“The Origin of Ultraman” is a 2026 Japanese documentary produced to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the “Ultraman” television series, whose first regular episode was broadcast by Tokyo Broadcasting System on July 17, 1966. Created as a spin off from “Ultra Q”, the series combined miniature sets, costumed monsters and other tokusatsu techniques with the story of an extraterrestrial hero from Nebula M78 joining forces with the Science Special Search Party. The original broadcast became a major television success, reaching a peak audience rating of 42.8 percent and developing into a franchise encompassing further series, feature films, animation, games and merchandise. The 106 minute documentary was produced by Slow Hand, planned by Hirokazu Koreeda, produced and copyrighted by Tsuburaya Productions, and distributed in Japan by TOHO NEXT and Tsuburaya Productions.
“The Origin of Ultraman” opened theatrically in Japan on July 3, 2026, before receiving its international premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal on July 17, exactly 60 years after the first episode was broadcast.
“The Origin of Ultraman” examines the creation of the original “Ultraman” and the reasons the character and his fictional universe have continued to attract audiences across generations and national borders. Through archival materials and interviews with surviving members of the original production, the documentary revisits the work of special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, writer Tetsuo Kinjo, and the artists and technicians responsible for the programme’s creatures, miniature environments, optical effects and action sequences. It also considers the visual designs of Tohl Narita, whose conception of Ultraman and the series’ monsters drew on sculpture, modern art and wider art history. An interview with his son, Kairi Narita, also sheds light on the conception of Ultraman at a fundamental level.
The documentary combines these production memories with observations from filmmakers, designers, critics, actors and creators influenced by the series. Participants include Guillermo del Toro, Hirokazu Koreeda, Hideo Kojima, Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi, Nicolas Winding Refn, Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima, alongside original cast members Susumu Kurobe, Hiroko Sakurai and Sandayu Dokumamushi. Their accounts explore the backgrounds given to the monsters, the contrasting designs of Ultraman and his opponents, and the combination of science fiction, human drama and special effects that defined the programme. Furthermore, the documentary traces how the ideas developed by Tsuburaya and his collaborators expanded beyond Japanese television and established Ultraman as an internationally recognised character.
The most touching and impactful part is definitely the one featuring Hideaki Anno, who is visibly emotional as he discusses how profoundly “Ultraman” has shaped his work. He even mentions that “Evangelion”, along with much of his other work, is essentially a variation on the iconic programme, with the influence the series had on him being more than obvious. Shannon Tindle and Nicolas Winding Refn provide the most humorous moments, with both highlighting the impact “Ultraman” had beyond Japan and on the generations who discovered it through its international circulation.
On the other hand, the dialogue between Hirokazu Koreeda and Guillermo del Toro is somewhat awkward, particularly because both probably needed interpretation to understand what was being said. As a result, this section emerges as the weakest in the documentary. Individually, however, they offer rather thorough analyses of the themes of the series and the uniqueness that contributed to its lasting impact.
The intense work invested in the series is repeatedly mentioned by the people involved in and close to the original production. At the same time, everyone seems to acknowledge Eiji Tsuburaya as a genius, with the documentary functioning as much as a tribute to him as to the broader concepts of kaiju and tokusatsu. Footage from the original shoot, key moments from several iconic episodes, material from contemporary entries in the franchise, and the thorough presentation of its cultural impact complete the impressive approach.
The editing is also excellent, with the succession of the different narrative elements ideally highlighting the history of “Ultraman” and its influence. Furthermore, the presence of so many significant figures from world cinema and popular culture definitely adds weight to the documentary. The music, on the other hand, is occasionally excessive in its effort to heighten the emotion and could have been toned down.
Despite a few minor issues, “The Origin of Ultraman” is an excellent documentary that functions particularly well as both a presentation and an analysis. At the same time, it succeeds as a tribute and as a starting point for anyone wishing to discover one of the most impactful franchises of all time.
