Shin Ultraman

The second reboot of a tokusatsu series by Shinji Higuchi and Hideaki Anno after 2016’s Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman is a reimagining of the classic Japanese superhero Ultraman. The film follows the S-Class Species Suppression Protocol (SSSP), a task force established after several giant monsters (or “kaiju”) attacked Japan. During an encounter with a particularly tough kaiju, a mysterious silver giant appeared to intervene, destroying the monster with ease. Dubbed “Ultraman” by the SSSP, the giant is hailed as an ally of humanity, but its appearance puts Earth on the intergalactic map, drawing the eyes of several extra-terrestrial visitors who have their intentions for mankind.

Much like the best seasons of the Ultraman TV series, Shin Ultraman puts a lot of its narrative focus on the human cast, giving each member of the SSSP distinct and memorable personalities as well as compelling character arcs. Each character’s journey feeds directly into the central themes of the piece, informing the development of Ultraman as both a character and a narrative device.

Shin Ultraman is a film with a lot to say, with talking points ranging from the nature of bureaucracy to the infinite potential of humanity, and while it doesn’t stick the landing perfectly on everything it sets out to do it largely succeeds at telling a compelling and cohesive story, condensing the trajectory of a TV show into 112 minutes without compromising its narrative momentum too much.

It wouldn’t be an Ultraman flick without some kaiju fights, and Shin Ultraman delivers some really interesting battles. Owing to the artistic intent of making the titular giant lanky and inhuman, the kaiju fights are done entirely with CGI rather than the traditional suit acting, but the choreography and special effects pay sincere and loving homage to filming techniques of old, with fun, kinetic action and some genuinely fantastic comedic timing.

Overall, Shin Ultraman is a fascinating film and a brilliant love letter to a classic tokusatsu series, perfect for toku aficionados but also accessible for audience members new to the series due to its strong character work and engaging storytelling. It’s perhaps not the most elegant piece of cinema, but the clear passion and enthusiasm it has for the Ultraman franchise shine through as clearly and intensely as a Spacium Beam, more than compensating for its slight narrative jank.

Umar Ali

Shin Ultraman is released in select cinemas on 11^th January 2023.

Watch the trailer for Shin Ultraman here: