Ultraman Gaia

Ultraman Gaia (ウルトラマンガイア, Urutoraman Gaia) is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the 14th show in the Ultra Series. Featuring Chiaki J. Konaka as series composer and produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS TV), Ultraman Gaia was aired on JNN TV stations (TBS, CBC, MBS, etc.) from September 5, 1998 until August 28, 1999, with a total of 51 episodes.

Ultraman Gaia
Title card
Genre	Superhero Tokusatsu Sci-Fi Kyodai Hero
Created by	Tsuburaya Productions
Developed by	Chiaki J. Konaka Naoyuki Edo
Directed by	Hirochika Muraishi
Starring	Takeshi Yoshioka Hassei Takano
Opening theme	Ultraman Gaia! by Masayuki Tanaka & Kazuya Daimon
Ending theme	Lovin' You Lovin' Me by B.B. WAVES Beat on Dream on by Tomohiko Kikuda
Composer	Toshihiko Sahashi
Country of origin	Japan
No. of episodes	51
Production
Running time	24 minutes (per episode)
Release
Original network	TBS MBS
Original release	September 5, 1998 (1998-09-05) – August 28, 1999 (1999-08-28)
Chronology
Preceded by	Ultraman Dyna
Followed by	Ultraman Nice

Overview

Ultraman Gaia takes place in yet another universe, one that is different from the world of the Shōwa era Ultramen (Ultraman to Ultraman 80), as well as the world of Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Dyna. In a departure from most of the other series, there are two Ultramen as the main characters. They have conflicting philosophies in regards to defending Earth from a mysterious, malevolent and extremely intelligent cosmic entity.

The first half of the series explores the growing tension between them and their eventual clash. The second half has them reconcile their differences so they can defeat their common enemy.

The show is also different from past Ultra Series installments in that the support team, XIG, has more personnel than the defence teams in previous installments.

In this series, Ultraman Gaia is the lead, but Ultraman Agul is prominently focused on as well. They are often at odds with each other at the beginning of the series. Their philosophies are as different as their skin colors. Unlike Gaia, Agul is completely blue. Gamu Takayama, the human host of Ultraman Gaia, believes that Gaia is here to save Earth and humanity. On the other hand, Hiroya Fujimiya, the human host of Ultraman Agul, believes Agul to be Earth's natural defense mechanism. He is at first more interested in protecting just the planet itself, even at the expense of humanity (hence the occasional clashes with Gaia). However, this was discontinued after Gaia and Agul would work together as one to face more powerful monsters.

Story

Main article: List of Ultraman Gaia characters

The story takes place in the year 2000. Chrisis, a supercomputer developed the Alchemy Stars (a global network of young geniuses born during the 1980s), predicts around 1996–1997 that Earth and humanity would be annihilated by something known as the "Radical Destruction Bringer". Technology developed by the Alchemy Stars is used to form an international defence organization known as Geocentric Universal Alliance against the Radical Destruction (G.U.A.R.D.). This is done secretly, so as to avoid causing a worldwide panic. The eXpanded Interceptive Guards (X.I.G.) is the combat wing of G.U.A.R.D, operating in a floating sky fortress known as the Aerial Base.

Gamu Takayama, a 20-year-old scientist and member of the Alchemy Stars, briefly encounters Gaia during some virtual reality experiments he performs with the secret purpose of discovering the will of the Earth, later merging with him in order to fight various monsters that threaten the safety of the Earth. During his battles, he encounters Ultraman Agul, whose human host is Hiroya Fujimiya, a former Alchemy Stars member. Both clash because of their ideals regarding the protection of the Earth but eventually resolve their differences to battle their common enemy.

Episodes

1. Seize the Light! (光をつかめ!, Hikari o Tsukame!)
2. A Hero Appears (勇者立つ, Yūsha Tatsu)
3. His Name is Gaia (その名はガイア, Sono Na wa Gaia)
4. Gamu of the Sky (天空の我夢, Tenkū no Gamu)
5. Another Giant (もう一人の巨人, Mō Hitori no Kyojin)
6. The Ridiculing Eye (あざ笑う眼, Azawarau Me)
7. Cleansing of the Earth (地球の洗濯, Chikyū no Sentaku)
8. The 4 Billion 6 Hundred Million Year-Old Ghost (46億年の亡霊, Yonjūrokuokunen no Bōrei)
9. Seagull Takes Off (シーガル飛びたつ, Shīgaru Tobitatsu)
10. Rock Fight (ロック･ファイト, Rokku Faito)
11. The City Where the Dragon Lies (龍の都, Ryū no Miyako)
12. Monster Encircling Net (野獣包囲網, Yajū Hōimō)
13. Night of the Marionettes (マリオネットの夜, Marionetto no Yoru)
14. Challenge from the Anti-Space (反宇宙からの挑戦, Han Uchū kara no Chōsen)
15. When the Rain Stops (雨がやんだら, Ame ga Yandara)
16. Birth of Agul (アグル誕生, Aguru Tanjō)
17. Shadow of the Sky, Light of the Earth (天の影 地の光, Ten no Kage Chi no Hikari)
18. Agul Vs Gaia (アグル対ガイア, Aguru Tai Gaia)
19. Lilia's Labyrinth (迷宮のリリア, Meikyū no Riria)
20. The Fossil of Ruin (滅亡の化石, Metsubō no Kaseki)
21. The Sea of a Mysterious Light (妖光の海, Yōkō no Umi)
22. Stone Wings (石の翼, Ishi no Tsubasa)
23. Gamu Expelled! (我夢追放!, Gamu Tsuihō)
24. Determination of Agul (アグルの決意, Aguru no Ketsui)
25. The Showdown for Tomorrow (明日なき対決, Asu Naki Taiketsu)
26. The Final Resolution (決着の日, Ketchaku no Hi)
27. A New Battle: Version-up Fight! (新たなる戦い～ヴァージョンアップ・ファイト!～, Aratanaru Tatakai ~Vājon'appu Faito!~)
28. The Advent of the Heatwave (熱波襲来, Neppa Shūrai)
29. Distant City, Uqbar (遠い町･ウクバール, Tōi Machi Ukubāru)
30. The Demon's Cocoon (悪魔のマユ, Akuma no Mayu)
31. The Accursed Eye (呪いの眼, Noroi no Me)
32. The Future Seen Before (いつか見た未来, Itsuka Mita Mirai)
33. Battling the Legend (伝説との闘い, Densetsu to no Tatakai)
34. Crash of Souls! (魂の激突!, Tamashii no Gekitotsu!)
35. Ransom for a Monster (怪獣の身代金, Kaijū no Minoshirokin)
36. The Sky of Reunion (再会の空, Saikai no Sora)
37. Fourth Symphony of a Nightmare (悪夢の第四楽章, Akumu no Daiyon Gakushō)
38. Ground-Breaking Tusks! (大地裂く牙, Daichi Saku Kiba)
39. The Lake of Sadness (悲しみの沼, Kanashimi no Numa)
40. I Want to Meet Gaia! (ガイアに会いたい!, Gaia ni Aitai!)
41. Resurrection of Agul (アグル復活, Aguru Fukkatsu)
42. Gamu Vs Gamu (我夢VS我夢, Gamu Tai Gamu)
43. The Silver Eyes of Izak (銀色の眼のイザク, Gin'iro no Me no Izaku)
44. The Attack of the Space Monsters (宇宙怪獣大進撃, Uchū Kaijū Daishingeki)
45. The Living Planet (命すむ星, Inochi Sumu Hoshi)
46. The Attack of the Forest (襲撃の森, Shūgeki no Mori)
47. XIG Destroyed!? (XIG壊滅!?, Shigu Kaimetsu!?)
48. The Revenge of the Death God (死神の逆襲, Shinigami no Gyakushū)
49. An Angel Descends (天使降臨, Tenshi Kōrin)
50. Cry of the Earth (地球の叫び, Chikyū no Sakebi)
51. Earth is the Star of Ultraman (地球はウルトラマンの星, Chikyū wa Urutoraman no Hoshi)

Other media

Films and team ups

• Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna & Ultraman Gaia: Battle in Hyperspace (1999), Gaia is one of the main Ultramen to appear in this movie, alongside Tiga and Dyna.
• Ultraman Gaia: Gaia Again (2001), A 45-minute Original Video Tokusatsu release (or OVT) set several years after the end of the series. Ultraman Gaia and Ultraman Agul return to fight a new enemy, along with help from mysterious undersea creatures.
• Superior Ultraman 8 Brothers (2008), Gaia teams up with Tiga, Dyna and Mebius in this movie, alongside Showa-era Ultra Heroes.
• Ultraman Ginga S: Showdown! Ultra 10 Warriors!! (2015), Ultraman Gaia is one of the Heisei-era Ultra Heroes to fight along with other 9 Heisei-era Ultra Heroes.
• Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga (2016-2017), Ultraman Gaia and Ultraman Agul return to fight the Bezelbs where it approaches the Earth, along with help from Ultraman Orb, Dyna and Cosmos starting on the eighth episode. The planet Earth in this show is not the one from Ultraman Gaia, as there are no mention of Gaia and Agul's names by its residents.

Video games

Although not technically an Ultraman game, Ultraman Gaia serves as both the main character and main plot in Banpresto's Super Hero Operations: Diedal's Ambition for the PlayStation.

Cast

• Gamu Takayama (高山 我夢, Takayama Gamu): Takeshi Yoshioka (吉岡 毅志, Yoshioka Takeshi)
• Hiroya Fujimiya (藤宮 博也, Fujimiya Hiroya): Hassei Takano (高野 八誠, Takano Hassei)
• Akio Ishimuro (石室 章雄, Ishimuro Akio): Hiroyuki Watanabe (渡辺 裕之, Watanabe Hiroyuki)
• Tatsumi Chiba (千葉 辰巳, Chiba Tatsumi): Sei Hiraizumi (平泉 成, Hiraizumi Sei)
• Seiichiro Tsutsumi (堤 誠一郎, Tsutsumi Seiichirō): Takashi Ukaji (宇梶 剛士, Ukaji Takashi)
• Atsuko Sasaki (佐々木 敦子, Sasaki Atsuko): Ai Hashimoto (橋本 愛, Hashimoto Ai)
• Georgie Leland (ジョジー・リーランド, Jojī Rīrando): Maria Theresa Gow (マリア・テレサ・ガウ, Maria Teresa Gau)
• Saika Ukai (鵜飼 彩香, Ukai Saika): Saika Tanaka (田中 彩佳, Tanaka Saika)
• Katsumi Kajio (梶尾 克美, Kajio Katsumi): Masami Nakagami (中上 雅巳, Nakagami Masami)
• Yasushi Kitada (北田 靖, Kitada Yasushi): Katsuhiko Hasegawa (長谷川 勝彦, Hasegawa Katsuhiko)
• Satoshi Ohgawara (大河原 聡志, Ōgawara Satoshi): Yusuke Sawaki (沢木 祐介, Sawaki Yūsuke)
• Tatsuhiko Yoneda (米田 達彦, Yoneda Tatsuhiko): Kuronosuke Kagawa (賀川 黒之助, Kagawa Kuronosuke)
• Koichi Hayashi (林 幸市, Hayashi Kōichi): Shogo Shiotani (塩谷 庄吾, Shiotani Shōgo)
• Toru Tsukamoto (塚守 亨, Tsukamoto Tōru): Shin Ishikawa (石川 真, Ishikawa Shin)
• Miho Inagi (稲城 美穂, Inagi Miho): Tomoko Kawashima (川嶋 朋子, Kawashima Tomoko)
• Julie Mishima (三島 樹莉, Mishima Juri): Izumi Matsuda (松田 いずみ, Matsuda Izumi) (Played by Izumiko Matsuda (松田 泉子, Matsuda Izumiko))
• Kei Tadano (多田野 彗, Tadano Kei): Kei Ishibashi (石橋 けい, Ishibashi Kei)
• Satoru Yoshida (吉田 悟, Yoshida Satoru): Masaru Matsuda (松田 優, Matsuda Masaru)
• Mitsugu Shima (志摩 貢, Shima Mitsugu): Kei Kagaya (加賀谷 圭, Kagaya Kei)
• Takanobu Kuwabara (桑原 孝信, Kuwabara Takanobu): Koji Nakamura (中村 浩二, Nakamura Kōji)
• Atsushi Koyama (神山 篤志, Kōyama Atsushi): Shunsuke Gondo (権藤 俊輔, Gondō Shunsuke)
• Renji Matsuo (松尾 蓮二, Matsuo Renji): Tomu Saeba (冴場 都夢, Saeba Tomu)
• Michael Simmons (マイクル・シモンズ, Maikuru Shimonzu): Samuel Pop Aning (サムエル・ポップ・エニング, Samueru Poppu Eningu)
• Ryuichi Senuma (瀬沼 龍一, Senuma Ryūichi): Hiroshi Ishii (石井 浩, Ishii Hiroshi)
• Higuchi (樋口): Ryōsuke Kaizu (海津 亮介, Kaizu Ryōsuke)
• Kōsuke Ranbashi (乱橋 巧介, Ranbashi Kōsuke): Mitsuo Hamada (浜田 光夫, Hamada Mitsuo)
• Catherine Ryan (キャサリン・ライアン, Kyasarin Raian): Debbie Regier (デビー・リギアー, Debī Rigiā)
• Daniel McPhee (ダニエル・マクフィー, Danieru Makufī): John O'Connor (ジョン・オコーナー, Jon O Kōnā)
• Ritsuko Sasaki (佐々木 律子, Sasaki Ritsuko): Azusa Sawamura (沢村 亜津佐, Sawamura Azusa)
• Kyoko Inamori (稲森 京子, Inamori Kyōko): Makiko Kuno (クノ 真季子, Kuno Makiko) (Played by 久野 真紀子)
• Megumi Kuroda (黒田 恵, Kuroda Megumi): Tomoko Ōtakara (大寶 智子, Ōtakara Tomoko)
• Yuki (ユキ): Ai Hasunuma (蓮沼 藍, Hasunuma Ai)
• Shimizu (清水): Kazuya Shimizu (清水 一哉, Shimizu Kazuya) (Played by Kazuhiko Shimizu (清水 一彦, Shimizu Kazuhiko))
• Kenji Tabata (田端 健二, Tabata Kenji): Hiroshi Tsuburaya (円谷 浩, Tsuburaya Hiroshi)
• Reiko Yoshii (吉井 玲子, Yoshii Reiko): Yukari Ishida (石田 裕加里, Ishida Yukari)
• Michifumi Inoue (井上 倫文, Inoue Michifumi): Eisuke Tsunoda (角田 英介, Tsunoda Eisuke)
• Sato (サトウ, Satō): Togo Okumoto (奥本 東五, Okumoto Tōgo)
• Makoto (マコト): Hiroaki Nishijima (西嶋 大明, Nishijima Hiroaki)
• Nakaji (ナカジ): Masashi Kagami (加々美 正史, Kagami Masashi)
• Shigemi Takayama (高山 重美, Takayama Shigemi): Aki Mizusawa (水沢 アキ, Mizusawa Aki)
• Yuiichi Takayama (高山 唯一, Takayama Yuiichi): Sen Yamamoto (山本 亘, Yamamoto Sen)
• Narration: Hiroshi Isobe (磯部 弘, Isobe Hiroshi)

Music

Opening theme

• "Ultraman Gaia!" by Masayuki Tanaka (田中 昌之, Tanaka Masayuki) & Kazuya Daimon (大門 一也, Daimon Kazuya)

Ending themes

• "Lovin' You Lovin' Me" by B.B. WAVES
• "Beat on Dream on" by Tomohiko Kikuta (菊田 知彦, Kikuta Tomohiko)

Insertion songs

• "LOVE IS ALIVE" by Sudo Hitomi
• "Gaia No Chikara" by Tanaka Masayuki & Daimon Kazuya
• "Blue rose" by Kikuta Tomohiko

Home media

In 2016, the series was released on Crunchyroll and later released on the streaming service Toku in 2018.^[1][2]

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 Gaia, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu.^[3]

References

1. Nicholas J. Bush (February 11, 2016). "Ultraman Gaia Now on Crunchyroll". The Tokusatsu Network. from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
2. "Toku Premieres Ultra Series Titles in USA". SciFi Japan. January 22, 2018. from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
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