Ultraman, the kaiju-fighting superhero, is getting his first cg-animated feature, 55 years after first appearing on Japanese tv screens. The film is in development at Netflix.
In a new storyline, baseball star Ken Sato picks up the mantle of Ultraman, only to end up having to raise a kaiju (monster) baby. On top of the challenge of being a father, Sato also has to contend with his own estranged father and the conniving Kaiju Defense Force.
Netflix will produce the film with Tsuburaya Productions, which owns the franchise. Industrial Light & Magic will provide the animation. The director is Shannon Tindle, an Emmy-winning designer, story artist, and filmmaker who created Laika’s
New Ultraman Animated Feature Being Developed by Netflix May 13, 2021
Netflix announced it has partnered with Tsuburaya Productions to develop a new CG-animated feature film for the iconic Japanese superhero
Ultraman.
According to Variety, the upcoming
Ultraman animated film features a brand new story and is aimed at bringing a new audience for the red and silver-clad superhero. Shannon Tindle will make his directorial debut along with John Aoshima (
DuckTales,
Gravity Falls) who will co-direct the project. The feature will be based on a script both Tindle and Marc Haimes (
Kubo and the Two Strings) co-wrote. Tom Knott and Lisa Poole are set to produce.