Movies - Ultraman: Towards the Future

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	Movies - Ultraman: Towards the Future

Ultraman: Towards the Future is a tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series produced in 1990 in Australia by the South Australian Film Corporation and Japan's Tsuburaya Productions (the creators of the Ultraman character). There were 13 episodes filmed (the first 6 episodes were the "Goudes Threat" story arc). Titled Ultraman Great (ウルトラマングレート or ウルトラマンG - Urutoraman Gurêto) for its Japanese release, the 13-episode show was originally featured on home video there later that year, and was later broadcast on Tokyo Broadcasting System from July 8 to September 30, 1995. This was the 10th Ultra Series and the first produced in the Heisei era.

Distributed in the United States by Sachs Family Entertainment, the show was broadcast Saturday mornings at 7:00 am on the Fox Network from January 4 to March 28, 1992.

Although simply called "Ultraman" in the original Australian version, he is called "Ultraman Great" in Japan to differentiate him from the established original Ultraman.

At the time, eco awareness was at a high, and many episodes included environmental themes. Ultraman's three minute time limit is also attributed to Earth's "polluted atmosphere" in this series. This was deemed one of the earlier dark toned live action children shows (as they were place into Saturday and Sunday morning time slots). Series like Power Rangers would create mostly a comedic atmosphere for their stories with little or no drama, with the exception of VR Troopers and later Power Ranger series starting with Power Rangers in Space.

Characters

UMA (Universal Multipuropose Agency)

Pronounced "Yuma" (or sometimes just "Uma", as in actress Uma Thurman), the Universal Multipurpose Agency is a high-tech defense force with a huge base situated on an island off the coast of Australia.

Colonel Arthur Grant - The head of UMA.
*Played by Ralph Cotterill
Jean Echo - One of the two female members of UMA and a love interest for Jack Shindo.
*Played by Gia Carides
Lloyd Wilder - The toughest member of UMA. Also the most skeptical member of the team, especially when it comes to Shindo's behavior.
*Played by Rick Adams
Charles Morgan - UMA's scientific/technical expert and the team's comedy relief. Has a thing for Jean.
*Played by Lloyd Morris
Kim Shaomin - An Asian girl, one of the two female members of UMA. An excellent pilot.
*Played by Grace Parr
Jack Shindo/Ultraman (Great) - An astronaut who, on his expedition to Mars, lost his partner Stanley Haggard in a fight between Goudes and Ultraman Great, who, after defeating the monster (who escapes to Earth), combines with Shindo to save him from being stranded on Mars. After mysteriously returning to Earth, Shindo joins UMA as a member (although his astronaut work was related to UMA somehow) to help the team with the Goudes threat, among other monster/alien-related calamities (since he shares Great's psyche). Although somewhat reluctant to be combined with Great (as he doesn't like being constantly under his teammates' suspicion), he nonetheless takes this responsibility. Shindo transforms into Ultraman Great by activating the Delta Plasma Pendant, which is shaped like Great's Colortimer.
*Played by Dore Krause; Ultraman Great is played by Robert Simper and Steve Apps.

UMA Mecha

There are two main vehicles, which are mass-produced.

Hummer - The red-colored jet vehicle. Fires laser beams.
Saltop - The tech-equipped jeep. Has an energy cannon.

Episodes

1.) "Signs of Life"
*Monsters: Goudes (AKA: Gudis), Brodz (AKA: Bogun)
2.) "The Hibernator"
*Monster: Gigasaurus
3.) "The Child's Dream"
*Monsters: Gerugadon, Clone Jimmy-not killed by Ultraman Great, Jimmy took control and flew away together as it bid farewell to Ultraman Great.
4.) "The Storm Hunter"
*Monster: Deganja (AKA: Degola)
5.) "Blast from the Past"
*Monster: Barrangas
6.) "The Showdown"
*Monster: Goudes (Final Form)
7.) "The Forest Guardian"
*Monster: Gazebo (AKA: Zebokon)-not killed by Ultraman Great, it was put to rest.
8.) "Bitter Harvest"
*Monster: Majaba (Various Phases)-some were killed by the UMA.
9.) "The Biospherians"
*Monsters: Bios, The Vegoids
10.) "Tourists from the Stars"
*Monsters: Ryugulo, Veronica-not killed by Ultraman Great, Ryugulo reverted back to his human form after Veronica convinced him to stop fighting.
11.) "The Survivalists"
*Monster: UF0 (UF-Zero)-not killed by Ultraman Great, escaped after being hit by Ultraman Great's attack.
12.) "The Age of Plagues"
*Monsters: Kodalar (AKA: Kudara)-only monster to defeat Ultraman Great, Shiralee (AKA: Shilagi, Kilazee)
13.) "Nemesis"
*Monsters: Kodalar-not killed by Ultraman Great the UMA used an artifact they reflected his attack back at it, Shiralee-unknown, Ultraman Great carried him off into space after separating himself from Jack.

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