Ultraman
Common Sense says
- Netflix
- Kids' Animation
- 2019
Parents say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Ultraman is an anime series about the classic silver superhero. Its CG animation style uses motion-capture technology for action and fight scenes, making them particularly realistic-looking -- and, thus, possibly a bit intense for younger/more sensitive viewers. While the Ultraman franchise has been around since the 1960s, this particular series is an adaptation of the 2011 manga. Expect plenty of violence -- hand-to-hand combat, laser fights, and more -- complete with simulated blood and guts splattering. Aliens and monsters have epic battles with Ultraman; some are shown devouring humans and doing other disturbing things. There are positive messages about protecting the weak and honoring family legacies, but there's also a disappointing lack of agency among many of the female characters, who seem a bit underused in general. As with many anime series on Netflix, Ultraman can be viewed either with subtitles and Japanese audio or in a dubbed-English version (for that, Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson steps into the lead role as Shinjiro/Ultraman).
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What's the story?
ULTRAMAN is an anime series which updates and pays tribute to the 1960s live-action series from Japan. The original Ultraman series featured an oversized, silver-clad superhero -- who was actually a powerful alien fused with a human man, Shin Hayata, who served as a sort of "host" -- who protected the earth from gigantic monsters (kaiju), often battling them in somewhat cheesy-looking hand-to-hand combat. This series briefs viewers on Ultraman's origin story, introducing us to the now-retired Hayata (who has no memory of his earlier alien-fighting days) and his curiously resilient son Shinjiro, who seems to possess strange abilities his father cannot explain. As the series progresses and alien forces return to threaten the earth, Shinjiro's true destiny and powers come to light, and he takes the mantle of Ultraman -- though even with the help of the Science Special Search Party (nicknamed "Science Patrol"), the job may be tougher than he bargained for.
Is it any good?
This anime spin on a classic sci-fi franchise isn't just a nostalgia-fest -- it's a genuinely entertaining reboot, though fans should know the tone is grimmer and less goofy than the original. This version of Ultraman treats its characters as more nuanced and layered than the rubber-suited villains of the past: here, not all monsters are innately bad (some work alongside humans for the betterment of mankind), just as not all humans are good (there are some highly questionable things going on at Science Patrol). Pity, though, that female characters like giggly pop-star Rena get such short shrift, with a seemingly aimless romantic subplot for Shinjiro that fizzles out before it even gets going. Overall, though, the series does a wonderful job updating the Ultraman legend for a new generation, with some eye-popping and intense action scenes that really help the show come alive.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about Shinjiro's discovery that he has special powers, and how he adjusts to this knowledge. Was his father right to keep this a secret for so many years? What effect did this decision have on their relationship in Ultraman?
Discuss the role that the Science Special Search Party (aka "Science Patrol") plays in Shinjiro's life. Do the powers that be seem to have his best interests at heart?
Families can talk about anime. What's unique about this genre of animation?
TV details
- Premiere date: April 1, 2019
- Cast: Josh Hutcherson, D.C. Douglas, Gunnar Sizemore, Steve Blum
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- TV rating: TV-14
- Available on: Streaming
- Last updated: March 13, 2020
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