Directed by Shingo Matsubara. Written by Masakazu Migita. Airdate Sep. 14, 1996.
I like it when the first word spoken in an episode is the name of the monster of the week. “Gakuma! Gakuma is coming!” Starting off strong and fast, reminding us that monsters are cool and they’re one of the big reasons we’re watching.
Continue reading “Ultraman Tiga Ep. 2: Legend of the Stone”
Directed by Shingo Matsubara. Written by Masakazu Migita. Airdate Sep. 7, 1996.
The first episode of an Ultra show has a heavy burden. It must establish the global situation, introduce a new defense team, merge the human hero with the Ultra Warrior, and then have enough time left over to celebrate with the action goodies. “Inheritance of Light” is one the best premiere episodes thanks to its efficiency, action, and visual effects that get the job done. It’s an impressive start, especially considering how fast the show had to come together. For viewers who may not have tuned into an Ultra show since the 1970s, Ultrman Tiga’s first episode was a reminder of why they loved Ultraman in the first place.
Continue reading “Ultraman Tiga Ep. 1: Inheritance of Light”
The Dark Age for Tsuburaya Productions finally ended in 1996. Fifteen years after the last episode of Ultraman 80 aired, Tsuburaya Pro returned to the airwaves with a domestically produced full Ultra program. Despite a rocky development period, Ultraman Tiga gave the series a rebirth for the Heisei era. It has remained one of the most popular Ultra shows and defined the franchise for a new generation. For many people my age and younger, Ultraman Tiga is likely the first Ultraman show they knew.
Continue reading “Ultraman Tiga: An Introduction”
The Ultra Project 