Ultraman Taro ( 1973 Series )

Publication Information

Series : Ultraman Taro
Created by : Tsuburaya Productions
Starring : Saburō Shinoda, Takahiko Tōno, Yumi Asakama
Composer(s) : Masanobu Higurashi, Toru Fuyuki
Country of origin : Japan
No. of episodes : 53
Running time : 24 minutes (per episode)
Original channel : TBS
Original release : April 6, 1973 – April 5, 1974
Preceded by : Ultraman Ace
Followed by : Ultraman Leo

Ultraman Taro is the 6th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, this series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from April 6, 1973 to April 5, 1974, with a total of 53 episodes. Taro is one of the most typical name of a boy in otogi-banashis, or, Japanese fairy tales. The producer said, 'Ultraman Taro is going to be the fairy tale in the Ultra Series.'

Plot

Kotaro Higashi (Taro) wanted to be a championship boxer. However, fate had other plans as he fell thousands of feet from the Earth after Astromons, a new creature in the third age of monsters, shook him off. The Five Ultra Brothers brought Kotaro's body to their home world of Nebula M-78 many years into the past.

It was there that Mother of Ultra merged Kotaro with Ultraman Taro, who would now form the Six Ultra Brothers. Before merging with Kotaro, Taro spent many years to hone his skills similar to the original five Ultra Brothers by mimicking their attacks through battles from both the past and future.

After the merge was complete, Kotaro was taken back to present day Earth being the human host of Taro and as Astromons was ravaging a city Kotaro turned into Taro. Not long after Astromons's defeat Kotaro joined ZAT and fought in a new era of kaiju. Many foes were found that would threaten the Earth, but Taro and ZAT defeated them time and again with occasional help from the other five Ultra Brothers from the weaklings to monsters only Taro could defeat.

After Samekujira attacked and Valkie fled Kotaro wanted to show the other Ultras he wanted to keep his humanity by no longer wanting to be Taro's host. Thus, he is one of the few Ultra human hosts to sever his relation with an Ultra Warrior.

Ultraman Taro Stats

Height : 173.884 feet
Weight : 55,000 tons
Flight Speed : Mach 20
Running Speed : 745.645 miles per hour
Home Planet : The Land of Light, Nebula M78
Host : Kotaro Higashi
Transformation Item : Ultra Badge
Parents and brothers : Ultra Father, Ultra Mother, Ultraman, Ultraseven, Ultraman Jack and Ultraman Ace.

Weapons

Main article : List of Ultraman Taro Arsenal, Weapon & Abilities

ZAT (Zariba of All Territory) Members

Main article : List of ZAT (Zariba of All Territory) Members

Episod

The Ultra Mother is Like a Sun
At That Moment the Ultra Mother Was
The Ultra Mother Always
Big Sea Turtle Monsters Attack Tokyo!
Parent Star Child Star First Star
Jewels are the Monster's Fodder!
Heaven and Hell Island has Moved!
Dead Spirits of the Man Eating Marsh
The Day that Tokyo Crumbles
The Fang Cross is a Monster's Grave!
The Blood Sucking Flower is a Young Girl's Spirit
Monster's Solo Journey
The Monster's Cavity Hurts!
Taro's Head Got Chopped Off!
Young Girl of the Blue Will-o-the-Wisp
The Monster's Flute Sounds
Two Giant Monsters Close in on Taro!
Taro Died! Zoffy Died Too!
The Ultra Mother Miracle of Love
Suprise! A Monster Rained Down
Tokyo Newtown Sinking
The Wrath of a Child-Carrying Monster
Gentle Daddy Monster!
This is the Land of Ultra!
Burn On! The Six Ultra Brothers
I Can Conquer a Monster Too!
He's Out! It's Mefilas-Sejin!
Monster Eleking Barks at the Moon!
Bemstar Resurrected! Taro Absolutely Expires!
Counterattack! The Monster Army
Danger! Lying Poison Mushrooms
A Nipping Wind Monster! Matasaburoh of the Wind
Five Seconds Before the Great Explosion of the Land of Ultra!
The Last Day of the Six Ultra Brothers!
Certain Kill! Taro's One Blow of Rage!
Coward! The Bride Cried
Monster, Return to Your Homeland!
The Ultra Christman Tree
Ultra Father and Son Big Mochi-Making Strategy
Go Through the Ultra Brothers!
Mother's Wish - A Mid-Winter Cherry-Blossom Blizzard
The Phantom Mother is a Monster User!
Pickle the Monster with Salt!
Oh! Taro is being Eaten!
She was Wearing Red Shoes...
The White Rabbit is a Bad Guy!
The Monster Master
Monster Girl's Festival
Sing! Monster Big Match
The Monster Sign is V
The Ultra Father and the Bride have Come
Steal the Ultra Life!
Farewell Taro! The Ultra Mother!

Monsters

Main article : List of Ultraman Taro monsters

Crossovers

Ultraman : Great Monster Decisive Battle : New group shot footage.
The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army : Features Ultraman Taro, Hannuman the Monkey God, and Mother of Ultra with the Ultra Brothers. A Thai-produced film.
Ultraman Story : Ultraman Taro figures prominently in this tale, which retcons the story of his origin. In episode one of the Ultraman Taro series he was shown born as an adult, yet Ultraman Taro is here seen as a child, growing up with and being trained by Ultra Father and Mother. Later in the film he joins with the Ultra Brothers to defeat Grand King.
Mebius and Brothers : Ultraman Taro helps Ultraman Mebius and the Ultra Brothers to defeat U-Killersaurus Neo. In the movie, all the Ultra Brothers combined with Ultraman Mebius to become Ultraman Mebius Infinity.
Ultraman Mebius : In episode 29 and 30, Ultraman Taro helps Ultraman Mebius to defeat Imperiser. He was shown to use his Ultra Dynamite during the conflict.

It should also be noted that due to the aforementioned separation of Taro from his human host, Ultraman Taro never appeared in human form in the Ultraman Mebius series. When Taro arrived on Earth it was in the form of an energy sphere.

Mega Monster Battle : Ultra Galaxy : Ultraman Taro has a one-on-one battle with antagonist Belial in space. During the movie, he also uses his body to keep the final light alive and prevent the Land of Light from being destroyed.
Imagin Anime 3 : You Will Find the Ultra Planet : Ultraman Taro makes a cameo in the episode.

See also: