The Ultraman (ザ☆ウルトラマン, Za Urutoraman) is a Japanese animated television series co-produced by Tsuburaya Productions and animated by Nippon Sunrise. It is the eighth entry in the Ultra Series, the first animated work in the franchise and the first series to air in 4 years after the end of Ultraman Leo. The series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System on April 4, 1979 to March 26, 1980, lasting a total of 50 episodes.
Story
In the 21st century, various mysterious events occur on Earth, causing monsters to appear all of a sudden. EGG3 officer Chouichirou Hikari was scouted to join the Science Defense Squad on Earth but while on his way back, he was bonded to Ultraman Joneus, an Ultra-Person of U-40 who was sent by his brethren to fight against the monster threats and alien invasions. This allows the youth to become an Ultraman against countless enemies while keeping a secret identity from his fellow members.
Midway through the series, both Hikari and Joneus die while fighting the Spirit Parasite. They are taken to the Ultra Planet U-40 to be resurrected, and while there, discover the Ultra People's connection to the Earth in the past. They also help to repel the invading Badel People, and to reclaim the stolen Ultra-mind.
Starting from episode 28, Daisuke Gondo becomes a new captain to the SDS. Despite their rocky start, the team learns to accept him due to his great intuition and brotherly instinct. Amia would return to Earth to warn Hikari and the SDS of the alien invasion of the Heller Empire, a renegade faction of Ultra People that invaded their home world and saw Earth as their next target due to Joneus's involvement. The Heller Empire was led by Heller, who was banished due to his misuse of the Ultra-mind for immortality. The SDS were given the Ultria, an ancient battleship made by the Ultra People to counter invasion attempts made by the Heller Army. In the four final episodes, Heller sent a full-scale invasion on Earth to wipe out humanity after fearing that they would cooperate with the remaining Ultra People. The SDS disobeyed the Earth Self Defense Army to go into space, joining forces with the remaining U-40 resistances to form the U Fleet and attacked the Titan Base on Saturn to prevent more invasion forces from coming to Earth. On U-40, the SDS made a risky attempt to sneak into the Heller City to weaken its defense as the U Fleet attacked Heller's forces in the planet's outer atmosphere. When the SDS were about to be killed by Mac Datar, Hikari's secret was exposed to save his comrades before joining the remaining seven Ultras in foiling Heller's attempts to escape. With Amia and the Wiseman being rescued, Heller died in the ensuing explosion as U-40 celebrated their victory. Joneus finally separated from Hikari and spent several months to observe Earth with his sister Amia. Once assuring that peace had returned, they bid farewell to the SDS and promised to return when the Earth's safety is threatened once more.
Staff
English Dubbing Staff
Episodes
The Hero is Born (新しいヒーローの誕生!!, Atarashī Hīrō no Tanjō!!)
The Secret of the Shining Pendant (光るペンダントの秘密, Hikaru Pendanto no Himitsu)
Sound of the Flute in the Setting Sun (草笛が夕日に流れる時, Kusabue ga Yūhi ni Nagareru Toki)
The Mystery of the Red Cloud (謎の赤い雲を追え!!, Nazo no Akai Kumo o Oe!!)
The Adventure of the Passenger (パッセージャー号地底突破!!, Passējā-gō Chitei Toppa!!)
Escape From the Deepest Sea (燃える深海への挑戦, Moeru Shinkai e no Chōsen)
Problems for Pig (攻撃指令!目標はピグ!!, Kōgeki Shirei! Mokuhyō wa Pigu!!)
The Secret of Hikari (ヒカリ隊員の秘密が盗まれた!?, Hikari Taiin no Himitsu ga Nusuma reta!?)
The Horror in the Old Castle (目覚めた古代生物の恐怖!!, Mezameta Kodai Seibutsu no Kyōfu!!)
Strategy of the Monster Mirage見えたぞ! まぼろしの怪獣が... (Mieta zo! Maboroshi no Kaijū ga...)
Old Friendship Revived in the Himalayas (科学警備隊へのチャレンジ!!, Kagaku Keibitai e no Charenji!!)
The Sad Roar Goes On and On (怪獣とピグだけの不思議な会話, Kaijū to Pigu Dake no Fushigina Kaiwa)
The Resurrection of the Legend (よみがえった湖の悲しい伝説, Yomigaetta Mizuumi no Kanashii Densetsu)
The Devil Star Has Come! (悪魔の星が来た!!, Akuma no Hoshi ga Kita!!)
Ultraman and Hikari (君がウルトラマンだ, Kimi ga Urutoraman da)
The Rebirth of the Kingmore, the Prehistoric Bird (生きていた幻の鳥, Ikiteita Maboroshi no Tori)
Betamy Has Disappeared! (ベータミーが消えた!!, Bētamī ga Kieta!!)
The Mysterious Monster Island (謎のモンスター島, Nazo no Monsutā Shima)
This is the Planet Where Ultraman was Born - Part 1 (これがウルトラの星だ!! 第1部, Kore ga Urutora no Hoshi da!! Dai 1-bu)
This is the Planet Where Ultraman was Born - Part 2 (これがウルトラの星だ!! 第2部, Kore ga Urutora no Hoshi da!! Dai 2-bu)
This is the Planet Where Ultraman was Born - Part 3 (これがウルトラの星だ!! 第3部, Kore ga Urutora no Hoshi da!! Dai 3-bu)
The Mysterious Space in the South Sea (南海の怪しい空間, Nankai no Ayashī Kūkan)
Supersonic War Breaks Out (超音速の対決, Chō Onsoku no Taiketsu)
Twin Sister of Mutsumi (ふたりのムツミ隊員, Futari no Mutsumi Taiin)
The Devil Flower (悪魔の花園, Akuma no Hanazono)
Earth's Greatest Crisis (地球最大の危機!!, Chikyū Saidai no Kiki!!)
The Island of the Monsters (怪獣島浮上!!, Kaijū Shima Fujō!!)
A New Captain Takes Command (新キャップが来た!!, Shin Kyappu ga Kita!!)
The UFO With the Devil-Heart Attacks! (悪魔のUFO大襲来, Akuma no Yūfō Dai Shūrai)
The Moving Skeleton動きだした巨大化石 (Ugokidashita Kyodai Kaseki)
The Woman Fighter From Ultra (ウルトラの女戦士, Urutora no On'na Senshi)
Object "X" (宇宙からの物体X, Uchū Kara no Buttai X)
Duel With Ultraman (GO!! マグマの決死圏, GO!! Maguma no Kesshi-ken)
Break-Out at Prison Planet! Part 1: The Monsters are Loose (盗まれた怪獣収容星（前編）, Nusuma reta Kaijū Shūyō Hoshi (Zenpen))
Break-Out at Prison Planet! Part 2: A Planet is Hijacked (盗まれた怪獣収容星（後編）, Nusuma reta Kaijū Shūyō Hoshi (Kōhen))
The Snow-Queen From Outer Space (宇宙から来た雪女, Uchū Kara Kita Yukion'na)
Danger on U-40 (ウルトラの星U40の危機!! ウルトリアの謎?, Urutora no Hoshi U40 no Kiki! ! Urutoria no Nazo?)
The Great Ultra War (ウルトラ大戦争!! 巨大戦闘艦ウルトリア出撃, Urutora Dai Sensō! ! Kyodai Sentō-kan Urutoria Shutsugeki)
The Hell Cat Appears (ねらわれた巨大戦闘艦ウルトリア, Nerawareta Kyodai Sentō-kan Urutoria)
The Boy From the Green Planet (怪獣を連れた少年, Kaijū o Tsureta Shōnen)
The Day Ultraman Fought Against Ultraman (激突!! ウルトラマン対ウルトラマン, Gekitotsu! Urutoraman tai Urutoraman)
A Plan to Capture Ultramanウルトラマン生けどり作戦 (Urutoraman Ike Dori Sakusen)
Monchi Became a Monster (怪獣になったモンキ!?, Kaijū ni Natta Monki!?)
The Twin Craft of Ultria and the Monster "Spader" (ウルトリアが二つに割れた!?, Urutoria ga Futatsu ni Wareta!?)
Pig Becomes a Walking Bomb (爆弾を抱いたピグ, Bakudan o Daita Pigu)
The Remote-Control Monster (よみがえれムツミ, Yomigaere Mutsumi)
To the Planet of Ultra - Part 1: Advice of the Female Warrior (ウルトラの星へ!!第1部 女戦士の情報, Urutora no Hoshi e!! Dai 1-bu On'na Senshi no Jōhō)
To the Planet of Ultra - Part 2: Assault on the Titan Base (ウルトラの星へ!!第2部 前線基地撃滅, Urutora no Hoshi e!! Dai 2-bu Zensen Kichi Gekimetsu)
To the Planet of Ultra - Part 3: The Great Battle of U-40 (ウルトラの星へ!!第3部 U(ウルトラ)艦隊大激戦, Urutora no Hoshi e!! Dai 3-bu U (Urutora) Kantai Dai Gekisen)
To the Planet of Ultra - Part 4: Victory for Peace (ウルトラの星へ!!完結編 平和への勝利, Urutora no Hoshi e!! Kanketsu-hen Heiwa e no Shōri)
Songs
Theme Songs
Opening theme: "The Ultraman"