Ultraman Nexus
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 20th entry in the Ultra Series. 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. It is the third modern adaptation of Eiji Tsuburaya's Ultraman, with Ultraman Neos the second.
History
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 season, 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 previous series Ultraman Cosmos, which was strictly aimed at young children, Ultraman Nexus was the first Ultraman TV series specifically aimed at adults. The show abandons the traditional monster-of-the-week stories in order to be replaced with longer character-based story arcs. Tsuburaya Productions had intended the show to be run during prime time, but the CBC network gave the show a 7:30 AM Saturday morning slot once Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon ended its 49 episode run. The TV series received weak ratings which were attributed to the change in style and not being able to have the target demographic tune in, resulting in the series being cut short from around 50 episodes down to 37.
Three months after its initial run, it was re-run in a new time slot. This time the show aired at 2:30 AM on Tuesday mornings and the ratings met the expectations that were set for the Ultra N Project. Following the ULTRAMAN movie, Tsuburaya ran a teaser trailer for Ultraman 2 Requiem. Due to the performance of Ultraman Nexus the film was canceled, and Tsuburaya moved ahead with a theatrical version of the then-current television series, Ultraman Mebius.
Knowing that the Ultra N Project was intended to reboot the Ultra Series, it is worth noting that this is the third modern adaptation of Eiji Tsuburaya's Ultraman, with Ultraman Neos the second and Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero the first.
Story
The TLT is a covert international anti-monster unit established secretly to combat Space Beasts, mysterious monsters that are out to attack humans in the year 2009. One of the TLT's new recruits, Komon Kazuki, is attacked by one of them prior to reporting for duty. However, he is saved by a silver giant that he names "Ultraman". What no one knows is that the silver giant is an Ultraman--to be precise, Ultraman Nexus, ready to fight the Space Beasts to save the planet Earth.
Characters
TLT (Terrestrial Liberation Trust)
The Terrestrial Liberation Trust (地球解放機構, Chikyū Kaihō Kikō?) or TLT (ティルト, Tiruto?) is a clandestine global, non-government organization set up to investigate, research and defeat the "Space Beast" (スペースビースト, Supēsu Bīsuto?) 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 the Night Raiders, 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.
Night Raiders
Night Raiders (ナイトレイダー, Naito Reidā?) is the elite defense team united under TLT. The team responsible in eliminating Space Beasts.
- Kazuki Komon (孤門 一輝, Komon Kazuki?): The main character of the series, and sometimes narrator of the series, as we watch events unfold through his eyes. 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 the Night Raiders was a good opportunity to do so. He is later revealed to be the last Dunamist chosen by The Light. Because of his interaction with the first two Dunamists enable him to inherit their light, during his battle against Dark Zagi not only he was able to switch to both Junis and Junis Blue modes, but he was able to evolve into his ultimate form: Ultraman Noa.
- Nagi Saijyo (西条 凪, Saijō Nagi?): The deputy leader of the Night Raiders. 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 Shinya Mizorogi, the former deputy leader of the team. When she was younger, her mother was murdered by a Space Beast (In the end revealed as Dark Zagi in human form). After she joined the Night Raiders 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 down a Space Beast, which she does not know that the hatred is actually a trap set up by Dark Zagi to make her surrender all of the light to him when she becomes a Dunamist. In final, she was saved by Komon when the darkness try to devour her.
- Eisuke Wakura (和倉 英輔, Wakura Eisuke?): The captain of the Night Raiders. He is 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. He is a brother figure towards Komon who provides wisdom to the new recruit.
- Shiori Hiraki (平木 詩織, Hiraki Shiori?): 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 Mitsuhiko Ishibori. After Nagi becomes the fourth Dunamist in the final episode, Shiori is shot by Ishibori when he reveals himself as Dark Zagi to the team, but is later shown defending people with rest of the Night Raiders from Beasts in the closing scenes of the series.
- Mitsuhiko Ishibori (石堀 光彦, Ishibori Mitsuhiko?): The analyzer and tactician of the team and an expert in computers. Unknown to everyone, he is Dark Zagi in disguise (see below). 18 years ago, Dark Zagi, in the form of a blue light similar to The One, possessed a man called Ishizaki Ichi to use him to execute his plan. First, he killed Nagi's mother to plant hatred into Nagi's heart. Then, he joined the Night Raider so that he can see the progress of the plan more easily. Then, he used Mizorogi and Riko to deepen the hatred of Nagi and plant hopelessness into Komon's heart (this failed thanks to Himeya). Then, when Mizorogi is defeated, he deleted the data of the Ultraman so that to render the destructive beam useless. Finally, when Nagi become a Dunamist, every part of his plan come into place: the hatred of Nagi and the fear of Lethe towards Dark Zagi have resonated and turn all of the light of Ultraman Nexus into darkness, making the reviving of Dark Zagi successful.
The Dunamists
The Dunamists (デュナミスト, Dyunamisuto?) are humans who can bond with the Light to become Ultraman Nexus, using a wand-like device called the Evoltruster (エボルトラスター, Eborutorasutā?).
The first Dunamist, First Lieutenant Shunichi Maki of the Japanese Air Force can be seen in ULTRAMAN theatrical feature and is mentioned a few times during the series run by both Matsunaga and Sara Mizuhara.
- Jun Himeya (姫矢 准, Himeya Jun?): The second Dunamist. 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. Himeya was a photo journalist, specializing in war photos. During one assignment (presumably somewhere in South East Asia), he was injured and subsequently treated by an orphan named Sera. Sadly, Sera was caught up in armed conflict, and was killed as she rushed towards Himeya. Distraught, Himeya returned, full of regret, but ironically that collection of pictures shot him to fame. After the incident, Himeya encountered the Light. 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 Beasts, sacrificing everything within battle. During a climactic battle with Dark Mephisto, Himeya is presumed to have died, but was later shown at the end of the series very much alive and well.
- Ren Senjyu (千樹 憐, Senjū Ren?): The third Dunamist, Ren receives the Light after the disappearance of Himeya. Outwardly, he is cheerful, optimistic and simple to the point of ditsy — this, however, conceals his past experiences. 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 that is more powerful than a normal human. However, Ren suffers from a genetic unbalance of his DNA which is basically cutting 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. 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 Storm Sword, Arrow Ray Storm and Over Arrow Ray Storm, deadly beams of light fired from his Armed Nexus. By the end of the series, Ren survives and presumably continues to live a normal life in Japan.
- Nagi Saijyo (西条 凪, Saijō Nagi?): The fourth Dunamist, see above and below sections for information.
- Kazuki Komon (孤門 一輝, Komon Kazuki?): The fifth and last Dunamist, see above and below sections for information.
Others
- Yu Kirasawa (吉良沢 優, Kirasawa Yū?): called the "Illustrator" (イラストレーター, Irasutorētā?), he is the TLT's strategist, usually coordinating the Night Raiders' operations against the Space Beasts as part of the CIC (Combat Information Center) Appearing in the form of a hologram, he knows more about the Space Beasts and Nexus than he seems to. It is eventually revealed that he is also a son of Prometheus, like Ren, and lived in the same facility with him in Dallas. When Ren was caught trying to run away from the place, he gives Kirasawa a rope necklace.
- Yōichirō Matsunaga (松永 要一郎, Matsunaga Yōichirō?): TLT's director. It was revealed later in the series that his wife was one of the casualties during the battle between Ultraman and The One 5 years prior. In order to better protect the planet from the threat posed by the Space Beasts, he wishes to know the secrets of the Light, Ultraman, and the Dunamists.
Ultraman Nexus' modes
- Anphans (アンファンス, Anfansu?): Anphans mode is Ultraman Nexus's default mode, completely silver and grey save for the 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 and usually used by any Dunamists. Along with being Nexus' most basic form, he also has a limited amount of time to fight in this mode. Anphans mode's finishing attack is a beam fired from the Color Timer on Ultraman's chest.
- Junis (ジュネッス, Junessu?) (2-25),(37): Junis mode resembles most of the other Ultras. It is mostly red, with silver and black patches on the arms, legs, and torso and a classic Color Timer on the chest. Junis mode also grants the user additional abilities and is usually used by Jun Himeya. When in this mode, Nexus is able to create the 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 their surroundings. The analysis showed later that the Meta Field is actually a manifestation of the host's physical body, which was why every battle affected Himeya so greatly and continued to weaken him. Ren, due to his nature as a son of Prometheus, is not weakened by the Meta Field manifestation. Junis mode's ultimate attack is the Over Ray Storm, an L-shape beam attack fired from Nexus' right forearm .
- Junis Blue (ジュネッスブルー, Junessu Burū?) (26-37): Junis Blue mode is a blue version of Junis, generally sleeker in appearance and overall faster and more agile than the previous modes. It has all the powers of Junis, plus three more and is primarily used by Ren Senjyu. Junis Blue's finisher is Over Arrow Ray Storm, a narrow beam fired from an energy bow created from the Armed Nexus on Ultraman's forearm.
- Ultraman Noa (ウルトラマンノア, Urutoraman Noa?) (37): Ultraman Noa is the final form of Ultraman Nexus and is the original form, called "Ultimate Final Style" of Ultraman Nexus. Ultraman Noa is entirely silver aside from the now-glowing Color Timer on his chest and sports two large wing like structures on his back. Ultraman Noa has three very powerful attacks; Lightning Noa, Noa Spark, and Noa Inferno. Ultraman Noa is obtained shortly after merging with the fourth and the fifth Dunamists. Komon is the only Dunamist out of the five to have transformed into this mode to battle Dark Zagi in the final episode. It later appears in Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial. This form was previously referred in original Ultraman Series.
The Dark Side
- Riko Saida (斉田リコ, Saida Riko?)/Dark Faustus (ダークファウスト, Dăku Fausuto?): Komon's kind-hearted artist girlfriend. It was later revealed that she had actually died at the day she met Komon, when her family was attacked by the Space Beast Nosferu. 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 enemy. However in the end, Riko's consciousness won out during a battle with Nosferu where Komon became trapped in the Meta Field, and she shielded him with his/her body against an attack. The revelation that Riko was Faust and her death shocked Komon considerably, and he took a long time to recover.
- Shinya Mizorogi (溝呂木眞也, Mizorogi Shinya?)/Dark Mephistopheles (ダークメフィスト, Dāku Mefisuto?): The former deputy captain of the Night Raiders, who went missing in 2008 during a mission with Nagi, also his former girlfriend. In reality, Mizorogi had 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 antagonizing Nagi, his ex-girlfriend, as well. Using the Dark Evolver, Mizorogi can transform into Dark Mephisto as the most frequently appearing enemy of Nexus. Dark Mephisto is able to generate the Dark Field, which neutralizes the effects of the Meta Field 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. Eventually he discovers that he has been nothing but a pawn himself, manipulated by the Unknown Hand to become Dark Mephisto just as he manipulated Riko to become Dark Faust. He had also lost the ability to become Mephisto, but when the Unknown Hand sends down Dark Mephisto Zwei against Junis Blue, Mizorogi gets his chance at redemption, transforming by force of will back to Mephisto, and holds Zwei down so that Nexus can destroy him. Both Mephistos perished, and Shinya dies in Nagi's arms, and he reminded her that the traitor (Dark Zagi) is among them.
- Hiroyuki Misawa (三沢広之, Misawa Hiroyuki?)/Dark Mephisto Zwei (ダークメフィストツヴァイ, Dāku Mefisuto Tsuvai?): He was part of the Memory Police that fell under control of the Unknown Hand. He has the same powers as Dark Mephisto and only differs in eye color with Zwei being red instead of black. Thanks to the interference of the original Dark Mephisto, now on the side of good, Zwei is destroyed by Nexus.
- Unknown Hand (アンノウンハンド, An'nōn Hando?): It is described as the unlimited darkness which controlled the Dark Giants and Space Beasts behind the scenes. It has the ability to generate a Dark Field G and it can power up Space Beasts. In the end of the series, its identity was revealed as Dark Zagi (ダークザギ, Dāku Zagi?), Mitsuhiko Ishibori of the Night Raiders. Dark Zagi eventually took his true form and assaulted the city before being confronted by Nexus. While Zagi was able to hold off Nexus' physical attacks and even deflect all his finishing attacks with his bare hands, Ultraman Nexus eventually evolves into Ultraman Noa. Noa proves to be too powerful for Dark Zagi to contend with and Zagi is literally blasted into space. Noa fires his Lightning Noa attack and Zagi attempts to counter with his own beam but is overpowered and finally killed in a huge explosion.
Episodes
- Episode.01: Night Raid (夜襲－ナイトレイド－, Yashū -Naito Reido-?)
- Episode.02: Space Beast (異生獣－スペースビースト－, Iseijū -Supēsu Bīsuto-?)
- Episode.03: Ultraman (巨人－ウルトラマン－, Kyojin -Urutoraman-?)
- Episode.04: Meta Field (亜空間－メタフィールド－, Akūkan -Meta Fīrudo-?)
- Episode.05: Dunamist (適能者－デュナミスト－, Tekinōsha -Dyunamisuto-?)
- Episode.06: Relic (遺跡－レリック－, Iseki -Rerikku-?)
- Episode.07: Faust (魔人－ファウスト－, Majin -Fausuto-?)
- Episode.08: Memory Police (M・P－メモリーポリス－, Emu Pī -Memorī Porisu-?)
- Episode.09: Warning (警告－ワーニング－, Keikoku -Wāningu-?)
- Episode.10: Strike Formation (突入－ストライク・フォーメーション－, Totsunyū -Sutoraiku Fōmēshon-?)
- Episode.11: Marionette (人形－マリオネット－, Ningyō -Marionetto-?)
- Episode.12: Lost Soul (別離－ロスト・ソウル－, Betsuri -Rosuto Sōru?)
- Episode.13: Illustrator (予知者－イラストレーター－, Yochisha -Irasutorētā?)
- Episode.14: Mephisto (悪魔－メフィスト－, Akuma -Mefisuto-?)
- Episode.15: Nightmare (悪夢－ナイトメア－, Akumu -Naitomea-?)
- Episode.16: Labyrinth (迷路－ラビリンス－, Meiro -Rabirinsu-?)
- Episode.17: Darkness (闇－ダークネス－, Yami -Dākunesu-?)
- Episode.18: Apocalypse (黙示録－アポカリプス－, Mokushiroku -Apokaripusu-?)
- Episode.19: Cross Phase Trap (要撃戦－クロスフェーズトラップ－, Yogekisen -Kurosu Fēzu Torappu-?)
- Episode.20: Chrome Chester δ (追撃－クロムチェスターδ－, Tsuigeki -Kuromu Chesutā Deruta-?)
- Episode.21: Sacrifice (受難－サクリファイス－, Junan -Sakurifaisu-?)
- Episode.22: Cure (安息－キュア－, Ansoku -Kyua-?)
- Episode.23: Satisfaction (宿命－サティスファクション－, Shukumei -Satisufakushon-?)
- Episode.24: Hero (英雄－ヒーロー－, Eiyū -Hīrō-?)
- Episode.25: Prophecy (予兆－プロフェシー－, Yochō -Purofeshī-?)
- Episode.26: The Third (憐－ザ・サード－, Ren -Za Sādo-?)
- Episode.27: Prayer (祈り－プレイヤー－, Inori -Pureiyā-?)
- Episode.28: Reunion (再会－リユニオン－, Saikai -Riyunion-?)
- Episode.29: Calling (幽声－コーリング, Yūsei -Kōringu-?)
- Episode.29: Calling - Directors Cut (幽声－コーリング－ディレクターズカット, Yūsei -Kōringu- Direkutāzu Katto?)
- Episode.30: Watcher (監視者－ウォッチャー－, Kanshisha -Wotchā-?)
- Episode.31: Bird (鳥―バード－, Tori -Bādo-?)
- Episode.EX: Lost Memories (詩織－ロストメモリーズ－, Shiori -Rosuto Memorīzu?, DVD Volume 9/BCBS-2099)
- Episode.32: Unknown Hand (影－アンノウンハンド－, Kage -Announ Hando-?)
- Episode.33: AD 2004 (忘却－Ａ．Ｄ．２００４－, Bōkyaku -Ē Dī Nisen Yon-?)
- Episode.34: AD 2009 (封鎖－Ａ．Ｄ．２００９－, Fūsa -Ē Dī Nisen Kyū-?)
- Episode.35: Revolt (反乱－リボルト－, Hanran -Riboruto-?)
- Episode.36: Farewell (決戦－フェアウェル－, Kessen -Feaweru-?)
- Episode.37: Nexus (絆－ネクサス－, Kizuna -Nekusasu-?)
Cast
- Kazuki Komon - Takuji Kawakubo
- Jun Himeya - Yusuke Kirishima
- Ren Senjyu - Masato Uchiyama
- Nagi Saijyo - Yasue Sato
- Eisuke Wakura - Tamotsu Ishibashi
- Mitsuhiko Ishibori - Kousei Kato
- Shiori Hiraki - Keiko Goto
- Yu Kirasawa - Nobuhiko Tanaka (Illustrator)
- Riko Saida - Shion Nakamaru
- Shinya Mizorogi - Mitsutoshi Shundo
- Mizuo Nonomiya - Tomomi Miyashita
- Youichiruu Matsunaga - Horiuchi Masami
- Jinzou Negoro - Hiroshi Okouchi
- Saya Shutou - Hitomi Hidaka
- Hayato Kaimoto - Hisataka Kitaoka
- Hiroyuki Misawa - Yoshito Takeuchi
- Tougou - Kenji Sahara
Songs
- Opening themes
- "Eiyū" (英雄?, "Hero")
- Lyrics, Composition, & Arrangement: Akihito Tokunaga (徳永 暁人, Tokunaga Akihito?)
- Artist: doa
- Episodes: 1-25
- "Aoi Kajitsu" (青い果実?, "Unripe Fruit"/"Blue Fruit")
- Lyrics: Daiki Yoshimoto
- Composition & Arrangement: Akihito Tokunaga
- Artist: doa
- Episodes: 26-37
- Ending themes
- "Itsumo Kokoro ni Taiyō o" (いつも心に太陽を?, "A Sun is Always in My Heart")
- Lyrics & Composition: U-ka Saegusa
- Arrangement: Masazumi Ozawa (小澤 正澄, Ozawa Masazumi?)
- Artist: U-ka Saegusa in dB
- Episodes: 1-13
- "Tobitatenai Watashi ni Anata ga Tsubasa o Kureta" (飛び立てない私にあなたが翼をくれた?, "You Gave Me Wings When I Couldn't Fly")
- Lyrics: U-ka Saegusa
- Composition: Aika Ohno (大野 愛果, Ōno Aika?)
- Arrangement: Masazumi Ozawa
- Artist: U-ka Saegusa in dB
- Episodes: 14-25
- "Akaku Atsui Kodō" (赤く熱い鼓動?, "Red Burning Pulse")
- Lyrics & Artist: Rina Aiuchi
- Composition: Masaaki Watanuki (綿貫 正顕, Watanuki Masaaki?)
- Arrangement: Masazumi Ozawa
- Episodes: 26-36
Video game(s)
A video game based on the series was produced by Bandai for the PlayStation 2, under the name Ultraman Nexus.
Related websites
External links
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