The forthcoming documentary The Origin of Ultraman will make its international premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival, located in Montreal, Canada, on July 17.
The documentary arrives as part of the 60th anniversary celebration of Ultraman. On the same day as the Fantasia premiere, they will also screen the original Ultraman Episode 1, Ultra Operation No. 1.
Produced by filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda, the documentary explores the creation, history, and impact of the original Ultraman. Through interviews with leading filmmakers, creators, critics, and cast members of the original show, the film examines the central question of “What is Ultraman?”
The lineup in the documentary features an incredible roster of filmmakers and entertainment figures, with the likes of Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water, Pacific Rim), Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear, Death Stranding), Hideaki Anno (Shin Kamen Rider, Evangelion), Shinji Higuchi (Shin Godzilla, Attack on Titan Part I and II), Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive), and Ultraman: Rising directors Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima.
Also appearing are art director Kairi Narita, science-fiction author Pat Cadigan, film critic and creative director Kairi Narita, museum curator Noi Sawaragi, and National Film Archive chief researcher Hidenori Okada.
Numerous key figures connected to the original 1966 series will also be included! Among them are Susumu Kurobe (Hayata), Hiroko Sakurai (Fuji), and Sandayu Dokumamushi (Arashi), alongside original staff including screenwriter and director Toshihiro Iijima, special effects cinematographers Kazuo Sagawa and Kiyoshi Suzuki, optical cinematographer Sadao Iizuka, and script supervisor Noriko Shishikura.
The documentary will explore the creative foundations of the franchise, which redefined the superhero genre, highlighting how the 1966 series invited audiences to empathize with kaiju. This will also dive into the creative genius of Tokusatsu pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya and the visionary production team whose creativity pushed the boundaries of TV filmmaking in the 1960s.
