Ultraman Tiga

Ultraman Tiga (ウルトラマンティガ, Urutoraman Tiga) is a Japanese tokusatsu TV drama and the twelfth show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Ultraman Tiga had aired at 6:00pm and aired between September 7, 1996 to August 30, 1997, with a total of 52 episodes with five movies (three being crossovers, two being direct sequels to the series as well as a comic book series).

Ultraman Tiga
Original Japanese title card
Genre	Superhero Tokusatsu Kaiju Sci-Fi Kyodai Hero
Created by	Tsuburaya Productions
Developed by	Masakazu Migita
Directed by	Shingo Matsubara
Starring	Hiroshi Nagano Takami Yoshimoto Akitoshi Ohtaki Shigeki Kagemaru Yukio Masuda Yoichi Furuya Mio Takaki
Narrated by	Issei Futamata
Opening theme	Take Me Higher by V6 Larger Than Life
Ending theme	Brave Love, Tiga by 地球防衛団 (the Earth Defense Force)
Composer	Tatsumi Yano
Country of origin	Japan
Original language	Japanese
No. of episodes	52
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Release
Original network	TBS, MBS
Original release	September 7, 1996 (1996-09-07) – August 30, 1997 (1997-08-30)
Chronology
Preceded by	Ultraman Zearth
Followed by	Ultraman Dyna

It was broadcast after a franchise hiatus of over 15 years, set in a universe different from all previous series and updated with a new look and feel. Tiga is the first Ultraman with multiple combat modes and non-red colors. It is one of the most popular entries in the Ultra Series. Because of Tiga's popularity, he had more exposure on TV and movies than any other Heisei Ultraman. Ultraman Tiga was also dubbed in English by 4Kids Entertainment and broadcast in the United States as part of the FoxBox programming block on Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates, making it the fourth Ultra Series to air in the United States after Ultraman, Ultra Seven and Ultraman: Towards the Future.

Plot

 

Ultraman Tiga facing his final opponent in the series, Gatanothor.

Main article: List of Ultraman Tiga characters

Set in an alternate universe in the year 2007-2010 (2049 in the U.S. dub), giant monsters and conquering aliens start to appear, as was foretold by an apocalyptic prophecy about uncontrollable chaos over the Earth. Facing the threat, the TPC (Terrestrial Peaceable Consortium) is created along with its branch, GUTS (Global Unlimited Task Squad). Through a holographic message in a capsule found by researchers, the GUTS gets knowledge about a golden pyramid built by an ancient civilization. At the site, three statues of a race of giants who defended early human civilization on Earth about 30,000,000 years ago have been unearthed. GUTS finds the three ancient statues, but two of them are destroyed by the monsters Golza and Melba. The third one gains life from the spiritual energy of officer Daigo, a descendant of the ancient race. Daigo and the remaining statue merge into a single being, made of light. Shortly after defeating the two monsters, Daigo is revealed by the hologram of the prophecy that 30 million years in the past, a great evil that not even the giants could stop, destroyed the ancient civilization. Ultraman Tiga is a hero who protects the Earth. He accompanied the children throughout their childhood.

The same evil reappears in the finale of the series, the Ruler of Darkness Gatanothor, and his servants, Gijera and Zeiger. Gatanothor defeats Ultraman Tiga with ease, withstanding the Delcalium Light Stream and a modified version of the Zeperion Ray, both Tiga finishes and turns him back into a stone statue, but the light of humanity can turn him into Glitter Tiga, giving him the power to defeat Gatanothor and save the Earth. However, Tiga's victory came at a cost. Daigo was no longer able to become Tiga after the Sparklence disintegrated into dust after his final battle. It is revealed that Tiga, although no longer bound to Daigo, and its energy now remains in the hearts of all those who believe in Tiga, inner strength, and justice. Given the right conditions such as times of despair, the sparks will gather and the Tiga statue will be revitalized.

Episodes

1. Inheritence of Light (光を継ぐもの, Hikari o Tsugu Mono) / "The Prophecy"
2. Legend of the Stone (石の神話, Ishi no Shinwa) / "Monster in the Mine"
3. The Devil's Prophecy (悪魔の預言, Akuma no Yogen) / "The False Prophet"
4. Goodbye, Planet Earth (サ・ヨ・ナ・ラ地球, Sa.Yo.Na.Ra Chikyū) / "Spark of Evil"
5. The Day When the Monster Appeared (怪獣が出てきた日, Kaijū ga Detekita Hi) / "Munakata's Monster"
6. Second Contact (セカンド・コンタクト, Sekando Kontakuto) / "The Dark Cloud"
7. The Man Who Came Down to Earth (地球に降りてきた男, Chikyū ni Oritekita Otoko) / "Alien Invasion"
8. On the Night of Halloween (ハロウィンの夜に, Harowin no Yoru ni) / "All Hallows Eve"
9. The Girl Who Waits for the Monster (怪獣を待つ少女, Kaijū o Matsu Shōjo) / "Stranded"
10. The Abandoned Amusement Park (閉ざされた遊園地, Tozasareta Yūenchi) / "Afraid of the Park"
11. Requiem to the Darkness (闇へのレクイエム, Yami e no Rekuiemu) / "Friend or Foe?"
12. S.O.S from the Bottom of the Sea (深海からのSOS, Shinkai kara no SOS) / "Mutant from the Sea"
13. Human Collection (人間採集, Ningen Saishū) / "Attack of the Crow-Men"
14. The Unleashed Target (放たれた標的, Hanatareta Hyōteki) / "Nowhere to Hide"
15. Phantom Dash (幻の疾走, Maboroshi no Shissō) / "Revenge of Gazoto"
16. The Revived Demon (よみがえる鬼神, Yomigaeru Kishin) / "The Monster Slayer Returns"
17. The Battle Between Red and Blue (赤と青の戦い, Aka to Ao no Tatakai) / "Dark vs Light"
18. Golza Strikes Back! (ゴルザの逆襲, Goruza no Gyakushū) / "Golza is Back!"
19. GUTS Into Space (Part 1) (GUTSよ宙（そら）へ 前編, Gattsu yo Sora e (Zenpen)) / "The Power of Light (Part 1)"
20. GUTS Into Space (Part 2) (GUTSよ宙（そら）へ 後編, Gattsu yo Sora e (Kōhen) / "The Power of Light (Part 2)"
21. Deban's Turn! (出番だデバン!, Deban da Deban) / "The Show Must Go On!"
22. The Fog is Coming (霧が来る, Kiri ga Kuru) / "The Fog"
23. Planet of the Dinosaurs (恐竜たちの星, Kyoryū-tachi no Hoshi) / "Prehistoric Danger"
24. Go! Monster Expedition Squad (行け! 怪獣探検隊, Ike! Kaijyū Tankentai) / "Toxic Terror"
25. The Devil's Judgement (悪魔の審判, Akuma no Shinpan)
26. The Mysterical Monsterland (虹の怪獣魔境, Niji no Kaijū Makyō)
27. I Saw Obiko! (オビコを見た!, Obiko o Mita!)
28. One Vanishing Moment (うたかたの…, Utakata no...)
29. A Whiter Shade of Pale (青い夜の記憶, Aoi Yoru no Kioku)
30. The Monster Zoo (怪獣動物園, Kaijū Doōbutsuen)
31. GUTS Base Under Attack (襲われたGUTS基地, Osowareta Gattsu Kichi)
32. The Battle of Zelda Point (ゼルダポイントの攻防, Zeruda Pointo no Kōbō)
33. Vampire City (吸血都市, Kyūketsu Toshi)
34. To The Farthest South (南の涯てまで, Minami no Hate Made)
35. Sleeping Beauty (眠りの乙女, Nemuri no Otome)
36. The Smile Across Space and Time (時空をこえた微笑, Toki o Koeta Hohoemi)
37. Flower (花, Hana)
38. The Mirage Monster (蜃気楼の怪獣, Shinkirō no Kaijū)
39. Dear Mr. Ultraman (拝啓ウルトラマン様, Haikei Urutoraman-sama)
40. Dream (夢, Yume)
41. A Friend from Space (宇宙からの友, Uchū kara no Tomo)
42. The City Where the Girl Disappeared (少女が消えた街, Shōjo ga Kieta Machi)
43. The Land Shark (地の鮫, Chi no Same)
44. Inheritance of Shadow (影を継ぐもの, Kage o Tsugu Mono)
45. Eternal Life (永遠の命, Eien no Inochi)
46. Let's Go to Kamakura (いざ鎌倉!, Iza Kamakura!)
47. Goodbye to Darkness (闇にさようなら, Yami ni Sayōnara)
48. Fugitive from the Moon (月からの逃亡者, Tsuki kara no Tōbōsha)
49. Star of Ultra (ウルトラの星, Urutora no Hoshi)
50. Take Me Higher! (もっと高く!～Take Me Higher!～, Motto Takaku!~Teiku Mī Haiyā~)
51. Ruler of Darkness (暗黒の支配者, Ankoku no Shihaisha)
52. To The Shining Ones (輝けるものたちへ, Kagayakeru Mono-tachi e)

Films

• Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna: Warriors of the Star of Light
• Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Dyna, & Ultraman Gaia: The Decisive Battle in Hyperspace
• Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey (2000): The story is set two years after the final episode.
• Ultraman Tiga Gaiden: Revival of the Ancient Giant (2001): A direct-to-video special set at prequel to TV series and set many years after the end of the series (Year 2038, 21 years after the events of Ultraman Dyna) In it, Daigo and Rena also have a son who is named Tsubasa.
• Superior Ultraman 8 Brothers
• Ultraman X The Movie: Here It Comes! Our Ultraman

Other appearances

Main article: Ultraman Tiga (character) § History

Cast

• Daigo Madoka (マドカ・ダイゴ, Madoka Daigo)/Nagano (長野, 49): Hiroshi Nagano (V6) (長野 博 (V6), Nagano Hiroshi (Bui Shikkusu))
• Rena Yanase (ヤナセ・レナ, Yanase Rena): Takami Yoshimoto (吉本 多香美, Yoshimoto Takami)
• Megumi Iruma (イルマ・メグミ, Iruma Megumi)/Yuzare (ユザレ, Yuzare, 50): Mio Takaki (高樹 澪, Takaki Mio)
• Seiichi Munakata (ムナカタ・セイイチ, Munakata Seiichi): Akitoshi Ohtaki (大滝 明利, Ōtaki Akitoshi)
• Masami Horii (ホリイ・マサミ, Horii Masami): Yukio Masuda (増田 由紀夫, Masuda Yukio)
• Tetsuo Shinjoh (シンジョウ・テツオ, Shinjō Tetsuo): Shigeki Kagemaru (影丸 茂樹, Kagemaru Shigeki)
• Jun Yazumi (ヤズミ・ジュン, Yazumi Jun): Yoichi Furuya (古屋 暢一, Furuya Yōichi)
• Souichiro Sawai (サワイ・ソウイチロウ, Sawai Sōichirō): Tamio Kawachi (川地 民夫, Kawachi Tamio)
• Masayuki Nahara (ナハラ・マサユキ, Nahara Masayuki): Uketa Take (タケ・ウケタ, Take Uketa)
• Tetsuji Yoshioka (ヨシオカ・テツジ, Yoshioka Tetsuji): Ken Okabe (岡部 健, Okabe Ken)
• Mayumi Shinjoh (シンジョウ・マユミ, Shinjō Mayumi): Kei Ishibashi (石橋 けい, Ishibashi Kei)
• Naban Yao (ヤオ・ナバン, Yao Naban): Ichirō Ogura (小倉 一郎, Ogura Ichirō)
• Reiko Kashimura (カシムラ・レイコ, Kashimura Reiko): Takako Kitagawa (北川 たか子, Kitagawa Takako)
• Yūji Tango (タンゴ・ユウジ, Tango Yūji): Yoichi Okamura (岡村 洋一, Okamura Yōichi)
• Ultraman Tiga (Voice): Yūji Machi (真地 勇志, Machi Yuji)
• Narrator, Ultraman (ウルトラマン, Urutoraman, Voice; 49): Issei Futamata (二又 一成, Futamata Issei)

Guest cast

• Omi Yanase (ヤナセ・オミ, Yanase Omi, 7): Shigeru Araki (荒木 しげる, Araki Shigeru)
• Ryosuke Sanada (サナダ・リョウスケ, Sanada Ryōsuke, 11, 47): Jun Yuzuhara (柚原 旬, Yuzuhara Jun)
• Sayaka Ijuin (イジュウイン・サヤカ, Ijūin Sayaka, 11, 47): Michiko Shimazaki (島崎 路子, Shimazaki Michiko)
• Zara (ザラ, 14): Shogo Shiotani (塩谷 庄吾, Shiotani Shōgo)
• Lucia (ルシア, Rushia, 14): Motoko Nagino (梛野 素子, Nagino Motoko)
• Takuma (拓磨, 15): Takuma Aoki (青木 拓磨, Aoki Takuma)
• Noodle Shop Vendor (夜鳴きそば屋, Yonaki Soba-ya, 27): Shoichiro Akaboshi (赤星 昇一郎, Akaboshi Shōichirō)
• Kiyoto Inui (イヌイ・キヨト, Inui Kiyoto, 41): Tom Saeba (冴場 都夢, Saeba Tomu)
• Keigo Masaki (マサキ・ケイゴ, Masaki Keigo, 43, 44, 52): Takashi Kora (高良 隆志, Kōra Takashi)
• Shin Hayate (ハヤテ・シン, Hayate Shin, 48, 52): Masaki Kyomoto (京本 政樹, Kyōmoto Masaki)

English dub

An English dub of the series was produced by 4Kids Entertainment and recorded by their in-house dubbing studio, 4Kids Productions. The dub aired on the Fox Box, which was formerly the Fox Kids Children's block on Fox in the United States. The first episode premiered on September 14, 2002.

4Kids' adaptation served as a parody of the original Ultraman series' English adaptation produced by Peter Fernandez and, as such, made some significant changes. Such changes include producing a new theme song and soundtrack that replaced the originals. Storylines were altered to comply with Fox's Standards and Practices division and accommodate commercial breaks and broadcasting scheduling. Each episode was one or two minutes shorter than its Japanese counterpart. The dub included tongue-in-cheek dialogue, which changed the personalities for some characters such as Captain Iruma, who was changed from a smart, level-headed individual to an airhead. Additionally, Captain Iruma was referred to as a "sir" instead of a "ma'am".

Some monsters were given new sound effects, and the transformation sequence was altered altogether, showcasing all of Tiga's forms and emphasizing the change from Daigo to Tiga. Tiga's "Multi, Power, and Sky Types" are changed into "Omni, Power, and Speed Modes," respectively. The Sparklence was renamed the "Torch of Tiga", although the Region 1 DVD Release refers to it as the "Spark Lance" for the first DVD but afterwards, the translation becomes "Sparklence. His light techniques were called "Luminizers", and the Color Timer is referred to as the "Biotic Sensor."

Ultraman Tiga was removed from the FoxBox lineup on March 15, 2003, due to low ratings, with only 25 episodes of the 52-episode series having aired. 4Kids initially planned to relaunch the show in September, but decided to release the Japanese episodes on DVD instead. As a result, their dub is only viewable through recordings of the original broadcasts. Erica Schroeder (who voiced Rena) claimed that part of the reason for Ultraman Tiga's limited success in the U.S. was due to 4Kids' indecision whether to satirize the show or make it serious.

English voice cast

• Wayne Grayson as Daigo Madoka
• Erica Schroeder as Rena Yanase
• Megan Hollingshead as Megumi Iruma
• Jimmy Zoppi as Masami Horii
• Andrew Paull as Tetsuo Shinjoh
• Sebastian Arcelus as Jun Yazumi
• David Moo
• Dan Green
• Mike Pollock
• Corinne Orr
• Michael Rosenbaum
• Jason Samuels
• Eric Stuart
• Crispin Freeman
• Kerry Butler
• Daniel DeSanto
• Shayne Dukevitch as Marnie Shinjoh

Songs

Opening theme

• "TAKE ME HIGHER"
  • Lyrics and Composition: Jennifer Batten, Alberto Emilio Contini, Giancarlo Pasquini
  • Japanese Lyrics: Kazumi Suzuki (鈴木 計美, Suzuki Kazumi)
  • Arrangement: Yasuhiko Hoshino (星野 靖彦, Hoshino Yasuhiko)
  • String Arrangement: Mitsuo Hagida (萩田 光雄, Hagida Mitsuo)
  • Choral Arrangement: Hiroaki Suzuki (鈴木 弘明, Suzuki Hiroaki)
  • Artist: V6

  "TAKE ME HIGHER" reached #1 of the Oricon Weekly Rankings Charts for the week of September 30, 1996, and became a Platinum Record. For Mill Creek Entertainment's DVD release of the series, the song is replaced with "Mezameyo, Ultraman Tiga," except for episodes 3 and 4, which retain TAKE ME HIGHER.

Ending Theme

• "Brave Love, TIGA"
  • Producer: Gorō Kishitani (岸谷 五朗, Kishitani Gorō)
  • Lyrics: Sunplaza Nakano
  • Composition: Barbe-Q Wasada (バーベQ和佐田, Bābe Kyū Wasada)
  • Arrangement: Yasuhiko Fukuda (福田裕彦, Fukuda Yasuhiko)
  • Artist: Earth Protection Force (地球防衛団, Chikyū Bōei-dan)
  • Leader: Gorō Kishitani
  • Members: Takashi Utsunomiya (宇都宮 隆, Utsunomiya Takashi), Toshiaki Karasawa, Naoto Kine (木根 尚登, Kine Naoto), Sunplaza Nakano, Yasafumi Terawaki (寺脇 康文, Terawaki Yasufumi), Masahiko Nishimura, Barbe-Q Wasada, Papala Kawai (パッパラー河合, Papparā Kawai), Patrick Bommarito (パトリック・ボンマリート, Patorikku Bonmarīto), Funky Sueyoshi (ファンキー末吉, Fankī Sueyoshi), Yasuhiko Fukuda (福田 裕彦, Fukuda Yasuhiko), Honjamaka (ホンジャマカ, Hidehiko Ishizuka (石塚 英彦, Ishizuka Hidehiko), Toshiaki Megumi (恵 俊彰, Megumi Toshiaki))

Insert song

• "The memory of the blue night"
  • Lyrics and composition: G.BROOKER.K.RED
  • Artist: Hitomi Sudo ( Japanese Columbia )
• "ULTRAMAN LOVE FOR CHILDREN (Big band version instrumental)"
  • Composition: Hino Yasumasa
• "TAKE ME HIGHER (NEW ALBUM MIX)"
  • Lyrics and composition: Jennifer Batten, Alberto Emilio Contini, Giancarlo Pasquini
  • Japanese lyrics: Suzuki Tadashi
  • Arrangement: Hoshino Akihiko
  • Artist: V6

Post–release

Adaptations

Dark Horse Comics published a manga-style series based on Ultraman Tiga in 2003–2004.^[1]

China ban

In September 2021, the series was removed from online streaming platforms in China. The removal triggered outcry from Chinese fans, trended on Sina Weibo, and began a hashtag which was viewed 84 million times. Global Times deduced that the series was banned due to "violent plots" that featured fight scenes and explosions.^[2] However, the show returned to all major Chinese streaming video websites on September 27 of that same year but in an edited version.

Home media

In July 2020, Shout! Factory announced to have struck a multi-year deal with Alliance Entertainment and Mill Creek Entertainment, 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 Tiga, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu.^[3] Mill Creek's DVD release of Ultraman Tiga is set for October 19, 2021.

References

1. Dark Horse Launches Ultraman Tiga Comic
2. Yeung, Jessie (September 28, 2021). "Cartoons and children's shows are next on the chopping block in China's entertainment crackdown". CNN. from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
3. Patrick Frater (July 10, 2020). "Shout! Factory Strikes 'Ultraman' Digital Distribution Deal With Mill Creek". Variety. from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.

External links

• Ultraman Tiga at IMDb
• Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey at IMDb
• Ultraman Tiga Gaiden: Revival of the Ancient Giant at IMDb
• Official website of Tsuburaya Productions (in English)
• Ultraman Connection — Official website (in English)
• Official Ultraman channel at YouTube