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Originally Posted by ljacone

Alright.

Ultraman properly started in 1966 with the series Ultra Q. This show is sort of like a Showa version of The X-Files. It did not have any giant heroes but did have monsters.

The first Ultra Hero is Ultraman, who first appeared in his eponymous series in 1966-1967. This introduced the basic concept of the series -- giant alien hero helps a team of humans fight monsters and aliens. The progression in the Showa era is as such:

Ultraman
Ultraseven
Return of Ultraman
Ultraman Ace
Ultraman Taro
Ultraman Leo
Ultraman 80

The series went on a hiatus for most of the 80s, save for a few specials and movies. It was revived in the Hesai era in 1990, with the Aussie co-production Ultraman: Towards The Future (AKA Ultraman Great). This was followed up with an American produced series (which never aired in America) called Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero in 1993 (AKA Ultraman Powered). Tsuburaya brought the show back in house in 1996 with Ultraman Tiga.

Ultraman: Towards The Future
Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero
Ultraman Tiga
Ultraman Dyna
Ultraman Gaia
Ultraman Neos (direct to DVD series)
Ultraman Cosmos
Ultraman Nexus
Ultraman Max
Ultraman Meibus
Ultraseven X

After Ultraseven X, the show switched up a little bit, and started the Ultra Galaxy shows, which lead into the Ultraman Zero movies.

Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle
Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey
Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy The Movie
Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial
Ultraman Saga

After Saga, we got the "mini" show Ultraman Zero Fight, and the upcoming show is Ultraman Ginga.

In addition to the shows there have been several movies throughout the years, ranging from re-jiggered episodes in the Showa era, to the relatively large budget Ultraman: The Next theatrical film from 2004. There have also been specials, gaidens some kids shows, remakes, and so forth.

Most of the shows follow the same general format as I mentioned above -- the Ultra hero helping out a team of humans who defend the Earth. Within each series there will be different details, conflicts, enemies, and allies. Some shows break the mold. The Ultra Galaxy shows deal with heroes and villains who can summon classic Ultra Monsters to fight for them. Ultraseven X dispatches the Monster Of The Week format frequently to present a dystopian 1984-esque future. The Zero movies and Zero fight take place in the Land Of The Light, and thus focus on the Ultras themselves moreso than humans or Earth.

Ultraman and Ultraseven are available on commercial DVD here in the US. Ultraman Tiga was available as well but those DVDs are out of print.

You can get most all of the shows Raw, and there are some fansubs out there as well, though not nearly a complete set. You can find some on KRDL.info and more if you search.

You can also watch Ultraman and Ultraman: Towards The Future in English for free on Hulu.

Hope this helps!

There were also animated Ultraman titles, Ultraman Jonais, which a co-production between Tsuburaya and Sunrise (Gundam anime) and there is Ultraman USA an attempt by Tsuburaya to import the franchise to the Western market with animation done by Hanna Barbara (yes, that Hanna Barbara)