Ultraman

Ultra Hero, Ultra…Dad? Ultraman Rising Trailer Released With Some Easter Eggs Spotted!

Posted on May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 by Sean

24
May

With the release of the Ultraman Rising trailer, Sean will be guiding you through some of the hidden easter eggs, as well as giving a brief summary of what is shown.

Hey all, Sean here again, and we’re back with more Ultraman Rising news! This time, it’s a big one, as the trailer for the film has finally released, and we’ll be going over the premise of the film, the main voice cast as well as a few hidden easter eggs for fans, so, let’s go!

Voice Cast

The English voice cast of Ultraman Rising features Christopher Sean as Ken Sato/Ultraman, Gedde Watanabe as Professor Sato, Tamlyn Tomita as Mina, Keone Young as Dr. Onda, Julia Harriman as Ami Wakita, Karen Maruyama as Ami’s mother, and Lee Shorten as Captain Aoshima.

While I haven’t heard of most of these VA’s before, from what I’ve heard in the trailer, we’re going to have some pretty strong performances from them. This is essential as it will ensure this movie not just reaches a Japanese audience or fans of the series, but all audiences, as well. But, we don’t just have the English cast, we have the Japanese cast too!

The Japanese voice cast of Ultraman Rising includes Yuki Yamada as Ken Sato/Ultraman, Fumiyo Kohinata as Professor Sato, Ayumi Tsunematsu as Mina, Fumihiko Tachiki as Dr. Onda, Akari Hayami as Ami Wakita, Hiroko Sakurai as Ami’s mother, and Takaya Aoyagi as Captain Aoshima.

Four of the Japanese voice cast members are veterans of tokusatsu, three of whom have appeared in an Ultraman project at some point in their careers. Hiroko Sakurai starred as Akiko Fuji in the Original Ultraman series, Takaya Aoyagi was Jugglus Juggler/Shota Hebikura in Ultraman Orb and Ultraman Z, and Akari Hayami featured as Hiroko Asaki in Shin Ultraman. Making his debut into the Ultra Series is Yuki Yamada, best known for the role of Joe Gibken/Gokai Blue in 2011’s “Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger”. I’m going to have to watch the movie in both Japanese and English, because while the English dub has some newcomers to the franchise, the Japanese dub has some Tokusatsu all stars!

Easter Eggs

In the background of the trailer, eagle eyed tokusatsu fans spotted some Easter Eggs in the form of toys. While Ken Sato (human host of Ultraman in this film) is talking on the phone, the toys in the background feature Gomora, Baltan, Neronga and, most shockingly, AbarenOh/Thundersaurus Megazord.

Now, the presence of AbarenOh (or the Thundersaurus Megazord in Power Rangers) at first confused many fans, that is until you remember that in an episode of Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger, there is a not-so-obvious Ultraman homage/parody in the form of Igrec, The Galaxian, who is the basis for a monster. Having AbarenOh here, therefore, is a very deep cut reference.

The Plot

The premise for the film, without delving into the spoilers shown in the trailer, focuses on the egotistical baseball player Ken Sato, who lives a double life as the giant superhero Ultraman, who, reluctantly adopts a baby kaiju after defeating it’s mother. Ken must learn to rise above his ego, balance work and raising the baby kaiju, while protecting it from a not-so-heroic Earth Defence Team.

Personally, the plot of this film is very interesting to me and the aspect of the Earth Defence Team, who in most Ultraman shows are portrayed as heroic, are taking a more villainous role in this film. The dynamic between Ken, the baby kaiju and his father seem to have some emotional moments based on what is shown in the trailer.