Ultraman's 50th Anniversary Film Hitting US Theaters as Double Feature!

So first we had Shin Gojira come to the USA and now we're getting two Ultraman movies as well. It's a good time to me a kaiju fan.

Toho made Ultraman?

Is it just me or does that monster look like Bagan? Mind you, I know nothing about Ultraman and I have no idea where to begin if I wanted to start watching Ultraman.

Tsuburaya Productions created Ultraman. Eiji Tsuburaya himself and most of the creative team on Godzilla films and other Toho kaiju endeavors were a part of the series. Many actors from prior Godzilla films would guest-star and Ishiro Honda ended up directed episodes for the third series The Return of Ultraman.

There is no relation to Bagan with the creature above. Crunchyroll is streaming nine of the Ultra series for free.

If interested I typically recommend starting from the beginning with the original Ultraman. You can stream it for free on Shout!Factory TV here.

If you're looking for something a little more modern, however, I recommend Ultraman Nexus on Crunchyroll here.

Thank you GMan2887. I think I get it now. I will probably start with the original series. Would it be safe to assume that the series work like the Showa, Heisei and Millennium series? (the original being Showa era and the more modern stuff being Heisei and Millennium era). If there any continuity between series?

Sort of. These days it works more like Marvel and DC in which there are different universes/continuities the characters exist in, but they're all acknowledged. The idea of parallel universes was introduced a few years back and so Showa and Heisei characters, for instance, can travel to each other's Earths and fight alongside each other.

The thing is the "Heisei" series of Ultra shows is more like the Millennium Godzilla series--Most of them exist in their own universe/continuity with the exception of a few.

Cool concept. Thanks for the info

Last question.

If I were to go see the new Ultraman movie, are there any specific series I need/should watch first? Or is it ok just to watch the original (assuming the original covers the basics and everything)

Well you should probably watch Ultraman Ginga and it's sequel series, and Ultraman X.

Yeah, but at the same time Ultraman Ginga really sucks... Ultraman Ginga S is a little better, but not a top tier series. Ultraman X, however, is a fantastic show, but some of the guest Ultras that show up may be lost on you. Especially Nexus.

Keep in mind Ultraman also isn't a series you binge watch. They're meant to be weekly adventures and usually need breathing room.

Now I wan't to know what Tsuburaya is going to do next after Orb is done.

^Well the toy-centric material is keeping the franchise alive, so we'll probably get more of that--Which I don't mind as long as it's handled like it was in Ultraman X. It's too noticeable in Orb.

The'll probably tone it down with whatever comes next.

Well, I binged watched the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series in a weekend, I think I can handle a little Kaiju binge. So, to keep track, I should watch the original series, Ultraman X and whichever one involves Nexus (I'm unsure if that is the name of a series or a character?)? Thanks guys. I wasn't that interested in Ultraman before, but seeing as how he is one of the most heroes in the Kaiju genre, I can give it a shot. I gave the Evangelion franchise a shot after the Godzilla crossover poser was released way back when and I never regretted it. 

On a side note, is it just me or did the trailer remind anyone else of Power Rangers?

Power Rangers is nothing more than a heavily edited, Americanized version of Super Sentai. Due to varying popularity over the years, Ultraman, Super Sentai, Kamen Rider and other Japanese tokusatsu heroes have influenced each other with similar styles.