Ultraman Max (ウルトラマンマックス, Urutoraman Makkusu) is a Japanese Tokusatsu series produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Co., Ltd. Released as the 19th Ultra Series, it aired from July 2, 2005, until April 1, 2006. The show aimed to return to the fast-paced formula of encountering a new monster each week, similar to the previous series, with the exception of Ultraman Nexus. On October 10, 2014, Crunchyroll announced that the series would be broadcast on their streaming service starting on October 17, 2014, in the US, Canada, Latin America, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.[1]
Ultraman Max | |
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![]() Promotional poster | |
Genre | |
Created by |
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Developed by | Yūji Kobayashi |
Directed by | Shusuke Kaneko |
Starring |
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Composers | Kuniaki Haishima, Toru Fuyuki |
Country of origin | Japan |
Original language | Japanese |
No. of episodes | 39 (with 1 special) |
Production | |
Producer | Takeshi Yagi |
Running time | Approx. 24 mins per episode |
Original release | |
Network | |
Release | July 2, 2005 April 1, 2006 | –
Related | |
On January 27, 2017, the US television channel TOKU announced that the series would be broadcast in the United States on its channel with an English dub beginning February 27, 2017, making it the fifth Ultra Series to air in the United States after Ultraman, Ultra Seven, Ultraman: Towards the Future (originally in English without a Japanese dub) and Ultraman Tiga.[2][3][4][5]
Synopsis
editIn the 21st century, multiple phenomenas begin to occur as monsters who were initially thought to be a part of mythology come to life. These phenomenas resulted from human activities that disrupted the nature of the ecosystem.
Kaito Touma dreamed of entering DASH because previously he was a volunteer who often rescued people from natural disasters. However, he failed the entrance test because he was considered too hot-spirited when trying to protect people without thinking and often unconsciously doing excessive actions that endangered his safety. Kaito still insists on getting into DASH. When he was still an apprentice, Kaito recklessly replaced one of the wounded DASH members to help dispel the monster and avoid heavy casualties. At a critical moment, Kaito bonded with Ultraman Max to save his life and fought the incoming monster on his own.
After being accepted into DASH, Kaito and Max had been teaming up to defend Earth from various monsters and alien threats. In the middle of the series, Max is saved from Zetton by Ultraman Xenon, who gives him the Max Galaxy to even the odds: the device has been added to his arsenal since then. In the final episode, the underground civilization Delos began their invasion of the surface after years of suffering from the negative effects of their civilization. Max initially backed away from the fight due to his race's policy of not interfering with civil wars until Kaito's determination changed the minds of Ultraman and Delos, the latter of whom begged their doomsday weapon Giga Berserker to be stopped. Max was initially killed saving Kaito until DASH members revived him with enough sunlight to destroy Giga Berserker.
The Ultraman left Earth years later, and the elderly Kaito and Mizuki watched their grandchildren depart for space as Earth finally entered a peaceful coexistence with other races.
Episodes
editNo. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
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1 | "Ultraman Max Arrives!" Transliteration: "Urutoraman Makkusu Tanjō!" (Japanese: ウルトラマンマックス誕生!) | Shusuke Kaneko | Kengo Kaji & Yūji Kobayashi | July 2, 2005 |
2 | "The Girl Who Keeps a Monster" Transliteration: "Kaijū o Kau On'na" (Japanese: 怪獣を飼う女) | Shusuke Kaneko | Kengo Kaji & Yūji Kobayashi | July 9, 2005 |
3 | "Proof of a Brave Man" Transliteration: "Yūshi no Shōmei" (Japanese: 勇士の証明) | Hirochika Muraishi | Hideyuki Kawakami | July 16, 2005 |
4 | "Infinite Invaders" Transliteration: "Mugen no Shinryakusha" (Japanese: 無限の侵略者) | Hirochika Muraishi | Kengo Kaji & Sotaro Hayashi | July 23, 2005 |
5 | "A Monster Island Appears!" Transliteration: "Shutsugen, Kaijūtō!" (Japanese: 出現、怪獣島!) | Hiroaki Tochihara | Kiyoto Takeuchi | July 30, 2005 |
6 | "5 Seconds Before Bombing" Transliteration: "Bakugeki, Gobyō Mae" (Japanese: 爆撃、5秒前) | Hiroaki Tochihara | Kiyoto Takeuchi | August 6, 2005 |
7 | "Destroyer of Stars" Transliteration: "Hoshi no Hakaisha" (Japanese: 星の破壊者) | Kengo Kaji | Kengo Kaji & Takahiro Ōkura | August 13, 2005 |
8 | "DASH Annihilated!?" Transliteration: "Dasshu Kaimetsu!?" (Japanese: DASH 壊滅!?) | Kengo Kaji | Sotaro Hayashi | August 20, 2005 |
9 | "Dragon Lover" Transliteration: "Ryū no Koibito" (Japanese: 龍の恋人) | Futoshi Sato | Yūji Kobayashi | August 27, 2005 |
10 | "Young DASH" Transliteration: "Shōnen Dasshu" (Japanese: 少年DASH) | Futoshi Sato | Yōsuke Kuroda | September 3, 2005 |
11 | "Prophecy of Baradhi" Transliteration: "Barāji no Yogen" (Japanese: バラージの予言) | Shusuke Kaneko | Masaya Ozaki | September 10, 2005 |
12 | "Pursuit at Supersonic Speed" Transliteration: "Chō Onsoku no Tsuigeki" (Japanese: 超音速の追撃) | Shusuke Kaneko | Jirō Kaneko | September 17, 2005 |
13 | "Daughter of Zetton" Transliteration: "Zetton no Musume" (Japanese: ゼットンの娘) | Takeshi Yagi | Shozo Uehara | September 24, 2005 |
14 | "I Love King Joe" Transliteration: "Koi Suru Kingu Jō" (Japanese: 恋するキングジョー) | Takeshi Yagi | Shozo Uehara | October 1, 2005 |
15 | "Miracle of the Third Planet" Transliteration: "Dai Sanban Wakusei no Kiseki" (Japanese: 第三番惑星の奇跡) | Takashi Miike | Masaru Nakamura | October 8, 2005 |
16 | "Who Am I?" Transliteration: "Watashi wa Daare" (Japanese: わたしはだあれ?) | Takashi Miike | Masaru Nakamura | October 15, 2005 |
17 | "Ice Beauty" Transliteration: "Kōri no Bijo" (Japanese: 氷の美女) | Hideaki Murakami | Jirō Kaneko | October 22, 2005 |
18 | "Bright World" Transliteration: "Akarui Sekai" (Japanese: アカルイセカイ) | Hideaki Murakami | Takuro Fukuda | October 29, 2005 |
19 | "Person Coming from the Door" Transliteration: "Tobira yori Kitaru Mono" (Japanese: 扉より来たる者) | Hirochika Muraishi | Sotaro Hayashi | November 5, 2005 |
20 | "Drifting Monster" Transliteration: "Kaijū Hyōryū" (Japanese: 怪獣漂流) | Hirochika Muraishi | Ai Ōta | November 12, 2005 |
21 | "Challenge from Underground" Transliteration: "Chitei kara no Chōsen" (Japanese: 地底からの挑戦) | Hiroaki Tochihara | Noboru Takagi | November 19, 2005 |
22 | "Butterfly Dream" Transliteration: "Kochō no Yume" (Japanese: 胡蝶の夢) | Akio Jissoji | Yūji Kobayashi | November 26, 2005 |
23 | "Youth Again" Transliteration: "Yomigaere Seishun" (Japanese: 甦れ青春) | Hiroaki Tochihara | Yūji Kobayashi | December 3, 2005 |
24 | "The Untargeted Town" Transliteration: "Nerawarenai Machi" (Japanese: 狙われない街) | Akio Jissoji | Yūji Kobayashi | December 10, 2005 |
25 | "A Distant Friend" Transliteration: "Haruka Naru Yūjin" (Japanese: 遥かなる友人) | Takeshi Yagi | Ai Ōta | December 17, 2005 |
26 | "Elly of Christmas" Transliteration: "Kurisumasu no Erī" (Japanese: クリスマスのエリー) | Takeshi Yagi | Ai Ōta | December 24, 2005 |
27 | "The Stolen Max Spark" Transliteration: "Ubawareta Makkusu Supāku" (Japanese: 奪われたマックススパーク) | Takeshi Yagi | Chiaki J. Konaka | December 31, 2005 |
28 | "Evil Attacks" Transliteration: "Jaaku Shūrai" (Japanese: 邪悪襲来) | Hirochika Muraishi | Sotaro Hayashi | January 15, 2006 |
29 | "Why Do Monsters Appear" Transliteration: "Kaijū wa Naze Arawareru Noka" (Japanese: 怪獣は何故現れるのか) | Hirochika Muraishi | Chiaki J. Konaka | January 14, 2006 |
30 | "Courage Is from the Heart" Transliteration: "Yūki o Mune ni" (Japanese: 勇気を胸に) | Toshiyuki Takano | Chiaki J. Konaka | January 21, 2006 |
31 | "Burn! Earth!!" Transliteration: "Moe Tsukiro! Chikyū!!" (Japanese: 燃えつきろ! 地球!!) | Kengo Kaji | Kazuki Nakashima | January 28, 2006 |
32 | "Elly Destruction Directive" Transliteration: "Erī Hakai Shirei" (Japanese: エリー破壊指令) | Kengo Kaji | Takahiro Ōkura | February 4, 2006 |
33 | "Welcome! To The Earth: Part 1: The Science of the Planet Baltan" Transliteration: "Yōkoso! Chikyū e Zenpen Barutan Sei no Kagaku" (Japanese: ようこそ! 地球へ 前篇 バルタン星の科学) | Toshihiro Iijima | Kitao Senzoku | February 11, 2006 |
34 | "Welcome! To The Earth: Part 2: Farewell Alien Baltan" Transliteration: "Yōkoso! Chikyū e Kōhen Saraba! Barutan Seijin" (Japanese: ようこそ! 地球へ 後篇 さらば!バルタン星人) | Toshihiro Iijima | Kitao Senzoku | February 18, 2006 |
35 | "Adam and Eve of M32 Nebula" Transliteration: "Emu Sanjūni Seiun no Adamu to Ibu" (Japanese: M32星雲のアダムとイブ) | Shusuke Kaneko | Keisuke Fujikawa | February 25, 2006 |
36 | "Alternate Dimension World" Transliteration: "Ijigen Sekai" (Japanese: イジゲンセカイ) | Shusuke Kaneko | Takuro Fukuda | March 4, 2006 |
37 | "Constellation Thief" Transliteration: "Seiza Dorobō" (Japanese: 星座泥棒) | Takeshi Yagi | Yūji Kobayashi | March 11, 2006 |
38 | "Prelude to Earth Destruction" Transliteration: "Chijō Kaimetsu no Jokyoku" (Japanese: 地上壊滅の序曲) | Takeshi Yagi | Chiaki J. Konaka | March 18, 2006 |
39 | "Hold On To! Future" Transliteration: "Tsukami Tore! Mirai" (Japanese: つかみとれ! 未来) | Takeshi Yagi | Chiaki J. Konaka | March 25, 2006 |
40 | "Special Finale -To the Ultra Future-" Transliteration: "Supesharu Fināre -Urutora no Mirai e-" (Japanese: スペシャルフィナーレ ~ウルトラの未来へ~) | Takeshi Yagi | Yūji Kobayashi | April 1, 2006 |
Super Battle Special
editAfter the broadcast of Ultraman Max, an eight-minute special was released on DVD. This special was a five-minute clip show giving a review of Ultraman Max's back-story and primary attacks up until Ultraman Xenon gives him the Max Galaxy. After the clip show, the monster Red King attacks Max with Zetton shortly joining in. The special ends with Max defeating both of them.
Cast
edit- Kaito Touma (トウマ・カイト, Tōma Kaito): Sōta Aoyama (青山 草太, Aoyama Sōta)
- Shigeru Hijikata (ヒジカタ・シゲル, Hijikata Shigeru): Kai Shishido (宍戸 開, Shishido Kai)
- Mizuki Koishikawa (コイシカワ・ミズキ, Koishikawa Mizuki): Hitomi Hasebe (長谷部 瞳, Hasebe Hitomi)
- Kenjiro Koba (コバ・ケンジロウ, Koba Kenjirō): Nobuyuki Ogawa (小川 信行, Ogawa Nobuyuki)
- Sean White (ショーン・ホワイト, Shōn Howaito): Sean Nichols (ショーン・ニコルス, Shōn Nikorusu)
- Elly (エリー, Erī): Hikari Mitsushima (満島 ひかり, Mitsushima Hikari)
- Kenzo Tomioka (トミオカ・ケンゾウ, Tomioka Kenzō): Susumu Kurobe (黒部 進, Kurobe Susumu)
- Yukari Yoshinaga (ヨシナガ・ユカリ, Yoshinaga Yukari): Hiroko Sakurai (桜井 浩子, Sakurai Hiroko)
- Ultraman Max (ウルトラマンマックス, Urutoraman Makkusu, Voice): Kazuya Nakai (中井 和哉, Nakai Kazuya)
- Narrator: Shirō Sano (佐野 史郎, Sano Shirō)
Guest cast
edit- Mitsugu Shindō (進藤 貢, Shindō Mitsugu, 5,6): Yukijirō Hotaru (螢雪次朗, Hotaru Yukijirō)
- Kesam (ケサム, Kesamu, 7): Kenzaburo Kikuchi (菊地 謙三郎, Kikuchi Kenzaburo)
- Natsumi Oda (小田 夏美, Oda Natsumi, 13, 14): Nao Nagasawa (長澤 奈央, Nagasawa Nao)
- Ultraman Xenon (ウルトラマンゼノン, Urutoraman Zenon, 13, 39): Osamu Ryutani (龍谷 修武, Ryūtani Osamu)
- Nina (ニーナ, Nīna, 17): Saki Kamiryo (上良 早紀, Kamiryō Saki)
- Dr. Takeru Ozaki (オザキタケル博士, Ozaki Takeru hakase, 19): Kohji Moritsugu (森次 晃嗣, Moritsugu Kōji)
- Alien Tarla (ターラ星人, Tāra Seijin, 19): Alexander Otsuka (アレクサンダー大塚, Arukezandā Ōtsuka)
- Hatsuki Yamaguchi (山口 初子, Yamaguchi Hatsuko, 20): Miyoko Yoshimoto (芳本美代子, Yoshimoto Miyoko)
- Takeo Yamaguchi (山口 武雄, Yamaguchi Takeo, 20): Joe Onodera (小野寺 丈, Onodera Jō)
- Ikuo Hasunuma (蓮沼 征夫, Hasunuma Ikuo, 22): Renji Ishibashi (石橋 蓮司, Ishibashi Renji)
- Akihiro Saeki (佐伯昭宏監督, Saeki Akihiro, 22): Taro Suwa (諏訪太朗, Suwa Taro)
- Dr. Date (ダテ博士, Date hakase, 23, 31, 34, 38): Masanari Nihei (二瓶 正也, Nihei Masanari)
- Yōjirō Matsunaga (松永 要二郎, Matsunaga Yōjirō, 24): Masami Horiuchi (堀内 正美, Horiuchi Masami)
- Alien Metron (メトロン星人, Metoron Seijin, 24): Minori Terada (寺田 農, Terada Minori)
- Alien Neril "Keef" (ネリル星人キーフ, Neriru Seijin Kīfu, 25): Gamon Kaai (河相 我聞, Kaai Gamon)
- Ririka (リリカ, 28): Mai Saitō (斉藤 麻衣, Saitō Mai)
- Kousei Ueda (上田 耕生, Ueda Kōsei, 29): Shoichiro Akaboshi (赤星 昇一郎, Akaboshi Shōichirō)
- Kenji Sahashi (佐橋 健児, Sahashi Kenji, 29): Kenji Sahara (佐原 健二, Sahara Kenji)
- Yasuhiko Saigo (西郷 保彦, Saigō Yasuhiko, 29): Yasuhiko Saijo (西條 康彦, Saijō Yasuhiko)
- Doctor (30): Kunio Masuoka (正岡邦夫, Masuoka Kunio)
- Kerus (ケルス, Kerusu, 32): Ryohei (涼平, Ryōhei)
- Security Guard (33): Sandayū Dokumamushi (毒蝮 三太夫, Dokumamushi Sandayū)
- Unnamed police officer (33, 34): Ryu Manatsu (真夏 竜, Manatsu Ryū)
- Evacuee (36): Hidenori Tokuyama (徳山 秀典, Tokuyama Hidenori, Uncredited)
- Kazuya Narimiya (成宮 和也, Narumiya Kazuya, 37): Nagare Hagiwara (萩原 流行, Hagiwara Nagare)
Songs
edit- Opening theme
- "Ultraman Max" (ウルトラマンマックス, Urutoraman Makkusu)
- Lyrics: Neko Oikawa (及川 眠子, Oikawa Neko)
- Composition & Arrangement: Yasuharu Takanashi (高梨 康治, Takanashi Yasuharu)
- Artist: TEAM DASH with Project DMM
- Insert songs
- "NO LIMITED"
- Lyrics, Composition, & Arrangement: Kazuya Daimon (大門 一也, Daimon Kazuya)
- Artist: Project DMM
- "Ultra miracle"
- Lyrics, composition, arrangement: Daimon Kazuya
- Artist: Project DMM
- "NOT SO BAD"
- Lyrics and composition: Yoshihiro Takahashi
- Arrangement: ACTION
- Artist: BAD SCANNERS (ACTION)
- "Goodbye song"
- Arrangement: Kuniaki Kuwashima
- "Chocho"
- Arrangement: Toru Fuyuki
- Artist: Yukari Oshima
- "Red Dragonfly"
- Arrangement: Toru Fuyuki
- Artist: Yukari Oshima
- "TO THE MAX"
- Artist: Project DMM
Home media
editIn 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 Max, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu.[6]
The series was later released in the United States on DVD in January 22, 2023 by Mill Creek Entertainment.
References
edit- ^ "Crunchyroll to Stream "BONJOUR♪Sweet Love Patisserie" Anime and "Ultraman Max"". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2014-10-10.
- ^ "TOKU premiere of Ultraman Max". TOKU on Twitter. Archived from the original on 2017-02-05. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
- ^ "TOKU Announces the Network Premiere of Ultraman Max". Anime News Network. 2017-02-07. Archived from the original on 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
- ^ "Premieres are coming to TOKU in February!". TOKU on Youtube. Retrieved 2017-01-27.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ "TOKU to Premiere Ultraman Max Series With English Dub". Anime News Network. 2017-02-08. Archived from the original on 2017-02-08. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
- ^ Patrick Frater (July 10, 2020). "Shout! Factory Strikes 'Ultraman' Digital Distribution Deal With Mill Creek". Variety. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.