This review was made possible by an advance screener of Ultraman Rising. Ultraman Rising releases Netflix on June 14, 2024.
Ultraman is a franchise that has been moving forward consistently since 1966, and it hasn’t died down yet. It sits among some of the other greats in Japan, such as Kamen Rider and Godzilla. While it is a franchise that is currently nearing its 60th anniversary, I’ve yet to actually experience the craziness that is Ultraman. I’ve had my experience with Kamen Rider and had that as my expectation when going into this film, but that wasn’t the greatest idea because not only is Kamen Rider nothing like Ultraman, but Ultraman Rising completely blew those expectations out of the water.
A Great Entry Into The ‘Ultraman’ Franchise
Ultraman Rising is simply a great entry into the Ultraman franchise. I haven’t experienced any other Ultraman media, but I’m able to get a good idea of what to expect from all the different iterations of the character. It’s a straightforward character; he’s a hero who grows big and fights against Kaiju.
If you already enjoyed watching Godzilla face many Kaijus, then you’ll have a blast with Ultraman Rising because not only do you get countless action sequences of Ultraman beating down Kaijus or getting beat down by them, but thanks to this being an animated film, it gets to be as expressive as it wants with the fights, and directors Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima make sure that every fight scene is worth remembering.
The Foundations Of ‘Ultraman Rising’
What Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima do with this film is special because they’re able to take a well-known character and provide some new depth for him without taking away the core traits that make Ultraman, Ultraman.
The opening scene of the film sets the tone for the themes that Ultraman Rising covers. Professor Sato, who at the time was Ultraman, asks a young Ken Sato what he wants to be when he grows up: a baseball player or Ultraman. It’s a question that we all get asked at some point during our childhood, either from a teacher or a parent. It’s a daunting question that puts a lot of pressure on a kid who just simply wants to live their childhood, be free, and not have to worry about any responsibilities.
So how does Ken Sato, who’s only a kid, take this question, be like his father and the hero he admires, or take after the sport he loves? It’s more responsibility than one kid can handle, but Ken Sato answers it in an unexpected way: by living a double life as a famous baseball player who has his face planted on ads around the city and by also saving the city as its hero, Ultraman.
The Core Themes Of The Film
Ultraman Rising further delves into its core themes once we get to follow an adult Ken Sato, who, under unimaginable circumstances, is left with the responsibilities of looking after a baby Kaiju. Ken, who has been dealing with an absent father for years who only truly cared about his Kaiju research, has made Ken grow to dislike him.
It’s disheartening to see how quickly a relationship can be ruined, but what Ultraman Rising does is put Ken in his father’s shoes, having to battle not only being a hero and now a father but also trying to keep his baseball career in order. The themes are woven so well into the story, and the writing, just like everything else that accompanies it, is beautiful and one of the best scripts of the year for animation.
This film touches on more themes than just one, while it’s obvious that its main focus is on parenting and how hard and stressful it can be, it’s also clear that the film focuses on Ken growing to love his baby Kaiju. It’ll be able to teach young kids that family is not something that you’re just born with but it’s also something that you can find, whether that be through adopting a kid or simply just having close friends who feel like they’re your family. It’s important for that reminder to know that there is always someone out there to care for you and love you.
Vibrant Visuals And Animation
It might sound like this is a film without any action, but as mentioned previously, every action scene is worth remembering, and there’s a good amount throughout the film. The visuals during the fight sequences are some of the best, with vibrant colours just bursting through the screen when a character gets hit or an enemy is charging for an attack. It’s dynamic, and that makes each fight unique, with something new being offered each time.
Industrial Light & Magic are the studio behind animating this beautiful film, and it’s shocking to see how far they’ve come with their animation, as we’ve gone from Rango to something that already expresses itself so much with the story being told but now also expresses itself with the art style and animation that helps Ultraman Rising keep its unique identity.
At first, the animation reminds you of Netflix’s Wish Dragon, but it easily sets itself apart with how expressive the animation is. It’s a weird way to describe it, but it feels like the animation has its own mind; it’s free and flows so effortlessly like a brush on a canvas, creating the unbelievable Ultraman Rising, which is just this masterpiece of a painting. There’s just no other animation currently on Netflix or in theatres that is comparable, and I am thankful that Netflix decided to give this a limited theater release as it deserves to be seen with the best screen and sound system.
‘Ultraman Rising’ – Final Thoughts
Ultraman Rising is a film that packs one kaiju-size punch, with vibrant colours and top-of-the-line animation from ILM. The story is humorous and heartfelt, focusing on what it means to be a parent and how to balance work life with parenting life—a theme that Ultraman Rising touches perfectly on, which many films in the superhero genre fail to do. It’s without a doubt Netflix’s best animated film this year so far.
Ultraman Rising releases on Netflix on June 14, 2024. Check out the trailer below.
All images courtesy of Netflix.
Fancy reading something else? Why not check out: ‘Doctor Who’: “Rogue” (Review)
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The Review
Ultraman Rising
'Ultraman Rising' is a film that packs one kaiju-size punch, with vibrant colours and top-of-the-line animation from ILM. The story is humorous and heartfelt, focusing on what it means to be a parent and how to balance work life with parenting life—a theme that Ultraman Rising touches perfectly on, which many films in the superhero genre fail to do. It's without a doubt Netflix's best-animated film this year so far.
