Ultraman: Rising

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.

Plot

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.