Movies - Ultraman Gaia

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	Movies - Ultraman Gaia

Ultraman Gaia is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the 14th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS TV), Ultraman Gaia was aired on JNN TV stations (TBS, CBC, MBS, etc.) from September 5, 1998 until August 28, 1999, with a total of 51 episodes.

Plot

Ultraman Gaia takes place in yet another universe, different from the world of the original Ultramen, as well as world of Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Dyna. There are two Ultramen with conflicting philosophies about defending the Earth from a mysterious cosmic entity. The first half of the series explores the growing tension between them and their eventual clash. The second half has them reconcile their differences so they can defeat their common enemy. The show is also different in that the support team is larger than previous variations of the Science Patrol. The series has several categories of monsters. In addition to those invading from space, there are monsters that originate on Earth, as well as a few mysterious weather-controlling monster robots of unknown origin.

The series features two Ultramen. Gaia is the lead, but Ultraman Agul makes many appearances, and they are often at odds with each other in the beginning of the series. Their philosophies are as different as their skin colors. Unlike Gaia, Agul is completely blue. Gaia is clearly here to save Earth and humanity. Agul is born of Earth and is at first more interested in protecting only the planet, even at the expense of humanity (hence the occasional clashes with Gaia).

The story is set in 2000. Crisis, a supercomputer of the Alchemy Stars (a global network of young geniuses born during the 1980s), predicts in 1997 that Earth and humanity would be annihilated by something known as "KONGENTEKI HAMETSU SHOHRAI TAI" (KHST). Roughly, it means "Entity that Brings Radical Destruction" and it sounds impressive in Japanese, although based on the characters used, it's likeky they use the word "radical" to mean "fundamental". Technology developed by the Alchemy Stars is used to form an international defense organization known as GUARD (Globalcentric Universal Alliance against the Radical Destruction). This is done secretly so as to avoid worldwide panic. XIG (eXpanded Interceptive Guards) is the combat wing of GUARD, headquartered in a floating fortress known as Aerial Base.

Gamu is a 20-year old member of the Alchemy Stars who invented a lot of the technology used by XIG (including the repulsor lifts that allow Aerial Base and the XIG fighters to defy gravity). During some virtual reality experiments he performs with the secret purpose of discovering the will of the Earth, he briefly encounters the mysterious glowing red giant, Ultraman Gaia, at the end of a tunnel of light. When KHST begins the first wave of attacks on Earth and XIG is too new to be effective, time stops and he falls through another light tunnel, where he encounters Gaia again. Because Gamu is so passionately concerned with the fate of Earth and humanity, Gaia's light becomes a part of him, and he is thus able to transform into the Ultraman when necessary. The first monster, Cosmic Organism Vanguard, is destroyed. Subsequently, more KHST attack, and Earth monsters are also awakened mysteriously, so Gaia is kept pretty busy. Gamu joins XIG as a technical advisor, and later creates the Esplender to store the light that is the essence of Gaia.

At XIG, there are multiple three-person teams with specialized roles. In addition, there are the three commanders and three communications women (Akko and Georgie, plus a support recruit). XIG has more women than some Ultra support teams have both men AND women. The show also features a lot of foreigners who speak Japanese really well. The showcase is Georgie Leland, the communcations officer (played by Maria Theresa Gow). Also Catherine (Cas), who likes weapons and dresses like Sarah Connor (from Terminator 2: Judgment Day
) and goes on an occasional date with Gamu, much to the chagrin of Akko. There's also Michael Simmons, as well as a few other Alchemy Stars.

Finally, there is that mysterious Hiroya Fujimiya, the dark guy who transforms into Ultraman Agul. He is responsible for Crisis and its dire predicitions. After many recalculations, what he learns is that the only way to save the Earth from KHST is to eliminate humans from the equation. He quits the Alchemy Stars and goes off by himself and Professor Kyohko Inamori to find the will of the Earth, only to discover Agul.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Ultraman Gaia ]

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