SciFi Japan

    Tsuburaya Pro to Release ULTRAMAN Anime Film in 2019

    The Ultraman manga comes to the big screen in 2019 as a 3DCG anime film. Image courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©?ULTRAMAN?FILM PARTNERS

    Source: Tsuburaya Productions, Fields Corporation press release Official Site: anime.heros-ultraman.com (Japan)

    Promotional artwork for the ULTRAMAN anime film. Image courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©?ULTRAMAN?FILM PARTNERS

    Ultraman moves into a new phase -- The legendary hero Ultraman is going to be reborn as a new hero. The first-ever battle is about to begin... Fields Corporation (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and COO: Tetsuya Shigematsu) and Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and COO: Takayuki Tsukagoshi) have announced the popular manga Ultraman (??????, Urutoraman) will be made into a 3DCG animated feature film. The movie is to be directed by Kenji Kamiyama (GHOST IN THE SHELL: S.A.C., 009 RE:CYBORG) and Shinji Aramaki (APPLESEED, HARLOCK: SPACE PIRATE), and produced by Production I.G (GHOST IN THE SHELL) and Sola Digital Arts (STARSHIP TROOPERS: INVASION). ULTRAMAN is scheduled for theatrical release in Japan in 2019. Created by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi, the Ultraman manga debuted in the monthly magazine Hero’s in 2011. By playing with the traditional image of Ultraman, the manga quickly caught on with young readers, exceeding 2.6 million copies sold in Japan. The English language edition is available in North America from VIZ Media. The story is set decades after the events of the original ULTRAMAN television series, in which a giant alien being joined Shin Hayata of the Scientific Special Search Party to save Earth from terrifying monsters. Now, Shin`s teenage son Shinjiro has learned that his father passed on the “Ultraman Factor” to him, and that he possesses incredible powers. Wearing a metallic Ultraman suit, Shinjiro has become a new, human-sized incarnation of the famous hero. More than half a century after the broadcast premiere of the first ULTRAMAN, the hero will be taking a big step to a new level. Tsuburaya Pro has promised regular updates on the project`s Official Twitter account and in the pages of Hero`s (on sale the first of every month in Japan).

    Announcement video, courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©?ULTRAMAN?FILM PARTNERS

    DIRECTOR PROFILES ? Kenji Kamiyama

    Kenji Kamiyama.

    "I’m now making the 3DCG ULTRMAN with Mr. Aramaki. I have experience in animation production in 3D, but it’s my first time using Motion Capture. The direction and methodology of picture-making are quite different from key frame animation and hand-drawn animation, but I`m confident these new challenges will have a stimulating effect on this title, and will lead to some interesting ideas." Kenji Kamiyama was born in Saitama Prefecture on March 20, 1966. He worked as an animation director on JIN-ROH: THE WOLF BRIGADE (??, Jinroo, 1999) and wrote the script for BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE (2000), then debuted as director with MINIPATO (????, 2002). International attention arrived with the TV series GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX (????? Stand Alone Complex, Kookaku Kidootai Sutando Aroon Conpurekkusu, 2002) and its second season, GHOST IN THE SHELL: S.A.C. 2ND GIG (2004), followed by the feature-length GHOST IN THE SHELL: S.A.C. – SOLID STATE SOCIETY (????? STAND ALONE COMPLEX Solid State Society, Kookaku Kidootai STAND ALONE COMPLEX Solid State Society, 2006). In 2007, after almost 6 years spent in the world of GHOST IN THE SHELL, Kamiyama directed the high-fantasy TV series MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT (??????, Seirei no Moribito) followed in 2009 by EDEN OF THE EAST (?????, Higashi no Eden). His recent credits include the feature films 009 RE:CYBORG (??????? ???????, Zero-Zero-Nine Re: Cyborg, 2009) and NAPPING PRINCESS (???? ????????????, Hirune Hime ?Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari?, 2017). ? Shinji Aramaki

    Shinji Aramaki. Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. and GFM Films.

    "It’s tense yet fascinating for me to be a director of such a big title with a great creator like Mr. Kamiyama. I’m planning to show a new style of CG animation through this made-in-Japan 3DCG film. I will dedicate my efforts to amplify the amusing qualities of the original comic, and make a work enjoyable not only for fans of the Ultraman series and the comic books, but also completely new fans." Born in 1960 in Fukuoka Prefecture, Shinji Aramaki is a highly-regarded producer and designer who has been involved in works such as GENESIS CLIMBER MOSPEADA (??????????, Kikoo Sooseiki Mosupiida, 1983), MEGAZONE 23 (?????23 Megazoon Tsuu Surii, 1985-91), GASARAKI (????, 1998) and MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM MS IGLOO (???????? MS????, Kidoo Senshi Gandamu Emuesu Iguruu, 2004-06). In 2004 he directed the 3D CGI 3D film APPLESEED (???????, Appurushiido), and later helmed its sequels APPLESEED EX MACHINA (??????? ??????, Appurushiido Ekusu Makina, 2007) and APPLESEED ALPHA (??????? Alpha, Appurushiido Alpha, 2014). He also directed the CG films STARSHIP TROOPERS: INVASION (??????????????????????, Sutaashippu Toouruupaazu Inbeijon, 2012), HARLOCK: SPACE PIRATE (??????????, Kyaputen Haarokku, 2013) and STARSHIP TROOPERS: TRAITOR OF MARS (2017). CREDITS Title: ULTRAMAN (Tentative) Directors: Kenji Kamiyama and Shigeru Aramaki Production: Production I.G, Inc. and Sola Digital Arts, Inc. Japanese Theatrical Release: 2019 © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS © Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi ©?ULTRAMAN?FILM PARTNERS


    About Tsuburaya Productions

    Tsuburaya Productions, creator and copyrights owner of the superhero ULTRAMAN series was founded in 1963 by Eiji Tsuburaya, world-renowned special effects wizard also known for his special effects work on the Godzilla series. With more than fifty years` experience, it is one of Japan`s oldest and most respected independent film and television production houses. Its popular Ultraman TV and film series which premiered in 1966 has been seen in over 100 territories worldwide and has spawned over 3,000 licensed products. In addition to production, the company also handles character licensing and program distribution and staging live stage shows both domestically and internationally.

    About Fields Corporation

    Toward the realization of their corporate philosophy, "the greatest leisure for all people", Fields Corporation`s business model is centered on IP (Intellectual Property). The company focuses on creating, circulating and utilizing IP in the field of comics, animation, movies/television, and even pachinko/pachislot games to a wide range of merchandising.

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