many nods and references to several of the first few series. The Ultraman franchise is a long one, with dozens of series, heroes, and tie-in films stretching back to 1966. To celebrate the series, allow me to wax lyrical about what I thought made it so good. Perhaps this is why it’s especially sad to see the series come to an end. The show has dazzled us with its charismatic ensemble cast, its beautiful special effects, and its optimistic outlook. Without repeating 2020’s many tragedies, from the Covid-19 pandemic to the failures of capitalist politics, Ultraman Z has provided a much-needed lifeline throughout the second half of the year. Although the recent run of Ultraman shows has produced a new series every year since 2013, something about Ultraman Z has felt a bit more special. There he fuses with Haruki, a member of Earth’s defence force, to protect the planet.Īnd now, the series is coming to its end. Ultraman Zero’s apprentice, Ultraman Z, heads to Earth to track them down before they trigger monster attacks. Fans all over the world have tuned in for the latest adventures of Earth’s defence force (S.T.O.R.A.G.E.) and its members: Haruki (Kohshu Hirano), Yoko (Rima Matsuda), Yuka (Hikari Kuroki), and Captain Hebikura (Takaya Aoyagi).Īt the series’ start, Devil Splinters (cells from the evil Ultraman, Belial) spread throughout the galaxy. As Ultraman Z comes to its end, Christopher Stewardson looks back on the series.įrom June to December 2020, Ultraman Z has aired weekly via Tsuburaya Productions’ official Ultraman YouTube channel.

Ultraman 1966 cast