Ultraman Mebius

This article is about the Japanese television series. For its titular character, see Ultraman Mebius (character). For all other uses of the term, see Ultraman (disambiguation).

Ultraman Mebius (ウルトラマンメビウス, Urutoraman Mebiusu) is a Japanese television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting. It is the 20th TV series and 40th anniversary production in the Ultra Series, which first began in 1966. It premiered on the Tokyo Broadcasting System on April 8, 2006. Unlike the two prior entries, Ultraman Nexus (2004) and Ultraman Max (2005), Mebius was moved from Saturday mornings to Saturday evenings at 05:30 and the show went on to air in Korea in April 2012.^[1][2]

Ultraman Mebius
Promotional poster
Genre	Superhero Tokusatsu Science fiction Action/Adventure Kaiju Kyodai Hero
Created by	Tsuburaya Productions
Developed by	Masanao Akahoshi
Directed by	Tomoki Sano
Starring	Shunji Igarashi Masaki Nishina Ai Saikawa Daisuke Watanabe Kenta Uchino Misato Hirata Minoru Tanaka
Composers	Toshihiko Sahashi, Toru Fuyuki
Country of origin	Japan
No. of episodes	50 + 7 Gaiden
Production
Running time	30 mins
Release
Original network	CBC
Original release	April 8, 2006 (2006-04-08) – March 31, 2007 (2007-03-31)
Related
Ultraman Max Ultraseven X

On October 22, 2014, Crunchyroll announced that the entire series would be available that day on their streaming service for the US, Canada, Latin America, Mainland Europe (except France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and Former Communist and Non-communist states in Eastern Europe (eg, Central, Post-Soviet states in Europe and Southeastern Europe), and Finland, Iceland and Norway, Denmark and Sweden), UK and Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.^[3] On February 26, 2018, Toku announced that they would broadcast the series in the United States on their television channel, starting on March 19, 2018.^[4]

The series opens with the introduction of the rookie Ultraman Mebius, who is sent to Earth by the Father of Ultra. The series is set 40 years after the shows of Ultraman (1966), and makes many references from Ultra Q (1966) through to Ultraman 80 (1980). "Mebius" is the Japanese approximation of Möbius; the Möbius strip is a recurring motif in the series.

Plot

Before leaving for the earth, Ultraman Mebius was granted the Mebius Brace by the father of Ultra and told of the importance of the name "Ultraman", a legacy he would have to live up to when he reached Earth. On his way there, Mebius saw a transport ship being sucked into the ultra zone, The crew was saved by the sacrifice of the Captain's son Hiroto ban. seeing his selflessness, Mebius tried to save the young man but was a minute too late. He created his human form after the young man, Hiroto Ban, in his honor.

Characters

Crew GUYS

GUYS (Guards for UtilitY Situation) is an attack team formed at some point of time after UGM's disbandment. As no monster attacks were recorded since the last 25 years, Dinozaur had killed a majority of the original team members, save for the cadet named Ryu Aihara. Once Mirai and Sakomizu joined GUYS, the former recruited several civilians he encountered prior due to their commitment at the height of monster attacks.

Field members

• Mirai Hibino (ヒビノ・ミライ, Hibino Mirai): see here
• Ryu Aihara (アイハラ・リュウ, Aihara Ryū): The 20-year-old sole survivor of his original Crew GUYS team during Dinozaur's attack. As he becomes the field commander, Ryu is dedicated to protect his new teammates and eventually acknowledges their skill to be on an equal level with past attack teams.
• Marina Kazama (カザマ・マリナ, Kazama Marina): A 19-year-old motorcycle racer with enhanced sense of hearing.
• George Ikaruga (イカルガ・ジョージ, Ikaruga Jōji): A 20-year-old professional soccer player with enhanced sense of sight and reflexes, which allows him to utilize ranged weapons at a precision rate.
• Konomi Amagai (アマガイ・コノミ, Amagai Konomi): An 18-year-old aspiring nursery school teacher working part time at a nursery school, her dedication to save the rabbits lead to an assembly of civilians that would become future members of Crew GUYS. Although usually works as an operator, she can also join the battle and guiding the Maquette Monsters.
• Teppei Kuze (クゼ・テッペイ, Kuze Teppei): An 18-year-old team member who is knowledgeable in the Ultra Brothers' exploits and their fight against monsters. Being a medical student, he was groomed to become the heir of his father's hospital, but gained the blessing from his parents to continue working on Crew GUYS after his bravery in saving the building from Insectus' invasion.
• Shingo Sakomizu (サコミズ・シンゴ, Sakomizu Shingo): The commander of the new Crew GUYS after Serizawa's seeming death. Despite his appearance as a 40-year-old, he was actually a veteran in the defense force and was once an SSSP member whose encounter with Zoffy lead to the foundation of GUYS. His encounter on space resulted in a permanent youthful appearance despite being 70 years old.
• Kazuya Serizawa (セリザワ・カズヤ, Serizawa Kazuya): The 30-year-old original commander of the previous Crew GUYS, he was thought to be killed by Dinozaur's rampage after saving Ryu, but his body was rescued by Hunter Knight Tsurugi as a human shell to operate on Earth. During Tsurugi's brief death, Serizawa's will resurfaced as he persistent on the Ultra's survival. From that day on, Serizawa becomes a permanent host of Hikari and occasionally assisting Crew GUYS in their fight.

Staff members

• Aide Toriyama (トリヤマ補佐官, Toriyama-hosakan): The leader of the Japanese branch of GUYS, he issues orders to GUYS and gets frantic with joy whenever they accomplish a mission. While generally portrayed as cowardly, sycophantic and bumbling incompetent throughout the series, he gathers his resolve and stands up to Inspector Shiki when the latter demands that GUYS turn Ultraman Mebius/Hibino Mirai over.
• Secretary Aide Maru (マル補佐官秘書, Maru-hosakan-hisho): Toriyama's secretary, he follows Toriyama around and often corrects his speech mistakes.
• Yuki Misaki (ミサキ・ユキ, Misaki Yuki): The deputy inspector general, she reports monsters to GUYS.

Ultra Warriors

• Ultraman Mebius: see here
• Ultraman Hikari (ウルトラマンヒカリ, Urutoraman Hikari): A scientist from the Land of Light, who ventured to Earth as Hunter Knight Tsurugi (ハンターナイトツルギ, Hantā Naito Tsurugi) to exact revenge on Bogar. After killing the monster and freed from the armor, the scientist Ultra adopted the name "Ultraman Hikari" from Ryu and received his membership from the Space Garrison to assist Mebius several of his fights on Earth.

Episodes

1. A Fateful Encounter (運命の出逢い, Unmei no Deai)
2. Our Wings (俺達の翼, Ore-tachi no Tsubasa)
3. Only One Life (ひとつきりの命, Hitotsu kiri no Inochi)
4. Broken Bonds (傷だらけの絆, Kizudarake no Kizuna)
5. A Game Changing Shot (逆転のシュート, Gyakuten no Shūto)
6. The Two under the Deep Sea (深海の二人, Shinkai no Futari)
7. Fanton's Lost Item (ファントンの落し物, Fanton no Otoshimono)
8. Horrifying Predator (戦慄の捕食者, Senritsu no Hoshokusha)
9. Armor of Vengeance (復讐の鎧, Fukushū no Yoroi)
10. Pride of GUYS (GUYSの誇り, Gaizu no Hokori)
11. Mother's Miracle (母の奇跡, Haha no Kiseki)
12. The First Errand (初めてのお使い, Hajimete no Otsukai)
13. Marina in the Wind (風のマリナ, Kaze no Marina)
14. One Road (ひとつの道, Hitotsu no Michi)
15. Fortress of the Phoenixes (不死鳥の砦, Fushichō no Toride)
16. A Sword Master from Space (宇宙の剣豪, Uchū no Kengō)
17. Formation of Our Vows (誓いのフォーメーション, Chikai no Fōmēshon)
18. Pressure on Ultraman (ウルトラマンの重圧, Urutoraman no Jūatsu)
19. The Isolated Grandstand (孤高のスタンドプレーヤー, Kokō no Sutando Purēyā)
20. The Chief Inspector's Message (総監の伝言, Sōkan no Dengon)
21. A Call from Void (虚空の呼び声, Kokū no Yobigoe)
22. Future Days (日々の未来, Hibi no Mirai)
23. The Ocean Waves of Time (時の海鳴り, Toki no Uminari)
24. Resurrection of Yapool (復活のヤプール, Fukkatsu no Yapūru)
25. The Poisonous Moth's Program (毒蛾のプログラム, Dokuga no Puroguramu)
26. Flying to Tomorrow (明日への飛翔, Asu e no Hishō)
27. The Champion of the Fierce Fight (激戦の覇者, Gekisen no Hasha)
28. Konomi's Treasure (コノミの宝物, Konomi no Takaramono)
29. Day of Farewell (別れの日, Wakare no Hi)
30. The Flame of Promise (約束の炎, Yakusoku no Honō)
31. The Hopes of Comrades (仲間達の想い, Nakama-tachi no Omoi)
32. The Monster Tamer's Legacy (怪獣使いの遺産, Kaijūtsukai no Isan)
33. The Woman With Blue Fire (青い火の女, Aoi Hi no On'na)
34. The Man Who Lost His Hometown (故郷のない男, Furusato no Nai Otoko)
35. The Ultramarine Light and Shadow (群青の光と影, Gunjō no Hikari to Kage)
36. Mirai's Younger Sister (ミライの妹, Mirai no Imōto)
37. Father's Back (父の背中, Chichi no Senaka)
38. Isana of the Ocean (オーシャンの勇魚, Ōshan no Isana)
39. The Invincible Mother (無敵のママ, Muteki no Mama)
40. Lonely Paradise (ひとりの楽園, Hitori no Rakuen)
41. Teacher's Memories (思い出の先生, Omoide no Sensei)
42. An Old Friend's Visit (旧友の来訪, Kyūyū no Raihō)
43. Threatening Mebius Killer (脅威のメビウスキラー, Kyōi no Mebiusu Kirā)
44. Ace's Wish (エースの願い, Ēsu no Negai)
45. Deathrem's Plan (デスレムのたくらみ, Desuremu no Takurami)
46. Immortal Grozam (不死身のグローザム, Fujimi no Gurōzamu)
47. Mephilas's Game (メフィラスの遊戯, Mefirasu no Yūgi)
48. Advent of the Emperor: Final Trilogy I (皇帝の降臨 —最終三部作I—, Kōtei no Kōrin -Saishū Sanbusaku Wan-)
49. Dark Clouds of Despair: Final Trilogy II (絶望の暗雲 —最終三部作II—, Zetsubō no An'un -Saishū Sanbusaku Tsū-)
50. Words from the Heart: Final Trilogy III (心からの言葉 —最終三部作III—, Kokoro kara no Kotoba -Saishū Sanbusaku Surī-)

Side stories

Ultraman Mebius had three side stories in accordance to the series.

• Ultraman Mebius Side Story: Hikari Saga (2006)
  The first side story, separated into three parts and launched as FLET's internet television service, before being released on DVD in 2007. The story took place during the series' run, featuring Ultraman Hikari as the main viewpoint character, ranging from his past to his membership in Space Garrison.
• Ultraman Mebius Side Story: Armored Darkness (2008)
  The second side story, separated into two parts and sold on DVD. The story took place after the final episode of the series.
• Ultraman Mebius Side Story: Ghost Reverse (2009)
  The third and final side story, separated into two parts and sold on DVD. The story serves as a prologue to the 2009 Ultra Series movie, Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy.

Cast

• Mirai Hibino, Hiroto Ban (バン・ヒロト, Ban Hiroto): Shunji Igarashi (五十嵐 隼士, Igarashi Shunji)
• Ryu Aihara: Masaki Nishina (仁科 克基, Nishina Masaki)
• Marina Kazama: Ai Saikawa (斉川 あい, Saikawa Ai)
• George Ikaruga: Daisuke Watanabe (渡辺 大輔, Watanabe Daisuke)
• Konomi Amagai: Misato Hirata (平田 弥里, Hirata Misato)
• Teppei Kuze: Kenta Uchino (内野 謙太, Uchino Kenta)
• Shingo Sakomizu: Minoru Tanaka (田中 実, Tanaka Minoru)
• Aide Toriyama: Kenichi Ishii (石井 愃一, Ishii Kenichi)
• Secretary Aide Maru: Yutaka Maido (まいど 豊, Maido Yutaka)
• Yuki Misaki: Saaya Ishikawa (石川 紗彩, Ishikawa Saaya)
• Kazuya Serizawa: Shin Ishikawa (石川 真, Ishikawa Shin)
• Mysterious woman (Bogal) : Moeko Koyama (小山 萌子, Koyama Moeko)
• Kadokura (カドクラ): Shigeki Kagemaru (影丸 茂樹, Kagemaru Shigeki)
• Keiko Kuze (クゼ・ケイコ, Kuze Keiko): Hiroko Hayashi (林 寛子, Hayashi Hiroko)
• Tetsuharu Kuze (クゼ・テツハル, Kuze Tetsuharu): Ryo Kamon (加門 良, Kamon Ryō)
• METEOR (メテオール, Meteōru) operator: Naoshi Murata (村田 尚史, Murata Naoshi)
• Nursery school teacher: Mari Iwasa (岩佐 まり, Iwasa Mari)
• Chief Maintenance Araiso (アライソ整備長, Araiso-seibichō): Katsuhiko Watabiki (綿引 勝彦, Watabiki Katsuhiko)
• Professor Asami Fujisawa (フジサワ・アサミ博士, Fujisawa Asami-hakase): Kei Ishibashi (石橋 けい, Ishibashi Kei)
• Mitsuhiko Hirukawa (蛭川 光彦, Hirukawa Mitsuhiko): Kosei Kato (加藤 厚成, Katō Kōsei)
• Alien Psychokino "Kako" (サイコキノ星人 カコ, Saikokino Seijin Kako): Ayumi Takamune (高宗 歩未, Takamune Ayumi)
• Man in black: Koji Shimizu (清水 綋治, Shimizu Kōji)

Guest cast

• Heizo (平蔵, Heizō, 12): Shun Ueda (うえだ 峻, Ueda Shun)
• Rinko Sawaki (サワキ・リンコ, Sawaki Rinko, 13): Asuka Shimizu (清水 あすか, Shimizu Asuka)
• Tetsuro Ban (バン・テツロウ, Ban Tetsurō, 21, 22): Sei Hiraizumi (平泉 成, Hiraizumi Sei)
• Tatsumi Kazama (カザマ タツミ, Kazama Tatsumi, 23)：Kento Ono (小野健人, Ono Kento)
• Announcer (31): Koichi Sudo (須藤 公一, Sudō Kōichi)
• Misa Takamura (タカムラ・ミサ, Takamura Misa, 33): Mai Saitō (斉藤 麻衣, Saitō Mai)
• Medium (33): Shoichiro Akaboshi (赤星 昇一郎, Akaboshi Shōichirō)
• Gen Otori (おおとり ゲン, Ōtori Gen, 34): Ryu Manatsu (真夏 竜, Manatsu Ryū)
• Hiroshi Isana (勇魚 洋, Isana Hiroshi, 38): Kōhei Murakami (村上 幸平, Murakami Kōhei)
• Heitaro Hinode (日ノ出平太郎, Hinode Heitaro, 39)：Toshiya Toyama (遠山俊也, Toyama Toshiya)
• Sayuri Hinode (日ノ出 サユリ, Hinode Sayuri, 39): Jun Miho (美保 純, Miho Jun)
• Naoko (ナオコ, Naoko, 40)：Riisa Naka (仲里依紗, Naka Risa)
• Takeshi Yamato (矢的 猛, Yamato Takeshi, 41): Hatsunori Hasegawa (長谷川 初範, Hasegawa Hatsunori)
• Supreme General Chancellor Takenaka (タケナカ最高総議長, Takenaka-saikō-sōgichō, 42, 43): Kenji Sahara (佐原 健二, Sahara Kenji)
• Man in black (42-44): Koji Shimizu (清水 綋治, Shimizu Koji)
• Aya Jinguji (ジングウジ・アヤ, Jingūji Aya, 43, 44): Aiko Ito (いとう あいこ, Itō Aiko)
• Seiji Hokuto (北斗 星司, Hokuto Seiji, 44, 50): Keiji Takamine (高峰 圭二, Takamine Keiji)
• Yuko Minami (南 夕子, Minami Yūko, 44): Mitsuko Hoshi (星 光子, Hoshi Mitsuko)
• Hideki Go (郷 秀樹, Gō Hideki, 45, 50): Jiro Dan (団 時郎, Dan Jirō)
• President of the Kikuchi Electric Appliances Company (きくち電器商会, Kikuchi Denki Shōkai) (45): Eiichi Kikuchi (きくち 英一, Kikuchi Eiichi)
• Dan Moroboshi (モロボシ・ダン, Moroboshi Dan, 46, 50): Kohji Moritsugu (森次 晃嗣, Moritsugu Kōji)
• Shin Hayata (早田 進ハヤタ・シン, Hayata Shin), 47, 50): Susumu Kurobe (黒部 進, Kurobe Susumu)
• Inspector Shiki (シキ査察官, Shiki-sasatsukan, 48): Yôsuke Saitô [ja] (斉藤 洋介, Saitō Yōsuke)
• Mother (48, 49): Keiko Goto (五藤 圭子, Gotō Keiko)

Voice actors

• Ultraman Hikari/Hunter Knight Tsurugi, Kodaigon The Other (コダイゴンジアザー, Kodaigon Ji'azā, 12): Keiichi Nanba (難波 圭一, Nanba Keiichi)
• Father of Ultra (ウルトラの父, Urutora no Chichi): Tokuma Nishioka (西岡 徳馬, Nishioka Tokuma)
• Mother of Ultra (ウルトラの母, Urutora no Haha): Masako Ikeda (池田 昌子, Ikeda Masako)
• Zoffy (ゾフィー, Zofī): Hideyuki Tanaka (田中 秀幸, Tanaka Hideyuki)
• Ultraman Taro (ウルトラマンタロウ, Urutoraman Tarō): Hiroya Ishimaru (石丸 博也, Ishimaru Hiroya)
• Yapool (ヤプール, Yapūru): Tesshō Genda (玄田 哲章, Genda Tesshō)
• Grozam (グローザム, Gurōzamu): Hisao Egawa (江川 央生, Egawa Hisao)
• Deathrem (デスレム, Desuremu): Daisuke Gōri (郷里 大輔, Gōri Daisuke)
• Alien Mefilas (メフィラス星人, Mefirasu Seijin): Seizō Katō (加藤 精三, Katō Seizō)
• Alien Empera (エンペラ星人, Enpera Seijin): Kenji Utsumi (内海 賢二, Utsumi Kenji)
• Mebi-Navi narration: Mami (摩味)
• Opening narration of episodes 27-30: Hiroshi Isobe (磯部 弘, Isobe Hiroshi)

Songs

Opening theme

• "Ultraman Mebius" (ウルトラマンメビウス, Urutoraman Mebiusu)
  • Lyrics: Goro Matsui
  • Composition: Kisaburo Suzuki
  • Arrangement: Seiichi Kyoda
  • Artist: Project DMM (Verse 1, Episodes 1 – 26; Verse 2, Episodes 27 – 50)

Insert songs

• "Run through! - Wandaba" CREW GUYS ""
  • Lyrics: Kazuho Mitsuda
  • Composition / Arrangement: Toru Fuyuki
  • Artist: Project DMM with TMC
• "Radiance-Ultraman Hikari's Theme"
  • Lyrics and composition: Hideaki Takatori
  • Arrangement: Hiromasa Kasashima
  • Artist: Project DMM
• "Oath to you"
  • Lyrics, composition, arrangement: Daimon Kazuya
  • Artist: Project DMM
• "Ultra miracle"
  • Lyrics, composition, arrangement: Daimon Kazuya
  • Artist: Project DMM

Film tie-ins

A theatrical film, entitled Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers, was released in Japan on September 16, 2006. It takes place sometime after the end of episode 15 ("Phoenix's Fortress"), and is referenced in episode 24 ("Yapool's Rebirth").

Home media

In July 2020, Shout! Factory announced to have struck a multi-year deal with Alliance Entertainment and Mill Creek, 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 Mebius, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu.^[5]

Mill Creek Entertainment released Ultraman Mebius in the United States on DVD May 24, 2022.

Reception

In the first half of airing, it struggled in terms of viewership due to the time shift from Ultraman Max. However, after the release of the Ultraman Mebius & Ultra Brothers movie, awareness of the series increased, and the viewership ratings reached their highest level since Ultraman Nexus, and toy sales at the end of the year were also strong. In particular, the episodes featuring the Ultra Brothers received support from a wide range of viewers, including not only the main target audience of children, but also parents and enthusiasts. However, overall toy sales in 2006 were 3.6 billion, lower than the sales of the previous two titles.^{[6][circular reference]}

See also

• Ultra Series - Complete list of official Ultraman-related shows.

References

1. . Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
2. . Archived from the original on 2017-07-03. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
3. "New Fall Titles: Case Closed! Liar Game Season 2, Ultraman Mebius, GTO Specials!". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
4. "TOKU to Air Ultraman Mebius Series in March". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
5. Patrick Frater (July 10, 2020). "Shout! Factory Strikes 'Ultraman' Digital Distribution Deal With Mill Creek". Variety. from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
6. "Wikipedia Japan page".

External links

• Official Website of Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers (Japanese) 2016-01-04 at the Wayback Machine
• Official Website (CBC) (Japanese)
• Official Website (TBS) (Japanese)