https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tUV2sbJ0Vo

Sean's the best.

Episode Z on Ultraman Connection next month!

Mill Creek Mebius DVD set!

Nice. Assuming they're going in some sort of order, that means Max can't be too far behind.

Regulos character trailer and VA interview. VA was revealed to be Shugo Nakamura during the 2 million stream
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbhmS_nOX2w

He sounds younger than I expected. But cool!

YEEESSSS :rock:

https://store.ultramanconnection.com...ental-preorder

It's 5 (U.S) bucks to "rent" Episode Z or 12 for the movie and the after show stream. This is a pretty big deal! I hope people support it.

I'll definitely rent the movie, but I wonder if it's worth it to get the after show as well.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm trying to finish shows up to Zen.

I'm watching Orb: Origin Saga and asking myself...why does nobody transform until it's too late to do anything?

Like, Asuka, he always transforms first thing but Musashi takes like hours of Planet Kanon getting attacked and Amate getting Bezelved to actually transform into Cosmos. Why didn't you transform immediately to help Dyna and Orb!?

And Gamu and Fujimiya leave Gai alone to fend off the JSDF and not do anything against the Bezelve's until the absolute last minute. I mean, I loved Gamu and Fujimiya in this and seeing them together again and transforming, but come on.

Also why didn't Cosmos and Gaia use their strongest forms? I kept waiting for Gaia to go Gaia Supreme, but no.

(I think the main lesson we should take from the Origin Saga is "don't let Amate make any decisions because it'll inevitably screw everything up.").

Saw the 1st ever Ultra episode today together with the first ever Rider episode. Shout had Ultra episode 1 up from 1966.

Nice double launch day for me.

The 1st Ultra was good actually. BTW 1st ever episode seen for me.

I'm currently up to episode 16 of the original Ultraman series myself.

Looks like it's a 3 way run with the 1st Rider Series , Gavan , and the 1st Ultra series together. I'll need to rotate depending on. The Rider Episodes will be a while. Not sure how much Ultra is up.

I believe every ultraman season is on YouTube as well as the movies. The content that I know isn't easy to find or not on YouTube are the shows from the past that are similar to how the current episode D shows are.

So I've hit the halfway mark with R/B and I'm definitely glad I gave the show a second chance. It's not a new favorite, but it's really solid all around. Some of the standalone episodes are much better than I remember and I'm looking forward to getting more into the mystery of what's up with the sister.

I want to single out the villain, though. Aizen is just fantastic. I love the fact that he's a huge goofball and that his entire motivation is just so incredibly petty. He's easily my favorite villain of the New Generation era after Juggler.

Had some time, so I caught the last episode of Ginga (no S) on TokuSHOUTsu and had a plethora of questions regarding Dark Lugiel and the background of Spark Dolls:

- Has the conflict which precipitated the conversion to Spark Dolls ever been revealed in full?

- Was the entire Land of Light involved or just a select number of Ultras and Kaiju?

- What was the purpose of turning Kaiju into Spark Dolls anyway? Ultras are the enemy from Dark Lugiel's perspective, so wouldn't it make more sense to leave Kaiju to terrorize the universe?

- Why do TDG Ultras appear alongside Showa Ultras during the conversion? Aren't they alternate universe Ultras?

- Where the hell is Zero during this?

- In relation to the Zero Question, is this the OG Jean-Nine or is this an alternate version or is this an "unexplained-for-the-past-9-years" thing!?

- Isn't Belial supposed to be technically alive during this time? Wouldn't he really love to get in on this or at least manipulate events to his ends?

- Despite Father and Mother's explanation, it still doesn't make enough sense for Taro to remain conscious as a Spark Doll! Shouldn't someone like King also be conscious (assuming that he was turned into a Spark Doll as well)?

Lugiel dragged everyone out of their home universes into his own.

Every Ultra and every monster from every universe were involved.

Lugiel is goal is stop progression altogether be freezing anyone or anything that can induce change. Form his perspective, EVERYTHING is the enemy.

It is the original. He was just corrupted by the Dark Spark, similar to Ultraman, Severn and Tiga becoming Ultraman Dark, Seven Dark and Tiga Dark

Again, refer to my above answer.

The power of the Dark Spark is to completely seal away the host’s awareness and free will while freezing their bodies in the shape of a doll.

I am now a little over two-thirds through the original Ultraman series. It took awhile for the show to hit its stride but it has been growing on me. Really not a bad series for what it is.

It’s Dyna’s turn for the 25 anniversary treatment https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...84DAE5F37.jpeg

Time to celebrate Dyna both in terms of merch and a New Generation series!

I hope Asuka shows up in Decker.

Finished the original Ultraman series today and I even just started on the first episode of Ultraseven.

Ultraman Orb...

Where the Base Form ends up becoming the Final Form.

Whatever happened to the new online miniseries, the follow-up to last year's Absolute Conspiracy? They aired one episode back in January and I assumed we'd be getting more at some point.

That was bascially just a teaser to tide fans over. We never actually got a date as to when it's comming out. There rumor it going to be airing alongside Decker.

So the next Ultraman show trailer just got leaked lol.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultraman/co...5/there_he_is/

He looks like a more armored version of Dyna. Nice Color Timer (heh :p).

So looks like the GUTS-Falcon and Nursedessei are sticking around, we're just upgrading uniform colors.

9Interesting, not sure of the look personally but I'm sure it'll grow on me once I see it in action.

There's a new poster for Shin Ultraman. I can smell a new trailer dropping soon...

(unfortunately, can't get the images to upload, so I'm just going to leave here.)

Ultraman Trigger: The Movie - Episode Z

Two years later, it's nice to see that GUTS-Select can fend off a Kaiju without Ultraman, although that is one big honking gun.

It's nice to see that they've been working to find a way to bring Kengo back this whole time.

Captain Tatsumi's intelligence outfit was pretty spiffy, although it kind of made him look like a bad guy (which is probably why the trailers made it look like he turned evil even though in the actual movie there's never any doubt he's still a good guy).

Of course the first thing Kengo says after waking up is "Smile, Smile." Well, actually, it's Yuna's name, but still.

I missed Akito being a tsundere for Kengo.

If Tokioka wasn't obviously going to turn bad and become Evil Trigger, him disregarding the human component and going straight into how it must feel to be Ultraman would probably indicate that pretty clearly.

The movie's central core theme and Kengo's character arc in a nutshell: Ultraman Trigger doesn't make Kengo, Kengo makes Ultraman Trigger, and it's the connections Kengo makes as a human that gives him strength.

I'm sure a lot of people checked this movie out just to see Haruki and Z again, so that was nice. Haruki honestly felt more mature than even his last appearance in Trigger. Also, I found it kind of funny how Yuna was only just now finding out Haruki was Ultraman Z.

I love how Beliarok basically lets Z finish the monster off when he's done slicing it up and only bothers to talk to Haruki when he's free from Celebro.

Celebro again? I thought Yuka would have thoroughly dissected him by now.

I had honestly forgotten that each Trigger form had gotten its own chant when Kengo used it.

Trigger making Gazort barf up the Sky Type key was hilarious.

Akito. Man of science. Scared little girl in a haunted house. And yet he still somehow found the Power Type key!

Trigger Power Type and Z Beta Smash getting into a wrestling match with electrical wires making the ring was the most perfect thing ever.

I loved Ignis showing up just in time to bail out his buddies.

Were all those weapons from the Ultra-Ancient civilization? I guess that explains why they survived long enough against the Dark Giants, even if they could never defeat them.

I was honestly expecting Tokioka/Zabil to turn out to be your typical generic bad guy, but his motivations were...kind of sympathetic? Like, he was there in the trenches with Yuna fighting the Dark Giants and they were pooling everything they had to turn Zabil into an Ultraman, but then Trigger turns good and defeats the Dark Giants and basically takes Yuzare away from him. Trigger basically stole everything from him. I can understand why he was so resentful and became obsessed with gaining the Light, even if it ended up corrupting him.

That Evil Trigger suit is a thing of beauty.

Evil Trigger grabbing the Nursedessei by the tail and smacking the GUTS-Falcon with it was kind of amazing.

Captain Tatsumi arriving just in time and back in uniform to rally GUTS-Select to back up the Ultras, battleship or no battleship. Marluru dual-wielding pistols was kind of surreal though.

If anyone could fight off Celebro's control, it's Haruki.

Really, the moment Destrudos showed up, Z should've gone Delta Rise Claw. Although everyone tearing into it when Glitter Trigger Eternity showed up was pretty awesome.

Evil Trigger grew super Kaiju large, but it just made for a better target for all the Ultramen, especially when they triple Ultra Beamed him. But at least Zabil got to pass on finally realizing that GUTS-Select had found what he had once had with Yuzare and their comrades.

So I guess the only thing left of the Eternity Core is now in Glitter Trigger? It seems like Yuna used up the last of Yuzare's power too.

Himari bagging Celebro was great.

Wait, did they fix the Nursedessei that fast...?

I can't think of a better sendoff for the Trigger cast than them all having fun and smiling together at a party.

See you all in July for Ultraman Decker!

I think most of the New Gen movies are... fine. They're not amazing but I don't regret watching them or anything. Episode Z continues that trend I guess because it's... fine. Shout out to Tsuburaya for releasing Episode Z worldwide at the same time. Very cool!

Random disjointed thoughts because I'm bad at writing:

They really wanted to make up for Z not getting a movie, but I think Haruki and Z's inclusion in this was disappointing since they don't really do much. Z barely speaks at all! It's worth it just for the Beta Smash wrestling bit though. I love Beta Smash.

At one point, there are 3 different Triggers on screen at the same time! Evil Trigger - as with Tiga - is such a good looking suit. Zabil is actually a pretty interesting antagonist, especially compared to the usual Bigger Eviler Monster we usually get. He's like Akito but never got over someone else becoming The Light and saving the day.

Kengo only says "Smile, Smile" once!

Captain Tatsumi is still a cool guy. He's not in the movie a lot, but when he is there he makes quite an impact.

That Ultraman Decker tease at the end would've been a way more hype moment if it didn't leak 2 days ago.

But yeah, it's worth spending the 5 bucks (or whatever) to watch it. It's pretty fun and it doesn't overstay it's welcome plus it's a unique opportunity to support official English releases.

I see what you did there. :lolol
So his color timer seems to resemble the milky way, I guess?

Nah Ultraman Z beat Destrudos the last time in base form and he did it again

Well, yeah, but you'd still think he'd go into his Final Form when a Big Bad Kaiju shows up.

So the Memorial Orb Ring dropped and it turned out that they recorded Gai’s actor doing catchphrases and finishers for every one of the Fusion Fight forms (except Spacium Schtrom, which has been removed entirely to make way for a special sound effect when you fuse Tiga, Dyna, Gaia and Agul).

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MMfB1MDLtm4

New information about Decker, courtesy of TheRealMattHunt on Twitter/RangerBoard. I’ve cleaned up the spelling from what he shared.

-Main character is Asumi Kanata (played by Matsumoto Hiroki). Main suit is orange/black, setting seems to be 10 years after Trigger

-Ultra D Flasher can read 500 sounds, a black Lieflasher with a grap on the back. Insert the card into the slit on the side, pull the lever on the back, and a Crystal will appear. Pressing the button above the grip will activate henshin. Has full-color LED. There are Ultraman cards (transform with Ultra Dimension), and Monster Cards (Summon with MonsDimension). "Flash" and "Strong" are included with the Flasher.

-Ultra Dimension Cards have a barcode on the top of them. There seem to be plans to release these cards even with the Figuarts.

-Card Holder comes with Miclas, Windom, and Agira cards

-Card 1 comes with Zero, Z Original, Belial, Sevenger, Sphere Saurus and Sphere Gomora cards

-Card 2 comes with Decker Miracle, Geed Primitive, Rosso Flame, Blu Aqua, Tiga and Mons-Agar

-Card 3 comes with Trigger Sky, Trigger Power, Orb Origin, Jugglus Juggler, Sphere Megalothor Second Form and Sphere

-Official Binder comes with Zero Beyond, Belial Atrocious and Shining Zero

-Ultra Dual Sword is a gold-and-red bladed sword. Can transform from Trigger Mode to Decker Mode. Both cards and Guts Hyper Keys are readable; blade is used to slash the cards and mixed reads are possible for combo moves. (Example- Miclas + Agira + Windom Dual! Monster Scram!). The Hyper Keys are inserted into another portion of the sword.

-Vinyls are Decker Flash (includes special card, seems to be first purchase bonus or something like that), Decker Strong, Decker Miracle, Sphere Zaurus (giant CG monster with mineral-like arms), Digital Brain Friend Machine Hanejiro (An R2D2 like thing that rides/pilots the Guts Hawk?), Miclas, Sphere Gomora (A Gomora with a white sail, looks like Dai Kaiju Rush), Mons-Agar, Bemula, Pagos, Agira, Sphere Megalothor (A Megalothor with a Sphere?), Sphere Red King (A Red King with White and Red spikes), Gregorl-Man and Imitation Ultraman Dyna Miracle Type.

-The Guts Hawk; an aircraft with red Power Arms. Looks like Dyna's blue aircraft. Has a flight mode (with arms in front) and a "Flying Dragon Mode" (could also translate as canoe mode) with arms in back. It can look like the Guts Grip Phone from the back?

-Terrafacer; is a 20cm long Deathfacer; transforms to shoulder/chest armor and uses TR Buster? Has magic hand arms; a dial on its back can change its mask

-Ultraman Action Figures include Decker Flash, Decker Strong, Decker Miracle, Seven, Ribut

So I'm getting close to the end of R/B and I have a question for anyone who knows more about Japanese culture than I do (which is, admittedly, not exactly a high bar to clear): is there some kind of big designer t-shirt culture in Japan? I have to assume that there is, given how much time is spent focusing on new shirt concepts that I'm missing out on some kind of cultural context.

Be interesting to see how this all comes together.

I got my copy of the DVD series set of Ultraman Tiga from Amazon today as well as Dairanger and I just started watching the first disc of the former. This would be my very first time in watching this series. I am also planning to finish up on Ultraseven pretty soon since I have 14 episodes left with that series.

Well I hope you enjoy Tiga! Great Ultra series imo. If only the OG theme song and ost was left completely intact. If your not aware the og theme song and leitmotif was removed from the Mill Creek set excpet for Episode 3 & 4. And it such a shame because Take Me Higher not only iconic but imo a huge part of Tiga soul of the show.

Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad will be available for rental on Ultra Connection May 28th.

[youtube]uEbYMXWKqvY[/youtube]