Kaiju-sized news just hit the G-FEST community this afternoon!
After some peculiar hints and drops about Tsuburaya’s official involvement with the fan-favorite convention, it’s finally been announced what exactly Ultraman: The Hero Premiere entails. Many of us were wondering… is it a screening? Is it a panel? Is it… a special guest? Well, fans of the Ambassador of Light, we’re here to tell you that it is ALL OF THE ABOVE!
Tsuburaya has officially announced the details on what to expect this year at G-FEST, giving fans a truly special experience to look forward to as we celebrate three whole decades of the largest giant monster movie convention in North America. Read on and find out what to expect next month when ULTRAMAN: THE HERO PREMIERE takes over G-FEST 2025!
Ultraman Arc Screening
First up, Ultra fans attending G-FEST will be able to witness the official Chicago Premiere of the English dub of Ultraman Arc The Movie: The Clash of Light and Evil, with the heroic Ultraman Arc himself making a special live appearance… so have those cameras ready for some action! This special screening of the latest film in the Ultra Series will be held at the G-FEST Film Festival on Saturday, July 12, from 1PM to 3PM CT.
Tsuburaya adds, “In Ultraman Arc The Movie: The Clash of Light and Evil, Ultraman Arc will face his dark doppelganger Guil Arc, in a hyperspace battle between light and evil. Yuma Hize (played by Yuki Totsuka), the protagonist who transforms into Ultraman Arc, will face his greatest challenge yet—imposed upon him by a mysterious man. That man is the space sage from Planet Diggle, Sascal, played by none other than Naoto Takenaka!”
What’s Next From Ultraman + Experiences
To catch the latest updates and what’s coming next in the world of Ultraman, you’ll want to attend their official panel, happening Saturday, July 12, from 4PM to 5PM CT. In the panel, Tsuburaya Productions, Tsuburaya Fields Media & Pictures Entertainment and Sky Turtle Nova, an imprint of Oasis Family Media, will be revealing a sneak peek at the new Ultraman Omega TV series, the upcoming Ultra Academy novels, Ultraman Card Game art, and Marvel Comics projects. Plus, fans can expect a special guest appearance during the panel… so be ready for a surprise! Tsuburaya 2025 Ultraman Update feat. Ultraman Omega will be one panel you won’t want to miss!
Additionally, Tsuburaya will be hosting special meet & greets with Ultraman and his Terrible Monster foes, including Baltan, Dada, and Pigmon. You can also witness the action up close with live mini-stage battles featuring beloved characters, including what appears to be a particular fan-favorite Ultraman ’66 monster with a pretty familiar frill making a fierce appearance at the show.. so you’ll wanna keep your eyes on the official G-FEST schedule for that legendary and iconic showdown brought to life!
Lastly, Hiroko Sakurai, known for her classic roles as Yuriko Edogawa in Ultra Q and Akiko Fuji in the original Ultraman, will appear for autograph sessions and a special live talk show during the Ultraman Connection Live ft. Hiroko Sakurai Special Talk Show panel happening Saturday July 12 at 3:00 PM CT. Hiroko Sakurai’s autograph times are also included in the attached image above. Details on the signing, aside from the times they will take place, are to be confirmed at a later date leading up to the show.
“G-FEST is the premiere convention in North America celebrating tokusatsu, live-action Japanese special effects entertainment, attracting thousands every year,” said Jeff Gomez, transmedia producer, hosting this year’s panels. “We are honored to bring the Ultra Heroes and some of their toughest Kaiju opponents to Chicago with non-stop activations for new and longtime fans throughout the weekend.”
“It’s an exciting time for Ultraman and all things Kaiju at TFMPE,” said David Kornblum, the president and CEO of Tsuburaya Fields Media & Pictures Entertainment (TFMPE). “It’s a wonderful opportunity to share these developments with all of our fans attending this year’s G-FEST.”
This year’s G-FEST convention is shaping up to be a big one, with a plethora of special guests, panels, and more for kaiju fans from all backgrounds and interests to partake in. Last year, G-FEST was attended by over 7,000 individuals who gathered in Chicago to celebrate their community and love for giant monsters. This year, we will be able to celebrate thirty whole years of this special, family-owned convention as it enters a new era, and joins forces with Tsuburaya to bring fans an unforgettable weekend.
For the latest news and updates on all things Ultraman, we encourage you to follow Ultraman Connection, the official Tsuburaya Productions website, and the Ultraman Card Game website.
Are you excited for G-FEST? Let us know! Kaiju United will see you there!
