SciFi Japan

    NEO ULTRA Q Gets Theatrical Release in Japan

    Tsuburaya Productions` new television show NEO ULTRA Q comes to Japanese theaters with a series of special screenings through February 2014. Photo courtesy of Point Set and FieldWorks. © 2013 Tsuburaya · WOWOW

    Source: Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd., Point Set, FieldWorks Inc. Event Site: tohotheater.jp/event/neo-ultra-q (Japan) Series Site: wowow.co.jp/neoultraq (Japan) Translations: John Paul Cassidy Three people: a psychologist doing research on the supernatural, a young beautiful journalist with an inquisitive mind and a bartender who has sympathy towards other forms of life. Together the trio set out to look into the paranormal and futuristic phenomena that confront our life and society. -- Tsuburaya Productions publicity materials for NEO ULTRA Q

    In 1963, Eiji Tsuburaya, the special effects director best known for his world-renowned work on the film GODZILLA (???, Gojira, 1954), launched his own company, Tsuburaya Visual Effects Productions (the name was later shortened to "Tsuburaya Productions"). Originally intended as an FX studio for film and television, the company soon began producing their own television shows starting with the legendary SPFX fantasy series, ULTRA Q (????Q, Urutora Kyuu, 1966). ULTRA Q was developed through the triple team of Tsuburaya Productions, Toho Company, Ltd., and Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), and produced in the spirit of the American SF anthology drama TWILIGHT ZONE. Broadcast from January to July of 1966, the 28 episode series chiefly followed three characters -- reporter Yuriko Edogawa (Hiroko Sakurai), pilot/SF writer Jun Manjome (Kenji Sahara), and Manjome`s assistant Ippei Togawa (Yasuhiko Saijo) -- as they investigated bizarre, supernatural and alien phenomena involving unique monsters and space creatures, environmental disasters, the loss of humanity, and events cutting into the darkness of reality. With a lineup of unusual monsters that captivated children, ULTRA Q attained a record 36.4% audience share and a 32.39% average audience rating. This series caused an unprecedented "Kaiju Boom" throughout Japan and became the foundation for the Ultraman Series, leading directly into Tsuburaya Pro`s second series, ULTRAMAN (???????????????, Urutoraman: Kuso Tokusatsu Shirizu, 1966-1967). ULTRA Q returned in 1990 with the theatrical feature ULTRA Q THE MOVIE (????Q ?????? ????, Urutora Kyuu Za Muubi: Hoshi no Densetsu). In 2003, the original cast reunited for the radio drama series THE ULTRA Q CLUB (????Q???, Urutora Kyuu Kurabu). The following year, a new television series -- ULTRA Q: DARK FANTASY (????Q Dark Fantasy, Urutora Kyuu: Daaku Fantajii) -- was featured as part of Tsuburaya Pro`s 2004 relaunch of the Ultra franchise.

    Four select episodes of COLOR ULTRA Q will be shown during the NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENINGs. © Tsuburaya

    In celebration of Tsuburaya Productions` 50th anniversary in 2013, the company collaborated with the satellite broadcasting service WOWOW to produce NEO ULTRA Q (???????Q, Neo Urutora Kyuu). Playing as a direct sequel "Second Season" of the classic ULTRA Q, this 12 episode series featured a new cast of characters facing the darkness that yet again approaches the world. Viewers responded well to NEO ULTRA Q, and fans in Japan have demanded that the series be shown on the big screen. Now, the wait is over. Starting November 9, 2013, the episodes will be released theatrically at Toho Cinemas Nichigeki and other Toho Cinemas theaters nationwide as the NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENING (???????Q ????, Neo Urutora Kyuu Tokubetsu Jooei) series. In addition to an omnibus story on the various monsters and aliens from all 12 TV episodes, each NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENING will include some fun extras. A newly produced anime short series, PROFESSOR YASHIMA`S ROOM (???????, Yashima Kyooju no Heya), a retrospective of the unique world of the new series, will be featured between each episode. And four select episodes of COLOR ULTRA Q (colorized in Hollywood from newly HD remastered prints of the original black & white ULTRA Q series) will also be featured. Additionally, from November 2013 through February 2014, the 9th day of each month will be known as "Q Day". On the first day of each week of late night screenings a Q&A talk show featuring special guests will be held in the main hall of Toho Cinemas Nichigeki. Guests speakers for the November 9 screening will be NEO ULTRA Q episode director Kiyotaka Taguchi, actress Hiroko Sakurai (ULTRA Q, ULTRAMAN) and creature sculptor Takafumi Tanibuchi (NEO ULTRA Q, SH MonsterArts). Also making an appearance will be the Ancient Monster Gomess, whose colorized ULTRA Q episode will be shown during NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENING Part I.

    NEO ULTRA Q

    The lead characters of NEO ULTRA Q: Shohei Shiroyama (Hiroyuki Onoe), Jin Haibara (Seiichi Tanabe) and Emiko Watarase (Rin Takanashi). © 2013 Tsuburaya · WOWOW

    Assorted mysteries once occurred on the Earth. 47 years after the events of ULTRA Q, these strange phenomena take place once more... Drawn to the mysterious events are psychology counselor Jin Haibara (Seiichi Tanabe), travel culture document writer Emiko Watarase (Rin Takanashi), Tobira Bar master Shohei Shiroyama (Hiroyuki Onoe) -- a trio from completely different walks of life. Under the guidance of Haibara`s teacher, renowned scientist Professor Yashima, this trio must face the "force" that surpasses human knowledge. Shot with the new state-of-the-art 4K Camera, this series` four creators are acclaimed director Gakuryu Ishii (BURST CITY, ISN`T ANYONE ALIVE?), director Yu Nakai (BLOODY SNAKE UNDER THE SUN), director Yu Irie (8000 MILES, RINGING IN THEIR EARS), and director Kiyotaka Taguchi (G, GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER). With a new cast, new staff, and new quality, NEO ULTRA Q now inherits part of the soul of its predecessor`s legacy. The door to another dimension is now open...

    SHELL OF IRON, one of the episodes being shown in NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENING Part I. Photo courtesy of Point Set and FieldWorks. © 2013 Tsuburaya · WOWOW

    COLOR ULTRA Q

    A milestone of Japanese SPFX productions, ULTRA Q has been revived as a full-color HD production using remastered HD telecines from 35mm low contrast positives. State-of-the-art digital video technology was used to color the original black & white film. Tsuburaya Productions joined forces with Legend Films, the leading name in film colorization technology. From concept to production, the process took 3 years to complete.

    Gomess, the first Ultra monster, in the colorized classic ULTRA Q episode, DEFEAT GOMESS!, part of NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENING Part I. Photo courtesy of Point Set and FieldWorks. © Tsuburaya

    SCREENING INFORMATION

    Theaters: TOHO Cinemas Nichigeki and the following TOHO CINEMAS 15 locations... Akita (Akita Prefecture), Utsunomiya (Tochigi Prefecture), Mito Uchihara (Ibaraki Prefecture), Nagareyama (Chiba Prefecture), Kawasaki (Kanagawa Prefecture), Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture), Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture), Toyama (Toyama Prefecture), Nijo (Kyoto), Umeda (Osaka), Nishinomiya (Hyogo Prefecture), Midorii (Hiroshima Prefecture), Kochi (Kochi Prefecture), Tenjin (Fukuoka Prefecture), Hikarinomori (Kumamoto Prefecture) Ticket Price: ¥1500 ? NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENING Part I Theatrical Run: November 9-16, 2013 ? MEMORIES ACROSS THE STARS (??????????????, Omoide wa Hoshi wo Koete) --Director: Gakuryu Ishii ? TOKYO PROTOCOL (???????, Tokyo Purotokoru) --Director: Kiyotaka Taguchi ? SHELL OF IRON (???, Tetsu no Kai) --Director: Yu Irie ? COLOR ULTRA Q: DEFEAT GOMESS! (??????!, Gomesu o Taose!) --Director: Hajime Tsuburaya

    NEO ULTRA Q Special Screening Part II. © 2013 Tsuburaya · WOWOW

    ? NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENING Part II Theatrical Run: December 9-16, 2013 ? FALMAGON AND MICHIRU (??????????, Farumagan to Michiru) --Director: Yu Nakai ? PANDORA`S CAVE (??????, Pandora no Ana) --Director: Gakuryu Ishii ? THE SMELLIEST ISLAND (???????, Motto mo Kusai Shima) --Director: Kiyotaka Taguchi ? COLOR ULTRA Q: UNDERSEA HUMANOID RAGON (???????, Kaitei Genjin Ragon) --Director: Samaji Nonagase

    NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENING Part III. © 2013 Tsuburaya · WOWOW

    ? NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENING Part III Theatrical Run: January 9-16, 2014 ? BUSINESSMAN FROM THE SKY (????????????????, Sora Kara Kita Bijinesuman) --Director: Yu Irie ? THE TOWN WITHOUT WORDS (??????, Kotoba no Nai Machi) --Director: Yu Nakai ? QUO VADIS (????????, Kwo Vadisu) --Director: Gakuryu Ishii ? COLOR ULTRA Q: CHALLENGE FROM THE YEAR 2020 (2020????, Nisen-nijuu-nen no Choosen) --Director: Toshihiro Iijima

    NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENING Part IV. © 2013 Tsuburaya · WOWOW

    ? NEO ULTRA Q SPECIAL SCREENING Part IV Theatrical Run: February 9-16, 2014 ? LAUNDRY DAY (???? Sentaku no Hi) --Director: Kiyotaka Taguchi ? ARGOS DEMOCRACY (???????????, Arugosu Demokurashii) --Director: Yu Irie ? HOMINIS DIGNITATI (?????????????, Hominisu Digunitaati) --Director: Yu Nakai ? COLOR ULTRA Q: KANEGON`S COCOON (??????, Kanegon no Mayu) --Director: Harunosuke Nakagawa

    CREDITS

    ? NEO ULTRA Q Cast Jin Haibara: Seiichi Tanabe Emiko Watarase: Rin Takanashi Shohei Shiroyama: Hiroyuki Onoue Staff Directors: Gakuryu Ishii, Yu Nakai, Yu Irie, Kiyotaka Taguchi Screenplays: Kiyotaka Inagaki, Akari Yamamoto, Ayako Kato Production: WOWOW, Tsuburaya Productions Distribution: Tsuburaya Productions Publicity: Point Set © 2013 Tsuburaya · WOWOW ? COLOR ULTRA Q Cast Jun Manjome: Kenji Sahara Yuriko Edogawa: Hiroko Sakurai Ippei Togawa: Yasuhiko Saijo Narrator: Koji Ishisaka Staff Supervision: Eiji Tsuburaya Directors: Hajime Tsuburaya, Samaji Nonagase, Toshihiro Iijima, Harunosuke Nakagawa Screenplays: Tetsuo Kinjo, Masahiro Yamada, Kitao Senzoku, Hiroyasu Yamaura, Samaji Nonagase Special Effects Directors: Hajime Koizumi, Tohru Matoba, Sadamasa Arikawa Production: Tsuburaya Productions, TBS Distribution: Tsuburaya Productions © Tsuburaya

    The Prana absorb air pollution in the NEO ULTRA Q episode, TOKYO PROTOCOL. Photo courtesy of Point Set and FieldWorks. © 2013 Tsuburaya · WOWOW


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