[GrandComplete]

Episode 1 "Seize The Light!"
So imagine yourself working in Tsuburaya in late 1997 or early 1998. Ultraman has finally entered a new golden age. One that hasn't been seen since the 1970s, to be honest. So there was apprehension among the creatives; no one knew where to take Ultraman after Dyna.Enter Chiaki J. Konaka, a prolific writer in the 90s and early 2000s (you may have heard of him lately, but we are not here to discuss that!).

He was already involved with the production of Ultraman Tiga and brought forth many of the elements that made Tiga successful, such as the larger, more modernized world and the aesthetic towards the unknowable of Lovecraft, which created a world filled to the brim with mystery and kept viewers on the edge of their seats wondering what just might appear. In spite of the trepidation felt over the direction of the Ultra Series' future, Konaka and the other writers were not given any overt demands by Tsuburaya, Bandai, or TBS over what the next show was going to be. All Konaka was given was to make a good show; this is an incredible amount of creative freedom rarely seen in the industry. The writers were given free reign over story, characters, and themes, and in an inverse way, it was the writer who dictated the flow of things for once rather than the investors. Konaka didn't want to simply put on a good show; he wanted to leave a mark, so to speak, not wanting to be stagnant. And to shake things up, this new show would be a singular serialized story planned from beginning to end. However, other writers were more hesitant because of how Ultraman had been written before, as it was up to the individual to tell the story of the week. As a result, a compromise was reached in which Konaka pitched and ironed out the overall grand story of the show, but the individual stories of each writer were preserved.This method would actually become how Ultraman shows would be written from now on. Gaia has already had an impact on the franchise since pre-production.And thus the show known as "Ultraman Gaia" was born!

Of course, no show is complete without the opening, which is what we'll be looking at first, though I'm going to have to start with something that has irritated me with some of Ultraman's official releases: the lack of subtitles on the credits.This show was subbed by Crunchyroll, and this was before subbing music was commonplace. Now you might be wondering why certain shows you watch may not translate the OP and ED of a show or movie, and that is because of music rights. The rights to translate the music are not included with the rest of the show, leaving many anime and dramas to just skip it to avoid the hassle. The reason I bring this up is in relation to Mill Creek's release of the Ultra Series and how often they will default to preexisting subs if they're there regardless of quality or, in this case, consistency, as going from Tiga and Dyna, which subbed the music (including inserts! ), to the final part of this 90's TDG Trilogy and skipping all of it is, to say the least, jarring.This isn't the last time I'll be talking about the subs. I may not be as thorough as Fish Sandwich, but I try in hopes of helping you understand better. But back to the OP, simply titled "Ultraman Gaia!" and sung by Masayuki Tanaka (Rider fans would recognize him from singing Kuuga OP) and Kazuya Daimon (who also did the arrangement), with lyrics written by Yasushi Chinka, a second-generation Korean songwriter living in Japan, and composed by Miki Matsubara, a prolific songwriter, composer, and singer.
(Insert custom collage image here)
The song is catchy, upbeat, and heroic, encompassing the feel of Toshihiko Sahashi's score for this show. (Don't worry, I will talk about him and his contribution to the show soon!) and unlike Crunchyroll, I'm going to provide y'all with the lyrics to the song.

“Fight on until the very end!
Hold on until the very end!
When the danger, the danger
The danger won’t end
That’s when we need our Ultraman!

If you believe in your power and take that step
You’ll find the light of courage within you
So don’t be deceived by their vile machinations
Just fight with every drop of strength you have
And stand resolute before them!

Fight on until the very end!
Hold on until the very end!
When there’s nothing, nothing, not a thing we can do
That’s when we need our Ultraman!

These monsters have never known what love is
Perhaps their roars are how they show their pain
But they won’t give up on their vile machinations
So if we are to protect the ones we love
Then we must stand resolute for them!

Fight on until the very end!
Hold on until the very end!
When we’re in trouble, in a panic
The danger won’t end
That’s when we need our Ultraman!
Ultraman Gaia!

Fight on until the very end! [Come on Come on Gaia]
Hold on until the very end! [Fight on Gaia]

Fight on until the very end! [Come on Come on Gaia]
Hold on until the very end! [Fight Fight Gaia]
When there’s nothing, nothing
Not a thing we can do
That’s when we need our Ultraman!
Ultraman Gaia!”
(Thank you Aesir fansubs for this translation)

The lyrics here do an absolutely killer job of condensing down what Ultraman represents and how they're not there to just make humanity's jobs easier. We will have to try our very best, and when all options are exhausted and fear strikes in the most desperate of times, that is when we need Ultraman! And the visuals for the OP are fantastic, starting with the incredible swirls done in the Gaia style. The amazing miniatures that capture the absolute scale of this world and the defense team, as well as the fantastic artwork for this show's sponsor page (which we will discuss,
the artist and designer soon enough, I promise).

So the first thing you’ll notice about this show from the beginning is its greater emphasis on the sci-fi elements thanks to Konaka's involvement. Words such as "photoelectronic" and "quantum physics' ' are thrown around casually. The second thing you might notice is that Gamu's acting is really bad. It is comparable to Troy from Power Rangers (Super) Megaforce (I want you to know that I realize comparing this show to that one is not doing this show or myself any favors and that I mentally hate myself for even thinking this, but it’s the truth). Now, like a certain tiki head, there is a simple explanation for that. …. Are you ready for it? Here we go! Main actor Takeshi Yoshioka was chosen not for his acting abilities but rather for his physical build. Takeshi Tsuruno, who played Ultraman Dyna in the previous show, was so unathletic that after Dyna, Tsuburaya added a clause requiring the main actor to be physically fit for every project since then. As this was the first time Tsuburaya did this, they overcompensated and hired an actor who was all brawn (which is the polar opposite of the character). Now the crew immediately noticed his (lack of) skills in acting, and over the course of the first quarter of the show, they helped Yoshioka adjust to the role. In particular, one of the actors, the now deceased Hiroyuki Watanabe, who played the commander Akio Ishimuro, took a vested interest and became a mentor to the inexperienced Yoshioka.

What I’m trying to say is to please stick with this show, and the main lead will get better over time. I swear the cast and crew care about the show, and this is merely just growing pains as of right now.

Back to the show: Gamu is presented as a very different type of protagonist, being an absolute nerd. revealed later on in this episode to have been the one who invented the jets used by our defense team. a unique setting as a young adult genius in college with his own clique of friends and in a role that screams supporting character in this franchise. But we also see shades of a protagonist, not just because he’s an ultraman but because he hacks into video feeds and tells the others that they're not flying his ship properly. Both this and his willingness to be the guinea pig for the experiment show that he has what it takes to be the hero of this story.

The late Hirochika Muraishi, a relative hot shot at the time whose Ultraman episodes always managed to emphasize the terror that invading forces can instill, directed the episode's set design and overwhelming feel, and in this first episode, he manages the impending change to this world with this new force invasion.

Add to that Ultraman Gaia's iconic ground stomp, which lets you feel the visceral weight of the giant of light himself.

(Stomp of the week)



Stomp Counter:1

And of course, we can’t forget the heroes and villains of this story too. Ultraman Gaia and the kaijus from "Vision Dragon," in particular, with "C.O.V." standing for "Cosmic/Cybernetic Organism Vanguard."

The designer of this season is none other than Hiroshi Maruyama, who was the main character and monster designer for the entire Heisei Ultraman series!

If you needed any more proof of this man's incredible talent, he also designed the Phantom from Kamen Rider Wizard!


Gaia, our titular hero, is decked out in a nice mix of modern (the 90's Ultra aesthetic) and Showa Ultras, such as the Original Ultraman and Ace.The use of gold on top of his head is a striking touch that completes the look. It's a good design, but there was something off about it. But I can’t put my finger on it, hmmm? Oh well, nothing worth talking about.


We don't spend much time with the Vision Dragon, who serves as a tutorial boss in a RPG, but I like its sepertaine-esque figure, which lends to a distinct body type and immediately demonstrates some variety in creature design for this show.

Sadly, there were more plans for this Kaiju that got scrapped, but we will talk about that at a later date. The final verdict from me, based on just what was given, is that it’s alright but nothing really special.


Now C.O.V. is a great first boss; he has a nice bipedal design with an angular head sculpt that reminds me of Dyna, and who doesn't love scythe hands?

Overall, a solid first monster, which is always appreciated, especially with modern shows where the first Kaiju is oftentimes the only original Kaiju we get for most of the show.

Now, open your ears as we listen to some sound effects. The Ultraman Gaia grunts are all done by Gamu’s actor, but the initial grunts seen in the very beginning are intentionally edited to be deeper than Yoshioka's normal pitch so that Gaia is different from once he merged with Gamu, which is a nice detail. I give these deeper grunts a 5/5. Making the effort to change the standard grunts to match the context of the scene is an effort I appreciate.
C.O.V. is surprisingly mechanical for a Kaiju roar; it's not what I expected, but it's not bad either; 3/5, an average score for the grunts.
Now, due to a lack of screen time, I’m going to give it 3/5 because the sounds it makes have a unique tingling sound mixed with a higher-pitched guttural growl, but it doesn't have enough time to grow on me.
(link here)
The ED of Gaia Loving You Loving Me by all female idol group B.B. Waves is an alright ending—not my personal favorite—but it has catchy tunes and will make some memorable scenes down the line. Much like the opening, it’s not subbed, so I’ll do you the favor of providing a translation for you guys.

“Lovin' you, continuing to run because all answers will surely
Be here in my chest
Lovin' me, not giving up to find the shine
Let's step by myself

A rift in the clouds passing through the wind and endless blue sky
Every time the future is floated, the same amount of anxiety is encountered

If only I could be more strong...never cry, make my wishes come true

Lovin' you, continuing to run because all answers will surely
Be here in my chest
Lovin' me, not giving up to find the shine
Let's step by myself

On days when rain envelops the sky I look up and
I've got a shinin' heart to the sky
The sun will surely bring a rainbow,
Someday we'll take a chance to be there

Even if it's the longer way around ev'ry smile, ev'ry tears
I want to convey

Lovin' you, spreading the wings of the chest
If the doors of the future would open, surely it will become visible
Lovin' me, until I had captured the history that I had believed
Let's step by myself

Someday I'll encounter more gentle smiles where I can envelop
My trembling emotions
Close to you, I want to go beyond the yet unseen tomorrow without losing my way
Just believe in your eyes

Lovin' you, continuing to run because all answers will surely
Be here in my chest
Lovin' me, not giving up to find the shine
Let's step by myself”

The lyrics, I think, are meant to be from Gamu, but something about the wording doesn’t sound like the character's voice, imo. It sounds like Gamu wants a better future, but it is too flowery, if that makes any sense. I dunno, I could be talking out of my ass with this one. Feel free to tell me how this ED fits or doesn't fit with the rest of the show music.

But now it’s time for my favorite part—the one I was most excited to talk about when starting all of this. And, in my opinion, Ultraman Gaia has one of the best scores in all of Ultraman, if not all of Tokusatsu.I've got to give the credit to Toshihiko Sahashi.

You may have heard his name thanks either to his extensive track record in both toku and anime or to Fish Sandwich raving about this man, and now it’s my turn to give you the pleasure of hearing his work. So every post will be finished off by one track from this show, and to start it off, of course, it has to be this track, "Quantum Stream Reversal."

Can you feel it? The raw surge of utter heroism that comes from this piece rightly rivals John Williams' Superman theme as a suitable grand yet heroic theme that tells you everything is going to be alright now that Ultraman Gaia is here! This tune, I think, single-handedly represents Ultra as a force for good, from the trumpets to the strings; it just shines through its simple melody.

Thank you for sticking with me through this epically long premiere. I’ll see you all on the 12th next week for episode 2, "A Hero Appears."

(Also gotta love the previews each episodes having their own little catchphrase and so much to this whole show)