Ultraman Gaia (ウルトラマンガイア, Urutoraman Gaia) is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the 14th show in the Ultra Series. Featuring Chiaki J. Konaka as series composer and produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS TV), Ultraman Gaia was aired on JNN TV stations (TBS, CBC, MBS, etc.) from September 5, 1998 until August 28, 1999, with a total of 51 episodes.
| Ultraman Gaia | |
|---|---|
 Title card | |
| Genre | Superhero Tokusatsu Sci-Fi Kyodai Hero |
| Created by | Tsuburaya Productions |
| Developed by | Chiaki J. Konaka Naoyuki Edo |
| Directed by | Hirochika Muraishi |
| Starring | Takeshi Yoshioka Hassei Takano |
| Opening theme | Ultraman Gaia! by Masayuki Tanaka & Kazuya Daimon |
| Ending theme | Lovin' You Lovin' Me by B.B. WAVES Beat on Dream on by Tomohiko Kikuda |
| Composer | Toshihiko Sahashi |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| No. of episodes | 51 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 24 minutes (per episode) |
| Production companies | Tsuburaya Productions Mainichi Broadcasting System |
| Original release | |
| Network | JNN (MBS, TBS) |
| Release | September 5, 1998 – August 28, 1999 |
| Related | |
Overview
editUltraman Gaia takes place in yet another universe, one that is different from the world of the Shōwa era Ultramen (Ultraman to Ultraman 80), as well as the world of Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Dyna. In a departure from most of the other series, there are two Ultramen as the main characters. They have conflicting philosophies in regards to defending Earth from a mysterious, malevolent and extremely intelligent cosmic entity.
The first half of the series explores the growing tension between them and their eventual clash. The second half has them reconcile their differences so they can defeat their common enemy.
The show is also different from past Ultra Series installments in that the support team, XIG, has more personnel than the defence teams in previous installments.
In this series, Ultraman Gaia is the lead, but Ultraman Agul is prominently focused on as well. They are often at odds with each other at the beginning of the series. Their philosophies are as different as their skin colors. Unlike Gaia, Agul is completely blue. Gamu Takayama, the human host of Ultraman Gaia, believes that Gaia is here to save Earth and humanity. On the other hand, Hiroya Fujimiya, the human host of Ultraman Agul, believes Agul to be Earth's natural defense mechanism. He is at first more interested in protecting just the planet itself, even at the expense of humanity (hence the occasional clashes with Gaia). However, this was discontinued after Gaia and Agul would work together as one to face more powerful monsters.
Story
editThe story takes place in the year 2000. Chrisis, a supercomputer developed the Alchemy Stars (a global network of young geniuses born during the 1980s), predicts around 1996–1997 that Earth and humanity would be annihilated by something known as the "Radical Destruction Bringer". Technology developed by the Alchemy Stars is used to form an international defence organization known as Geocentric Universal Alliance against the Radical Destruction (G.U.A.R.D.). This is done secretly, so as to avoid causing a worldwide panic. The eXpanded Interceptive Guards (X.I.G.) is the combat wing of G.U.A.R.D, operating in a floating sky fortress known as the Aerial Base.
Gamu Takayama, a 20-year-old scientist and member of the Alchemy Stars, briefly encounters Gaia during some virtual reality experiments he performs with the secret purpose of discovering the will of the Earth, later merging with him in order to fight various monsters that threaten the safety of the Earth. During his battles, he encounters Ultraman Agul, whose human host is Hiroya Fujimiya, a former Alchemy Stars member. Both clash because of their ideals regarding the protection of the Earth but eventually resolve their differences to battle their common enemy.
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Seize the Light!" Transliteration: "Hikari o Tsukame!" (Japanese: 光をつかめ!) | Hirochika Muraishi | Chiaki J. Konaka | September 5, 1998 |
| 2 | "A Hero Appears" Transliteration: "Yūsha Tatsu" (Japanese: 勇者立つ) | Hirochika Muraishi | Chiaki J. Konaka | September 12, 1998 |
| 3 | "His Name is Gaia" Transliteration: "Sono Na wa Gaia" (Japanese: その名はガイア) | Toshiyuki Takano | Chiaki J. Konaka | September 19, 1998 |
| 4 | "Gamu of the Sky" Transliteration: "Tenkū no Gamu" (Japanese: 天空の我夢) | Toshiyuki Takano | Keiichi Hasegawa | September 26, 1998 |
| 5 | "Another Giant" Transliteration: "Mō Hitori no Kyojin" (Japanese: もう一人の巨人) | Masaki Harada | Chiaki J. Konaka | October 3, 1998 |
| 6 | "The Ridiculing Eye" Transliteration: "Azawarau Me" (Japanese: あざ笑う眼) | Masaki Harada | Hideyuki Kawakami | October 10, 1998 |
| 7 | "Cleansing of the Earth" Transliteration: "Chikyū no Sentaku" (Japanese: 地球の洗濯) | Takashi Kodama | Shin Yoshida | October 17, 1998 |
| 8 | "The 4 Billion 6 Hundred Million Year-Old Ghost" Transliteration: "Yonjūrokuokunen no Bōrei" (Japanese: 46億年の亡霊) | Takashi Kodama | Junki Takegami | October 24, 1998 |
| 9 | "Seagull Takes Off" Transliteration: "Shīgaru Tobitatsu" (Japanese: シーガル飛びたつ) | Hirochika Muraishi | Ai Ōta | October 31, 1998 |
| 10 | "Rock Fight" Transliteration: "Rokku Faito" (Japanese: ロック・ファイト) | Hirochika Muraishi | Chiaki J. Konaka | November 7, 1998 |
| 11 | "The City Where the Dragon Lies" Transliteration: "Ryū no Miyako" (Japanese: 龍の都) | Masaki Harada | Kenji Konuta | November 14, 1998 |
| 12 | "Monster Encircling Net" Transliteration: "Yajū Hōimō" (Japanese: 野獣包囲網) | Masaki Harada | Hideyuki Kawakami | November 21, 1998 |
| 13 | "Night of the Marionettes" Transliteration: "Marionetto no Yoru" (Japanese: マリオネットの夜) | Miki Nemoto | Keiichi Hasegawa | November 28, 1998 |
| 14 | "Challenge from the Anti-Space" Transliteration: "Han Uchū kara no Chōsen" (Japanese: 反宇宙からの挑戦) | Miki Nemoto | Junki Takegami | December 5, 1998 |
| 15 | "When the Rain Stops" Transliteration: "Ame ga Yandara" (Japanese: 雨がやんだら) | Tsugumi Kitaura | Masakazu Migita | December 12, 1998 |
| 16 | "Birth of Agul" Transliteration: "Aguru Tanjō" (Japanese: アグル誕生) | Tsugumi Kitaura | Shin Yoshida | December 19, 1998 |
| 17 | "Shadow of the Sky, Light of the Earth" Transliteration: "Ten no Kage Chi no Hikari" (Japanese: 天の影 地の光) | Hirochika Muraishi | Kenji Konuta | December 26, 1998 |
| 18 | "Agul vs. Gaia" Transliteration: "Aguru Tai Gaia" (Japanese: アグル対ガイア) | Hirochika Muraishi | Chiaki J. Konaka | January 9, 1999 |
| 19 | "Lilia's Labyrinth" Transliteration: "Meikyū no Riria" (Japanese: 迷宮のリリア) | Masaki Harada | Keiichi Hasegawa | January 16, 1999 |
| 20 | "The Fossil of Ruin" Transliteration: "Metsubō no Kaseki" (Japanese: 滅亡の化石) | Masaki Harada | Hideyuki Kawakami | January 23, 1999 |
| 21 | "The Sea of a Mysterious Light" Transliteration: "Yōkō no Umi" (Japanese: 妖光の海) | Miki Nemoto | Shinsuke Onishi | January 30, 1999 |
| 22 | "Stone Wings" Transliteration: "Ishii no Tsubasa" (Japanese: 石の翼) | Miki Nemoto | Ai Ōta | February 6, 1999 |
| 23 | "Gamu Expelled!" Transliteration: "Gamu Tsuihō" (Japanese: 我夢追放!) | Tsugumi Kitaura | Shin Yoshida | February 13, 1999 |
| 24 | "Determination of Agul" Transliteration: "Aguru no Ketsui" (Japanese: アグルの決意) | Tsugumi Kitaura | Keiichi Hasegawa | February 20, 1999 |
| 25 | "The Showdown for Tomorrow" Transliteration: "Asu Naki Taiketsu" (Japanese: 明日なき対決) | Hirochika Muraishi | Masakazu Migita | February 27, 1999 |
| 26 | "The Final Resolution" Transliteration: "Ketchaku no Hi" (Japanese: 決着の日) | Hirochika Muraishi | Chiaki J. Konaka | March 6, 1999 |
| 27 | "A New Battle: Version-up Fight!" Transliteration: "Aratanaru Tatakai ~Vājon'appu Faito!~" (Japanese: 新たなる戦い～ヴァージョンアップ・ファイト!～) | Takashi Kodama | Kenji Konuta | March 13, 1999 |
| 28 | "The Advent of the Heatwave" Transliteration: "Neppa Shūrai" (Japanese: 熱波襲来) | Takashi Kodama | Hideyuki Kawakami | March 20, 1999 |
| 29 | "Distant City, Uqbar" Transliteration: "Tōi Machi Ukubāru" (Japanese: 遠い町･ウクバール) | Masaki Harada | Ai Ōta | March 27, 1999 |
| 30 | "The Demon’s Cocoon" Transliteration: "Akuma no Mayu" (Japanese: 悪魔のマユ) | Masaki Harada | Takahiko Masuda | April 3, 1999 |
| 31 | "The Accursed Eye" Transliteration: "Noroi no Me" (Japanese: 呪いの眼) | Tsugumi Kitaura | Hideyuki Kawakami | April 10, 1999 |
| 32 | "The Future Seen Before" Transliteration: "Itsuka Mita Mirai" (Japanese: いつか見た未来) | Tsugumi Kitaura | Junki Takegami | April 17, 1999 |
| 33 | "Battling the Legend" Transliteration: "Densetsu to no Tatakai" (Japanese: 伝説との闘い) | Hirochika Muraishi | Keiichi Hasegawa | April 24, 1999 |
| 34 | "Crash of Souls!" Transliteration: "Tamashii no Gekitotsu!" (Japanese: 魂の激突!) | Hirochika Muraishi | Hideyuki Kawakami | May 1, 1999 |
| 35 | "Ransom for a Monster" Transliteration: "Kaijū no Minoshirokin" (Japanese: 怪獣の身代金) | Ryuichi Ichino | Ai Ōta | May 8, 1999 |
| 36 | "The Sky of Reunion" Transliteration: "Saikai no Sora" (Japanese: 再会の空) | Ryuichi Ichino | Shin Yoshida | May 15, 1999 |
| 37 | "Fourth Symphony of a Nightmare" Transliteration: "Akumu no Daiyon Gakushō" (Japanese: 悪夢の第四楽章) | Masaki Harada | Keiichi Hasegawa | May 22, 1999 |
| 38 | "Ground-Breaking Tusks!" Transliteration: "Daichi Saku Kiba" (Japanese: 大地裂く牙) | Masaki Harada | Kenji Konuta | May 29, 1999 |
| 39 | "The Lake of Sadness" Transliteration: "Kanashimi no Numa" (Japanese: 悲しみの沼) | Tsugumi Kitaura | Hideyuki Kawakami | June 5, 1999 |
| 40 | "I Want to Meet Gaia!" Transliteration: "Gaia ni Aitai!" (Japanese: ガイアに会いたい!) | Tsugumi Kitaura | Chiaki J. Konaka | June 12, 1999 |
| 41 | "Resurrection of Agul" Transliteration: "Aguru Fukkatsu" (Japanese: アグル復活) | Sei Ishikawa & Hirochika Muraishi | Shin Yoshida | June 19, 1999 |
| 42 | "Gamu vs. Gamu" Transliteration: "Gamu Tai Gamu" (Japanese: 我夢VS我夢) | Hirochika Muraishi | Chiaki J. Konaka | June 27, 1999 |
| 43 | "The Silver Eyes of Izak" Transliteration: "Gin'iro no Me no Izaku" (Japanese: 銀色の眼のイザク) | Miki Nemoto | Ai Ōta | July 3, 1999 |
| 44 | "The Attack of the Space Monsters" Transliteration: "Uchū Kaijū Daishingeki" (Japanese: 宇宙怪獣大進撃) | Miki Nemoto | Junki Takegami | July 10, 1999 |
| 45 | "The Living Planet" Transliteration: "Inochi Sumu Hoshi" (Japanese: 命すむ星) | Masaki Harada | Kenji Konuta | July 17, 1999 |
| 46 | "The Attack of the Forest" Transliteration: "Shūgeki no Mori" (Japanese: 襲撃の森) | Masaki Harada | Keiichi Hasegawa | July 24, 1999 |
| 47 | "XIG Destroyed!?" Transliteration: "Shigu Kaimetsu!?" (Japanese: XIG壊滅!?) | Tsugumi Kitaura | Masakazu Migita | July 31, 1999 |
| 48 | "The Revenge of the Death God" Transliteration: "Shinigami no Gyakushū" (Japanese: 死神の逆襲) | Tsugumi Kitaura | Hideyuki Kawakami | August 7, 1999 |
| 49 | "An Angel Descends" Transliteration: "Tenshi Kōrin" (Japanese: 天使降臨) | Takeshi Yagi & Hirochika Muraishi | Shin Yoshida | August 14, 1999 |
| 50 | "Cry of the Earth" Transliteration: "Chikyū no Sakebi" (Japanese: 地球の叫び) | Hirochika Muraishi | Chiaki J. Konaka & Keiichi Hasegawa | August 21, 1999 |
| 51 | "Earth is the Star of Ultraman" Transliteration: "Chikyū wa Urutoraman no Hoshi" (Japanese: 地球はウルトラマンの星) | Hirochika Muraishi | Chiaki J. Konaka | August 28, 1999 |
Other media
editFilms and team ups
edit- Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna & Ultraman Gaia: Battle in Hyperspace (1999), Gaia is one of the main Ultramen to appear in this movie, alongside Tiga and Dyna.
- Ultraman Gaia: Gaia Again (2001), A 45-minute (or a 60-minute extended/alternate edition) Original Video Tokusatsu release (or OVT) set 1 year after the end of the series. Ultraman Gaia and Ultraman Agul return to fight a new enemy, along with help from mysterious undersea creatures.
- Superior Ultraman 8 Brothers (2008), Gaia teams up with Tiga, Dyna and Mebius in this movie, alongside Showa-era Ultra Heroes.
- Ultraman Ginga S: Showdown! Ultra 10 Warriors!! (2015), Ultraman Gaia is one of the Heisei-era Ultra Heroes to fight along with other 9 Heisei-era Ultra Heroes.
- Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga (2016-2017), Ultraman Gaia and Ultraman Agul return to fight the Bezelbs where it approaches the Earth, along with help from Ultraman Orb, Dyna and Cosmos starting on the eighth episode. The planet Earth in this show is not the one from Ultraman Gaia, as there are no mention of Gaia and Agul's names by its residents.
Video games
editAlthough not technically an Ultraman game, Ultraman Gaia serves as both the main character and main plot in Banpresto's Super Hero Operations: Diedal's Ambition for the PlayStation.
Cast
edit- Gamu Takayama (高山 我夢, Takayama Gamu): Takeshi Yoshioka (吉岡 毅志, Yoshioka Takeshi)
- Hiroya Fujimiya (藤宮 博也, Fujimiya Hiroya): Hassei Takano (高野 八誠, Takano Hassei)
- Akio Ishimuro (石室 章雄, Ishimuro Akio): Hiroyuki Watanabe (渡辺 裕之, Watanabe Hiroyuki)
- Tatsumi Chiba (千葉 辰巳, Chiba Tatsumi): Sei Hiraizumi (平泉 成, Hiraizumi Sei)
- Seiichiro Tsutsumi (堤 誠一郎, Tsutsumi Seiichirō): Takashi Ukaji (宇梶 剛士, Ukaji Takashi)
- Atsuko Sasaki (佐々木 敦子, Sasaki Atsuko): Ai Hashimoto (橋本 愛, Hashimoto Ai)
- Georgie Leland (ジョジー・リーランド, Jojī Rīrando): Maria Theresa Gow (マリア・テレサ・ガウ, Maria Teresa Gau)
- Saika Ukai (鵜飼 彩香, Ukai Saika): Saika Tanaka (田中 彩佳, Tanaka Saika)
- Katsumi Kajio (梶尾 克美, Kajio Katsumi): Masami Nakagami (中上 雅巳, Nakagami Masami)
- Yasushi Kitada (北田 靖, Kitada Yasushi): Katsuhiko Hasegawa (長谷川 勝彦, Hasegawa Katsuhiko)
- Satoshi Ohgawara (大河原 聡志, Ōgawara Satoshi): Yusuke Sawaki (沢木 祐介, Sawaki Yūsuke)
- Tatsuhiko Yoneda (米田 達彦, Yoneda Tatsuhiko): Kuronosuke Kagawa (賀川 黒之助, Kagawa Kuronosuke)
- Koichi Hayashi (林 幸市, Hayashi Kōichi): Shogo Shiotani (塩谷 庄吾, Shiotani Shōgo)
- Toru Tsukamoto (塚守 亨, Tsukamoto Tōru): Shin Ishikawa (石川 真, Ishikawa Shin)
- Miho Inagi (稲城 美穂, Inagi Miho): Tomoko Kawashima (川嶋 朋子, Kawashima Tomoko)
- Julie Mishima (三島 樹莉, Mishima Juri): Izumi Matsuda (松田 いずみ, Matsuda Izumi) (Played by Izumiko Matsuda (松田 泉子, Matsuda Izumiko))
- Kei Tadano (多田野 彗, Tadano Kei): Kei Ishibashi (石橋 けい, Ishibashi Kei)
- Satoru Yoshida (吉田 悟, Yoshida Satoru): Masaru Matsuda (松田 優, Matsuda Masaru)
- Mitsugu Shima (志摩 貢, Shima Mitsugu): Kei Kagaya (加賀谷 圭, Kagaya Kei)
- Takanobu Kuwabara (桑原 孝信, Kuwabara Takanobu): Koji Nakamura (中村 浩二, Nakamura Kōji)
- Atsushi Koyama (神山 篤志, Kōyama Atsushi): Shunsuke Gondo (権藤 俊輔, Gondō Shunsuke)
- Renji Matsuo (松尾 蓮二, Matsuo Renji): Tomu Saeba (冴場 都夢, Saeba Tomu)
- Michael Simmons (マイクル・シモンズ, Maikuru Shimonzu): Samuel Pop Aning (サムエル・ポップ・エニング, Samueru Poppu Eningu)
- Ryuichi Senuma (瀬沼 龍一, Senuma Ryūichi): Hiroshi Ishii (石井 浩, Ishii Hiroshi)
- Higuchi (樋口): Ryōsuke Kaizu (海津 亮介, Kaizu Ryōsuke)
- Kōsuke Ranbashi (乱橋 巧介, Ranbashi Kōsuke): Mitsuo Hamada (浜田 光夫, Hamada Mitsuo)
- Catherine Ryan (キャサリン・ライアン, Kyasarin Raian): Debbie Regier (デビー・リギアー, Debī Rigiā)
- Daniel McPhee (ダニエル・マクフィー, Danieru Makufī): John O'Connor (ジョン・オコーナー, Jon O Kōnā)
- Ritsuko Sasaki (佐々木 律子, Sasaki Ritsuko): Azusa Sawamura (沢村 亜津佐, Sawamura Azusa)
- Kyoko Inamori (稲森 京子, Inamori Kyōko): Makiko Kuno (クノ 真季子, Kuno Makiko) (Played by 久野 真紀子)
- Megumi Kuroda (黒田 恵, Kuroda Megumi): Tomoko Ōtakara (大寶 智子, Ōtakara Tomoko)
- Yuki (ユキ): Ai Hasunuma (蓮沼 藍, Hasunuma Ai)
- Shimizu (清水): Kazuya Shimizu (清水 一哉, Shimizu Kazuya) (Played by Kazuhiko Shimizu (清水 一彦, Shimizu Kazuhiko))
- Kenji Tabata (田端 健二, Tabata Kenji): Hiroshi Tsuburaya (円谷 浩, Tsuburaya Hiroshi)
- Reiko Yoshii (吉井 玲子, Yoshii Reiko): Yukari Ishida (石田 裕加里, Ishida Yukari)
- Michifumi Inoue (井上 倫文, Inoue Michifumi): Eisuke Tsunoda (角田 英介, Tsunoda Eisuke)
- Sato (サトウ, Satō): Togo Okumoto (奥本 東五, Okumoto Tōgo)
- Makoto (マコト): Hiroaki Nishijima (西嶋 大明, Nishijima Hiroaki)
- Nakaji (ナカジ): Masashi Kagami (加々美 正史, Kagami Masashi)
- Shigemi Takayama (高山 重美, Takayama Shigemi): Aki Mizusawa (水沢 アキ, Mizusawa Aki)
- Yuiichi Takayama (高山 唯一, Takayama Yuiichi): Sen Yamamoto (山本 亘, Yamamoto Sen)
- Narration: Hiroshi Isobe (磯部 弘, Isobe Hiroshi)
Music
edit- Opening theme
- "Ultraman Gaia!" by Masayuki Tanaka (田中 昌之, Tanaka Masayuki) & Kazuya Daimon (大門 一也, Daimon Kazuya)
- Ending themes
- "Lovin' You Lovin' Me" by B.B. WAVES
- "Beat on Dream on" by Tomohiko Kikuta (菊田 知彦, Kikuta Tomohiko)
- Insertion songs
- "LOVE IS ALIVE" by Hitomi Sudo
- "Gaia No Chikara" by Masayuki Tanaka & Kazuya Daimon
- "Blue rose" by Tomohiko Kikuta
Home media
editIn 2016, the series was released on Crunchyroll and later released on the streaming service Toku in 2018.[1][2]
In July 2020, Shout! Factory announced to have struck a multi-year deal with Alliance Entertainment and Mill Creek, with the blessings of Tsuburaya and Indigo, that granted them the exclusive SVOD and AVOD digital rights to the Ultra series and films (1,100 TV episodes and 20 films) acquired by Mill Creek the previous year. Ultraman Gaia, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu.[3]
References
edit- ^ Nicholas J. Bush (February 11, 2016). "Ultraman Gaia Now on Crunchyroll". The Tokusatsu Network. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ "Toku Premieres Ultra Series Titles in USA". SciFi Japan. January 22, 2018. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ Patrick Frater (July 10, 2020). "Shout! Factory Strikes 'Ultraman' Digital Distribution Deal With Mill Creek". Variety. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.