Ultraman Mebius (ウルトラマンメビウス, Urutoraman Mebiusu) is a Japanese television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting. It is the 20th TV series and 40th anniversary production in the Ultra Series, which first began in 1966. It premiered on the Tokyo Broadcasting System on April 8, 2006. Unlike the two prior entries, Ultraman Nexus (2004) and Ultraman Max (2005), Mebius was moved from Saturday mornings to Saturday evenings at 05:30 and the show went on to air in Korea in April 2012.[1][2]
On October 22, 2014, Crunchyroll announced that the entire series would be available that day on their streaming service for the US, Canada, Latin America, Mainland Europe (except France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and Former Communist and Non-communist states in Eastern Europe (eg, Central, Post-Soviet states in Europe and Southeastern Europe), and Finland, Iceland and Norway, Denmark and Sweden), UK and Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.[3] On February 26, 2018, Toku announced that they would broadcast the series in the United States on their television channel, starting on March 19, 2018.[4]
The series opens with the introduction of the rookie Ultraman Mebius, who is sent to Earth by the Father of Ultra. The series is set 40 years after the shows of Ultraman (1966), and makes many references from Ultra Q (1966) through to Ultraman 80 (1980). "Mebius" is the Japanese approximation of Möbius; the Möbius strip is a recurring motif in the series.
Plot
Before leaving for the Earth, Ultraman Mebius was granted the Mebius Brace by the Father of Ultra and told of the importance of the name "Ultraman", a legacy he would have to live up to when he reached Earth. On his way there, Mebius saw a transport ship being sucked into the Ultra Zone, The crew was saved by the sacrifice of the Captain's son, Hiroto Ban. seeing his selflessness, Mebius tried to save the young man but was a minute too late. He created his human form after the young man, Hiroto Ban, in his honor. And he joined GUYS (Guards for Utility Situation) under the alias of Mirai Hibino.
Characters
Crew GUYS
GUYS (Guards for UtilitYSituation) is an attack team formed at some point of time after UGM's disbandment. As no monster attacks were recorded since the last 25 years, Dinozaur had killed a majority of the original team members, save for the cadet named Ryu Aihara. Once Mirai and Sakomizu joined GUYS, the former recruited several civilians he encountered prior due to their commitment at the height of monster attacks.
Ryu Aihara (アイハラ・リュウ, Aihara Ryū): The 20-year-old sole survivor of his original Crew GUYS team during Dinozaur's attack. As he becomes the field commander, Ryu is dedicated to protect his new teammates and eventually acknowledges their skill to be on an equal level with past attack teams.
Marina Kazama (カザマ・マリナ, Kazama Marina): A 19-year-old motorcycle racer with enhanced sense of hearing.
George Ikaruga (イカルガ・ジョージ, Ikaruga Jōji): A 20-year-old professional soccer player with enhanced sense of sight and reflexes, which allows him to utilize ranged weapons at a precision rate.
Konomi Amagai (アマガイ・コノミ, Amagai Konomi): An 18-year-old aspiring nursery school teacher working part time at a nursery school, her dedication to save the rabbits lead to an assembly of civilians that would become future members of Crew GUYS. Although usually works as an operator, she can also join the battle and guiding the Maquette Monsters.
Teppei Kuze (クゼ・テッペイ, Kuze Teppei): An 18-year-old team member who is knowledgeable in the Ultra Brothers' exploits and their fight against monsters. Being a medical student, he was groomed to become the heir of his father's hospital, but gained the blessing from his parents to continue working on Crew GUYS after his bravery in saving the building from Insectus' invasion.
Shingo Sakomizu (サコミズ・シンゴ, Sakomizu Shingo): The commander of the new Crew GUYS after Serizawa's seeming death. Despite his appearance as a 40-year-old, he was actually a veteran in the defense force and was once an SSSP member whose encounter with Zoffy lead to the foundation of GUYS. His encounter on space resulted in a permanent youthful appearance despite being 70 years old.
Kazuya Serizawa (セリザワ・カズヤ, Serizawa Kazuya): The 30-year-old original commander of the previous Crew GUYS, he was thought to be killed by Dinozaur's rampage after saving Ryu, but his body was rescued by Hunter Knight Tsurugi as a human shell to operate on Earth. During Tsurugi's brief death, Serizawa's will resurfaced as he persistent on the Ultra's survival. From that day on, Serizawa becomes a permanent host of Hikari and occasionally assisting Crew GUYS in their fight.
Staff members
Aide Toriyama (トリヤマ補佐官, Toriyama-hosakan): The leader of the Japanese branch of GUYS, he issues orders to GUYS and gets frantic with joy whenever they accomplish a mission. While generally portrayed as cowardly, sycophantic and bumbling incompetent throughout the series, he gathers his resolve and stands up to Inspector Shiki when the latter demands that GUYS turn Ultraman Mebius/Hibino Mirai over.
Secretary Aide Maru (マル補佐官秘書, Maru-hosakan-hisho): Toriyama's secretary, he follows Toriyama around and often corrects his speech mistakes.
Yuki Misaki (ミサキ・ユキ, Misaki Yuki): The deputy inspector general, she reports monsters to GUYS.
Ultraman Hikari (ウルトラマンヒカリ, Urutoraman Hikari): A scientist from the Land of Light, who ventured to Earth as Hunter Knight Tsurugi (ハンターナイトツルギ, Hantā Naito Tsurugi) to exact revenge on Bogar. After killing the monster and freed from the armor, the scientist Ultra adopted the name "Ultraman Hikari" from Ryu and received his membership from the Space Garrison to assist Mebius several of his fights on Earth.
Episodes
No.
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original release date
1
"A Fateful Encounter" Transliteration: "Unmei no Deai" (Japanese: 運命の出逢い)
Tomoki Sano
Masanao Akahoshi
April 8, 2006 (2006-04-08)
2
"Our Wings" Transliteration: "Ore-tachi no Tsubasa" (Japanese: 俺達の翼)
Tomoki Sano
Masanao Akahoshi
April 15, 2006 (2006-04-15)
3
"Only One Life" Transliteration: "Hitotsu kiri no Inochi" (Japanese: ひとつきりの命)
Hirochika Muraishi
Masanao Akahoshi
April 22, 2006 (2006-04-22)
4
"Broken Bonds" Transliteration: "Kizudarake no Kizuna" (Japanese: 傷だらけの絆)
"The Monster Tamer’s Legacy" Transliteration: "Kaijūtsukai no Isan" (Japanese: 怪獣使いの遺産)
Takeshi Yagi
Minato Shukawa
November 11, 2006 (2006-11-11)
33
"The Woman With Blue Fire" Transliteration: "Aoi Hi no On'na" (Japanese: 青い火の女)
Naoki Ohara
Keiichi Hasegawa
November 18, 2006 (2006-11-18)
34
"The Man Who Lost His Hometown" Transliteration: "Furusato no Nai Otoko" (Japanese: 故郷のない男)
Naoki Ohara
Masanao Akahoshi
November 25, 2006 (2006-11-25)
35
"The Ultramarine Light and Shadow" Transliteration: "Gunjō no Hikari to Kage" (Japanese: 群青の光と影)
Hirochika Muraishi
Yūji Kobayashi
December 2, 2006 (2006-12-02)
36
"Mirai’s Younger Sister" Transliteration: "Mirai no Imōto" (Japanese: ミライの妹)
Hirochika Muraishi
Masanao Akahoshi
December 16, 2006 (2006-12-16)
37
"Father’s Back" Transliteration: "Chichi no Senaka" (Japanese: 父の背中)
Yuichi Abe
Masanao Akahoshi & Akira Tanizaki
December 23, 2006 (2006-12-23)
38
"Isana of the Ocean" Transliteration: "Ōshan no Isana" (Japanese: オーシャンの勇魚)
Yuichi Abe
Ai Ōta
January 6, 2007 (2007-01-06)
39
"The Invincible Mother" Transliteration: "Muteki no Mama" (Japanese: 無敵のママ)
Kazuya Konaka
Minato Shukawa
January 13, 2007 (2007-01-13)
40
"Lonely Paradise" Transliteration: "Hitori no Rakuen" (Japanese: ひとりの楽園)
Kazuya Konaka
Minato Shukawa
January 20, 2007 (2007-01-20)
41
"Teacher’s Memories" Transliteration: "Omoide no Sensei" (Japanese: 思い出の先生)
Tomoki Sano
Hideyuki Kawakami
January 27, 2007 (2007-01-27)
42
"An Old Friend’s Visit" Transliteration: "Kyūyū no Raihō" (Japanese: 旧友の来訪)
Tomoki Sano
Akira Tanizaki
February 3, 2007 (2007-02-03)
43
"Threatening Mebius Killer" Transliteration: "Kyōi no Mebiusu Kirā" (Japanese: 脅威のメビウスキラー)
Naoki Ohara
Masanao Akahoshi
February 10, 2007 (2007-02-10)
44
"Ace’s Wish" Transliteration: "Ēsu no Negai" (Japanese: エースの願い)
Naoki Ohara
Keiichi Hasegawa
February 17, 2007 (2007-02-17)
45
"Deathrem’s Plan" Transliteration: "Desuremu no Takurami" (Japanese: デスレムのたくらみ)
Hirochika Muraishi
Ai Ōta
February 24, 2007 (2007-02-24)
46
"Immortal Grozam" Transliteration: "Fujimi no Gurōzamu" (Japanese: 不死身のグローザム)
Hirochika Muraishi
Hideyuki Kawakami
March 3, 2007 (2007-03-03)
47
"Mephilas’s Game" Transliteration: "Mefirasu no Yūgi" (Japanese: メフィラスの遊戯)
Yuichi Abe
Yūji Kobayashi
March 10, 2007 (2007-03-10)
48
"Advent of the Emperor: Final Trilogy I" Transliteration: "Kōtei no Kōrin -Saishū Sanbusaku Wan-" (Japanese: 皇帝の降臨 —最終三部作I—)
Yuichi Abe
Keiichi Hasegawa
March 17, 2007 (2007-03-17)
49
"Dark Clouds of Despair: Final Trilogy II" Transliteration: "Zetsubō no An'un -Saishū Sanbusaku Tsū-" (Japanese: 絶望の暗雲 —最終三部作II—)
Tomoki Sano
Masanao Akahoshi
March 24, 2007 (2007-03-24)
50
"Words from the Heart: Final Trilogy III" Transliteration: "Kokoro kara no Kotoba -Saishū Sanbusaku Surī-" (Japanese: 心からの言葉 —最終三部作III—)
Tomoki Sano
Masanao Akahoshi
March 31, 2007 (2007-03-31)
Side stories
Ultraman Mebius had three side stories in accordance to the series.
Ultraman Mebius Side Story: Hikari Saga (2006) The first side story, separated into three parts and launched as FLET's internet television service, before being released on DVD in 2007. The story took place during the series' run, featuring Ultraman Hikari as the main viewpoint character, ranging from his past to his membership in Space Garrison.
Ultraman Mebius Side Story: Armored Darkness (2008) The second side story, separated into two parts and sold on DVD. The story took place after the final episode of the series.
A theatrical film, entitled Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers, was released in Japan on September 16, 2006. It takes place sometime after the end of episode 15 ("Phoenix's Fortress"), and is referenced in episode 24 ("Yapool's Rebirth").
Home media
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 Mebius, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu.[5]
Mill Creek Entertainment released Ultraman Mebius in the United States on DVD in May 24, 2022.
Reception
In the first half of airing, it struggled in terms of viewership due to the time shift from Ultraman Max. However, after the release of the Ultraman Mebius & Ultra Brothers movie, awareness of the series increased, and the viewership ratings reached their highest level since Ultraman Nexus, and toy sales at the end of the year were also strong. In particular, the episodes featuring the Ultra Brothers received support from a wide range of viewers, including not only the main target audience of children, but also parents and enthusiasts. However, overall toy sales in 2006 were 3.6 billion, lower than the sales of the previous two titles.[6][circular reference]
See also
Ultra Series - Complete list of official Ultraman-related shows.
