Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z
Film concluding Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga.
Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z is a 2022 Japanese superhero kaiju film that wraps up the 2021–22 live-action tokusatsu series Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga. It hit Japanese theaters on 18 March 2022 and also streamed on the pay-per-view platform Tsuburaya Imagination.
The story picks up two years after Kengo merged with the Eternity Core as Ultraman Trigger to stabilize it. GUTS-Select, now led by Ryuichi Tokioka, faces a fresh wave of kaiju attacks and investigates the Leyrah cult, a terrorist group aiming to revive the Ultra Ancient Civilization. The cult’s captured leader, Ibra (or Ibra-san), tells Yuna that the Eternity Core and Kengo are in danger. To save both, Yuna and GUTS-Select need Yuzare’s Ancient Sparklence and perform a ritual to extract Kengo from the core, scattering his Hyper Keys in the process. After a brief celebration, Ibra escapes and uses a Pagos to attack TPU headquarters. Ultraman Z and his host Haruki quickly defeat the kaiju, revealing they were tracking the alien parasite Celebro, who escaped STORAGE’s custody. Haruki and Z’s search led them to Kengo’s Earth, and the group deduces Celebro is hiding among the Leyrah cultists. They hunt for the cult and the Hyper Keys.
During the key hunt, Celebro and Ibra summon a Gazort and lure Haruki away after he gives Kengo the Multi Type key. Trigger regains the Sky Type and Power Type keys, then teams up with Z to destroy Deathdrago and Genegarg in a wrestling match. But Haruki is possessed by Celebro, who reveals himself and turns Ultraman Z into Z Red Damage. Celebro seemingly kills Tokioka and steals the Hyper Keys. Ignis arrives to spirit GUTS-Select away. The group reassembles and confronts the Leyrah cult during another ritual, where the true leader is revealed to be Tokioka, actually Yuzare’s comrade Zabil. Zabil explains that after witnessing Yuzare’s death, he decided humans must become “light” to protect themselves. He orchestrated events to steal Trigger’s light in anticipation of the Giants of Darkness’ return, allying with Celebro by promising the parasite could resume its Civilization Self-Destruction Game. Using Trigger’s Hyper Keys as conduits, Zabil sacrifices his followers to activate his Ancient Sparklence and transform into Evil Trigger, who overpowers Trigger Dark and GUTS-Select’s mechas with Z Red Damage.
Akito reclaims his gear to become Trigger again, and Tat
- Release year
- 2022
- Country
- Japan
- Genre
- Superhero kaiju film
- Director
- Not specified in source
- Production company
- Tsuburaya Productions
- Premiere date
- 18 March 2022
Lore & Background
Two years after Kengo merged into the Eternity Core as Ultraman Trigger to stabilize it, GUTS-Select and their new leader Ryuichi Tokioka deal with a new wave of Kaiju attacks before investigating the Leyrah cult. The cult seeks to restore the Ultra Ancient Civilization. The captured cult leader Ibra (or Ibra-san) relays a message about the Eternity Core and Kengo's impending doom to Yuna. To save both, GUTS-Select allies with Yuzare and uses the Ancient Sparklence to extract Kengo, scattering his Hyper Keys in the process. After a brief celebration, Ibra escapes and attacks TPU headquarters with a Pagos, which is defeated by Ultraman Z. Haruki and Z had been tracking the alien parasite Celebro, who escaped from STORAGE's captivity. The group deduces Celebro is hiding among the Leyrah cultists and searches for the Hyper Keys. During the hunt, Celebro and Ibra
Reader's Guide
Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z is significant as the concluding film of the Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga series, providing closure to the story of Kengo Manaka and GUTS-Select. It introduces the villain Evil Trigger, a dark counterpart to Ultraman Trigger, and features a crossover with Ultraman Z, continuing the narrative of the alien parasite Celebro from the Ultraman Z series. The film was first announced by Tsuburaya Productions on 13 December 2021 during the second Tsubucon stage announcement. Actor Kohshu Hirano, who voiced Haruki Natsukawa, noted that since Ultraman Z lacked a film adaptation, he hoped to leave his mark through this guest appearance. Voice actor Yūichi Nakamura acknowledged that the voice actor sharing his name was the voice of Ultraman X and added that he was 'mistakenly' picked for the role. The film was released in Japanese theaters and on Tsuburaya Imagination, a pay per view service exclusive to Japan, and later made available in select countries outside Japan via video on demand through Ultraman Connection, with subtitles in multiple languages including English, Thai, Indonesian, Malay, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Korean. Its legacy includes setting up the next Ultra Series entry, Decker, revealed in a post-credit scene.
Did You Know?
- The film was first announced by Tsuburaya Productions on 13 December 2021 during the second Tsubucon stage announcement.
- Actor Kohshu Hirano noted that since Ultraman Z lacked a film adaptation, he hoped to leave his mark through his guest appearance in this film.
- Voice actor Yūichi Nakamura acknowledged that the voice actor who shares his name was the voice of Ultraman X and added that he was 'mistakenly' picked for the role.
- The film's post-credit scene reveals the new Ultraman, Decker.
More in Ultra Series films 1-24
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