I think I aready know how Shu's personal story will end. He quits his job and becomes a barista. :lolol
Is Shu trying to be the Dale Cooper of Ultraman Arc? :lolol

Man, I love the miniature work in this show. The tanks, and that part where Arc is getting up and you can see how people are reacting in the building and stuff. That camerawork was awesome, really gives you a sense of scale.

I went into this show pretty much blind. I skipped the preview episode and really haven't looked at much beyond the casting news for it. It's not that I wasn't interested, but I tend to find that watching the preview specials lowers my enjoyment of the premiere. I basically went in with no real expectations in place. I really like what I'm seeing so far.

The set up for the cast gives me more of a Taiga or Orb vibe, focusing on a small group that's associated with the kaiju fighters but not actual members. Nothing against the various defense teams, but it's been several years of that in a row so it's good to get some deviation again.

I am absolutely in love with this show's cinematography. I am, of course, a lifelong fan of Taguchi, but Tsujimoto is already really impressing me as the guy in charge for this year. The model shots are fantastic, there's some really impressive framing, and the action is top notch. If the show can keep up this visual style I'm going to have a hell of a good time. There really isn't another tokusatsu out there right now that looks as dynamic as Ultraman.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear Arc speak. After Trigger, Decker, and Blazar it's nice to get a relatively vocal Ultra again. I didn't realize how much I'd missed that.

Yeah Arc has me hooked. For one, I?m really down with the more lighthearted tone that includes an investigation / Kaiju prevention team as the main group instead of the military organizations we had the last years. Nothing against the military type, but we just had too much lately and I don?t need another round of gun-firing, jet-flying, robot-piloting heroes.

Second, I really like the camera style they have going on, especially the first person and smartphone-camera shots at the beginning and end.

Also props to the show for not opening with an origin-style episode. Instead Arc already exists and we will find out later how that happened. Pre-release press material had me interested for that specifically, as it looks like there is no actual Ultra involved here, it?s a defeat alien organism entirely who fused with Yuma and then gave him powers based on his vision of an ideal hero, the very drawing we saw early in this episode.

I?m ready for more, Arc is great so far.

After Blazar and the two New Generation entries beforehand it's nice to have a back to basis story.

The only thing coming to my mind is Mr. Peabody the cartoon dog.

Also kind of reminded me of the Taiga team. Rin gives me Pirika vibes.
Honestly I miss the jets though considering Earthgaron's performance maybe it's for the best they take a break from Mecha's...

Finally made time for Arc Episode 1 last night and u throughly enjoyed it. Definitely a different beast than Blazar but that's a good thing. Yuma is a likable lead as are the rest of the SKIP team, wondering if there's a story to YouPi's origin that's going to be explored. Been said up ahead but definitely needs saying again, the camera work was spectacular, especially with the miniatures. Loved the way they blended in the shots of the people in the building with the Kaiju fight.

Bring on Episode 2!

I watched the first six episodes of Ultraman: Towards The Future/Ultraman Great as well as the first episode Ultraman Arc both in the original Japanese and in English as of three days ago on which, like I said before, I am rather cautiously optimistic towards. I am also sorely tempted to start watching Ultraman Taiga plus its post-series movie, New Generation Climax, even before the show finally gets its official US Blu-Ray release by the end of this month.

Taiga's fun, but in my experience the best way to watch it is while watching weekly episodes of Z so you can never remember which one is Haruki and which one is Hiroyuki.

Special Screening of "Ultraman USA" (aka, "The Adventure Begins" by Tsuburaya and Hanna-Barbera) at G-Fest.

Confirmed Mill Creek release by 2025.

https://ukiyaseed.weebly.com/ukiyase...-video-release

The original adventure with Scott, Chuck, and Beth will finally get some renewed attention.

What really did it for me was that he's Taro's son and his design was nicely executed in my opinion. Story was nothing exceptional in retrospect, but decent.

I definitely enjoyed the first episode of Arc. SKIP not being a Defense Team but just a Kaiju investigation unit is interesting, especially when they're kept in the dark about stuff by the actual defense team. I'm sure that won't be important to the story at some point! Also K-Day. Also where did Arc come from? Hmm.

I like the cast (Abared!). The whole coffee bit made me laugh.

Of course, the action scenes were fantastic. So many Cool Things to point out! The tanks! Arc using his barrier shield! Arc's weird head shake thing? I have faith in Tsujimoto.

Really the only thing I didn't like is the opening... it was always going to be hard to follow on from Blazar's opening though. Maybe it'll grow on me.

Agent Shu Cooper. :lolol

Well I’ve uploaded a new compilation video, and I’m putting it here to announce a challenge.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=E6e3xk8t...MgG5qEr2PuGvWA

Every Ultra featured in this video has 4 or 5 of their canonical attacks featured. How many can you identify from the sounds alone?

Ishido has joined SKIP! And he's brought coffee and investigation skills! Though be mindful he doesn't investigate Arc TOO much, Yuma!

If I had a nickel for every time a construction project unearthed a buried Kaiju...I'd have a lot of nickels. Though, honestly, building apartments for people who lost their homes in Kaiju attacks is actually probably one of the better reasons for it that I've seen.

Hayato has resting serious face. But I always gives props to Ultra protagonists who believe children.

Ishido seems like an awkward and well-meaning guy who is willing to learn from Yuma, even if he has his own agenda with the GDF. But he's willing to bend the rules and use their resources for SKIP when needed.

SKIP really feels like an investigation team searching for info and details about the Kaiju they're dealing with. Yuma even has "Arc Senses" or Arc pointing out plot relevant stuff to him.

Don't strain your heads noticing the Kaiju, SKIP!

Look out, it's Black King! I mean, Leodo, the Ancient Kaiju (sorry Gomora)! And he's like a giant acid-spewing toxic elephant!

First person view of an Ultra and Kaiju fight is a new one, we even get to see inside Arc and Leodo.

Arc finally gets to really show off his sword! He even can channel his forehead crystal beam through it for a devastating attack! Though I guess they didn't count on Leodo's horn being able to extend and shoot out electricity.

When the timer's kicked in, it's time for You-body to dish out Leodo's weakness, which lets Arc do a massive Ultra Slash so they can bury Leodo again...though Leodo makes Arc work for it, but it's the perfect excuse for Arc to Ultra Beam 'em so he can then create an arc through the blast...and then fly through it. Okay, that's epic.

So what was the altar for? What is Ishido investigating for the GDF that he won't tell SKIP about? And how is it connected to the altar?

Next week: Yuma Origins and Not!Zetton!

Definitely! I always love seeing new kinds of sci-fi tanks, and I loved the way he used that shield.

Glad I'm not the only one getting nostalgic for Taiga, and she most definitely does, she practically has the same profession and fashion sense. Loved that show.

Always fun to see an Attack Team and its arsenal, and Earth Garon is one of my favorite mechs in Tokusatsu (despite not getting to show off as much as Blazar).

Anyway, Episode 2! Another very fun episode.

Basic plot, but elevated by the cast, which I enjoyed quite a bit (they almost share a braincell at that moment), and of course the action! That first-person view of Arc and Leodo was quite something, and Arc's finisher (unnecessary but very welcome). Love how Arc is basically Yami Yugi to Yuma (ironic considering he's also a Yu-Gi-Oh! Protagonist and one associated with aliens).

Next Episode: Origin Story Time!

I am currently watching the second episode of Ultraman Arc in both languages myself. Incidentally, I am now four episodes away from finishing up on Ultraman: Towards The Future/Ultraman Great.

I'm watching along with Arc, enjoying my time but I will point out a moment from Episode 2 I liked.

It's when he uses his sword and the gimmick of inserting the cube in said sword. For a show that looks like it's going to lack an Inner Space like Blazar, this does that concept much better.

Instead of a stilted and static awkward 10 second pov shot of Gento putting in a medal you get a quick and snappy 5 second shot of Arc materializing the cube and slotting it in instantly to activate the sword's special attack.

Watched Ultraman: Rising. Well, I would rate this cartoon a 7 out of 10. It was good, but not amazing. I loved everything about Kenji and his adopted daughter, as well as all the character development and development of him into a hero. But there was not enough action, too much family drama, and the change in relations with the team, for which Kenji was praised, happened completely behind the scenes. I also understand that the cartoon is primarily aimed at Western viewers, but I couldn’t help thinking that the characters only have their cuisine and names from the Japanese. Although it’s not for me to judge.
Also, I didn’t quite understand for whom the journalist’s phrase, presented as truth and changing everything, was intended: “Children have a soul.” As if children understand this, adults do too. The only ones who come to mind: those who became parents, although they were not ready for this. But this is a very specific audience. But again, overall, the cartoon is very good and a nice addition to the Ultraman lore.

And it actually highlights the toy much better too I think.

Man, those POV shots were a trip. Not my favorite technique, but it's so cool to see the show experimenting like this.

I forgot to mention it last time, but I love how Arc's sword forms from Ultraseven glasses. Cool design and really neat way that he summons it.

Ultraman USA gets a new dub
https://images2.imgbox.com/5d/c6/Vpt8cFlE_o.png

I?m also happy to share that Ark received a professional multi-voice translation in my native language. The voices, in my opinion, are a little boring, but the voice acting is quite high quality.

The original dub is pretty good though? It has Adrienne Barbeau as Beth!

Watched episode 2 of Arc. Going good so far. Still can't get into the opening but a small niggle. Glad we're getting a peek back at 15 years ago (not expecting the full story yet).

Ultraman Arc Origin: AKA Yuma's first day at SKIP!

Kanata had his grandpa, but Yuma has his grandma, especially when she's the only parent he has left after his parents' death. What a bummer!

Imagine on your first day at work you have to figure out your new robot buddies name in his separate forms and handle your first possible Kaiju disturbance call. Something popping out of the sky? Definitely needs to be investigated.

"It's your mother!" - Yuma's dad knew what to say. I also like how his parents held hands as they lay dying.

I liked seeing Yuma and Rin bonding and helping Yuma through his panic attack is why she stopped calling him "Rookie" and started calling him by name.
'
Monolegos, the Galactic Beast! Basically a space rhinoceros beetle with a deadly horn that became the Monohorn after Arc lopped it off. Is it somehow instigating and drawing Kaiju out from both Earth and space?

Honestly didn't expect Yuma's personal life ethos of running to come from his parents telling him to leave him behind and run to save himself. Kind of dark.

K-Day effected a lot of people, especially Yuma, because he lost his parents AND he encountered a familiar Giant of Light that fended of Monolegos.

Digelos, the (other) Galactic Beast! What if Zetton mated with a bunch of other Kaiju, basically. The eyes in his horns were really creepy.

So is that some kind of "imaginary world" or Yuma's inner world that Arc resides in? Did Arc fuse with Yuma to save him and Yuma's imagination gave him form or did Yuma come up with all of those things after fusing with Arc?

First canonical transformation and fight! Complete with more found footage of Arc getting beat up!

I like how they attempted to bash each other with their own barriers.

I was wondering who was in control of the body but seems like Yuma is to an extent the way he reacted to his visage in the mirrored building and his little "thinking" neck pose. Also swinging the Ultra Beam to shoot Digelos in the neck and then finishing off the horns for good measure was pretty based.

Does Yuma's grandma know what's up? She seemed to recognize Arc, though she probably always believed Yuma about his Giant of Light.

Yuma came up with Arc's weapons, transformation device, AND the armors. Is the Final Form sitting on the next page?

Yuma yawning, of course Ishido would talk about coffee!

Next week: A rat Kaiju, Rin focus episode, and the debut of the Solar Armor!

Monogelos is quite a unique design for a Zetton lookalike. It's like they fused an alien and kaiju together and it just works. And sure, there's Golba from Trigger but the stark difference here is really darn creative.

And speaking of creative, I love how Arc's whole schtick is being creative. After seeing Blazar use his finisher as a fishing rod, I expect some fun things with Arc's arsenal. The shield clash and warping his beam were a lot of fun!

As always, the fight scenes and the interaction with the miniatures are a delight, such as Tank Cam and the giant monitor being smashed alongside Arc in real time. Good stuff!

Continuing to enjoy the story and characters, interested in seeing that mech in the opening down the road!

Next Episode: Tsuburaya rips off Nezura!:lolol

Fun fact. Tetsuya Hize, Yuma's dad, is played by Masato Hagiwara. Hagiwara is also the voice of Ultraman Arc and his previous toku appearance was in GARO: Heir to the Steel Armor as Godo/Zango.

That's got to be intentional. Kind of gives me Asuka/Dyna vibes.

I assume you're talking about the novel that retells Dyna? Nice.

Bold of this show to use a Zetton-type monster as a starter monster.

Interesting, the origin of Arc is not that different to the typical Ultra; given the press release details I expected something else. Although we don't actually see the "merger" so it may be explained further in the future. I do like how trippy Arc's interactions with Yuma are though, mirrors, reflections, and straight up pulling him through the puddle. Plus, while they can communicate, neither side is overly talkative and so far there are no "human within the Ultra"-shots which I have grown to dislike. I wonder how they handle the form-change next episode though, let's see.

I do really like Arc so far, it's so basic and fun that it can stand on its own compared to Blazar. There is no need for it step out of Blazar's shadow because Arc was never in it to begin with. It's a completely different kind of show, simple yet creative, very easy to enjoy.

But man, props so far to the actors, I love the characters, the effect work is top-notch and the action is beautiful to look at all. It feels very Showa to me overall, in a good way.

Given that the horn doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon, not a bad guess that it may be both starter and its new form the final boss.

It reminds me a lot of Cosmos' interactions with Musashi.

Don't you just hate it when a pleasant morning and Rin focus episode gets interrupted by a rat? Especially one that has a hankering for elecriticty...with devastating consequences.

I like how Ishido's first scene in the episode is him holding a cup of coffee and willing to give a chance to the idea that there's more to this rat problem than just your typical rat.

The rare time when the rat actually IS as big as a human!

Electricamus, a new species of rat that absorbs electricity, and when it absorbs enough it transforms into...Nezutron, the Electric Rat Kaiju! I appreciate that they actually made two different suits for it's human size and Kaiju sized form, though the latter looks like it was made from some of a Telesdon suit.

Really shows how experienced Rin is that she immediately takes charge in a crisis situation and manages things effectively. She knows exactly what needs to get done and wastes no time getting them done.

You-Pi showing more of what he can do! He can douse fires, has a shield (to be used against Kaiju at some point?), and can even do computer work!

I love Arc hurting his knee against Nezutron, trying in vain to pull the cord out, and said cord preventing Nezutron from getting any closer to him.

Gotta be honest, I'm really loving Arc's "uh oh" reactions ever time he sees the Color Timer kick in.

Didn't think we'd get "people cheering for the Ulta to rally and fight on" by episode 4, but it's the perfect way to heat things up and let Yuma bring to life Arc's first form change...the Solis Armor! With the power of fists of fire like the sun! Though it's nice to see Arc still finish it off with an Ultra Beam.

I don't know why but the way Ishido talks about having more data worth investigating sounds REALLY suspicious.

Good on Yuma for giving credit to his fellow SKIP members rather than letting Arc take most of the credit.

I sense a bit of family drama with Rin and her constant moving around, but it's nice to see she's finally found roots and enjoying what it means to have a community around her.

Next week: Undersea dinosaur fight!

Enjoy watching Yuma and You-Pi excersie to the OP!

While I haven’t watched tonight’s episode of Ultraman Arc yet, I did manage to finish watching Ultraman: Towards The Future/Ultraman Great not too long ago.

Blazar Blu Ray release announced. Comes with the show + the movie, and also has both jp and eng audio tracks
https://twitter.com/UltramanConnect/...37230122385715

Fabulous. *claps quietly with enthusiasm*
Props to the English dub cast for their great work on that show.

Rad.:thumb:

Updated release date
https://twitter.com/UltramanConnect/...65360409133157

"Return Of Ultraman isn?t afraid to penetrate deep topics either, Episode 33 ?The Monster Tamer and the Boy?, deals with dark themes of ostracization, groupthink-induced-cruelty, and metaphor for racial prejudice. It is one of the few episodes to truly end in tragedy, and even had real repercussions for its writing team."

https://www.ultramanconnection.com/n...ek-the-review/

What sort of repercussions?

Nice! Glad to see Blazar come out fashionably early. It's kind of like how Geats got an official release after it aired. Hope to see this trend continue.

Now for Arc's latest Episode: "I'm the Giant Rat that makes all of the rules!"

Aside from having an appetite for electricity, this thing can Santa Claus through the small sewage drains. "Pipes, Ron! They've been using the plumbing!" That's a scary thought....

Love that bit where Nezutron gets caught on the energy cord and it having a hard head that hurts Arc. And the idea that Arc's armors are linked to his Color Timer running low as "last minute power ups" is a neat idea, almost makes me think Arc has full control himself until he gets in a pinch and has Yuma imagine his way out of situations (Obligatory Kiramei Red Reference here "Hirame-kiiiiing!").

I'm starting to wonder if the mech seen in the opening is going to be part of Ishido's arc (heh) considering he's observing Arc (heh heh).

And so, this episode wasn't completely Nezura, but it was close. Also, Sentai Dancing in Ultraman now is a welcome addition in my book.

Next Episode: Underwater Combat! My favorite!