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03-26-2020, 03:32 PM | #1511 |
The Immortal King Tasty
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To be clear, I actually like Zett's design just fine. Blue and silver is an easy sell for me. I just find it odd his head has such an O-50 kinda look to it if he's from the Land of Light.
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I think for the average person, X, for example, would never be anything more than a grey guy with an X on his chest. He has all those patterns and lines, but a lot of it is basically noise. Ginga, you know, the crystals leave an impression. Zero, the blue top/red bottom combo is genius. It's unique to him, and easy to learn to recognize. My initial impression of Zett is that his only truly defining feature is his Color Timer, and that's probably not a great sign. I feel like if he were designed a decade ago, Zett would've had a normal Color Timer, but some kind of cool, asymmetrical Z-shaped pattern stretching from head to toe, and it would be way more immediately memorable. The head's definitely not a strong point for Zett, either. Mebius' head was based on a cat for no reason, and to this day, it's totally distinct and identifiable. Lately I think the head designs for new Ultras especially are a bit too prone to falling into one of a few basic sets of design cues. Rosso's apple slice ears are a huge favorite of mine for avoiding this. Long story short, recent Ultras look great, but I think the "language" of Ultraman designs could use some new "words", if that makes any sense.
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03-27-2020, 12:18 AM | #1512 |
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Quote:
My initial impression of Zett is that his only truly defining feature is his Color Timer, and that's probably not a great sign. I feel like if he were designed a decade ago, Zett would've had a normal Color Timer, but some kind of cool, asymmetrical Z-shaped pattern stretching from head to toe, and it would be way more immediately memorable.
Quote:
The head's definitely not a strong point for Zett, either. Mebius' head was based on a cat for no reason, and to this day, it's totally distinct and identifiable. Lately I think the head designs for new Ultras especially are a bit too prone to falling into one of a few basic sets of design cues. Rosso's apple slice ears are a huge favorite of mine for avoiding this.
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03-27-2020, 12:42 AM | #1513 |
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Magazine scans
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03-27-2020, 01:17 AM | #1514 |
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@TokuKnight89
I can't disagree with Zetton being overused, but he's also my favorite Ultra-kaiju so I might be biased. The seven year old kid in me still gets hyped whenever I hear the iconic THWOOOOOOP police siren sound (you know the one). But yeah, it's just spitballing on my part. Though to be honest I'd be surprised if Zetton didn't show up at least once, given he's been in every NG show sans R/B, if memory serves? Though speaking of recycling Ultra-kaiju, I always wonder if they'll reuse more monsters from outside the M78verse. I know some get reused on occasion (like Gan Q in Ginga S, or a couple of em to form Beryudora), but it would be cool to see more canon immigrant kaiju. Anyway, uh I feel like I read that somewhere about the attack teams and militarization but don't quote me on that. I can't remember where though. @Fish Sandwich Yeah. That's how I feel about a lot of the NG designs. I've been thinking about it a fair bit recently as well. I'm a big comic-book fan too and there are certain parallels between superhero and Ultramen designs. Back in the day there were limitations to designing a comic-book hero's outfit. Their costumes had to be simple because a) the color separation technology simply wasn't there for more complex stuff and b) artists had to churn out pages at superhuman speed. What happened was that costume designs were usually to the point and without frills. Or in other words, iconic. Nowadays, most modern superhero designs feel like they're doing too much. And I feel like a similar situation is happening with the NG Ultra suits. X and Orb in particular have so much going on that your eye just reduces them to another generic Silver Ultra. I really think the trick is to simplify and make the costume elements visually consistent. That's how you make a suit iconic. Look at more streamlined designs like Zero or Tiga - you can tell who they are from a mile away. I will say that I think Taiga was a step in the right direction. Titas in particular is a pretty unique and dope design. Taiga himself and Fuma I'm less sold on, but at least they're not as noisy. Zett feels like a step back especially since his head just looks like a generic Ultra (except for the Slugger, I guess?), but I'll wait and see. I do wish that we got a Red Ultra (like Seven/Max) or a L77 Ultra like Leo for the next protagonist though. I don't even consider Taiga a Red, given his design feels more like a Silver with horns. |
03-27-2020, 10:17 AM | #1515 |
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Huh so his crest is a slugger after all. From the front it looked like a typical Ultraman-type crest. I guess it's pretty unique.
Also the scans seem to indicate he's a brawler. I was wondering that he might use his transformation item as weapon as well, since it looked like it could be a weapon.
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03-29-2020, 02:50 AM | #1516 |
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Ultraman Tiga:
So I finally finished Tiga (plus the Final Odyssey movie) at about 2am this morning and now I'm going to vomit my thoughts here, per usual. As I've mentioned before, one of the first things I picked up on was how "Showa Ultraman" this show felt. Unlike, say, Kuuga vs OG Rider where there's a pretty clear demarcation between eras, Tiga feels like it could fit right into the Showa era save for obvious improvements in costuming and VFX/SFX. It's pretty much the same tropes, the same plot structure, the same heroes and villains and themes and tones that you would find in any Showa Ultra-series. I think Tiga pretty much exemplifies the Ultraman franchise in that sense. While Kamen Rider has had to evolve and adapt dramatically to changing times (from Showa, to Heisei, to Neo-Heisei/Reiwa), Ultraman endures. An Ultra-series from today is fundamentally no different to one from the 70s or 90s. And I think that's the root of why I still love Ultraman after all these years; because the franchise has yet to abandon Tsuburaya-san's original intent. I understand that Tiga was responsible for reviving the Ultraman franchise in the 90s (and tokusatsu television in general?), and it's crazy that it's just the same classic premise with a fresh coat of paint. It just proves to me that the story of Ultraman is relatable to viewers of every generation. But anyway, I enjoyed Tiga. If I'm being objective and not letting 90s nostalgia cloud my opinion, I don't think the series really reaches the heights of my favorites like Shodai, Mebius, or Geed...but it's still pretty much a solid representation of your standard Ultra show. I guess I'll start of by discussing the cast. I really liked the GUTS crew. They're easily in the top three attack teams for me so far. The greatest benefit of a 50 episode season (besides more kaiju!) is that the writers really get to develop each individual character; I think pretty much every GUTS officer got their own spotlight episode. Funnily enough Daigo himself is probably the weakest link in terms of characterization, though to be fair, that's par for the course for Ultraman. At least unlike Shin Hayate, Daigo had the romance with Rena to make him a tad more compelling. But speaking of Tiga, woof, what an iconic design. I really wish we would get more main Ultras with unconventional colors. Nothing about his design seems like it would work. Purple-red-silver sounds like the most bizarre palette, and yet Tiga's one of the most visually-distinct Ultras in the franchise's history. The only thing I'm meh about are his Sky and Power forms. Besides looking bland (they're literally just purple and red Tiga), I don't think the fight scenes did a great job of emphasizing their unique strengths either. Unlike Kuuga, where every form had clear pros and cons, the Sky and Power forms felt very vaguely-defined to me. Yes, Sky was faster and Power was stronger, but it never felt like changing forms made that much of a difference. It's no wonder Tiga stayed in Multi-Type form most of the time... Anyway, action scenes were your typical "rubber suits wrestling on a miniatures set" fare. I'm kinda meh on most of the kaiju/seijin designs, largely because Tiga seems to have this weird thing where almost every baddie had a drab concrete-grey color scheme. But I did appreciate when some of the kaiju were clear homages to classic Shodai monsters (Golza was Gomora, Sealizar was Seabozu, Kyrieloid was Baltan, Menjura was Pestar etc.). And I will say that Gatanothor ranks among my favorite Ultra-kaiju of all-time. Speaking of, the three-part finale was pretty damn awesome. Gatanothor is a gorgeously creepy design, the whole sunken city of R'lyeh was so metal, and I loved how they showed that the threat was global in scale. The ending with Tiga and all the kids was also JUST the right amount of saccharine cheese you want from an Ultra show. Definitely better than just your Ultra-hero getting killed off by a space dinosaur. Plus, they also turned Tiga into a statue, so points for keeping with Ultra-tradition. Every Ultra needs to be turned into a stone statue at least once. (That or be crucified...) I also loved the fact that they brought back nearly every side character for the finale; from Hayate to the Kyrelians to Evil Tiga to the ESP guy to Iruma's son. Which is another thing: for such an episodic show, Tiga paid surprisingly close attention to continuity. It definitely helped Tiga feel like a real world with real characters, because callbacks like the Gazote returning or Shinjoh's nurse sister popping in reminded you of our heroes' journey. Anyway, I feel like I'm all over the place with this review so I guess I'll just close off with a couple unrelated thoughts: 1. The music in Tiga is one of my favorites in the franchise. Besides Take Me Higher and Brave Love, Tiga being classics, some of the instrumental songs are also really beautiful. Love Theme and To the Distant Call were my favorites. I strongly encourage y'all to check out the Tiga OST on YouTube. 2. The movie was overall pretty predictable and meh in my opinion, but I did dig the gimmick of the three evil Ultras, and how Tiga had to beat them to reclaim his "colors." Speaking of evil Ultras, Evil Tiga is such a novel concept and easily the best of the Imitation Ultras I've seen so far. I love the Prometheus-esque idea of man trying to be God with the power of Ultraman. Also helps that Evil Tiga has a badass look. Definitely up there with Darklops Zero and the original Zarab Imitation for me. 3. So Tiga did the whole "ancient ruins is the source of our hero's power" thing first before Kuuga, huh? (Boy I mention Kuuga a lot in this review, don't I...) 4. Episode 49, the one where Daigo travels back in time to meet Eiji Tsuburuya, brought a giant smile to my face. Yes the time-travel plot is nonsensical and makes no sense continuity-wise, and the seijin's evil plan about kaiju trading is dropped midway, but it's such a heartwarming tribute to the creators of the franchise that I really don't care. The scene with Tsuburaya meeting the "real" Ultraman by the lake while the OG theme plays softly in the background made me so happy. And then the team-up with Tiga and Shodai had me giddy. Seeing those two Ultras shake hands--the two statesmen of their generations--was perfect fanservice. Overall I'd give Ultraman Tiga a solid 4 Shuwatches out of 5. Onwards to Dyna now! P.S. That last bit in the Tiga movie where Daigo gives Asuka the "Good luck, kouhai" put a big grin on my face too. Last edited by Salaryman Zero; 03-29-2020 at 09:48 AM.. |
03-29-2020, 03:02 AM | #1517 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 129
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My Ultra-Series rankings so far, on a scale of 1-5 Shuwatches (not counting movies and specials):
- Ultraman (5/5) - Ultra Seven (3/5) - Return of Ultraman (3/5) - Ultraman Ace (3/5) - I still have about 15 episodes left. - Ultraman Tiga (4/5) - Ultraman Nexus (3/5) - I need to rewatch this at some point, it's been too long. - Ultraman Max (4/5) - Ultraman Mebius (5/5) - Ultraman Ginga (2/5) - Ultraman Ginga S (3/5) - Ultraman X (4/5) - Ultraman Orb (4/5) - Ultraman Geed (5/5) - Ultraman R/B (4/5) - Ultraman Taiga (3/5) - Ultraman NETFLIX (2/5) |
03-29-2020, 04:15 AM | #1518 |
TokuKnight89
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Central Louisiana (Cenla)
Posts: 2,562
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Quote:
Ultraman Tiga:
I understand that Tiga was responsible for reviving the Ultraman franchise in the 90s (and tokusatsu television in general?), and it's crazy that it's just the same classic premise with a fresh coat of paint. But anyway, I enjoyed Tiga. If I'm being objective and not letting 90s nostalgia cloud my opinion, I don't think the series really reaches the heights of my favorites like Shodai, Mebius, or Geed...but it's still pretty much a solid representation of your standard Ultra show. But I did appreciate when some of the kaiju were clear homages to classic Shodai monsters (Golza was Gomora, Sealizar was Seabozu, Kyrieloid was Baltan, Menjura was Pestar etc.). And I will say that Gatanothor ranks among my favorite Ultra-kaiju of all-time. Anyway, I feel like I'm all over the place with this review so I guess I'll just close off with a couple unrelated thoughts: 4. Episode 49, the one where Daigo travels back in time to meet Eiji Tsuburuya, brought a giant smile to my face. Yes the time-travel plot is nonsensical and makes no sense continuity-wise, and the seijin's evil plan about kaiju trading is dropped midway, but it's such a heartwarming tribute to the creators of the franchise that I really don't care. The scene with Tsuburaya meeting the "real" Ultraman by the lake while the OG theme plays softly in the background made me so happy. And then the team-up with Tiga and Shodai had me giddy. Seeing those two Ultras shake hands--the two statesmen of their generations--was perfect fanservice. Overall I'd give Ultraman Tiga a solid 4 Shuwatches out of 5. Onwards to Dyna now! "Shodai"? Sorry to say, but I don't follow! Is this the first (and possibly only) time that Tsuburaya appeared in an Ultra Show? Who's idea was that? Tsuburaya's? |
03-29-2020, 04:21 AM | #1519 |
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I have mixed feelings towards the Netflix/Manga Ultraman, and it's gearing towards dislike. I don't know, it feels like the 'stereotypical' 'edgy reboot of kids show' kind of thing. The concept works back then, but no so much today.
Primarily because NG Ultraman redefined the Ultras VS Kaiju genre, so I completely embraced it, and the manga/Netflix felt like ripping off Iron Man just because it looks cool. Point is, it doesn't really feel like Ultraman. I'd accept it as an Elseworlds story though, which it obviously is. He refers to the Ultraman. He's often called Shodai Ultraman at times. I'd take it more than say, Ultraman Hayata or even Man. When you think about it, Ultraman is probably the only 'first hero' who doesn't have any official sub-names to differentiate himself from his successors. Like, we got Kamen Rider Ichigo and RX-78-2 Gundam, but Ultraman is just Ultraman.
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03-29-2020, 09:38 AM | #1520 |
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Quote:
Oh Shodai is Japanese for "Original" and is used as a general nickname to differentiate the first Ultraman from his successors, as SengalBoy explained. Eiji Tsuburaya actually passed away in 1970; the last Ultra-series he worked on was Seven (with the last kaiju he designed being the one from Seven's finale, Pandon). Episode 49 of Tiga was conceived as a homage to both Tsuburaya and the other creators of the original Ultraman. An actor named Yusuke Takita played Tsuburaya in this. To my knowledge, it is the only time Tsuburaya has appeared as a character in an Ultraman show. Quote:
I have mixed feelings towards the Netflix/Manga Ultraman, and it's gearing towards dislike. I don't know, it feels like the 'stereotypical' 'edgy reboot of kids show' kind of thing. The concept works back then, but no so much today.
Primarily because NG Ultraman redefined the Ultras VS Kaiju genre, so I completely embraced it, and the manga/Netflix felt like ripping off Iron Man just because it looks cool. Point is, it doesn't really feel like Ultraman. I'd accept it as an Elseworlds story though, which it obviously is. It's literally about a guy with powers and a special suit fighting human-sized monsters, and they even have the typical "edgy secondary Rider who acts as an asshole rival to our hero before they become reluctant allies." I absolutely abhor how Seven and Ace are written in the show like douches just to manufacture character conflict and drama. It's like watching Kamen Rider Blade all over again. If our hero doesn't turn into a giant at some point to fight a daikaiju, it's not Ultraman to me. You can give him a Specium Ray and drop all the Ultra-references you want like "Alien Adacic" but it does not feel like an Ultraman show at all. I'm only watching it to support Tsuburaya's attempts to go international with the franchise. |
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