# Ultraman (1966)

> A Science Patrol officer fuses with an alien from the Land of Light and becomes Ultraman to defend Earth from giant monsters and invaders.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/3260

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 39
- Episode runtime: 25 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: science fiction, action, family
- Network: TBS
- Cast: Susumu Kurobe, Akiji Kobayashi, Sandayuu Dokumamushi, Hiroko Sakurai, Masaya Nihei, Akihide Tsuzawa, Akihiko Hirata, Koji Ishizaka
- TMDB rating: 7.9/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060038/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: earnest, hopeful, wholesome, playful, nostalgic

## What critics say

Audiences regard the original Ultraman as a landmark tokusatsu series, rated positively for its monster battles and iconic hero design.

## Synopsis

Ultraman (1966-1967) is a Japanese tokusatsu science fiction series broadcast on TBS and produced by Tsuburaya Productions. Science Patrol officer Shin Hayata (Susumu Kurobe) is a member of an investigative unit that probes bizarre anomalies. After being mortally wounded in an accidental encounter with an alien from the Land of Light, he is merged with that being and gains a new life. Whenever a threat grows too large for his colleagues, including Captain Toshio Muramatsu (Akiji Kobayashi) and fellow officers, Hayata activates his beta capsule and becomes the giant hero Ultraman. The engine of each episode is simple and vivid: a monster or alien invader appears, the team tracks it down, and the hero must battle it in towering, practical-effects spectacle. Across a single season of 39 episodes, the format is episodic and reliable, built on earnest friendship, teamwork, and wonder. The tone is hopeful, colorful and wholesome, with a nostalgic, playful feel. Its 1960s Japanese setting gives it a retro charm. Fans of Kamen Rider, Godzilla and early Star Trek will find resonance in its blend of alien heroism and monster-of-the-week adventure.

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- [Astro Boy (1980)](https://ember.film/tv/21225)
- [Astro Boy (1963)](https://ember.film/tv/10070)
- [Kaiju No. 8 (2024)](https://ember.film/tv/129701)
- [ULTRAMAN (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/69225)
- [Ultraseven (1967)](https://ember.film/tv/66963)

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