Ultraman Nexus
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| Ultraman Nexus | |
|---|---|
 Original poster design |
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| Directed by | Kazuya Konaka Miki Nemoto Tsugumi Kitaura Yuichi Abe Takeshi Yagi Naoki Ohara |
| Produced by | Takeshi Okazaki Hiroyasu Shibuya Tahei Yamanishi Tsuburaya Productions |
| Written by | Keiichi Hasegawa Kenichi Araki Masanao Akahoshi Murai Sadayuki Ai Ota |
| Starring | Takuji Kawakubo Yusuke Kirishima Masato Uchiyama Yasue Sato Tamotsu Ishibashi Kousei Kato Keiko Goto |
| Music by | Kenji Kawai |
| Distributed by | Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting |
| Release date(s) | October 2, 2004 (Japan) |
| Running time | Approx. 24 mins per episode |
| Language | Japanese |
| Preceded by | Ultraman (2004 film) |
| Followed by | Ultraman Max |
| IMDb profile | |
Ultraman Nexus (ウルトラマンネクサス, Urutoraman Nekusasu) was produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting. It was the 18th entry in the Ultra Series, and the 14th Tsuburaya-produced Ultraman show. The series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System, including TBS, CBC, MBS, etc. The show ran from October 2, 2004 until June 25, 2005, with a total of 37 broadcast episodes. Subsequent DVD releases from Bandai Visual saw a brand new 45-minute Episode EX and an extended 45-minute Directors Cut of Episode 29.
Ultraman Nexus was part of Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra N Project, an experiment in 2004 to re-invent Ultraman for a new generation of fans. Prior to this however, Tsuburaya had begun a project called Ultra Collaboration 2 at the end of 2003, which involved a brand new radio-adaptation of Ultra Q called The Ultra Q Club. The project was also due to include a new TV series called Ultraman Noa in early 2004, which is presumably what Ultraman Nexus evolved into. Following the success of the new radio show, Tsuburaya forged ahead with a brand new television series Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy on April 6, 2004, a show which attracted top-rung directors such as Shusuke Kaneko (popular with fans for his work on the Gamera series and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack).
The first stage of the Ultra N Project was entitled Noa: Nostalgia. The project mascot, Ultraman Noa, was a rather radical change design - an all-silver Ultraman with protruding wings on its back. Ultraman Noa was mainly used for live stage shows and merchandising. The second stage of the project was Next: Evolution. This saw the creation of a new theatrical film, ULTRAMAN. The final stage was Nexus: Trinity - the piece that ties the entire project together. A radical change from the prior Ultraman Cosmos series, which was strictly aimed at small children, Ultraman Nexus is a much darker, grittier take on Japan's favorite super-hero. The traditional monster-of-the-week stories were replaced with much longer, character-based story arcs. Tsuburaya Productions had intended the show to be run during primetime, but the CBC network gave the show a 7:30 AM Saturday morning slot. This lead to children being confused about the sudden change in style and the target audience wasn't tuning at that time in the morning. The series performed under expectations, which resulted in the series being cut short from around 50 episodes down to 37.
What is unusual about this show is that three months after it finished airing, it was picked up for another time slot. This time the show aired at 2:30 AM on Tuesday mornings, these ratings, while not the best, met the expectations that were set for the Ultra N Project. Following the movie ULTRAMAN, Tsuburaya ran a teaser trailer for Ultraman 2 Requiem. Due to the performance of Ultraman Nexus the film was cancelled, and Tsuburaya have moved ahead with a theatrical version of the current television series, Ultraman Mebius.
Contents |
[edit] Story
Earth is in a secret war against the mysterious Space Beasts, unknown organisms which feed on human beings. TLT, a top-secret international defense organization, was humanity's last hope against the Space Beasts. The story revolves around, and is generally narrated by KOMON Kazuki, a new recruit to the TLT's battle team, Night Raider. On his way to the TLT Headquarters, Komon is attacked by a Space Beast. Luckily, he is saved by a mysterious giant, known as Ultraman Nexus. As Komon steps deeper into the true reality unknown to other people, mysteries surrounding the Ultraman and his mysterious foes will be revealed… Humanity's final fate will be determined by the bond of Light, Nexus.
[edit] Characters
[edit] TLT (Terrestrial Liberation Trust) 地球解放機構
Terrestrial Liberation Trust (TLT, pronounced as "Tilt") is a clandestine global, non-government organization set up to investigate, research and defeat the “SPACE BEAST” threat. Japan’s TLT (TLT-J) branch is hidden under a hydroelectric dam found in the mountainous Kanto region (eastern Japan). The main teams of TLT are Night Raider, Memory Police (who erase the memories of civilians involved in any Night Raider missions or witnessing any Space Beast attacks) and White Sweeper, who are involved in clean-up.
[edit] Night Raider (ナイトレイダー)
The elite defense team united under TLT. The team responsible in eliminating Space Beasts.
- KOMON Kazuki (孤門一輝)- The main character of the series. Komon is a kind-hearted, straightforward person who is always willing to help others. Before he was recruited by TLT, Komon was from a rescue team. When Komon was a child, he fell into a river and almost drowned, only to be rescued by a mysterious person he believes to be an alien. Because of the incident, Komon decided to help others and joining Night Raider was a good opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, reality is not what it seems… the truth is a road to nowhere… Komon will now have to fight against the forces of darkness… he is later revealed to be the last Dunamist (see below) and battles as Ultraman Noa.
- SAIJYO Nagi (西条凪)- The deputy leader of Night Raider. She is very strict, especially to Komon and can be quite brutal in certain situations. She hates Space Beasts, stemming from incidents regarding her childhood and her former lover Mizorogi Shinya. When she was younger, her mother was murdered by a Space Beast. After she joined Night Raider to fulfill her vow to destroy the beings that killed her mother, she met and eventually fell in love with Mizorogi Shinya, the former deputy leader of Night Raider. When Mizorogi fell to the dark side, she deepened her hatred and was willing to do anything to bring a Space Beast down.
- WAKURA Eisuke (和倉英輔)- The captain of Night Raider. A good leader and takes action effectively in any situation. He cares for his teammates and well trusted by them. Although his motto is to follow orders, he will take necessary action if it means to protect others. A brother figure towards Komon, he provides wisdom to the new recruit.
- HIRAKI Shiori (平木詩織)- A female in the Night Raider team. Although she looks pretty and cute, she is an expert in weapons and can be very strong and helpful during missions. She has a good personal relationship with Ishibori Mitsuhiko.
- ISHIBORI Mitsuhiko (石堀光彦)- The analyzer and tactician of the team and an expert in computers. Unknown to everyone, he keeps a very dark secret--he is Dark Zagi in disguise (see below).
[edit] The Dunamists (デュナミスト)
- HIMEYA Jun (姫矢准) - The second Dunamist, a human who can bond with the Light to become Ultraman Nexus (using a wand-like device called the Evolthruster). He is a serious, somewhat brooding individual, not given to trusting institutions such as the Night Raiders. He eventually strikes up some sort of kinship with Komon, rescuing him from danger a few times.
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- Himeya was a photo journalist, specialising in war photos. During one assignment (presumably somewhere in SE Asia), he was injured and subsequently treated by an orphan named Sara. Sadly, Sara was caught up in armed conflict, and was killed as she rushed towards Himeya. Distraught, Himeya returned, full of regret -- ironically, that collection of pictures shot him to fame. After the incident, Himeya encountered the Light, possibly through the first Dunamist, First Lieutenant Shunichi Maki of the Japanese Air Force (see ULTRAMAN theatrical feature). Trying to make up for what he was unable to do in the past, Himeya uses the power of the light to protect humanity and battles the Space Beast, sacrificing everything within battle.
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- Ultraman Nexus' default Anphans mode is a silver & gray. However, Anphans is able to transform into a red, black and silver mode known as Junis Red using the cuffs on his wrists, known as the Armed Nexus. Nexus Junis is then able to create a Meta-Field—a dome of light that transports himself and any opponent to an alternate dimension so that he can safely battle without causing damage to the surroundings. Analysis showed later that the Metafield was actually a manifestation of Himeya's physical body, which was why every battle affected him so greatly and continued to weaken him. His ultimate attack is the Over Ray Strom. During a climactic battle with Dark Mephisto, Himeya is presumed to have died, but is later shown at the end of the series very much alive and well.
- SENJU Ren (千樹憐) - The third Dunamist, Ren receives the Light after the disappearance of Himeya. Outwardly, he is cheerful, optimistic and simple to the point of ditzy -- this, however, conceals his past experiences.
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- Ren is not a normal human, but rather a 'son of Prometheus': a human created through genetic engineering under the flag of "Prometheus Project" (an experiment performed in Dallas, Texas in the USA). He has faster reflexes, physical strength and ESP powers than a normal human. However, Ren suffers from a genetic unbalance of his DNA which basically cut his lifespan to 17-18 years. His only hope to prolong his life is a drug known only as 'Raphael'. Running away from the institute in Dallas, Ren comes to Japan hoping to live his last days as a 'normal' human, but instead encounters the Light and becomes Nexus' third Dunamist.
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- After Ren takes on the mantle of Dunamist, Nexus' Junis form is significantly modified to become a faster, sleeker Junis Blue. His primary attacks are the Strom Sword, Arrow Ray Strom and Over Arrow Ray Strom, deadly beams of light fired from his Armed Nexus.
Ultraman Nexus Modes
- Anphans: Anphans mode is completely silver, save for the Nexus series color timer. Anphans grants the user all of the most basic powers. Anphans is also the form that is always present when first transforming. All other modes must be shifted to instead of appearing automatically.
NOTE: This Anphans is different from the Anphans Next in Ultraman The Next. It has become significantly less rough and the insect like spines are missing.
- Junis: Junis mode resembles most of the other Ultras. It is mostly red, with other color patches on the arms, legs, and torso. Junis mode also grants the user the most abilities of all modes.
NOTE; This Junis is not the same as the Junis Next in Ultraman The Next.
- Junis Blue: Junis Blue mode is simply a blue version of Junis. It has all the powers of Junis, plus three more
- Ultraman Noa: Ultraman Noa is the final form of Ultraman Nexus. Ultraman Noa is entirely silver and sports two large wing like structors on the back. Ultraman Noa has three very powerful attacks; Lightning Noa, Noa Spark, and Noa Inferno. Ultraman Noa is obtained shortly after merging with the fifth and final Dunamist.
[edit] The Dark Side
- SAIDA Riko (斉田リコ)/Dark Faust - Komon's kind-hearted artist girlfriend. Later, it is revealed that she had actually died long before she'd met Komon, when her family was attacked by the Space Beast Nosphil. Mizorogi arrived on the scene, but turned around and shot her instead. She was resurrected to become a pawn of the darkness, unwittingly serving as the human form for Dark Faust, Nexus' first dark foe. However, in the end, Riko's consciousness won out during a battle with Nosphil where Komon became trapped in the Metafield, and s/he shielded him with his/her body against an attack. The revelation that Riko was Faust and her death shook Komon considerably, and he took a long time to recover.
- MIZOROGI Shinya (溝呂木眞也)/Dark Mephisto - The former deputy captain of the Night Raiders, who went missing in AD 2008 during a mission with Nagi, also his former girlfriend. In actuality, Mizorogi had been (forcibly) merged with the Dark Giant known as Dark Mephisto. He is portrayed as cruel and manipulative, playing mind games with Komon and other people and seeming to take delight in antagonising Nagi, his ex-girlfriend, as well. Using the Dark-Thruster, Mizorogi can transform into Dark Mephisto as the most frequently appearing arch-enemy of Nexus. Dark Mephisto is able to generate the 'Dark Field', which neutralises the effects of the Metafield and gives him an advantage in battle. In Nexus' climactic battle with Mephisto, it is presumed that both perished, but Mizorogi is found alive, although wounded and with absolutely no memory about Faust and his battles with Nexus. He had also lost the ability to become Mephisto, but when the Unknown Hand sends down Dark Mephisto Zwei against Junis Blue, Mizorogi transforms by force of will and holds Zwei down so that Nexus can destroy him. Both Mephistos perish, and Shinya dies in Nagi's arms.
- MISAWA Hiroyuki (三沢広之)/Dark Mephisto Zwei - Misawa is part of the Memory Police that fell under control of the Unknown Hand. Has the same powers as Dark Mephisto and only differs in eye color with Zwei being red instead of black.
- Unknown Hand - Described as unlimited darkness which controlled the dark giants and Space Beasts behind the scenes. It has the ability to generate a Dark Field G and power up Space Beasts. In the end of the series, its identity was revealed as Dark Zagi, Ishibori Mitsuhiko of the Night Raider. It was his intent was for Nagi to become the fourth Nexus because her hatred would be more than enough to feed the darkness to revive him. However, when Komon is allowed by the Light to merge not into another Ultraman Nexus, but Ultraman Noa, who fights Dark Zagi for humanity's sake. In the end, the light of Noa was great enough to vanquish the darkness.
[edit] Cast
- Takuji Kawakubo as Kazuki Komon
- Yusuke Kirishima as Jun Himeya
- Masato Uchiyama as Ren Senju
- Yasue Sato as Nagi Saijyo
- Tamotsu Ishibashi as Eisuke Wakura
- Kousei Kato as Mitsuhiko Ishibori
- Keiko Goto as Shiori Hiraki
- Nobuhiko Tanaka as Yu Kirasawa - "Illustrator"
- Shion Nakamaru as Riko Saida
- Mitsutoshi Shundo as Shinya Mizorogi
- Tomomi Miyashita as Mizuo Nonomiya
- Horiuchi Masami as Youichiruu Matsunaga
- Hiroshi Okouchi as Jinzou Negoro
- Hitomi Hidaka as Saya Shutou
- Hisataka Kitaoka as Hayato Kaimoto
- Yoshito Takeuchi as Hiroyuki Misawa
- Kenji Sahara as Tougou
[edit] Episode List
- Episode 01. YASHU - Night Raid - «夜襲 －ナイトレイド－»
- Episode 02. ISEIJU - Space Beast - «異生獣 －スペースビースト－»
- Episode 03. KYOJIN - Ultraman - «巨人 －ウルトラマン－»
- Episode 04. AKUKAN - Meta Field - «亜空間 －メタフィールド－»
- Episode 05. TEKINOSHA - Dunamist - «適能者 －デュナミスト－»
- Episode 06. ISEKI - Relic - «遺跡 －レリック－»
- Episode 07. MAJIN - Faust - «魔人 －ファウスト－»
- Episode 08. MP - Memory Police - « M・P －メモリーポリス－»
- Episode 09. KEIKOKU - Warning - «警告 －ワーニング－»
- Episode 10. TOTSUNYU - Strike Formation - «突入 －ストライク・フォーメーション－»
- Episode 11. NINGYO - Marionette - «人形 －マリオネット－»
- Episode 12. BETSURI - Lost Soul - «別離 －ロスト・ソウル－»
- Episode 13. YOCHISHA - Illustrator - «予知者 －イラストレーター－»
- Episode 14. AKUMA - Mephisto - «悪魔 －メフィスト－»
- Episode 15. AKUMU - Nightmare - «悪夢 －ナイトメア－»
- Episode 16. MEIRO - Labyrinth - «迷路 －ラビリンス－»
- Episode 17. YAMI - Darkness - «闇－ダークネス－»
- Episode 18. MOKUJIROKU - Apocalypse - «黙示録－アポカリプス－»
- Episode 19. YOGEKISEN - Cross Phase Trap - «要撃戦－クロスフェーズトラップ－»
- Episode 20. TSUIGEKI - Chrome Chester δ- «追撃－クロムチェスターδ－»
- Episode 21. JUNAN - Sacrifice - «受難－サクリファイス－»
- Episode 22. ANSOKU - Cure - «安息 －キュア－»
- Episode 23. SHUKUMEI - Satisfaction - «宿命－サティスファクション－»
- Episode 24. EIYU - Hero - «英雄－ヒーロー－»
- Episode 25. YOCHO - Prophecy - «予兆－プロフェシー－»
- Episode 26. REN - The Third - «憐－ザ・サード－»
- Episode 27. INORI - Prayer - «祈り－プレイヤー－»
- Episode 28. SAIKAI - Reunion - «再会－リユニオン－»
- Episode 29. YUSEI - Calling - «幽声－コーリング»
- Episode 29. YUSEI - Calling - Directors Cut - «幽声－コーリング-ディレクターズカット» (DVD Volume 8 / BCBS-2098)
- Episode 30. KANSHISHA - Watcher - «監視者―ウォッチャー－»
- Episode 31. TORI - Bird - «鳥―バード－»
- Episode EX. SHIORI - Lost Memories - «詩織 －ロストメモリーズ－» (DVD Volume 9 / BCBS-2099)
- Episode 32. KAGE - Unknown Hand - «影－アンノウンハンド－»
- Episode 33. BOKYAKU - AD 2004- «忘却 －ＡＤ２００４－»
- Episode 34. FUSA - AD 2009 - «封鎖－Ａ．Ｄ．２００９－»
- Episode 35. HANRAN - Revolt - «反乱－リボルト－»
- Episode 36. KESSEN - Farewell - «決戦－フェアウェル－»
- Final Episode. KIZUNA - Nexus - «絆－ネクサス»
[edit] Music
[edit] Opening Themes
[edit] Ending Themes
- "いつも心に太陽を" (Itsumo Kokoro ni Taiyou wo) by 三枝夕夏 IN db (U-ka saegusa IN db) (Eps. 1-13)
- "飛び立てない私にあなたが翼をくれた" (Tobitatenai Watashi ni Anata ga Tsubasa wo Kureta) by 三枝夕夏 IN db (U-ka saegusa IN db) (Eps. 14-25)
- "赤く熱い鼓動" (Akaku Atsui Kodou) by 愛内里菜 (Rina Aiuchi) (Eps. 26-36)
- "英雄" (Eiyuu) by doa (Ep. 37)
[edit] Video Game(s)
A video game based on the series was produced by Bandai for the PlayStation 2, under the name Ultraman Nexus.
[edit] Related Websites
- Ultraman-Nexus.com - English Fansite
- Ultraman Lah! Fansite
- Official Website (CBC)
- Official Website (TBS)
- Official Ultra N-Project Website
- Tsuburaya Station Web
| Ultra Series | |
| Showa era series: Ultraman | Seven | Return of | Ace | Taro | Leo | 80 | |
| Heisei era series: Tiga | Dyna | Gaia | Cosmos | Nexus | Max | Mebius | |
| Ultra Q: Ultra Q | Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy | |
| Specials: The Ultraman (anime) | Ultraman Neos (Direct-to-DVD) | |
| Movies: Zearth | ULTRAMAN | |
| Co-productions: The Adventure Begins (with USA) | Towards the Future (with Australia) | The Ultimate Hero (with USA) | |
