A little over a year ago we learned that Netflix was partnering with Tsuburaya Productions to develop “Ultraman” as a CG-animated feature film aimed at bringing a new, wider audience to the original silver-suited character. The recent two seasons of the CG anime were pretty good. The second season was a bit too short for me, but it was PACKED with action. At first the CG anime style was a bit jarring for me to watch, but I quickly became acclimated to that visual aesthetic. Now I am getting into the CG anime of Godzilla on the streaming service, and while it is a slower burn, it’s story is rich and compelling. What I felt to be difficult visuals at first have become a favorite style that I wouldn’t mind seeing in all anime projects.
Since Variety reported on this in May of 2021, I haven’t heard much on the situation involving this project.
- Director: Shannon Tindle
- Co-director: John Aoshima
- Script: Shannon Tindle, Marc Haimes
- Producer: Tom Knott
- Co-producer: Lisa Poole
- Producers: Tsuburaya Productions, Industrial Light and Magic (ILM)
- Synopsis: Baseball ace Ken Sato returns to his native Japan to become the superhero tasked with defending Earth: Ultraman. However, he soon discovers that his responsibilities go beyond what he bargained for when he is forced to raise a newborn Kaiju, the brood of his greatest enemy. While trying to reconcile his father and teammate facets, Ken must deal with his own ego, an unspoken father, and the intrigues of the Kaiju Defense Force in order to come out on top and discover what he really means. be Ultraman.
- Shannon Tindle Quote: «This movie is a dream come true. What started as an original story inspired by my love for Eiji Tsuburaya’s Ultraman has turned into a real movie thanks to the incredible trust of the Tsuburaya Productions team and the support of the people at Netflix Animation. We have an exceptional team, and I can’t wait to share our unique vision of Ultraman with the rest of the world. “
- Quote from Takayuki Tsukagoshi, CEO and President of Tsuburaya Productions: «Ultraman was born in Japan 55 years ago. This collaboration with Netflix will be Tsuburaya Producions’ first large-scale effort to reach the global market. Since its inception, Ultraman has dazzled many, many people around the world. Shannon Tindle is one of them: Ultraman greatly influenced him as a child, and he has gone on to become a creator in his own right. I’m delighted that families around the world are able to watch Shannon and her team’s Ultraman on Netflix, promoting values such as courage, hope and kindness. “
- Quote from Aram Yacoubian, Director of Netflix Animated Original Movies: “It is an honor to have the opportunity to collaborate with our friends at Tsuburaya Productions so that our subscribers around the world can meet this beloved character. We are delighted to be working with Shannon, John, and an incredible team of artists and Ultraman devotees from around the world. We really want to share this film with the fans of this mythical Japanese hero and for a new generation to discover who will surely become their favorite superhero. “
- This project continues Netflix’s relationship with Tsuburaya Productions after the premiere of the anime series Ultraman, currently in its second season.
- Ultraman joins Netflix’s original catalog of animated feature films, which is growing at a dizzying rate and includes Klaus, Oscar nominee; The Willoughby brothers, by Kris Pearn; the Oscar nominee Beyond the moon from Glen Keane; the comedy Animalia in Australia, Directed by Clare Knight and Harry Cripps, to be released in Fall 2021; Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Adventure, by Richard Linklater; The Sea Beast, by Chris Williams; Wendell and Wild, by Henry Selick; Daddy’s dragon by Nora Twomey; Pinocchio, by Guillermo del Toro; The magician’s elephant, by Wendy Rogers; The Witch Boy, by Minkyu Lee; Sulwe, by Lupita Nyong’o; and an Aardman sequel from Chicken Run: Farm Escape, as well as the adaptation of Redwall for film and television.
Netflix CG Anime Style:
