"Kaettekita Urutoraman" (1971) TV series 1971-1972

Directors:

Noboru Kaji
Tei Mafune

Seasons:

1

Plot:

Another being from Nebula M-78, identical to the original Ultraman, combines with car racer-turned-MAT patrol member Hideki Gô, and fights assorted menaces in a frightening new "Age of Monsters."

Plot Keywords:

Ultraman | Ultra Series | Race Car | Alien | Giant Monster

Cast

Shunsuke Ikeda

...

Takeshi Minami (unknown episodes)

Also Known As:

Return of Ultraman (Japan: English title)
Ultraman Returns (International: English title)

Runtime:

30 min (51 Episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Trivia:

This was the first Ultra Series to link all previous Ultra Series together. Both "Urutoraman: Kûsô tokusatsu shirîzu" (1966) and "Urutora sebun" (1967)_ took place in completely different continuities. (The first series took place in 1993, and the latter in 1987.) This series is set in the Present, retroactively putting all previous series in the past.

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Urutoraman Eiteî" (1980)

The Ultra series best entry.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

"The Return of Ultraman" is the fourth in the Ultra Series, and is a direct follow-up to "Ultraman" and "Ultraseven". Contradictory towards the title, the original Ultraman is not hero in this series, but a new Ultra Hero simply named "New Ultraman", or Kaettekita Urutoraman.

The first episode (All Monsters Attack, Kaijû Sôshingeki) opens with the monsters Takkong and Zahzan in a fight in Tokyo. Amid the destruction, a young racing-car driver named Hideki Goh is killed while saving a boy and a dog. His sacrifice is much admired by everyone he knows, and even the newly formed Monster Attack Team or MAT for short. But Hideki was not only watched by mere humans, but also by an alien being, touched by Hideki's courage and bravery, and thus gives him his life. Everyone is shocked but pleased by Hideki's miraculous 'recovery', and he is asked to join the Monster Attack Team, as the Earth needs a saviour in this new Age of Monsters.

"Kaettekita Urutoraman" is an excellent television series. The monster fights are very entertaining, especially in episodes 37 (Ultraman Death in Twilight) and 38 (When the Ultra Star Shines), in which New Ultraman is badly beaten by Knuckle-Seijin and Black King, after his two best friends are killed by Knuckle. Notable in these episodes are the appearances of Ultraman and Ultra Seven, along with their respective hosts Hayata and Dan (Susumu Kurobe and Koji Moritsugu).

The special effects are generally well handled, and a lot of the monster suits look impressive. Sadly, one of the worst suits is Zetton, returning to kill New Ultraman. The suit is tatty and floppy, and looks very poor. One of the best suits in the series is Twin-Tail, appearing in episodes 5 (Two Giant Monsters vs. Tokyo) and 6 (Battle! Monsters vs. MAT!). Twin-Tail is well handled and is one of the most realistic monsters in the series.

In a nutshell, "Kaettekita Urutoraman" is splendid. A fun, exciting series that will please any Tokusatsu fan. Highly recommended.