Ultraman: The Adventure Begins was an animated movie joint produced by Hanna-Barbera and Tsuburaya Productions in 1987. The movie was titled Ultraman USA for its Japanese release in 1989. The movie was intended as a backdoor pilot for an animated series, but no such series ever emerged. However, the costumes based on the three main heroes (the Ultra Force) were made for use in stage shows in Japan.
Plot
Scott, Chuck, and Beth, a trio of stunt pilots, experience a strange burst of light during a stunt show. In spite of their planes crashing as a result, they emerge unharmed. They are soon contacted by an agent from outer space (whose secret identity is the groundskeeper of a Pebble Beach golf course), who informs them that they've become the host forms of three alien warriors who've arrived to protect the planet from a group of monsters from the planet Sorkin. The three pilots become the members of a group called the Ultra Force headquartered within Mount Rushmore. They are equipped with futuristic fighter ships, and when in particularly great danger they automatically assume the forms of the alien warriors. After defeating the final Sorkin monsters, the warriors remain on Earth to protect it from further danger.
Characters
Ultra Force
Others
Ultras
Robot Trio
- Ulysses
- Samson
- Andy
Sorkin Monsters
Original Concept
An early pilot film treatment from 1986 had a working title of "The Evil That Men Do: An Ultra Adventutre" with a different premise and cast of five Ultra characters although the main one was still referred to as Scotty, perhaps a holdover from the earlier U.S. adaptation of Ultraman Joneus which was also helmed by screenwriter Jeff Segal.
Cast
| Character | Original | Japanese |
|---|---|---|
| Scott Masterson/Ultraman Scott | Michael Lembeck | Toru Furuya |
| Chuck Gavin/Ultraman Chuck | Chad Everett | Shinji Ogawa |
| Beth O'Brien/Ultrawoman Beth | Adrienne Barbeau | Hiromi Tsuru |
| Walter Freeman | Stacy Keach, Sr. | Kōhei Miyauchi |
| Susan Rand | Lorna Patterson | Rihoko Yoshida |
| Newsman | David Hall | Unknown |
| Scientist | ||
| General Cooper | Ed Gilbert | Takeshi Aono |
| Old Lady | Adrienne Alexander | Unknown |
| Woman | ||
| Andy | Charley Adler | Kyoko Yamada |
| Samson | Ronald Schell | Hiroshi Ōtake |
| Ulysses | William Callaway | Isamu Tanonaka |
| Cajun | Peter Renaday | Unknown |
| Paramedic | ||
| Clarinetist | Al Fann | |
| Paramedic | ||
| Mark Watkins | Mark Taylor | Kaneto Shiozawa |
| Baldinger/Colonel Bodinger | Allan Lurie | Masaharu Sato |
| Aide | Vince Trankina | Unknown |
| Doctor #2 | ||
| Photographer | ||
| Dr. Philby | Les Tremayne | Yasuo Tanaka |
Additional Voices
- Masato Hirano
- Hiroyuki Satou
- Kōzō Shioya
- Kazumi Tanaka
- Kouji Totani
- Kouji Yada
Staff
- William Hanna - Executive Producer
- Joseph Barbera - Executive Producer
- Noboru Tsuburaya - Executive Producer, Producer, Original Story
- Jeff Segal - Creative Producer for Hanna-Barbera
- Kelly Ward - Creative Producer for Hanna-Barbera
- John Eric Seward - Writer
- Ray Patterson - Supervising Director
- Mitsuo Kusakabe - Director
- Iwao Takamoto- Creative Design
- Floro Dery - Key Character Design
- Al Gmuer - Key Background Supervisor
- Kazuo Iimura - Character Design
- Akira Furuya - Background
- Gordon Hunt - Voice Director
- Andrea Romano - Animation Casting Director
- Kris Zimmerman - Talent Coordinator
- Noriyoshi Matsuura - Sound Director
- Larry C. Cowan - Editorial Supervisor
- Joe Sandusky - Editorial Supervisor
- Naoyuki Masaki - Film Editor
- Shinsuke Kazato - Music
- Toshikazu Tokura - Ultraman Theme Music
- Hidetoshi Kimura - Musical Producer
- Kazuo Kogure - Musical Director
- Jayne Barbera - Executive in Charge of Production
Music
- Opening Theme
- Sky High Hero
- Lyrics: Yū Aku
- Composition: Toshikazu Tokura
- Arrangement: Shinsuke Kazato
- Artist: Shinichi Ishihara Feat. Koorogi '73
- Ending Theme
- Toki no Naka o Hashiri Nukete
- Lyrics: Yū Aku
- Composition: Toshikazu Tokura
- Arrangement: Shinsuke Kazato
- Artist: Shinichi Ishihara Feat. Koorogi '73
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Shinsuke Kazato and released by Nippon Columbia. The soundtrack was released as a Limited Edition printing of 5,000 copies. Kazato would go on to compose the Soundtrack to Ultraman Great, and both works feature the same main theme.
Gallery
Trivia
- This movie marks the last Ultraman Series production of the Showa era.
- Although it was first produced and premiered during the Showa period, the era had changed to Heisei by the time the movie was available in Japan. Hence, Tsuburaya Productions officially recognizes this film as the first "Heisei" Ultraman Series production, as verified in magazines from 2019.