Ultraman Leo
Ultraman Leo | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Created by | Tsuburaya Productions |
Developed by | Shigemitsu Taguchi |
Directed by | Tadashi Mafune |
Starring |
|
Composer | Tōru Fuyuki |
Country of origin | Japan |
No. of episodes | 51 |
Production | |
Running time | 24 minutes (per episode) |
Original release | |
Network | TBS |
Release | April 12, 1974 March 28, 1975 | –
Related | |
Ultraman Leo (ウルトラマンレオ, Urutoraman Reo) is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the 7th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Steve Krantz Productions, Ultraman Leo was aired between April 12, 1974, and March 28, 1975, with a total of 51 episodes. Tatsumi Nikamoto was the in-suit actor of Ultraman Leo.
Plot
Ultraman Leo comes from Nebula L77 (Leo constellation), and takes the human form of Gen Ootori. Ultraseven appears to fight a new foe, Alien Magma and his two "pets", the Red and Black Giras. Ultimately, Ultraseven is greatly overpowered and his leg is graphically broken by Black Giras. Ultraman Leo drives off the foes, but Ultraseven is confined to his human form because of his injuries and due to the Ultra Eye being damaged when he attempted to transform. Dan then maintains his role as Captain of MAC (Monster Attack Crew). Gen is a gymnastics teacher on the side and joins MAC to defend the Earth. Gen and Dan regularly train together, allowing Ultraman Leo to learn many moves in human form. In episode 34, Dan asks Ultraman Jack to take the Ultra Eye back to M78 to be restored while he heals on Earth. However, in episode 40 MAC is destroyed by Silver Bloome, a saucer monster that belongs to Commander Black. During the attack Dan asks Leo to keep defending the Earth and disappears in the conflagration. It is later shown that he was taken back to M78 to be fully healed and restored as Ultraseven. Gen is now unemployed and spends most of his time training the kids to defend themselves as well as defending the Earth as Ultraman Leo. Commander Black and Alien Bunyo capture Gen when he cannot transform completely. Gen as Leo is then dismembered, only to be brought back to life by Ultraman King. Leo would then face Commander Black's final monster, Black End, with the kids he trained, the latter of whom kill Black, and hand the sphere used to control Black End to Leo. Finishing his mission, Gen removes his Leo Ring and sets off to tour Earth, his "second home".
Episodes
- When Seven Dies! Tokyo Submerges!
- The Big Sink! The Last Day of the Japanese Archipelago
- Goodbye Tears...
- A Vow Between Men
- Don't Cry! You Are a Man
- You're a Man! Burn On!
- A Beautiful Man's Disposition
- Certain Kill! Monster Challenger
- Bridge of Friendship That Spans Space
- The Wandering Monster of Sorrow
- One Man Covered with Mud
- The Travellin' Dude Has Come!
- Huge Explosion! A Desperate Couple of Aliens
- Certain-Kill Fists! A Young Boy Who Calls Up a Tempest
- The Way to Kill in Darkness! The One Strike with Fighting Spirit
- The Woman Who Disappeared in the Middle of the Night
- Bride of the Wolfman
- Vampire! The Bat Girl
- The Revival of the Half-Fish Man
- The Strange Lad of Ursa Minor
- I Saw a Goddess in the Far North!
- The Leo Brothers vs. The Monster Brothers
- The Mischievous Alien Who Fell Out of Bed
- The Beautiful Woman of Virgo
- The Rhinoceros Beetle is a Space Invader!
- Ultraman King vs. the Magician
- You're Strong! Momotaroh!
- Return of the Bearded Captain!
- Reunion of Fate! Dan and Anne
- The Returning of a Monster's Favor
- The White Flower that Protects Earth
- Farewell, Princess Kaguya
- The Leo Brothers vs. the Evil Space Spirit Alien
- Ultra Brothers, Eternal Vows
- I'm a Monster General!
- Fly! Leo Brothers, Save the Space Base!
- Mystery! The Mirror in Which a Devil Lives
- Battle! The Leo Brothers vs. The Ultra Brothers
- The Leo Brothers and the Ultra Brothers, Time of Victory
- MAC Annihilated! The Flying Saucer was a Living Creature!
- A Flying Saucer Beast Came from an Evil Planet!
- Leo is in Danger! The Assassin is a Flying Saucer Beast
- Challenge! The Terror of the Vampire Saucer
- The Shooting Star from Hell!
- The Phantom Girl
- The Fighting Leo Brothers! The End of the Flying Saucer Beast!
- The Evil Stardust-Collecting Girl
- The Giant Monster Bird Saucer Attacks the Japanese Archipelago!
- The Red Assassin Who Beckons Death!
- The Life of Leo! The Miracle of King!
- Goodbye, Leo! Take off Toward the Sun
Cast
- Gen Ootori (おゝとり ゲン, Ōtori Gen): Ryu Manatsu (真夏 竜, Manatsu Ryū).[1]
- Shōji Ōmura (大村 正司, Ōmura Shōji, 1-22): Yū Fujiki (藤木 悠, Fujiki Yū)[1]
- Momoko Yamaguchi (山口 百子, Yamaguchi Momoko, 1-40): Kaori Okano (丘野 かおり, Okano Kaori)[1]
- Tooru Umeda (梅田 トオル, Umeda Tōru, 3-51): Tsunehiro Arai (新井 つねひろ, Arai Tsunehiro).[1]
- Kaoru Umeda (梅田 カオル, Umeda Kaoru, 1-40): Yoshiko Tominaga (富永 美子, Tominaga Yoshiko)[1]
- Takeshi Nomura (野村 猛, Nomura Takeshi, 1-40): Yukio Itō (伊藤 幸雄, Itō Yukio)[1]
- Izumi Miyama (美山 いずみ, Miyama Izumi, 40-51): Fujiko Nara (奈良 富士子, Nara Fujiko)
- Ayumi Miyama (美山 あゆみ, Miyama Ayumi, 40-51): Kaoru Sugita (杉田 かおる, Sugita Kaoru)
- Akio Kuroda (黒田 明雄, Kuroda Akio, 1-8): Kenzō Kuroda (黒田 健三, Kuroda Kenzō)[a]
- Ichirō Aoshima (青島 一郎, Aoshima Ichirō, 1-11, 13-16): Yūichi Yanagisawa (柳沢 優一, Yanagisawa Yūichi)
- Kiyohiko Akashi (赤石 清彦, Akashi Kiyohiko, 1-16): Kenji Ōshima (大島 健二, Ōshima Kenji)
- Atsushi Hirayama (平山 あつし, Hirayama Atsushi, 9-18): Nobuo Hirasawa (平沢 信夫, Hirasawa Nobuo)
- Haruko Momoi (桃井 晴子, Momoi Haruko, 1-10, 16): Kyōko Aratama (新玉 恭子, Aratama Kyōko)
- Junko Shirakawa (白川 純子, Shirakawa Junko, 1-40): Mieko Mita (三田 美枝子, Mita Mieko)
- Daisuke Satō (佐藤 大介, Satō Daisuke, 19-40): Shigeo Tezuka (手塚 茂夫, Tezuka Shigeo)
- Jun Shirato (白土 純, Shirato Jun, 6, 17-40): Masaharu Matsusaka (松坂 雅治, Matsusaka Masaharu)
- Ippei Kajita (梶田 一平, Kajita Ippei, 17-19, 22-40): Takashi Asakura (朝倉 隆, Asakura Takashi)
- Haruko Matsuki (松木 晴子, Matsuki Haruko, 26-40): Tomoko Ai (藍 とも子, Ai Tomoko)
- Miyako Ōtsuki (大槻 美也子, Ōtsuki Miyako, 23, 25): Midori Ōhara (大原 みどり, Ōhara Midori)
- Commander Tatakura (高倉長官, Takakura-chōkan, 13, 36, 39): Takashi Kanda (神田 隆, Kanda Takashi)
- Commander Black (ブラック指令, Burakku Shirei, 40-51): Takeshi Ōbayashi (大林 丈史, Ōbayashi Takeshi)[2]
- Sakiko Miyama (美山 咲子, Miyama Sakiko, 40-51): Masumi Harukawa (春川 ますみ, Harukawa Masumi)
- Dan Moroboshi (モロボシ・ダン, Moroboshi Dan, 1-40): Kohji Moritsugu (森次 晃嗣, Moritsugu Kōji)[1]
- Narrator: Tetsurō Sagawa (瑳川 哲朗, Sagawa Tetsurō)
Voice actors
- Astra (アストラ, Asutora, 39), Imit-Astra (にせアストラ, Nise Asutora, 39): Junji Maruyama (丸山 純二, Maruyama Junji)[3]
- Ultraman King (ウルトラマンキング, Urutoraman Kingu, 39, 50), Alien Babarue (ババルウ星人, Babarū Seijin, 39): Motomu Kiyokawa (清川 元夢, Kiyokawa Motomu, 39), Hiroshi Masuoka (増岡 弘, Masuoka Hiroshi, 50)[3]
- Zoffy (ゾフィ, Zofi, 39): Satohiro Sakai (酒井 郷博, Sakai Satohiro)[3]
- Original Ultraman (初代ウルトラマン, Shodai Urutoraman, 39): Shinya Nazuka (名塚 新也, Nazuka Shinya)[3]
- Returned Ultraman (帰ってきたウルトラマン, Kaettekita Urutoraman, 39): Takashi Takeuchi (竹内 喬, Takeuchi Takashi)[3]
- Ultraman Ace (ウルトラマンA, Urutoraman Ēsu, 39): Shingo Toyokawa (豊川 晋吾, Toyokawa Shingo)[3]
- Ultraseven (ウルトラセブン, Urutorasebun, 51): Kenji Nakagawa (中川 謙二, Nakagawa Kenji)[3]
Guest actors
Songs
- Opening themes
- "Ultraman Leo" (ウルトラマンレオ, Urutoraman Reo)
- Lyrics: Yū Aku (阿久 悠, Aku Yū)
- Composition & Arrangement: Makoto Kawaguchi (川口 真, Kawaguchi Makoto)
- Artist: Ryu Manatsu, Mizuumi Boys and Girls Choir (少年少女合唱団みずうみ, Shōnen Shōjo Gasshōdan Mizūmi) (Tokyo Records (東京レコード, Tōkyō Rekōdo))
- Episodes: 1-13
- "Tatakae! Ultraman Leo" (戦え! ウルトラマンレオ, Tatakae! Urutoraman Reo, "Fight! Ultraman Leo")
- Insert themes
- "MAC no March" (MACのマーチ, Makku no Māchi, "The March of MAC")
- Lyrics: Yū Aku
- Composition & Arrangement: Makoto Kawaguchi
- Artist: Ryu Manatsu, Mizuumi Boys and Girl Choir (Tokyo Records)
- Episodes: 4
- "Hoshizora no Ballad" (星空のバラード, Hoshizora no Barādo, "The Ballad of the Starry Sky")
- Lyrics: Yū Aku
- Composition & Arrangement: Makoto Kawaguchi
- Artist: Ryu Manatsu (Tokyo Records)
- Episodes: 1, 10, 51
Other appearances
Besides the Shōwa period, Ultraman Leo's popularity and fighting ability enabled him to make guest appearances in the following Ultra Series after the end of the original TV series.
- Princess Comet: Guest appearances in episode 63.
- Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle, Ultraman Story, Ultraman Zoffy: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army, Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider: All these movies used Leo's stock footage in the original series.
- Ultraman Mebius: Appeared in episode 1, 34, and 50. Ultraman Leo returns in Ultraman Mebius episode 34, "A Man Without a Home to help", in his human form Gen Ohtori. He trained and helped Mebius to defeat Alien Reflect.[4]
- Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy, Ultra Galaxy Legend Side Story: Ultraman Zero vs. Darklops Zero, Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial and Ultraman Saga: See here
- Ultraman Ginga, Ultraman Ginga S The Movie and Ultra Fight Victory: See here
- Ultraman X: See here
- Ultraman Geed: here
International broadcast
In Thailand, Ultraman Leo first aired in 1995 on IBC7 (now called TrueVisions).
Home media
Japan
In December 2018, Tsuburaya Productions and Bandai Namco Entertainment released the series on Blu-ray.[5]
North America
In November 2014, the series, along with Ultraman Max and Ultraman Mebius, began streaming on Crunchyroll.[6] In December 2017, the series was released on the streaming service Toku.[7][8] In April 2018, Shout! Factory hosted a marathon event of the series on their streaming service Shout! Factory TV.[9]
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 Leo, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu.[10]
It was released on Blu-ray in the United States on May 25, 2021 by Mill Creek.
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "充実の特典映像は必見!「ウルトラマンレオ Blu-ray BOX」発売!" (in Japanese). m-78.jp. 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
- ^ "1/20(土)~28(日)のウルトライベント情報!" (in Japanese). m-78.jp. 2018-01-19. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g 円谷プロ画報. Vol. 第1巻. 竹書房. 2013. p. 231. ISBN 978-4-8124-9491-2.
- ^ "ウルトラマンメビウス M78星雲「光の国」". hicbc.com. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ Keith Aiken (June 28, 2018). "Ultraman Leo Blu-ray Box Set Japanese Release This December". SciFi Japan. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ Patrick Macias (November 12, 2014). ""Ultraman Leo" Begins Streaming on Crunchyroll". crunchyroll.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ "TOKU to Air Ultraman Leo TV Series". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ "Ultrama Leo Now Airing On Toku". SciFi Japan. December 1, 2017. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ "Shout! Factory TV to Host Ultraman Leo: The Complete Series Marathon on Twitch April 18". SciFi Japan. April 7, 2018. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ Patrick Frater (July 10, 2020). "Shout! Factory Strikes 'Ultraman' Digital Distribution Deal With Mill Creek". Variety. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
External links
- Ultraman Leo at IMDb
- Official website of Tsuburaya Productions (in English)
- Ultraman Connection — Official website (in English)
- Official Ultraman channel at YouTube