Directed by Tsugumi Kitaura. Written by Ai Ota. Airdate Jan. 25, 1997.
Are you ready for a “cute mascot monster” episode? The same way that many Ultra shows seek their own version of Ultraman’s “My Home Is Earth,” they also try to come up with their own “Kanegon’s Cocoon” or “A Little Hero.” How well does “Deban’s Turn” meet the goals of the cute monster tale? Extremely well. Deban doesn’t reach the heights of Kanegon or Pigmon, or even Hanejiro from Ultraman Dyna. But this story of a monster who finds acceptance among a troupe of clowns and can defeat the rage powers of a demon beast is charming and heartwarming.
This was the first Ultra script from writer Ai Ota, whom Akio Jissoji recommended to Tsuburaya Productions. She would continue to work on the Ultra shows all the way through Ultraseven X. She came up with the idea for “Deban’s Turn” based on a fantasy from her childhood: what if the monster in a children’s show wasn’t an actor, but a real monster?
The GUTS team discovers Deban while tracking a series of B-waves that predict the appearance of Enomena, a “demon god” (to use Shinjoh’s words). Enomena can create an electromagnetic wave that damages the human brain and makes people nearby fly into violent rages. Enomena’s materializations don’t seem to have any pattern — until GUTS notices that the monster always seems to be chasing after a troupe of children’s entertainers, the Happy Friends. Specifically, Enomena wants Deban, a friendly monster hidden in the Happy Friends, because Deban has the power to nullify Enomena’s hate-waves.
The Happy Friends are a small group of performers, led by their Ringmaster (Naomasa Musaka), who put on comedy shows for children around Japan. They found Deban one day on a roof, and the monster really wanted to be part of their troupe. They accepted him (“He really loves the stage,” one of the clowns tells GUTS), and the peaceful little creature became an integral part of their family.
Ota’s writing has a children’s book feel that’s natural, sweet, and often funny. She gives some delightful bits to Horii and Shinjoh, who act a bit like children themselves. (Horii is giddily amused to see himself on a video playback of one of Enomena’s attacks.) The best material is for the Happy Friends and their emotional attachment to Deban; you can feel their affection for the little monster in everything they say and do. GUTS wants to use Deban to defend against Enomena, but the troupe won’t allow the creature to become a pawn in GUTS’s battles. They definitely don’t want the pesky TDF scientist Dr. Tango (Yoichi Okamura) to lock away their friend to perform tests.
Enomena is well-suited to play the lead villain in the story. Like Deban, Enomena has no origin story or background: it’s a fantasy monster that simply wishes to cause chaos and harm. The design makes Enomena look partially alien and partially like a folklore warrior-demon. In a rare effective use of digital effects in Ultraman Tiga, Enomena can crack a wicked smile at key moments to amp up its threat.
With a childlike story, it would be easy for the production team to go lighter on the action. Thankfully, they don’t, which ensures older audiences won’t feel disappointed. The battle between Tiga and Enomena is a large affair that includes another beautiful dolly shot tracking the action. Deban, of course, plays a pivotal role in the battle, but there’s still plenty of fight left after that turning point.
The scenes of the mind-blasted crowds going wild are intense as well, shot with a purple filter, and they help to make Deban’s role as a peacemaker even more powerful. The ending lands just right, balancing out the bittersweet with the joyful.
“Deban’s Turn” is an excellent example of how to make a child-friendly episode without relying on kid protagonists or dumbing down for its target audience. It has the sparkling innocence of the Happy Friends, and it packs in a solid extended monster battle. All-around fun for the whole family — and I say that with no ounce of irony or snark.
Rating: Great
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