2004 - Ultraman Nexus (Series) - KayLing88 Ultraman Fanz

Ultraman Nexus was produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting (CBC), and Dentsu. It was the 20th entry in the Ultra Series. The series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System, including TBS, CBC, MBS, etc. The show ran from October 2, 2004 until June 25, 2005, with a total of 37 broadcast episodes. Subsequent DVD releases from Bandai Visual saw a brand new 45-minute Episode EX and an extended 45-minute Directors Cut of Episode 29.

History

Ultraman Nexus was part of Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra N Project, an experiment in 2004 to re-invent Ultraman for a new generation of fans. Prior to this, however, Tsuburaya had begun a project called Ultra Collaboration 2 at the end of 2003, which involved a brand new radio-adaptation of Ultra Q called The Ultra Q Club. The project was also due to include a new TV series called Ultraman Noa in early 2004, which is presumably what Ultraman Nexus evolved into. Following the success of the new radio show, Tsuburaya forged ahead with a brand new season, Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy on April 6, 2004, a show which attracted top-rung directors such as Shusuke Kaneko (popular with fans for his work on the Gamera series and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack).

Publication Information

Title : Ultraman Nexus
Japanese : ウルトラマンネクサス
Created by : Kazuo Tsuburaya, Tsuburaya Productions, Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting
Written by : Keiichi Hasegawa, Kenichi Araki, Masanao Akahoshi, Murai Sadayuki, Ai Ota
Directed by : Kazuya Konaka, Miki Nemoto, Tsugumi Kitaura, Yuichi Abe, Takeshi Yagi, Naoki Ohara
Starring : Takuji Kawakubo, Yusuke Kirishima, Masato Uchiyama, Yasue Sato, Tamotsu Ishibashi, Kousei Kato, Keiko Goto
Composer(s) : Kenji Kawai
Country of origin : Japan
Original language(s) : Japanese
No. of episodes : 37
Extra : 2 DVD Specials
Producer(s) : Takeshi Okazaki, Hiroyasu Shibuya, Tahei Yamanishi, Tsuburaya Productions, Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting, Dentsu
Running time : Approx. 24 mins per episode
Original channel : Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting, Tokyo Broadcasting System
Original run : October 2, 2004 – June 25, 2005
Preceded by : Ultra Q : Dark Fantasy
Followed by : Ultraman Max

The first stage of the Ultra N Project was entitled Noa: Nostalgia. The project mascot, Ultraman Noa, was a rather radical change design - an all-silver Ultraman with protruding wings on its back. Ultraman Noa was mainly used for live stage shows and merchandising. The second stage of the project was Next: Evolution. This saw the creation of a new theatrical film, ULTRAMAN. The final stage was Nexus: Trinity - the piece that ties the entire project together.

Story

The TLT is a covert international anti-monster unit established secretly to combat Space Beasts, mysterious monsters that are out to attack humans in the year 2009. One of the TLT's new recruits, Komon Kazuki, is attacked by one of them prior to reporting for duty. However, he is saved by a silver giant that he names "Ultraman". What no one knows is that the silver giant is an Ultraman—to be precise, Ultraman Nexus, ready to fight the Space Beasts to save the planet Earth.

Episodes

Night Raid
Space Beast
Ultraman
Meta Field
Dunamist
Relic
Faust
Memory Police
Warning
Strike Formation
Marionette
Lost Soul
Illustrator
Mephisto
Nightmare
Labyrinth
Darkness
Apocalypse
Cross Phase Trap
Chrome Chester δ
Sacrifice
Cure
Satisfaction
Hero
Prophecy
The Third
Prayer
Reunion
Calling

Episode 29 : Calling - Directors Cut

Watcher
Bird

Episode.EX : Lost Memories

Unknown Hand
AD 2004
AD 2009
Revolt
Farewell
Nexus

Movie

Video game

A video game based on the series was produced by Bandai for the PlayStation 2, under the name Ultraman Nexus.

Cast

Kazuki Komon / Ultraman Nexus / Ultraman Noa : Takuji Kawakubo
Jun Himeya / Ultraman Nexus : Yusuke Kirishima
Ren Senjyu / Ultraman Nexus : Masato Uchiyama
Nagi Saijyo / Ultraman Nexus : Yasue Sato
Eisuke Wakura : Tamotsu Ishibashi
Mitsuhiko Ishibori / Dark Zagi : Kousei Kato
Shiori Hiraki : Keiko Goto
Yu Kirasawa : Nobuhiko Tanaka
Shinya Mizorogi / Dark Mephisto Mitsutoshi Shundo
Mizuo Nonomiya : Tomomi Miyashita
Youichiruu Matsunaga : Horiuchi Masami
Hayato Kaimoto : Hisataka Kitaoka
Sara Mizuhara : Kyoko Toyama
Tougou : Kenji Sahara
Jinzou Negoro : Hiroshi Okouchi
Riko Saida / Dark Faust : Shion Nakamaru
Saya Shutou : Hitomi Hidaka
Hiroyuki Misawa - Yoshito Takeuchi

Songs

Opening themes

Eiyū (Hero)
- Lyrics, Composition, & Arrangement : Akihito Tokunaga
- Artist : doa
- Episodes : 1-25

Aoi Kajitsu (Unripe Fruit/Blue Fruit)
- Lyrics : Daiki Yoshimoto
- Composition & Arrangement : Akihito Tokunaga
- Artist : doa
- Episodes : 26-37

Ending themes

Itsumo Kokoro ni Taiyō o (A Sun is Always in My Heart)
- Lyrics & Composition : U-ka Saegusa
- Arrangement : Masazumi Ozawa
- Artist : U-ka Saegusa in dB
- Episodes : 1-13

You Gave Me Wings When I Couldn't Fly
- Lyrics : U-ka Saegusa
- Composition : Aika Ohno
- Arrangement : Masazumi Ozawa
- Artist : U-ka Saegusa in dB
- Episodes : 14-25

Akaku Atsui Kodō (Red Burning Pulse)
- Lyrics & Artist : Rina Aiuchi
- Composition : Masaaki Watanuki
- Arrangement : Masazumi Ozawa
- Episodes : 26-36