The Ambassador of Light just shined even brighter in a medium catered to him.
The story throws us in the fray with a simple premise: “What if Ultraman adopted a baby kaiju?”, but throughout the course of this film, it unravels into a much more complex story. Rolling out the ultra-red carpet for the titular hero’s epic US resurgence, Ultraman: Rising provides a family adventure filled with stunning animation, epic kaiju battles that will keep you captivated, and a nexus point for new fans wanting to jump into Ultraman’s incredible and vast lineup of television & film. With some gigantic shoes to fill after almost sixty years of storytelling, co-directors Shannon Tindle & John Aoshima have provided a fresh, energized, and bold way of portraying our favorite hero from Nebula M78. Embodying everything that is great and incredible about Ultraman, the crew behind the movie clearly understands what makes Ultraman beloved and iconic and gives respect and gravitas to the insurmountable legacy of such an iconic Tokusatsu franchise.
Christopher Sean hits a home run as our newest host to Ultraman: Ken Sato, who begins this journey as an arrogant athlete. Sean nails the initial performance, providing a performance that makes you really not like the guy early on. All he cares about is being a star baseball player; why even do this crazy Ultraman gig to begin with? And all of that comes crashing down once Emi enters his life, some literal kaiju-sized fatherhood thrust upon him.
We grow to appreciate the fire that burns within Sato, yet begin adore his gentle softness underneath the rough exterior. Sato has to rekindle his relationship with his father in order to become a better father in his own right, something I found particularly compelling, despite not being a father myself. His counterpart in Ultraman does the opposite, learning to be strong enough to protect the ones he cares about, utilizing that fiery passion he has for baseball and putting it into fighting to save the day. Ken can’t focus on just one aspect of his identity, he must juggle everything – being Ultraman, a hall-of-fame baseball career, and being a father, in order to fulfill his path to self-actualization.
One particular thing that stood out to me during the viewing of this film was the soundtrack. Scot Stafford’s original score is such a wonderful blend of classic Ultra motifs (ba-daa-daaaa-daaa!), epic orchestral numbers when things get dangerous, and fun electronic music to give off the lighthearted tone, that yes, this is a kids film. It never once becomes jarring when the music switches from playful fun to epic and dramatic. And personally, I think Scot had an absolute blast working in Ultraman’s theme into any place he can… it got really clever!
The true centerpiece of the film is the mind-blowing animation, clearly the standout aspect from the movie. The familiar abilities of Ultraman are present, but are highlighted in ways that have never been before seen and can only be done through animation. Viewers will be able to see Ultraman express in an astounding amount of unique emotions, one of note being the “swirls” seen in classic openings to previous installments now representing “anger” or “stress”. The hardcore fans of Ultraman will get to see many amazing references to their favorite shows, but the fanservice is earned. For instance, the Spacium Ray is saved for later on, with the film instead focusing on Ultraman’s other abilities and notable athleticism throughout the film.
I did wish some of the other background characters got a tad bit more love. I would have liked to see more of Julia Harriman’s character in some capacity. She initially presents herself as somebody that could serve as Ken’s foil, a journalist who just wants to pry into his life for sensationalism, but later being the first person Ken opens up to, paving the way for a potential friendship. Thankfully, for once, it doesn’t go in a romantic direction, which is a huge relief. It is nice to see her get her closure with Sato in a way, but it was mostly at the expense of Ken’s arc altogether. Having her have a kid that is obsessed with Ultraman has some cool payoff towards the end, but it’s brief, and could have been cut out entirely; it doesn’t really impact the story one way or another. Every time these characters are on screen, however, they are great, memorable, and stand out uniquely in design and portrayal.
Ultraman: Rising succeeds on all fronts, finding that perfect balance that Ken Sato and many before him have achieved. Our society need heroes now more than ever, and Ultraman is here to RISE up once again to answer the call, like he always has (and always will). No matter the medium or production, Ultraman will always arrive to teach us how to find that balance within ourselves, protect the ones we love, and become greater. With a fantastic score, a voiceover cast that puts everything into their performances, and some of the greatest animation ever put to film, Ultraman: Rising is mandatory viewing for the entire family, offering a blend of nostalgia, innovation, and universal themes that resonate across generations.
Ultraman: Rising is now streaming on Netflix.
