tokusatsu
is a Japanese term for live-action films or television programs that make heavy use of practical special effects. Credited to special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, ''tokusatsu'' mainly refers to science fiction film, science fiction, War fi ...
drama produced by
Tsuburaya Productions
also abbreviated as is a Japanese special effects studio founded in 1963 by special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya and was run by his family, until October 2007, when the family sold the company to advertising agency TYO Inc. The studio is b ...
, as well as the 27th entry (37th overall) in the
Ultraman
The , also known as ''Ultraman'', is a Japanese science fiction media franchise owned and produced by Tsuburaya Productions, which began with the television series '' Ultra Q'' in 1966. The franchise has expanded into many television shows, fi ...
Series and the fourth in the
Reiwa
is the current and 232nd era of the official calendar of Japan. It began on 1 May 2019, the day on which Emperor Akihito's eldest son, Naruhito, ascended the throne as the 126th Emperor of Japan. The day before, Emperor Akihito abdicated ...
Ultraman Dyna
is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show which aired from 5 September 1997 until 28 August 1998. It is a direct sequel to the previous Ultraman series, '' Ultraman Tiga'' and the ninth entry (thirteenth overall) to the ''Ultra Series''.
Plot
In the year ...
''. The series aired on
TV Tokyo
JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as is a Japanese television station that serves as the flagship of the TX Network.
Synopsis
''Ultraman Decker'' takes place years after the end of '' Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga'', where Earth has entered a period of peace once again. When humanity begins their outer space exploration program and their monster attack countermeasures diminish at the same time, the Spheres launch their attacks, causing Earth to be desolated from the rest of the
Solar System
The Solar SystemCapitalization of the name varies. The International Astronomical Union, the authoritative body regarding astronomical nomenclature, specifies capitalizing the names of all individual astronomical objects but uses mixed "Sola ...
.
A store worker named Kanata Asumi obtains the Ultra D Flasher and becomes Ultraman Decker, using his newfound powers to repel the invading Sphere assaults. After a one-year period of training, Kanata gets enlisted into GUTS-Select, which consists of captain Taiji Murahoshi, Nursedessei operator Sawa Kaizaki, space exploratory artificial intelligence HANE2 and fellow TPU graduates Soma Ryumon and Ichika Kirino. In addition, Kanata/Decker obtains occasional help from Kengo Manaka/Ultraman Trigger, who was actively defending the Mars civilization from the remaining Sphere platoon. Late into the series, TPU's researcher Yuichiro Asakage reveals himself as Agams the Bazdo, an alien from the future who was responsible for the Sphere's invasion on Earth, doing so to prevent their invasion on Planet Bazdo and the death of his wife, Laelia, from ever happening. Decker Asumi, the true owner of Ultraman Decker's powers, tries to reclaim his mantle but finally puts his trust in his Kanata to continue his fight after seeing his ancestor obtaining Dynamic Type.
As the series approaches its end, Agams begins taking an active role in the frontlines by shrinking the Sphere Barrier and summoning the Mother Spheresaurus, the Sphere's progenitor, to escalate the end of Planet Earth. A visit from Laelia's spirit manages to redeem Agams at the last minute before his death but fails to stop Mother Spheresaurus from absorbing the energies from Eternity Core. Kengo/Trigger offers his help by siphoning the energy from Mother Spheresaurus to Kanata/Decker, who channels it in his final attack that kills the monster. Mother Spheresaurus' death results in the Spheres' total annihilation, as well as Earth finally reestablishing contact with outer space.
Production
The show's name was trademarked in China on November 29, 2021, and later in Japan on December 14, 2021, around 3 month before its announcement.
''Ultraman Decker'' and the titular Ultra were first announced by Tsuburaya Productions at the end of '' Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z'' as a post-credit scene. The show was later officially announced on March 31, 2022. As with ''Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga'', Decker continues to celebrate the TDG Heisei Trilogy series that consists of ''
Ultraman Tiga
is a Japanese tokusatsu TV drama and the eighth entry (twelfth overall) in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Mainichi Broadcasting System, ''Ultraman Tiga'' had aired at 6:00 pm and aired between September 7, 1996, t ...
'', ''Dyna'' and ''
Gaia
In Greek mythology, Gaia (; , a poetic form of ('), meaning 'land' or 'earth'),, , . also spelled Gaea (), is the personification of Earth. Gaia is the ancestral mother—sometimes parthenogenic—of all life. She is the mother of Uranus (S ...
'', hence ''Decker'' itself representing ''Dyna'' as its modern-day retelling of the series. In addition, Hironobu Kageyama sings the ending theme, Kanata Tōku, returning exactly 25 years after performing for the second ending theme of ''Dyna''.
According to director Takesue, while ''Decker'' inherited many aspects from ''Dyna'', he aims to take the show's direction to a different approach from its source of inspiration. As such, the titular Ultra has his Color Timer's positioning at the left side of his pectoral and his chest bearing the image of the universe, but his overall design and silhouette is an attempt at returning to the image of Heisei era Ultras as a whole. In addition, the theme of the series is "future", as ''Decker'' focuses on what lies ahead in contrast of ''Trigger''s themes of ancient era. ''Ultraman Decker'' is considered as the tenth entry to the series lineup that was introduced since ''
Ultraman Ginga
, is a Japanese television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions. It is the 17th entry (26th overall) in the ''Ultra Series'', released to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. It is the first entry in the New Generation series, ending a si ...
''. In addition, the series' charm is to "make new ones", hence the show will be expected to introduce more new monsters in its run.
According to Hiroki Matsumoto, filming of ''Ultraman Decker'' started in December 2021.
Episodes
Spin-off program
is a Tsuburaya Imagination-exclusive spin-off program released on October 1, 2022. In addition to Masamichi Hotta and Marluru reappearing, each episode also features one of the members of the reformed GUTS-Select.
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''Ultraman Decker Finale: Journey to Beyond''
is a film exclusively for
pay per view
Pay-per-view (PPV) is a type of pay television or webcast service that enables a viewer to pay to watch individual events via private telecast.
Events can be purchased through a multichannel television platform using their electronic program ...
content in Tsuburaya Imagination, released on February 23, 2023. The movie takes place after the end of ''Ultraman Decker'' and features former
AKB48
AKB48 (pronounced ''A.K.B. Forty-Eight'') is a Japanese idol musical girl group named after the Akihabara area in Tokyo, where the group's theater is located. AKB48 has sold more records than any other female musical act in Japanese history. AK ...
;Opening theme
*"Wake up Decker!"
**Lyrics:
**Composition & Arrangement:
**Artist: SCREEN mode
**Episodes: 1-13 (Verse 1), 14-24 (Verse 2)
*:In episode 25, this song is used as an insert song.
;Ending themes
*
**Arrangement:
**Lyrics, Composition, & Artist:
**Episodes: 1-13
*
**Arrangement:
**Lyrics, Composition, & Artist: Hironobu Kageyama
**Episodes: 14-25
International broadcast
In
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
, this series aired on
ViuTV
ViuTV is a Cantonese language Generalist channel, general entertainment television channel in Hong Kong operated by HK Television Entertainment (HKTVE), whose parent company PCCW also operates the IPTV platform Now TV (Hong Kong), Now TV and the ...
on October 8, 2022.
In
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
, this series aired on
Astro Ceria
Astro Ceria is a 24-hour Malay-language television channel that is broadcast on the Astro satellite television service. This channel is dedicated to toddlers and children. It was launched on 31 August 2006, making it Malaysia's first-ever t ...
on November 8, 2022, with Malay dubbed.
In
Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
, this series will be air on TV5 in 2024 with Filipino dubbed.
See also
*
Ultra Series
The , also known as ''Ultraman'', is a Japanese science fiction media franchise owned and produced by Tsuburaya Productions, which began with the television series ''Ultra Q'' in 1966. The franchise has expanded into many television shows, fil ...
– Complete list of official Ultraman-related shows
Tsuburaya Productions
also abbreviated as is a Japanese special effects studio founded in 1963 by special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya and was run by his family, until October 2007, when the family sold the company to advertising agency TYO Inc. The studio is b ...