Of course, fathers want their sons to follow in their footsteps. To be better than they were, and improve the family business. When Ken Sato (Christopher Sean) turned his back on his father – or was it the other way around? – it wasn’t just destroying a dream. It was starting a new one in America.
Except Professor Sato’s (Gedde Watanabe) business isn’t some restaurant or shop. The Satos have a secret, revealed almost immediately in Ultraman: Rising. When kaiju threaten Japan, balance must be restored before destruction reigns. Sato-san becomes the hero Ultraman, and young Kenji (Hiro Nakamura) idolizes him.
Years later, that’s changed. Ken moved with his mother to California, growing up to become a baseball star. When his father suffers an injury, he returns to Tokyo to play for the Tigers and take on the Ultramantle. But the balance that must be found now is between his Western bravado and finding peace within himself.
Since this is a Netflix family film (though all Ultraman projects sort of are family oriented), he’ll find that peace in the most adorable way possible. When a kaiju egg hatches, the baby imprints upon Ultraman as its mother. Ken’s AI assistant Mina (Tamlyn Tomita) can only do so much as a tiny hyper-intelligent sphere. Ken has to step up to the plate as both a surrogate father and a team player.
It’s almost 3 Ultras and a Baby.
Though it might sound by the numbers, Ultraman: Rising is anything but. The 44th official Ultraman project, the fresh energy brought by writer/director Shannon Tindle, co-director John Aoshima, and co-writer Marc Haimes may well launch this Ultraman as a new U.S. franchise. Though American studios (including Marvel Comics) have collaborated with Tsuburaya Productions to bring Ultraman to America, for the first time the idea has achieved… balance.
The timing couldn’t be better after the surprise hit of Godzilla Minus One. Suddenly studios have realized there’s an audience for kaiju films a little more challenging than the Legendary take on Godzilla.
Tindle and team have taken what’s strongest (and occasionally silliest) about the Ultraman concept and merged it perfectly with a more American style. Eastern and Western storytelling blend into something that highlights the best of both, while being accessible for all.
There’s a Lois Lane type, Ami Wakita (Julia Harriman). But if sparks flicker, that’s not nearly as important as the lessons Ken needs to learn. Of course there’s an antagonist coming after the baby, but Keone Young’s Dr. Onda has sadly understandable reasons for his obsession. Heroes? Villains? It’s not that clear cut. Ultraman: Rising portrays a world out of balance, and Ken’s father may have the will to help right it but no longer the energy. (Watanabe, by the way, is excellent as the concerned first gen Ultraman.)
The animation reflects the best of both worlds as well. In a post-Into the Spider-verse world, you expect some moments to echo comics panels. Instead, the tableaux goes more rightly to manga panels – black and white, still full of energy, but not the traditional superhero moments.
Ultraman: Rising also nods to the fans, which both Tindle and Aoshima are. The opening title borrows from the 1967 TV series, and… well, there are a couple of moments that made me four years old again, thrilling on my grandma’s couch. Unlike the original series, they don’t provide an explanation for how the Satos became Ultras, but give the team time. They clearly have a follow-up in mind.
The only misstep in this whole thing is that it’s so good and so well-animated that it deserved a theatrical release. (Netflix is hosting industry and press screenings, but not a wide release.) Seriously, the animation is tremendous, and different in style from the previous Ultraman anime (based on a manga) that ran on Netflix a few years ago. Okay, second misstep: Bandai apparently doesn’t yet have a plush baby kaiju ready to sell, because that baby could go toe to toe with Grogu any day.
Watch it when it lands on Netflix June 14. Because Ultraman: Rising should only be the beginning…
Fanboy Planet is an Amazon affiliate. Purchases made through links on this and other pages may generate a commission for this site.
