Do you like monster movies? Giant gigantic creatures wreak havoc in urban areas as the world’s greatest scientific, military and political minds unite to come up with a solution to battle the creatures… Can you get any better than that? Back in the day, when influences were largely practical, actors wore rubber suits and stamped across miniature cities built like dioramas. Ichiro Honda1954 movie Gojira It revitalized a genre that had long since passed from timeless classics such as king kong character In poorly constructed second-class films like It came from outer spaceAnd Tarantula!And And Mantis killer –as well as kaiju The type is born. The brain-heavy, philosophical themes placed beneath the surface of the Honda image remain strong to this day and have produced an attack of mimicry. If you love kaiju as many of us do, you’ve probably at least seen the basics: effectiveAnd Gamera, the giant beast, and basically all of the Godzilla images are from the Showa era. However, there is an often overlooked but fantastic TV series that originally aired on Tokyo’s broadcast system and is sure to please any fan of the genre hungry for more action: Ultra Q.
Anticipating the wonderful superhero program Ultraman Less than a year ago – but essentially set in the same fantasy world as the hit show –Ultra Q It takes a similar approach to the smarter, more relaxed flicks from the era of these monster movies. The premise is simple: a journalist (Hiroko Sakurai), a science fiction writerkenji sahara) and pilot (Yasuhiko SaigoTravel across Japan to investigate supernatural events that often involve some type of supernatural monster. imagine unknown files Set in 1966 Japan, it features a series of kaiju as Monsters of the Week.
Although the introduction may seem like just a paraphrase of something that has already been done, Ultra Q She manages to keep things constantly interesting through her widespread fascination with the stories she tells. If there are a lot of giant monsters—and human relationships as side plots—the series often strays from the strict formula in favor of some variety in storytelling. One episode is set in a futuristic express train and features a race against time to keep the train from being destroyed. Another, “Challenge of the Year 2020,” centers around a series of alien abductions. Episode 6, “Grow Up! The Little Turtle” Depicts a Young Boy (Kazuo Nakamurawho, along with his pet turtle, Gameron (remarkably Named after the great Gamera, everyone’s favorite kaiju turtle and friend of all kids), falls into the care of incompetent criminals trying to break the law. Sure, one can usually expect things to be neatly wrapped up in about 20 minutes, but the run time tends to be short enough to keep things breezy and inviting.
Ultraman Fans will be pleased to know that many monsters from The series appears first in Ultra Q. Those who are familiar with the kaiju list of Ultraman They will find familiar faces in Gomis, Beguela and Garamon. But hey, even if you haven’t watched a single episode of Ultramando not eat: Ultra Q This is a great opportunity to get to know these foolish monsters. Although they may not often be as creative as Godzilla’s enemies, eagle-eyed viewers may notice some striking similarities between the monsters from the two groups. In fact, many monster costumes in Ultra Q Modified from pre-existing costumes used in the Godzilla series. Eiji Tsuburayaone of Japan’s most famous film producers, played an important role in the beginning of both franchises and received permission from Toho To recycle props from popular movie series. One could definitely see a strange resemblance between the pilot episode’s main beast, Gomis, and the universal beast star that inspired it. Guruh, a monkey the size of a building who befriends a disabled child, can easily be considered a close relative of King Kong.. (Hey, at least the props section was eco-friendly, right?)
but joy Ultra Q They don’t necessarily come from these links – they’re just a few incentives, Easter eggs for fans to pick up. Among the many things to adore about the show, perhaps what makes it so special is his utter love for the craft. Like the Toho kaiju films, the series is as fun as it comes, using eye-catching practical effects to create its fanciful visuals. It’s about the temporary suspension of disbelief while watching the execution of these ridiculous tales. Effects are not You have To be believable – it’s all about camera tricks, editing and acting to give credit to the episodes.
Technically of things, the chain is no slouch. Hajime Tsuburayawho worked on it Godzilla and its complement Godzilla raids again!And Handles the bulk of the output credits side by side Samaji Nonagassi And a handful of other notable filmmakers of the era. Although quite a few directors from the show went on to direct much after its end, they showed enough skill here to make their apparent retirement a shame. While much of the show sticks to the basics of filmmaking, it occasionally indulges in some stylistic trappings that are sure to wow. Check out the 360-degree whip pan in “Goro and Goro,” or the frantic liberation in the “Grow Up! Little Turtle.” There are also great opening credits sequences, which change with each episode and often feature neat effects montages, set to the show’s guitar-driven melody.
Dialect Ultra Q It oscillates between the serious and the ordinary. Danger and destruction are basically givens, but so is fun and humor. Her light mood doesn’t mean the show has nothing to say. Like any good Kaiju project, the series frequently uses monsters to tackle something bigger about the world itself. Themes of pollution, discrimination, childhood imagination, and man’s place in the natural world are investigated throughout the series. The offering is also noteworthy in its ability to meet the needs of both adults and children. Like the gamer Movies Ultra Q Often they are centered around young heroes whose childish behavior provides a respite from the practical behavior of adults. The plots are certainly fictional and stunning enough to capture the attention of a younger audience, but they also maintain a maturity that doesn’t make the show feel like it happened. In other words, it’s a kid-friendly show that isn’t Just for kids. It is true that – and Ultraman—It was created largely to capitalize on the popularity of kaiju movies among kids, but heyAnd This does not mean that you cannot enjoy it in adulthood. That’s part of what makes the show so great: it’s so agreeable and accessible For all ages.
The recurring characters investigating phenomena are charming, and give the series a sort of consistency in its largely unconnected episodic structure. Instead of the agency of super specialists formed in Ultraman To fight these interplanetary enemies, Ultra Q He often relies on ordinary people to save the situation. Yuriko, John, and Ebi; The writers and pilots come back time and time again to help investigate the problem at hand. There is, unfortunately, not enough time in the short life of the program to delve into these characters and their potential backgrounds, but they are given enough character to make them likable. They tease, joke, argue, and go on with their supernatural investigations. “I would like to teach you, who writes absurd science fiction stories and space dreams, how hard reality is,” Yuriko tells Jun, trying to bring his daydreaming mind back to the planet he already lives on. All three aren’t often at the center of the absolute action, but they don’t need to be. There are monsters, ghosts and aliens afoot! Our three heroes are there when we need them.
With only 28 short episodes, Ultra Q It was short on TV. Even if he produced one of the most popular Japanese live-action TV series of all time, he was often unfairly overshadowed by his many predecessors. Sure, the show was eventually revived twice in different formats after 40 years (like Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy In 2006 and New Ultra Q in 2013), but the sheer charm of the original series is hard to beat. Don’t get me wrong: when it comes to kaiju movies, no thing He can beat the original Ishiro Honda movie. It is very poetic and very rich in allegory and iconic imagery. But the entire genre created is also filled with delightful little pearls of high entertainment value, and sometimesAnd they have something to say, too. Ultra Q They are as good as any of them, and they are honestly better than most.
If you like kaiju movies, it is a must watch. It has all the magic, creativity, and monster-crushing action that you can expect from this genre. He has the heart, too. From the Inkblot title card setting out its mysterious accent to the list of ridiculous little monsters, it’s a product that sci-fi and kaiju movies really appreciate. As with the films that spawned the series, in Ultra Q, monsters are clean, buildings are preposterous, and monuments are creative if raging. It is a wonderful program, a time capsule of Japanese culture in the 1960s, and an introduction to the teacher Ultraman a series. It’s a show that has lived unjustly in the shadow of its successor for far too long, and it’s time for kaiju fans everywhere to witness the wonderful world of Ultra Q.
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