Directed by Yoshikazu Ishii. Written by Hirotoshi Kobayashi. Airdate August 12, 2013.
Here’s an episode that focuses on UPG member Gouki Matsumoto. So far, Gouki has had little to do except futilely shoot lasers at the monsters of the week and drive around with Arisa in the single car the defense team’s budget can afford.
Continue reading “Ultraman Ginga S Ep. 5: Friend and Devil”
Directed by Yoshikazu Ishii. Written by Aya Takei. Airdate August 6, 2013.
Although Sho is the co-lead of Ultraman Ginga S, this is the first episode to dig beneath his tough-guy loner exterior. Sho is a fundamentally different person from the gregarious Hikaru, and that difference risks turning him unlikable, even with two young sidekicks, Lepi and Sakuya, looking up to him. Sho needs a few dashes of doubt and maybe a major defeat to leaven his stubbornness.
Continue reading “Ultraman Ginga S Ep. 4: The Meaning of Strength”
Directed by Koichi Sakamoto. Written by Takao Nakano. Airdate July 22, 2013.
The second episode of Ultraman Ginga S doesn’t make viewers wait long for the title bout. Starting immediately where the last episode abruptly concluded, Ultraman Ginga and Ultraman Victory have their first clash, a battle against the sunset that echoes Akio Jissoji’s favorite compositions. Victory strikes first, reacting when Hikaru asks the basic question: “Uhm, what’s going on here?”
Continue reading “Ultraman Ginga S Ep. 2: Ginga vs Victory”
Directed by Koichi Sakamoto. Written by Yuji Kobayashi. Airdate July 15, 2014.
It’s time for a refresh of Ultraman Ginga that takes the renewed public interest in the Ultra Series and boosts it. The new creative team — showrunners Yuji Kobayashi and Takao Nakano, series director Koichi Sakamoto — has the important job of impressing the viewers who came from the previous show with something bigger, wilder, and better-budgeted.
Continue reading “Ultraman Ginga S Ep. 1: The Power to Open the Way”
The time has come to look at the Third Era of Ultra. Following Showa and Heisei comes the “New Generation Heroes” era. It’s the epoch we’re currently in1 — and it’s a divisive one. After a disruptive shift in the ownership and operation of Tsuburaya Productions, the Ultra Series transformed into something more slick, polished, corporate, risk-averse, and very eager to sell toys. Yet the New Gen shows have garnered many new fans, and they can truly be a good time. Occasionally a great time.
How do the first shows of the New Generation Heroes era — Ultraman Ginga and its sequel/second season Ultraman Ginga S — fare?
Continue reading “Ultraman Ginga / Ultraman Ginga S: An Introduction”
