Return of Ultraman (1971)
The classic tokusatsu series where a selfless hero merges with an alien giant to defend Earth from kaiju and cosmic threats.
Return of Ultraman - Series Information
- Original Title: 帰ってきたウルトラマン
- First Air Year: 1971
- Last Air Year: 1972
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (25 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 51
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: April 2, 1971 (Canada - PG)
- Networks: TBS
- Alternative Titles: 杰克奥特曼 (CN), The Return of Ultraman (US)
- Production Companies: Tsuburaya Productions
- Production Countries: Japan
Return of Ultraman - Plot
In a fight between two giant monsters named Takkong and Zazahn, young race car driver Hideki Go is killed while trying to rescue a little boy and a dog from the falling rubble. His valiant sacrifice is noted by everyone, even his friends and the new defense force MAT, but an unseen being also takes notice. Looking over Go is the "New Ultraman", who is so touched by Go's actions that he decides to combine his life force with that of Hideki, thus bringing him back to life. Hideki Go then joins the MAT and fights alongside them and Ultraman against monsters and alien invaders.
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Return of Ultraman - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Jiro Dan
- Nobuo Tsukamoto
- Jun Negami
- Mika Katsuragi
- Shunsuke Ikeda
- Wataru Mitsui
- Kazuko Iwasaki
- Susumu Fujita
- Isao Yatsu
- Akira Nagoya
Writers
- Shozo Uehara
- Toshirō Ishidō
- Shigemitsu Taguchi
- Shin'ichi Ichikawa
- Masao Saito
Return of Ultraman - FAQs
Where can you stream Return of Ultraman?
Return of Ultraman is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads. Free ad-supported viewing is available on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi TV, Plex Channel, and Fawesome. You can also purchase episodes through Amazon Video.
Who plays Hideki Go in Return of Ultraman?
Jiro Dan portrays Hideki Go, the young race car driver at the heart of the series. His character's selfless sacrifice at the start of the show sets the entire story in motion, earning him the bond with the New Ultraman and a place in the defense force MAT.
Is Return of Ultraman connected to the original Ultraman series?
Return of Ultraman is set in the same shared universe as the original Ultraman (1966) and Ultraseven, produced by Tsuburaya Productions. The hero of this series is later officially named Ultraman Jack, distinguishing him from earlier Ultra heroes while continuing the franchise's legacy.
What is Return of Ultraman about?
After dying heroically while saving a child, race car driver Hideki Go is revived by a mysterious alien being who merges with him. Now able to transform into the giant hero Ultraman, Go joins the defense team MAT to battle enormous monsters and alien invaders threatening Japan.
How many episodes does Return of Ultraman have?
Return of Ultraman ran for a single season of 51 episodes, airing on TBS in Japan from April 2, 1971 through March 31, 1972. Each episode runs approximately 25 minutes, making the full series a substantial but very rewatchable tokusatsu adventure.
Who wrote episodes of Return of Ultraman?
The series featured scripts from a talented roster of tokusatsu writers, including Shozo Uehara, Toshirō Ishidō, Tetsuo Kinjo, and Akio Jissoji, among others. Uehara in particular became one of the most celebrated writers in the Ultra franchise through his work on this show.
What genre is Return of Ultraman?
Return of Ultraman belongs to the tokusatsu genre — Japanese live-action productions featuring elaborate special effects. More broadly, it blends action, adventure, science fiction, fantasy, and drama. It is a foundational entry in the kaiju and henshin hero subgenres that shaped Japanese pop culture.
What are shows similar to Return of Ultraman?
Fans of Return of Ultraman will likely enjoy Ultraman Tiga (1996) and the original Ultraman (1966) for more Ultra series action. Power Rangers (1993) offers a Western take on the tokusatsu formula, while Attack on Titan (2013) and Ushio and Tora (2015) share the giant monster battle theme.
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