Ultraman Blazar

Ultraman Blazar (ウルトラマンブレーザー) is a Japanese tokusatsu drama produced by Tsuburaya Productions, released to coincide with the company's 60th anniversary. It is the 35th entry to the Ultraman Series, the fifth installment in the Reiwa era and the first series to lean towards serious hard science fiction since Ultraman Gaia and Ultraman Nexus. The series began airing on TV Tokyo on July 8, 2023 and on YouTube after the airing.

Synopsis
The Global Guardian Force (GGF) was established in 1966 in response to the worldwide outbreak of kaiju attacks. As global warming continues to rise, a GGF special forces unit led by Gento Hiruma finds itself in a dangerous situation when its cleanup operation goes awry before an Ultraman appears. Gento is later transferred to lead SKaRD, short for the Special Kaiju Reaction Detachment, a newly formed covert team that utilizes the Earth Garon robot to combat kaiju. Gento revealed to have become the host of Ultraman Blazar, leads SKaRD against the kaiju while figuring out the meaning of visions he has of another galaxy.

SKaRD
Special Kaiju Reaction Detachment (特殊怪獣対応分遣隊), abbreviated as SKaRD (スカード), is a special forces unit established within the GGFJ.


 * Gento Hiruma (ヒルマ ゲント): The 30-year-old captain of SKaRD, born on November 3, 1992. He transforms into Ultraman Blazar with the Blazar Brace (ブレーザーブレス) and the Blazer Stone (ブレーザーストーン) crystal. He is portrayed by Tomoya Warabino (蕨野 友也).
 * Emi Aobe (アオベ エミ): A 23-year-old intelligence specialist, born on October 11, 1999. She is portrayed by Himena Tsukimiya (搗宮 姫奈). As a baby, Emi is portrayed by Honoka Koshi (越 萌乃佳).
 * Anri Minami (ミナミ アンリ): A 26-year-old pilot for Earth Garon, born on May 8, 1997. She is portrayed by Konomi Naito (内藤 好美). As a child, Anri is portrayed by Chieri Fujiyama (藤山 千恵梨).
 * Yasunobu Bando (バンドウ ヤスノブ): A 25-year-old skilled mechanic and pilot for Earth Garon, born on April 22, 1998. He is portrayed by Hayate Kajihara (梶原 颯)
 * Teruaki Nagura (ナグラ テルアキ): The 29-year-old vice-captain and operations strategist of SKaRD, born on October 21, 1993. He is portrayed by Yuki Ito (伊藤 祐輝).
 * Special Tactical Armored Kaiju Earth Garon (特戦獣 アースガロン): SKaRD's giant kaiju-type robot nicknamed Earthy (アーくん). It is equipped with the Earth Fire (アースファイア) charged particle cannon in its mouth, the Earth Gun (アースガン) autocannons on each hand, and the five-cell Tail VLS (テイルVLS) on its tail. The voice interactive AI system, EGOISS (イーゴイス), is later installed on Earth Garon. During the events of the manga spin-off, Earth Garon is equipped with the pressure diving suit, AO-PDS, and the underground excavation unit, AO-UEU. It is voiced by Akira Ishida (石田 彰).
 * Earth Garon Mod.2 (アースガロンMod.2): Equipped with the Mod.2 Unit (Mod.2ユニット) on its back, which grants the Rail Cannon (レールキャノン) and the Multipurpose Laser (多目的レーザー) cannon.
 * Earth Garon Mod.3 (アースガロンMod.3): Equipped with the Mod.3 Unit (Mod.3ユニット) on its back, which grants the Uranus Drive (ウラヌスドライブ) propulsion system.
 * Earth Garon Mod.4 (アースガロンMod.4): Equipped with the Mod.2 and Mod.3 Units.

GGFJ
The Global Guardian Force Japan (地球防衛隊日本支部) is the Japanese branch of the Global Guardian Force, an organization authorized to deal against kaiju and headquartered in North America.


 * Retsu Haruno (ハルノ レツ): The 56-year-old Chief of Staff of GGFJ Command and founder of SKaRD who is Gento's superior. He later took full responsibility for SKaRD's disruption of the GGFJ's operation and was relieved of duty. In Ultraman Blazar the Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown, he has been promoted to the Commander of GGFJ Command to replace Genkawa. He is portrayed by Masaya Kato (加藤 雅也).
 * Isozaki (磯崎), Komatsubara (小松原), Moriguchi (守口), Murota (室田), and Kisaragi (如月): Members of the First Special Mobile Team (第1特殊機動団), to which Gento belonged before his transfer to SKaRD. They are portrayed by Takashi Nishina (仁科 貴), Kenji Shio (塩 顕治), Hideki Kitano (北野 秀気), Kazuhiro Yoda (養田 和裕), and Taihei Nishi (西 泰平), respectively.
 * Hirano (ヒラノ): A head of weapons development. He is portrayed by Keitoku Ito (伊藤 慶徳).
 * Minoru Genkawa (源川 稔): Commander of GGFJ Command. He is portrayed by Taro Kawano (川野 太郎).
 * Tatsuki Aobe (アオベ タツキ): Emi Aobe's father and a scientist, who died three years ago. He is portrayed by Ryosuke Watabe (渡部 遼介).

Ultraman Blazar
Ultraman Blazar (ウルトラマンブレーザー) is the titular Ultra of the series who came from a blazar called M421. His finishing move is Spiral Burrade (スパイラルバレード). He can harness the power of monsters through the use of their Stones, such as a Rainbow Slash (レインボー光輪) energy buzzsaw through the power of Nijikagachi, the Tilsonite Sword (チルソナイトソード) through the power of Garamon, and the Firdran Armor (ファードランアーマー) through the power of Firdran, which can change the Tilsonite Sword into the Tilsofird Lancer (チルソファードランサー) double-bladed sword. He is voiced by Hideyoshi Iwata (岩田 栄慶), who also plays the Ultra.

Minor characters

 * Reiko Kiyoshimadaira (キヨシマダイラ レイコ): A reporter of television station TKB. She is portrayed by Maasa Kitamura (北村 まあさ).
 * Okawa (大川): A physicist at the Teaterium Energy Fusion Institute (ティーテリウムエネルギー融合研究所). He is portrayed by Tomokazu Seki (関 智一).
 * Satoko Hiruma (ヒルマ サトコ): Gento Hiruma's wife of his age. In Ultraman Blazar the Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown, she is pregnant with her second child. She is portrayed by Maya Okano (岡野 真也).
 * Jun Hiruma (ヒルマ ジュン): Gento's 7-year-old son. He is portrayed by Haru Iwakawa (岩川 晴).
 * Hiroshi Sonezaki (曽根崎 浩): The CEO of the major chemical company Novaio (ノヴァイオ) who used to be in GGF Chemical Department until 18 years ago. He is portrayed by Kazuki Tsujimoto (辻本 一樹).
 * Mizuho (ミズホ): Anri Minami's childhood friend who lives in her hometown. She is portrayed by Asaka Yamada (山田 朝華). As a child, she is portrayed by Seira Takatori (高取 青依良).
 * Saburota Terashimazu (テラシマヅ サブロウタ) and Takuma Nihonmatsu (ニホンマツ タクマ): Directors of TKB. They are portrayed by Hachizo Hino (火野 蜂三) and Yuta (優太), respectively.
 * Kazunori Yokomine (横峯 万象): A leading kaiju researcher, a former GGF Academy professor, and Gento's former teacher from school. He is portrayed by Kozo Sato (佐藤 貢三). As a child, he is portrayed by Ken Fujii (藤井 健).
 * Yu Dobashi (ドバシ ユウ): The former director of GGFJ and the former manager of Test Facility 66 of the Space Systems Research Center (宇宙装備研究所第66実験施設) who is revealed to be the orchestrator of the V99 conspiracy that occurred in 1999. He is portrayed by Minori Terada (寺田 農).
 * Arata (アラタ) and Tsumugi (ツムギ): Jun Hiruma's classmate and his younger sister, respectively. They are portrayed by Luca Damasceno Takei (武井 ダマセノ 瑠珂) and Nene Iwakami (岩上 希音), respectively.
 * Tsutomu Nishizaki (西崎 勉): An astrophysicist and former teammate of Tatsuki Aobe. He is portrayed by Daisuke Nagakura (永倉 大輔).
 * Shogo Nagura (ナグラ ショウゴ) and Masaaki Nagura (ナグラ マサアキ): Teruaki Nagura's father and older brother, respectively, and farmers. They are portrayed by Yoshihiro Nozoe (野添 義弘) and Kenji Masaki (柾 賢志), respectively.
 * Tetsuo Suzuki (スズキ テツオ): A kaiju damage insurance agent. He is portrayed by Yuta Kanai (金井 勇太).
 * Michiko Tanaka (タナカ ミチコ): A homeowner Tetsuo Suzuki pitches a sales to. She is portrayed by Karin Yamaguchi (山口 果林).
 * Michihiro Oikawa (追川 光宙): A 27-year-old amateur astronomer. He is portrayed by Takuya Nakayama (中山 卓也).
 * Ichiro Mabuse (マブセ イチロウ): A chemist and the CEO of the advanced chemical company Necromass Co. (ネクロマス社). He is portrayed by Kisuke Iida (飯田 基祐).
 * Yuki Mabuse (マブセ ユウキ): Ichiro Mabuse's only son and a prodigy who causes an incident under the identity of a fictitious alien, Alien Damuno (ダムノー星人). He is portrayed by Ritsuto Morishima (森島 律斗).

Monsters and aliens

 * Space Crustacean Monster Bazanga (宇宙甲殻怪獣 バザンガ): An alien monster sent by an alien race codenamed the V99.
 * Abyssal Monster Gedos (深海怪獣 ゲードス):
 * Coleopteran Monster Taganular (甲虫怪獣 タガヌラー):
 * Molluscan Monster Leviera (軟体怪獣 レヴィーラ):
 * Mountain Monster Dorgo (山怪獣 ドルゴ):
 * Aurora Phantom Alien Cannan "Herbie" and "Robie" (オーロラ怪人 カナン星人 ハービー ロビー): Herbie is voiced by Ayako Takeuchi (竹内 絢子), and their race first appeared in episode 24 of Ultraseven.
 * Iridescent Monster Nijikagachi (天弓怪獣 ニジカガチ):
 * Robot Monster Garamon (ロボット怪獣 ガラモン): First appeared in episode 13 of Ultra Q.
 * Space Phantom Cicadaman (宇宙怪人 セミ人間): Aliens who assume the human identities of Hoichi Tsukushi (ツクシ ホウイチ), Chicchi Kuroiwa (クロイワ チッチ), Michi Niize (ニイゼ ミチ), and Kanade Higurashi (ヒグラシ カナデ). They are portrayed by Hideki Togi (東儀 秀樹), Norichika Togi (東儀 典親), Kon Shirasu (白須 今), and Hiroaki Tsutsumi (堤 博明), respectively, and their race first appeared in episode 16 of Ultra Q.
 * Molten Iron Monster Demaaga (熔鉄怪獣 デマーガ): First appeared in episode 1 of Ultraman X.
 * Molten Iron Monster Baby Demaaga (熔鉄怪獣 ベビーデマーガ):
 * Space Electromagnetic Monster Gebalga (宇宙電磁怪獣 ゲバルガ): An alien monster sent by the V99.
 * Moonlight Monster Deltandal (月光怪獣 デルタンダル):
 * Two-Dimensional Monster Gavadon (二次元怪獣 ガヴァドン): First appeared in episode 15 of Ultraman.
 * Vision Monster Mogusion (幻視怪獣 モグージョン):
 * Digital Life Form Pag (電脳生物 パグ): He is voiced by Masatomo Nakazawa (中澤 まさとも).
 * Abyssal Monster Little Gedos (深海怪獣 げ～どすくん): He is voiced by Shun Horie (堀江 瞬).
 * Vision Monster Little Mogusion (幻視怪獣 もぐ～じょんちゃん): She is voiced by Konomi Kohara (小原 好美).
 * Space Samurai Zangill (宇宙侍 ザンギル): A ronin from outer space who was slain by Zamsher in a duel long ago. However, as a spirit, he is given a redemption mission to slay 100 monsters' souls. He is portrayed by Mitsuru Karahashi (唐橋 充).
 * Space Swordsman Zamsher (宇宙剣豪 ザムシャー): First appeared in episode 16 of Ultraman Mebius.
 * Pollution Monster Irugo (汚染獣 イルーゴ): The larval form of Brood Gebalga which has the ability to emit toxic gas from its mouth.
 * Advanced Space Pollution Monster Brood Gebalga (宇宙汚染超獣 ブルードゲバルガ): An alien monster sent by the V99.
 * Fire Dragon Monster Firdran (炎竜怪獣 ファードラン): A phoenix-like monster whom Blazar fuses with to achieve his armored form, Firdran Armor.
 * Subterranean Insectile Monster Zugugan (地底甲獣 ズグガン):
 * Moonlight Monster Deltandal B (月光怪獣 デルタンダルB):
 * Skull Monster Red King II (どくろ怪獣 レッドキング(二代目)): First appeared in episode 25 of Ultraman.
 * Freezing Monster Guigass (冷凍怪獣 ギガス): First appeared in episode 25 of Ultraman.
 * Space Bomber Monster Varallon (宇宙爆弾怪獣 ヴァラロン): The final antagonist of the series and an alien monster sent by the V99. The monsters on Earth launched an attack on it as a response to its arrival at the series' climax.
 * Space Emperor Alien Bado (宇宙帝王 バド星人): First appeared in episode 19 of Ultraseven.
 * Transforming Phantom Alien Pitt (変身怪人 ピット星人): First appeared in episode 3 of Ultraseven.
 * Specter Phantom Alien Ghose (幽霊怪人 ゴース星人): First appeared in episode 48 of Ultraseven.
 * Space Monster Eleking (宇宙怪獣 エレキング): First appeared in episode 3 of Ultraseven.
 * Twin-Headed Monster Pandon (双頭怪獣 パンドン): First appeared in episode 48 of Ultraseven.
 * Three-Faced Phantom Dada (三面怪人 ダダ): First appeared in episode 28 of Ultraman.


 * Film-exclusive
 * Demonic Carcass Gongilgan (妖骸魔獣 ゴンギルガン):


 * Manga-exclusives
 * Despot Monster Tyrant (暴君怪獣 タイラント): First appeared in episode 40 of Ultraman Taro.
 * Vampire Seaweed Jaranga (吸血海藻 ジャランガ):
 * Herculean Monster King Silvergon (剛力怪獣 キングシルバゴン): First appeared in Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers.
 * Sea Monster King Guesra (海獣 キングゲスラ): First appeared in episode Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers.
 * Ancient Monster Kingsaurus III (古代怪獣 キングザウルス三世): First appeared in episode 4 of Return of Ultraman.
 * Space Robot King Joe (宇宙ロボット キングジョー): First appeared in episode 14 of Ultraseven.

Film
Ultraman Blazar the Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown (ウルトラマンブレーザー THE MOVIE 大怪獣首都激突) is a film released in Japanese theaters on February 23, 2024.

Spin-offs

 * Ultraman Blazar: A manga spin-off with the same title as the series that has been serialized on Tsuburaya Imagination and Shogakukan's online manga websites Televi-Kun Super Hero Comics and Weekly CoroCoro Comic. A special episode is titled Showdown!! The King Monster Army (大決戦!!キング怪獣軍団).
 * Ultraman Blazar the Movie Special Voice Drama (ウルトラマンブレーザー THE MOVIE スペシャルボイスドラマ): A two-episode audio drama distributed through a QR code for Tsuburaya Imagination members who attended movie screenings. It serves as a direct sequel to Ultraman Blazar the Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown.
 * 1) Tokyo Kaiju Extermination Operation (首都直下撃滅作戦)
 * 2) SKaRD's Smoldering Night (SKaRDの燻される夜)
 * SKaRD Break Room (SKaRD休憩室): A spin-off included as part of the second Blu-ray release of Ultraman Blazar. It focuses on Anri Minami, Yasunobu Bando, and Teruaki Nagura.
 * 1) I'll Do This Exercise (この体操は俺がやる)
 * 2) Incompletion SOS (中途半端SOS)
 * 3) Mother of SKaRD Is Like the Sun (スカードの母は太陽のように)
 * 4) Breach Your Stage Fright! (舞台恐怖症 突破せよ！)
 * 5) Operation Surprise Zero (サプライズ0指令)

Production
Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Ultraman Blazar was first trademarked and registered by the company on December 20, 2022, and published on December 28, 2022. The series was officially announced on April 21, 2023, alongside a sneak peek of both the titular Ultra and its human host Gento Hiruma. An official press conference was later held on June 12, 2023, which revealed more information on the main cast as well as the kaiju featured in the series.

Series director Kiyotaka Taguchi stated in an interview in Uchusen that he was once approached by Tsuburaya to produce a series that will follow after Ultraman Decker and it will be based on Ultraman Gaia, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. But he decided that he declined making an anniversary season for Gaia, stating the ambitious attempt to try to replicate a show that is already a good Ultra series. He said that "Around the summer of 2021, President Masayuki Nagatake of Tsuburaya Productions invited me out for a meal and said he wanted to talk to me. At that time, Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga was already in production. 'Do you want to be the main director for the next project?' President Nagatake asked. At that moment, I thought it would be 'New Generation Gaia,' but even now, 'Gaia' is an extremely ambitious work. 'Given the current state of TV series production, it's impossible to surpass that work no matter how you think about it.' I always believed that. I didn't want to lose such a battle, and I didn't think I was the right person for it." Taguchi decided that for the next series, everything will be done from the ground up that totally feels fresh while focusing less on gimmicks such as form changes and more on original kaiju suits instead of recycling old ones. His concept on Blazar is also different to that of other Ultras, as it is not related to the M78 Nebula but as a character born in a different galaxy. In his interview in Tsuburaya Imagination, he said that he made Blazar to be ideologically similar to Gaia overall and break away from the world view of the previous two works for it to portray "hard science fiction".

Cast

 * Gento Hiruma: Tomoya Warabino
 * Emi Aobe: Himena Tsukimiya
 * Anri Minami: Konomi Naito
 * Yasunobu Bando: Hayate Kajihara
 * Teruaki Nagura: Yuki Ito
 * Retsu Haruno: Masaya Kato
 * Earthy (Voice): Akira Ishida
 * Ultraman Blazar (Voice): Hideyoshi Iwata
 * Narration: Genki Yoshimoto (吉本 元喜)

Guest cast

 * Okawa (3): Tomokazu Seki
 * Hoichi Tsukushi (9): Hideki Togi
 * Minoru Genkawa (11, 12, 23-25): Taro Kawano
 * Yu Dobashi (14, 18, 19, 24, 25): Minori Terada
 * Scruffy (ヒゲ): Taro Suwa (諏訪 太朗)
 * Zangill (17): Mitsuru Karahashi

English dubbing cast

 * Johnny Yong Bosch as Gento Hiruma
 * Madeline Dorroh as Emi Aobe
 * Ricco Fajardo as Yasunobu Bando
 * Madeleine Morris as Anri Minami
 * Nicholas Andrew Louie as Teruaki Nagura
 * Keith Silverstein as Retsu Haruno
 * Clifford Chapin as Earthy

Theme songs

 * Opening theme
 * "Bokura no Spectra" (僕らのスペクトラ)
 * Lyrics: Shito (シト)
 * Composition & Arrangement: Takumi Ozawa (尾澤 拓実) (from ReReGRAPHICS)
 * Artist: Hiroshi Kitadani (きただに ひろし)
 * Episodes: 2-24


 * Ending themes
 * "BLACK STAR"
 * Lyrics: SACHIKO
 * Composition & Arrangement: Hisashi Koyama (小山 寿)
 * Artist: MindaRyn
 * Episodes: 2-13
 * "Brave Blazar"
 * Lyrics, Composition, & Arrangement: Technoboys Pulcraft Green-Fund
 * Artist: Technoboys Pulcraft Green-Fund feat. MindaRyn
 * Episodes: 14-25
 * "Ultra Q Main Theme" (『ウルトラQ』メインテーマ)
 * Composition: Kunio Miyauchi (宮内 國郎)
 * Arrangement: Hideki Togi
 * Episodes: 9

International broadcast
In Malaysia, this series began airing on Astro Ceria on the same date after the broadcast in Japan at 8:30 pm, with Malay-language dubs.

In Indonesia, this series began airing on RTV on July 14, 2023, with Indonesian dubs.

In Hong Kong, this series will begin airing on ViuTV on July 15, 2023, with Cantonese dubs.

In Philippines, this series will be air on TV5 in 2025 with Filipino dubbed.

Internationally outside of Southeast Asia, the series was uploaded on YouTube with a sub, and for the first time in Ultra Series history, the series is airing with an English simuldub, utilizing YouTube's new audio track feature.