If you read the comics or manga, you'll notice that Ultraman's mouth can actually move when he speaks!
The original Ultraman design didn't have a Colour Timer. The 2022's Shin Ultraman is probably the closest representation of Ultraman in his original form as envisioned by Tsuburaya.
When I was a kid growing up in the 70s, I loved watching Ultraman kick kaiju butt.
By the time I grew older in the 90s, my appreciation shifted towards the miniatures. They were like giant dioramas, with real actors moving around inside them. The craftsmanship was simply amazing!
My favourite Ultra: Ultraseven (1967).
The storytelling was cleverly written, with more Seijin (aliens) than kaiju, and a much stronger emphasis on human drama. It was also the first Ultra series to reveal its hero's true identity towards the end of the series. This occurs in the emotional climax of the two-part series finale, "The Greatest Invasion in History" (Episodes 48 and 49). It was rather heartbreaking to me, especially considering that I think he fell in love with Anne Yuri (and let's be honest, we all did!).
My favourite series: Ultraman Mebius.
The 40th anniversary series was a wonderful tribute to the franchise, with appearances by many of the classic Ultras. Seeing them all return was a real treat for longtime fans.
Personally, I'm not quite as fond of some of the newer series' concepts, although I know they want to sell the toys:
- The Spark Dolls concept.
- The need for Ultras to have armour and weapons, like Ultraman X.
- The excessive lighting effects on the newer Ultras. I often joked that they gave a Christmas trees vibe!
- The increasingly long, noisy transformation sequences that feel more like Kamen Rider.
Sorry for the long rambling post. I've loved Ultraman since I was a kid, and even now, as an old man, the passion is still there. Once an Ultraman fan, always an Ultraman fan!
