Celebrates 60 Years of Japan’s Legendary Superhero
Sixty years to the day after the first episode of Ultraman premiered, Fantasia marks the milestone with the international premiere of The Origin of Ultraman, an affectionate and insightful anniversary documentary from Tsuburaya Productions. Scheduled to release in Japan on July 3, 2026.
Supervised by acclaimed filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda, the documentary blends historical analysis, rare behind-the-scenes stories from surviving members of the original production team, and heartfelt reflections from influential creators including Hideaki Anno, Hideo Kojima, Nicolas Winding Refn, and Guillermo del Toro.
The result is an essential celebration of Ultraman—the red-and-silver guardian from Nebula M78—whose place in Japanese popular culture stands alongside icons such as Godzilla, Astro Boy, and Tokyo Tower. A defining hero of the Showa-era tokusatsu tradition, Ultraman continues to inspire generations of filmmakers, artists, and fans around the world.
