Netflix Is Developing a New ULTRAMAN CG-Animated Film in Hopes of Growing the Fanbase

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Netflix is producing a new CG-animated film based on Japan’s classic hero Ultraman. The film will feature an all-new story, and they are hoping to bring in grow the fanbase with a new and wider audience.

Netflix is teaming up Tsuburaya Productions to develop the film, and it will be directed by Shannon Tindle, an animator who worked on Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings. He will make his feature directorial debut with the project, from a script he wrote with Kubo and the Two Strings screenwriter Marc Haimes. John Aoshima (DuckTales, Gravity Falls) will co-direct.

I loved Kubo and the Two Strings, so the fact that members of the creative team who worked on that film are developing this one is exciting.

While Netflix’s Ultraman animated series continues the storyline from the original live-action Japanese series of the 1960s. This new feature film will “strike out on its own with an all-new storyline designed to honor the past mythology while introducing the character to a new potential global fanbase. Similarly, the animation — from Tsuburaya Productions and Industrial Light and Magic — will be stylized but not strictly animé, as this exclusive first look at concept art for the film demonstrates.”

The story for the film will follow Ken Sato, “a superstar baseball player who returns to Japan to become the latest hero to carry the mantle of Ultraman. His plans go awry, however, when he is compelled to raise a newborn kaiju monster — the offspring of his greatest enemy — as his own child. Sato will also have to contend with his relationship with his estranged father and the schemes of the Kaiju Defense Force.”

Tindle said in a statement, “Making this film is a dream come true. What began as an original story inspired by my love for Eiji Tsuburaya’s Ultraman somehow became an actual Ultraman film thanks to the incredible trust of the team at Tsuburaya Productions, and the support of the folks at Netflix Animation. We’ve assembled an all-star team and I can’t wait to share our unique take on Ultraman with the rest of the world.”

Tsuburaya CEO and chairman Takayuki Tsukagoshi added, “This partnership with Netflix will be the first full-scale endeavor to reach the global market for Tsuburaya Productions. Ultraman, since it was created, has charmed many people around the world. And Shannon Tindle is one of those people. He was greatly influenced by Ultraman as a child, and he grew up to become a creator himself. I am delighted that families around the world will be able to watch Shannon and his team’s vision for Ultraman on Netflix and foster feelings of courage, hope and kindness.”

Aram Yacoubian, director of Original Content – Animated Features at Netflix said, “Having the opportunity to partner with our friends at Tsuburaya Productions to bring this beloved character to our members around the world is an honor. We’re thrilled to be working with Shannon, John and an incredibly talented team of artists and lovers of Ultraman from around the world. We can’t wait to share our film with fans of this iconic Japanese hero and introduce a new generation to what’s sure to become their new favorite superhero.”

I’m curious to see how this film comes together and what exactly it ends up being. While I enjoyed Ultraman, it’s one of those characters that I never really fully got into. I’ll be looking forward to watching this movie, though!

Source: Variety

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