Ultraman: Rising
A 2024 animated Ultraman film about parenting and heroism.
Ultraman: Rising is a 2024 animated superhero movie from the Ultraman franchise owned by Tsuburaya Productions. It was co-produced by Netflix Animation Studios and Tsuburaya Productions, with animation handled by Industrial Light & Magic. This marks the 33rd film in the franchise. Shannon Tindle made his feature directorial debut with this film, co-wrote the script with Marc Haimes, and co-directed alongside John Aoshima. Christopher Sean voices Ken Sato, also known as Ultraman, with additional voice work from Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young, and Julia Harriman. The film premiered globally on Netflix on June 14, 2024, and received positive reviews, with critics praising the animation, writing, and voice performances, especially Sean’s.
The story follows Kenji “Ken” Sato, a professional baseball player who leaves the U.S. just before a championship to return to Japan. Reporter Ami Wakita suspects unfinished family business, but the real reason is that Ken’s father, Professor Hayao Sato, is the original Ultraman. Ken inherited his father’s powers and reluctantly became the giant hero Ultraman, tasked with keeping kaiju in check. After a fight with the kaiju Neronga, Ken feels unappreciated due to public complaints and vents that he never wanted this role, while also missing his mother Emiko, who has recently vanished.
Dr. Onda, head of the Kaiju Defense Force (KDF), holds a grudge against Ultraman and kaiju. He monitors a transport team carrying a secret package during Ken’s first baseball game. The team is attacked near the stadium by the bird-like kaiju Gigantron, and Ken fights both her and the KDF. Gigantron collapses on the package, which turns out to be her egg. The egg hatches into an infant Gigantron, forcing Ultraman to take the baby before the KDF can kill it.
The infant imprints on Ken as its parent. He reluctantly raises it with help from his AI assistant Mina, gradually growing attached. Refusing his father’s help due to their strained relationship, Ken struggles to balance his baseball career and parenting. He asks Ami, a parent herself, for advice. She tells him that despite the difficulties, parenthood can be rewarding.
One night, Ken leaves an interview with Ami when the infant Gigantron escapes into Tokyo. Onda demands Ken hand her over, but Ken refuses and accidentally injures her shoulder while saving her. He takes
- Release date
- June 14, 2024
- Director
- Shannon Tindle
- Co-director
- John Aoshima
- Studio
- Netflix Animation Studios, Tsuburaya Productions
- Animation by
- Industrial Light & Magic
- Franchise
- Ultraman
- Film number
- 33rd
Lore & Background
The film follows professional baseball player Kenji 'Ken' Sato, who returns to Japan from the United States and reluctantly takes on the mantle of Ultraman, a giant superhero who fights kaiju. After a battle with the kaiju Neronga, Ken feels underappreciated and vents that he never wanted to be Ultraman. He later encounters the kaiju Gigantron, whose egg hatches into an infant Gigantron that imprints on him as its parent. Ken raises the infant, named Emi, with help from his AI assistant Mina, while struggling with his baseball career and parental duties. He eventually reconciles with his estranged father, Hayao Sato, the original Ultraman, and together they face the Kaiju Defense Force and its leader Dr. Onda, who seeks to eliminate all kaiju.
Reader's Guide
Ultraman: Rising is significant as the 33rd film in the long-running Ultraman franchise and as a Japanese-American co-production that brought together Netflix Animation and Tsuburaya Productions with Industrial Light & Magic handling animation. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its animation, writing, and voice performances, particularly Christopher Sean as Ken Sato. On Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 49 critics' reviews were positive, with an average rating of 7.2/10, and the consensus called it 'a colorful romp fit for the whole family.' Metacritic assigned a score of 66 out of 100, indicating 'generally favorable' reviews. The film's legacy lies in its unique blend of superhero action with themes of parenthood and family reconciliation, expanding the Ultraman mythos for a new generation.
Did You Know?
- The film was inspired by an original idea Shannon Tindle developed while working on Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends in the mid-to-late 2000s.
- The infant kaiju is named Emi after Ken's mother Emiko.
- The film premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 12, 2024.
- In a mid-credits scene, Emiko contacts Ken for help, revealed to be stuck on the Ultra's home planet in Nebula M78.
More in Ultra Series films 1-24
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