Ultraman Tiga

Plot

Main article: List of Ultraman Tiga characters

Set in an alternate universe from the year 2007 until 2010 (2049 in the U.S. dub), giant monsters and conquering aliens start to appear, as was foretold by an apocalyptic prophecy about uncontrollable chaos over the Earth. Facing the threat, the TPC (Terrestrial Peaceable Consortium) is created along with its branch, GUTS (Global Unlimited Task Squad). Through a holographic message in a capsule found by researchers, the GUTS gets knowledge about a golden pyramid built by an ancient civilization. At the site, three statues of a race of giants who defended early human civilization on Earth about 30,000,000 years ago have been unearthed. GUTS finds the three ancient statues, but two of them are destroyed by the monsters Golza and Melba. The third one gains life from the spiritual energy of officer Daigo, a descendant of the ancient race. Daigo and the remaining statue merge into a single being, made of light. Shortly after defeating the two monsters, Daigo is revealed by the hologram of the prophecy that 30 million years in the past, a great evil that not even the giants could stop, destroyed the ancient civilization. Ultraman Tiga is a hero who protects the Earth. He accompanied the children throughout their childhood.

The same evil reappears in the finale of the series, the Ruler of Darkness Gatanothor, and his servants, Gijera and Zeiger. Gatanothor defeats Ultraman Tiga with ease, withstanding the Delcalium Light Stream and a modified version of the Zeperion Ray, finishes Tiga and turns him back into a stone statue, but the light of humanity turns him into Glitter Tiga, giving him the power to defeat Gatanothor and save the Earth. However, Tiga's victory came at a cost. Daigo was no longer able to become Tiga after the Sparklence disintegrated into dust after his final battle. It is revealed that Tiga, although no longer bound to Daigo, and its energy now remains in the hearts of all those who believe in Tiga, inner strength, and justice. Given the right conditions such as times of despair, the sparks will gather and the Tiga statue will be revitalized.

Production

Konaka brothers (Chiaki and ) and separately prepared the original scripts of the 1995 film Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, where the Konaka plot was inspired by Tsuburaya and Toho's Daigoro vs. Goliath (1972), The Konaka script was later reused for Gamera the Brave (2006), Ultraman Tiga, and Digimon Tamers (2001) which was also influenced by Kaiju Booska (and Ultra Q) by Tsuburaya Productions.

Episodes

Films

• Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna: Warriors of the Star of Light
• Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Dyna, & Ultraman Gaia: The Decisive Battle in Hyperspace
• Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey (2000): The story is set two years after the final episode.
• Ultraman Tiga Gaiden: Revival of the Ancient Giant (2001): A direct-to-video special set at prequel to TV series and set many years after the end of the series (Year 2038, 21 years after the events of Ultraman Dyna) In it, Daigo and Rena also have a son who is named Tsubasa.
• Superior Ultraman 8 Brothers
• Ultraman X The Movie: Here It Comes! Our Ultraman

Other appearances

Main article: Ultraman Tiga (character)#History

Cast

• Daigo Madoka/Nagano: Hiroshi Nagano (V6)
• Rena Yanase: Takami Yoshimoto
• Megumi Iruma/Yuzare: Mio Takaki
• Seiichi Munakata: Akitoshi Ohtaki
• Masami Horii: Yukio Masuda
• Tetsuo Shinjoh: Shigeki Kagemaru
• Jun Yazumi: Yoichi Furuya
• Souichiro Sawai: Tamio Kawachi
• Masayuki Nahara: Uketa Take
• Tetsuji Yoshioka: Ken Okabe
• Mayumi Shinjoh: Kei Ishibashi
• Naban Yao: Ichirō Ogura
• Reiko Kashimura: Takako Kitagawa
• Yūji Tango: Yoichi Okamura
• Ultraman Tiga (Voice): Yūji Machi
• Narrator, Ultraman: Issei Futamata

Guest cast

• Omi Yanase: Shigeru Araki
• Ryosuke Sanada: Jun Yuzuhara
• Sayaka Ijuin: Michiko Shimazaki
• Zara: Shogo Shiotani
• Lucia: Motoko Nagino
• Takuma: Takuma Aoki
• Noodle Shop Vendor: Shoichiro Akaboshi
• Kiyoto Inui: Tom Saeba
• Keigo Masaki: Takashi Kora
• Shin Hayate: Masaki Kyomoto

English dub

An English dub of the series was produced by 4Kids Entertainment and recorded by their in-house dubbing studio, 4Kids Productions. The dub aired on the Fox Box, which was formerly the Fox Kids Children's block on Fox in the United States. The first episode premiered on September 14, 2002.

4Kids' adaptation served as a parody of the original Ultraman series' English adaptation produced by Peter Fernandez and, as such, made some significant changes. Such changes include producing a new theme song and soundtrack that replaced the originals. Storylines were altered to comply with Fox's Standards and Practices division and accommodate commercial breaks and broadcasting scheduling. Each episode was one or two minutes shorter than its Japanese counterpart. The dub included tongue-in-cheek dialogue, which changed the personalities for some characters such as Captain Iruma, who was changed from a smart, level-headed individual to an airhead. Additionally, Captain Iruma was referred to as a "sir" instead of a "ma'am".

Some monsters were given new sound effects, and the transformation sequence was altered altogether, showcasing all of Tiga's forms and emphasizing the change from Daigo to Tiga. Tiga's "Multi, Power, and Sky Types" are changed into "Omni, Power, and Speed Modes," respectively. The Sparklence was renamed the "Torch of Tiga", although the Region 1 DVD Release refers to it as the "Spark Lance" for the first DVD but afterwards, the translation becomes "Sparklence. His light techniques were called "Luminizers", and the Color Timer is referred to as the "Biotic Sensor."

Ultraman Tiga was removed from the FoxBox lineup on March 15, 2003, due to low ratings, with only 24 episodes of the 52-episode series having aired. 4Kids initially planned to relaunch the show in September, but decided to release the Japanese episodes on DVD instead. As a result, their dub is only viewable through recordings of the original broadcasts. Erica Schroeder (who voiced Rena) claimed that part of the reason for Ultraman Tiga's limited success in the U.S. was due to 4Kids' indecision whether to satirize the show or make it serious.

English voice cast

• Wayne Grayson as Daigo Madoka
• Erica Schroeder as Rena Yanase
• Megan Hollingshead as Megumi Iruma
• Jimmy Zoppi as Masami Horii
• Andrew Paull as Tetsuo Shinjoh
• Sebastian Arcelus as Jun Yazumi
• David Moo
• Dan Green
• Mike Pollock
• Corinne Orr
• Michael Rosenbaum
• Jason Samuels
• Eric Stuart

Remake

Main article: Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga

A modern retelling of the series titled Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga was released in TV Tokyo from July 10, 2021, to January 22, 2022, as a commemoration for the 25th anniversary of the series. Actors Raiga Terasaka, Yuna Toyoda, Shunya Kaneko, Meiku Harakawa, Katsuya Takagi, Kei Hosogai and Shin Takuma portrayed as Kengo Manaka (Ultraman Trigger), Yuna Shizuma, Akito Hijiri, Tesshin Sakuma, Himari Nanase, Seiya Tatsumi, Ignis (Trigger Dark) and Mitsukuni Shizuma respectively, while M・A・O and Sumire Uesaka voiced Marluru and Carmeara respectively. The series was directed by Koichi Sakamoto as a main director, and was followed by Ultraman Decker on July 9, 2022.

Songs

;Opening theme

• "TAKE ME HIGHER"
  • Lyrics and Composition: Jennifer Batten, Alberto Emilio Contini, Giancarlo Pasquini
  • Japanese Lyrics: Kazumi Suzuki
  • Arrangement: Yasuhiko Hoshino
  • String Arrangement: Mitsuo Hagida
  • Choral Arrangement: Hiroaki Suzuki
  • Artist: V6
• : "TAKE ME HIGHER" reached #1 of the Oricon Weekly Rankings Charts for the week of September 30, 1996, and became a Platinum Record. For Mill Creek Entertainment's DVD release of the series, the song is replaced with "Mezameyo, Ultraman Tiga," except for episodes 3 and 4, which retain TAKE ME HIGHER. ;Ending Theme
• "Brave Love, TIGA"
  • Producer: Gorō Kishitani
  • Lyrics: Sunplaza Nakano
  • Composition: Barbe-Q Wasada
  • Arrangement: Yasuhiko Fukuda
  • Artist: Earth Protection Force
  • Leader: Gorō Kishitani
  • Members: Takashi Utsunomiya, Toshiaki Karasawa, Naoto Kine, Sunplaza Nakano, Yasafumi Terawaki, Masahiko Nishimura, Barbe-Q Wasada, Papala Kawai, Patrick Bommarito, Funky Sueyoshi, Yasuhiko Fukuda, Honjamaka ;Insert song
• "The memory of the blue night"
  • Lyrics and composition: G.BROOKER.K.RED
  • Artist: Hitomi Sudo ( Japanese Columbia )
• "ULTRAMAN LOVE FOR CHILDREN (Big band version instrumental)"
  • Composition: Hino Yasumasa
• "TAKE ME HIGHER (NEW ALBUM MIX)"
  • Lyrics and composition: Jennifer Batten, Alberto Emilio Contini, Giancarlo Pasquini
  • Japanese lyrics: Suzuki Tadashi
  • Arrangement: Hoshino Akihiko
  • Artist: V6

Post–release

Adaptations

Dark Horse Comics published a manga-style series based on Ultraman Tiga in 2003–2004.

Temporary ban on Chinese platforms

In September 2021, the series was removed from online streaming platforms in China. The removal triggered outcry from Chinese fans, trended on Sina Weibo, and began a hashtag which was viewed 84 million times. Various online platforms deduced that the series was banned under the pretext of the investigation into children's programming launched by Jiangsu Provincial Consumer Rights Protection Committee (江苏省消费者权益保护委员会), targeting various media for their potential negative influence on children due to violence, "dark" plots, and horrific and criminal content. The Jiangsu Committee would later deny its involvement, claiming the platforms banned the various series on their own accord.

However, due to public outcry, Ultraman Tiga and all other shows initially removed, would be returned to all major Chinese streaming video websites on September 27 of that same year, but in edited form.

Home media

In July 2020, Shout! Factory announced to have struck a multi-year deal with Alliance Entertainment and Mill Creek Entertainment, with the blessings of Tsuburaya and Indigo, that granted them the exclusive SVOD and AVOD digital rights to the Ultra series and films (1,100 TV episodes and 20 films) acquired by Mill Creek the previous year. Ultraman Tiga, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu. Mill Creek's DVD release of Ultraman Tiga was released on October 19, 2021.

References

References

1. Masumi Kaneda. "『怪獣大奮戦ダイゴロウ対ゴリアス』('72)は大映東京撮影所で撮影。".
2. [[ASCII Media Works]], 2014, ''Heisei Gamera Perfection'', p.237, [[Kadokawa Shoten]]
3. [[Chiaki Konaka]], [http://www.konaka.com/alice6/tamers/characters/guilmon-e.html Guilmon], konaka.com
4. [[Chiaki Konaka]], [https://x.com/yamaki_nyx/status/975012785389109249 The tweet on March 17, 2018]
5. [[Chiaki Konaka]], March 29, 2021, [https://tamers2021.hateblo.jp/entry/2021/03/29/215227 テイマーズの参照モデル], Digimon Tamers 2021 Blog
6. "New TV Series "ULTRAMAN TRIGGER: NEW GENERATION TIGA" Starts Broadcasting in Japan Every Saturday 9 AM, from July 10th, 2021! {{!}} Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd".
7. Ltd, TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Co. (2021-04-15). "新テレビシリーズ『ウルトラマントリガー NEW GENERATION TIGA』テレビ東京系 2021年7月10日(土)あさ9時放送スタート！".
8. "ULTRAMAN TRIGGER New Poster Revealed! M・A・O, Sumire Uesaka & More to Voice New Characters Premieres on July 10, 2021 {{!}} Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd".
9. Ltd, TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Co. (2021-06-10). "新TVシリーズ『ウルトラマントリガー』 オンライン発表会にキャスト集結！ 新キャラやM・A・Oさん、上坂すみれさんほか声優陣も発表！".
10. [https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/2788/dark-horse-launches-ultraman-tiga-comic Dark Horse Launches Ultraman Tiga Comic]
11. (2021-09-24). "江苏省消保委调查报告：21部动画片存1465个问题". Xinhua Daily Newspaper 新华日报.
12. (2021-09-27). "被指宣揚暴力 中國將日本經典特攝作品《超人迪加》下架". Like Japan.
13. Yeung, Jessie. (September 28, 2021). "Cartoons and children's shows are next on the chopping block in China's entertainment crackdown". [[CNN]].
14. "媒體：《迪迦奧特曼》全網下架與江蘇省消保委沒有關聯". The Paper 澎湃新闻.
15. "熱搜第一！《迪迦奧特曼》全網下架？廣電總局也發聲了". Securities Times.
16. "《迪迦奧特曼》重新上架，一集最長被刪 30 秒". 極目新聞.
17. Patrick Frater. (July 10, 2020). "Shout! Factory Strikes 'Ultraman' Digital Distribution Deal With Mill Creek". Variety.