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Ultraman Tiga (ウルトラマンティガ, Urutoraman Tiga) is the 12th entry in the Ultraman Series, airing from September 7, 1996 to August 30, 1997. It was the first Ultraman Series broadcast in Japan since 1980's Ultraman 80. The series is notable for revolutionizing and revitalizing the franchise, not to mention the great effect it had on the tokusatsu genre as a whole outside of Tsuburaya.

Despite being preceded by Ultraman Great as the first Ultraman Series to be aired in Japan in the Heisei period, and by Ultraman Neos to be the first Japanese-made Ultraman Series in the Heisei period, it is Ultraman Tiga that is officially and unofficially recognized as Tsuburaya Productions' first proper Ultraman Series entry in the Heisei period.

Set in a universe different from all previous series, Ultraman Tiga introduced new and radical updates to the Ultraman character for a new generation of audiences; most notably starring the first instance of the thematic concept of humanity as light or Ultraman being a human instead of alien, as well as the first Ultraman with multiple combat modes and non-red colors (purple and gold). It is also considered one of the most popular entries in the franchise.

The series can be viewed on Roku.

Synopsis[]

Ultraman Tiga was the giant of light that protected the ancient human civilization 30 million years ago. After the human civilization perished, Tiga become a stone statue. In the present times, Tiga was resurrected by merging with pilot Daigo from GUTS defense team, who also possess Ultra DNA in his body. At the same time, the 21st century Earth is facing threats of invaders from space and other dimensions.

Can Daigo and GUTS protect humankind from those invaders and saving Earth from destruction?

Characters[]

Protagonist[]

TPC[]

GUTS[]

Others[]

Ultras[]

Kaiju[]

Adaptations[]

4Kids Entertainment[]

Tiga 4kids

4Kids's opening title card.

Ultraman Tiga was the fourth Ultraman Series to be adapted for a U.S. release, following Ultraman, Ultraseven, and Ultraman: Towards the Future. It was licensed by 4Kids Entertainment and aired on the Fox Broadcasting Company's FoxBox Saturday morning programming block. The first episode premiered on September 14, 2002.

Unlike the Super Sentai Series' adaptation into Power Rangers, which combined the original shows' tokusatsu sequences with an entirely new cast, Ultraman Tiga was simply dubbed into English. Nonetheless, 4Kids made a number of significant changes. There was an entirely new theme song and the original soundtrack for the series was replaced. Episode storylines was altered and simplified to comply with Fox's Standards and Practices division and accommodate the differences between Japanese and American commercial breaks and broadcasting scheduling. Each episode was typically one or two minutes shorter than its Japanese counterpart.

There was also a lot more blatant and crude humor. The Japanese Ultraman Tiga had a few moments of subtle humor and charming moments. The Americanized version came with dialogue that poked fun of the original material as well as the dubbing in general, which changed the personalities for some of the characters (Notable in this aspect was the transformation of Captain Iruma from a smart, level-headed individual into a complete airhead.) Additionally, Captain Iruma was referred to as a "sir" instead of a "ma'am", perhaps in an attempt at being politically correct. This caused some problems within the addressing of a commanding officer whether that person was male or a female.

Some monsters were given new sound effects, and the transformation sequence was altered altogether, showcasing all of Tiga's forms and emphasizing the change from Daigo to Tiga. Tiga's "Multi, Power, and Sky Types" are changed into "Omni, Power, and Speed Modes," respectively. The Sparklence was renamed the "Torch of Tiga". His light techniques were called "Luminizers", and the Color Timer is referred to as the "Biotic Sensor."

Despite Producer Norman Grossfeld's enthusiasm of its success[1], Ultraman Tiga was removed from the FoxBox lineup on March 15, 2003, due to low ratings, with only 25 episodes of the 52-episode series having aired. 4Kids initially planned to relaunch the show in September, but decided to release the Japanese episodes on DVD instead.[2] As a result, their dub is only viewable through recordings of the original broadcasts.

Erica Schroeder (who voiced Rena) claimed that part of the reason for Ultraman Tiga's limited success in the U.S. was due to 4Kids' indecision whether to satirize the show or make it serious. The English dub never aired its 2nd half which is now considered lost media. The co-producer of the dub, Michael Pecoriello, confirmed the series was fully adapted into English during a recent interview.[3]

The completely produced dub aired on the TV channel POGO in India. One surviving episode title, which is called "Dark Warrior Part 1," which adapts Japanese episode 43, can be found in the link below. Footage from "Dark Warrior Part 2" of Ultraman Tiga battling Evil Tiga can be found in the "Enemy Database: Monster Files" segment for Evil Tiga below, as well as Japanese Text is edited off the signs in the background.

Uchūsen Magazine[]

Uchūsen (Spacecraft) Magazine began a serialization of an Ultraman Tiga manga in the Summer of 1997 written by Mamoru Uchiyama.

Dark Horse Comics[]

Dark Horse Comics published a manga-style series based on Ultraman Tiga in 2003–2004.

Cast[]

  • Daigo Madoka (マドカ・ダイゴ, Madoka Daigo)/Nagano (長野): Hiroshi Nagano (V6) (長野 博(V6), Nagano Hiroshi (Bui Shikkusu))
  • Rena Yanase (ヤナセ・レナ, Yanase Rena): Takami Yoshimoto (吉本 多香美, Yoshimoto Takami)
  • Megumi Iruma (イルマ・メグミ, Iruma Megumi)/Yuzare (ユザレ): Mio Takaki (高樹 澪, Takaki Mio)
  • Seiichi Munakata (ムナカタ・セイイチ, Munakata Seiichi): Akitoshi Otaki (大滝 明利, Ōtaki Akitoshi)
  • Masami Horii (ホリイ・マサミ, Horii Masami): Yukio Masuda (増田 由紀夫, Masuda Yukio)
  • Tetsuo Shinjoh (シンジョウ・テツオ, Shinjō Tetsuo): Shigeki Kagemaru (影丸 茂樹, Kagemaru Shigeki)
  • Jun Yazumi (ヤズミ・ジュン, Yazumi Jun): Yoichi Furuya (古屋 暢一, Furuya Yōichi)
  • Souichiro Sawai (サワイ・ソウイチロウ, Sawai Sōichirō): Tamio Kawachi (川地 民夫, Kawachi Tamio)
  • Masayuki Nahara (ナハラ・マサユキ, Nahara Masayuki): Take Uketa (タケ・ウケタ)
  • Tetsuji Yoshioka (ヨシオカ・テツジ, Yoshioka Tetsuji): Ken Okabe (岡部 健, Okabe Ken)
  • Mayumi Shinjoh (シンジョウ・マユミ, Shinjō Mayumi): Kei Ishibashi (石橋 けい, Ishibashi Kei)
  • Naban Yao (ヤオ・ナバン, Yao Naban): Ichiro Ogura (小倉 一郎, Ogura Ichirō)
  • Reiko Kashimura (カシムラ・レイコ, Kashimura Reiko): Takako Kitagawa (北川 たか子, Kitagawa Takako)
  • Yuuji Tango (タンゴ・ユウジ, Tango Yūji): Yoichi Okamura (岡村 洋一, Okamura Yōichi)
  • Ultraman Tiga's Voice (ウルトラマンティガの声, Urutoraman Tiga no Koe): Yuji Machi (真地 勇志, Machi Yūji)

Guest Cast[]

  • Yuzare (ユザレ, Yuzare): Minako Osanai (長内 美那子, Osanai Minako)
  • Mitsuo Itahashi (イタハシ・ミツオ, Itahashi Mitsuo): Hiroyuki Takano (高野 浩幸, Takano Hiroyuki)
  • Omi Yanase (ヤナセ・オミ, Yanase Omi): Shigeru Araki (荒木 しげる, Araki Shigeru)
  • Ryosuke Sanada (サナダ・リョウスケ, Sanada Ryōsuke): Ryoma Sasaki (柚原 旬, Sasaki Ryōma)
  • Sayaka Ijuin (イジュウイン・サヤカ, Ijūin Sayaka): Michiko Shimazaki (島崎 路子, Shimazaki Michiko)
  • Zara (ザラ): Shogo Shiotani (塩谷 庄吾, Shiotani Shogo)
  • Rucia (ルシア, Rushia): Motoko Nagino (梛野 素子, Nagino Motoko)
  • Takuma Aoki (アオキ・タクマ, Aoki Takuma): Takuma Aoki (青木 拓磨, Aoki Takuma)
  • Michiru Ezaki (エザキ・ミチル, Ezaki Michiru): Misato Hayase (早勢 美里, Hayase Misato)
  • Obiko (オビコ): Shoichiro Akaboshi (赤星 昇一郎, Akaboshi Shōichirō)
  • Kiyoto Inui (イヌイ・キヨ, Inui Kiyoto): Tom Saeba (冴場 都夢, Saeba Tomu)
  • Makio Kirino (キリノ・マキオ, Kirino Makio): Naoki Miyashita (宮下 直紀, Miyashita Naoki)
  • Keigo Masaki (マサキ・ケイゴ, Masaki Keigo): Takashi Kora (高良 隆志, Kōra Takashi)
  • Shin Hayate (ハヤテ・シン, Hayate Shin): Masaki Kyomoto (京本 政樹, Kyōmoto Masaki)
  • Ultraman (ウルトラマン, Urutoraman): Issei Futamata (二又 一成, Futamata Issei) (voice)

Suit Actors[]

  • Ultraman Tiga (Multi Type, Sky Type), Evil Tiga, Ultraman: Shunsuke Gondo (権藤 俊輔, Gondō Shunsuke)
  • Ultraman Tiga (Multi Type, Power Type, Glitter Tiga), Evil Tiga: Koji Nakamura (中村 浩二, Nakamura Kōji)
  • Kaiju:

English Dub[]

Music[]

Opening Theme
  • TAKE ME HIGHER
    • Lyrics and Composition: Jennifer Batten, Alberto Emilio Contini, Giancarlo Pasquini
    • Japanese Lyrics: Kazumi Suzuki (鈴木 計美, Suzuki Kazumi)
    • Arrangement: Yasuhiko Hoshino (星野 靖彦, Hoshino Yasuhiko)
    • String Arrangement: Mitsuo Hagida (萩田 光雄, Hagida Mitsuo)
    • Choral Arrangement: Hiroaki Suzuki (鈴木 弘明, Suzuki Hiroaki)
    • Artist: V6
  • Awaken, Ultraman Tiga (目覚めよウルトラマンティガ, Mezame yo Urutoraman Tiga)
    • Lyrics and Composition: Aritaka Hara
    • Composition/Arrangement: Fumio Hara
    • Artist: Voyager
    • Alternative theme song for international broadcasts. First released on Voyager's ULTRA GALAXY album in 2014.
Ending Theme
  • Brave Love, Tiga
    • Producer: Gorō Kishitani (岸谷 五朗, Kishitani Gorō)
    • Lyrics: Sunplaza Nakano
    • Composition: Barbe-Q Wasada (バーベQ和佐田, Bābe Kyū Wasada)
    • Arrangement: Yasuhiko Fukuda (福田裕彦, Fukuda Yasuhiko)
    • Artist: Earth Protection Force (地球防衛団, Chikyū Bōei-dan)
    • Leader: Gorō Kishitani
    • Members: Takashi Utsunomiya (宇都宮 隆, Utsunomiya Takashi), Toshiaki Karasawa, Naoto Kine (木根 尚登, Kine Naoto), Sunplaza Nakano, Yasafumi Terawaki (寺脇 康文, Terawaki Yasufumi), Masahiko Nishimura, Barbe-Q Wasada, Papala Kawai (パッパラー河合, Papparā Kawai), Patrick Bommarito (パトリック・ボンマリート, Patorikku Bonmarīto), Funky Sueyoshi (ファンキー末吉, Fankī Sueyoshi), Yasuhiko Fukuda (福田 裕彦, Fukuda Yasuhiko), Honjamaka (ホンジャマカ, Honjamaka), Hidehiko Ishizuka (石塚 英彦, Ishizuka Hidehiko), Toshiaki Megumi (恵 俊彰, Megumi Toshiaki)

Ultraman Tiga has a special opening theme and ending theme exclusive to Chinese TV version named "奇迹再现" (The Miracle Reappear) and "永远的奥特曼" (Ultraman Forever).

Home Media[]

Ultraman Tiga is released in VHS in 1997, and DVD from 1999 till 2007. In January 25, 2008, the entire series has been condensed down into a 1-hour special, released under the "Climax Stories" DVD series.

In 2014, the entire series has been remastered and released as part of the "Complete Blu-ray BOX". The Remastered episodes are actually done with upscaling and noise-reduction.

Mill Creek Entertainment released the entire series and tie-in films, except for The Final Odyssey due to music rights issues, in October 2021 on DVD in North America.

Gallery[]

Images[]

Trivia[]

  • This is the first entry of the Ultraman Series to use Chroma key special effects instead of doll props for aerial combat scenes.
  • While the series is available for streaming at TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION on September 7, 2021, the entire series has yet to be available in some streaming services such as Amazon Video.
  • The 4Kids Ultraman Tiga English dub was fully produced, but episodes 24-48 remain lost media to this day. It aired fully in India in the mid-2000s, and the co-producer of the dub, Mike Pecoriello, reiterated the dub was fully completed as well but remained unaired in the US.[4]

References[]

  1. Ultraman Tiga Fans of Japanese live-action superheroes know Ultraman has dominated that country for over three decade. The original show was even syndicated, and did quite well; domestically back in the 1960's.
    "When I was a kid, I was very high on Ultraman," says Grossfeld. "I think it's going to be a big hit for us, I always felt if we had our own network we would show everybody why Ultraman has been the top action figure for Japan for the last 30 years." - Beckett Yu-Gi-Oh! Collector issue #1
  2. [1]Henshin! Online, 2/28/03 - Tiga Reloaded!
  3. https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxZwIwDBbCVIH2w41cxXhEfjrEkBag71EK?si=EPLkFLYeMQiZ5yOe
  4. https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxZwIwDBbCVIH2w41cxXhEfjrEkBag71EK?si=EPLkFLYeMQiZ5yOe

Productions
Showa Series Ultra Q | Ultraman | Ultraseven | Return of Ultraman | Ultraman Ace | Ultraman Taro | Ultraman Leo | Ultraman 80
Heisei Series Ultraman Tiga | Ultraman Dyna | Ultraman Gaia | Ultraman Cosmos | Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy | Ultraman Nexus | Ultraman Max | Ultraman Mebius | Ultraseven X | Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle | Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey | Neo Ultra Q | Ultraman Ginga | Ultraman Ginga S | Ultraman X | Ultraman Orb | Ultraman Geed | Ultraman R/B
Reiwa Series Ultraman Taiga | Ultraman Z | Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga | Ultraman Decker | Ultraman Blazar
Outside of Japan Ultraman: The Adventure Begins | Ultraman: Towards the Future | Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero | Ultraman: Rising
Original Video and TV Special Ultra Fight | Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider | Ultra Super Fight | Ultraman Nice | Heisei Ultraseven | Ultraman Neos | Ultraman: Super Fighter Legend | Ultra Idemitsujin | Ultra Zone
Showa Movies Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature | Ultraman, Ultraseven: Great Violent Monster Fight | The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army | Ultraman (1979) | Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle | Ultraman ZOFFY: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army | Ultraman Story
Heisei Movies Ultra Q The Movie | Revive! Ultraman | Ultraman Zearth | Ultraman Zearth 2 | Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna | Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Dyna, & Ultraman Gaia | Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey | Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact | Ultraman Cosmos 2 | New Century Ultraman Legend | Ultraman Cosmos vs. Ultraman Justice | New Century 2003 Ultraman Legend | ULTRAMAN (2004) | Ultraman Mebius & the Ultra Brothers | Super 8 Ultra Brothers | Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie | Ultraman Zero The Movie | Ultraman Saga | Ultraman Ginga Theater Special | Ultraman Ginga Theater Special: Battle Royale | Ultraman Ginga S The Movie | Ultraman X The Movie | Ultraman Orb The Movie | Ultraman Geed The Movie | Ultraman R/B The Movie
Reiwa Movies Ultraman Taiga The Movie | Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z | Shin Ultraman | Ultraman Decker Finale | Ultraman Blazar The Movie
Spin-Offs Andro Melos | Ultraman Zearth: Parody Chapter | Revival of the Ancient Giant | The Return of Hanejiro | Gaia Again | Ultra Q Kaiju Legend | Ultraman Kaiju Legend | Hikari Saga | Armored Darkness | Ghost Rebirth | Ultraman Zero vs. Darklops Zero | Q - Door to Another Dimension | Killer the Beatstar | Ultra Zero Fight | Ultra Fight Victory | Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA | Ultra Fight Orb | New Generation Heroes | The Absolute Conspiracy | Sevenger Fight | The Struggle of Special Section 3 | The Destined Crossroad | Continued Ultra Fight | Shin Ultra Fight | Return of Special Section 3 | Ultraman Regulos | Ultraman Regulos: First Mission | Ultraseven IF Story | SKaRD Break Room
Rebroadcast Shows Ultraman Retsuden | New Ultraman Retsuden | Ultraman Zero: The Chronicle | Ultraman Orb: The Chronicle | Ultraman New Generation Chronicle | Ultraman Chronicle: ZERO & GEED | Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey | Ultraman Chronicle D | Ultraman New Generation Stars
Informational Ultraman The Prime | ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES | Ultra Science Fantasy Hour | Ultra Fight Club | UlSummer Information Station | Ultra Information Center | Professor Teruaki's "Blazar Kaiju Academy" | Super Power! Ultra Encyclopedia! | Ultra Construction Tour | THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN | Ultraman 4K Discovery
Docudramas Fly in the Sea Breeze! Ultraman | The Men Who Made Ultraman | My Beloved Ultraseven | The Man Who Wanted to be Ultraman | The Kaiju Club | The Two Ultramen
Other Series Kaiju Booska | Captain Ultra | Mighty Jack | Fight! Mighty Jack | Operation: Mystery | Chibira-kun | Mirrorman | Redman | Triple Fighter | Emergency Directive 10-4·10-10 | Iron King | Horror Theater Unbalance | Fireman | Jumborg Ace | Mirror Fight | Army of the Apes | Pro-Wres no Hoshi Azteckaiser | Dinosaur Expedition Born Free | Dinosaur Great War Izenborg | Star Wolf | Dinosaur Squadron Koseidon | Anime-chan | Gridman the Hyper Agent | Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad | Moon Spiral | Cyber Girl Telomere | Booska! Booska!! | Otasuke Girl | Mirrorman REFLEX | Bio Planet WoO | Mirror Fight 2012 | Gridknight Fight
Anime The☆Ultraman | Ultraman Kids | Ultraman Graffiti: Wild! Ultra Country | Ultraman: Super Fighter Legend | Ultra Nyan | Ultra Nyan 2: The Great Happy Operation | Ultraman M78 Theater Love & Peace | Gridman the Hyper Agent: boys invent great hero | The・Ultraman: Jackal vs. Ultraman | Kaiju Sakaba Kanpai! | Kaiju Girls | SSSS.GRIDMAN | ULTRAMAN (2019) | Kaiju Step Wandabada | SSSS.DYNAZENON | KAIJU DECODE | GRIDMAN UNIVERSE
Outlaw Content Space Warriors 2000 | Project Ultraman | Ultraman The Animation | Ultraman: A Little Journey on Earth | Fun... English with Ultraman | Young Ultraman | Ultraman Big Transformation | Sinic Q | Red Jade | Dragon Force: So Long Ultraman | Dragon Force: Rise of Ultraman
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