Ultraman the Next

, or simply called 'Ultraman' in his world, is the devolved form of Ultraman Noa that he reverted into while he was chasing Beast the One upon entering Earth's atmosphere. In this form many of his powers were locked, which he later regained as time passed. The Next was also made as a remake of the original Ultraman, as a result he also known simply as "Ultraman" in his universe, with "The Next" being his code name from the military.
==Conception==
===Etymology===
The Next's name is meant to symbolize that this Ultra is the start of the Next Generation of the Ultraman Series.
===Design===
Eiji Tsuburaya's original intention for Ultraman's appearance was used for the Next. It was where the red parts of Ultraman were to represent organic tissue while the silver parts were space metal. This also makes the Next the first Ultra to have visible organic tissue. This idea was also stated to be a representation of hardened lava in Anphans and running burning lava in Junis.
The Next's Anphans form was deliberately designed to appear 'incomplete' or underdeveloped which runs in the French word 'enfance,' which means 'childhood'. It is also because of Maki's and the Next's unfinished Merger.
Anphans' mask has a rough rocky texture to simulate Ultraman's Type A suit, where Junis simulates the Type C suit used later in the series, showing both of the character's developments.
==History==
===ULTRAMAN===
====Becoming the Next====
Arriving on Earth and merging its life with F-15 pilot Shunichi Maki, the being slowly grew within him. After the Japanese self-defense force lost the One, they brought the man under custody, believing he could be the one to lure the beast back. The plan worked, but The One had increased in power and size by absorbing a swarm of lizards right before their eyes. However, trapped in a cell beneath the floor, Maki began to change. Blowing the door off with a burst of light and emerging, the human was swatted like an insect and sent flying into the wall where his change began to go full force.
====Facing the One====
Maki transformed into the Next, a humanoid warrior from the stars. The two titans battle raged within the warehouse, but when the creature threatened Sara’s life, Next dove in front of the tail, taking several whips before forcing the creature into retreat where it broke through the wall and vanished into the wilderness.
When Sara and Maki met up with the creature, it lashed out again after tricking Sara. The fight between the two was once again raging, but when it became evident that he could not defeat the hero, the beast absorbed a swarm of rats and grew into an even bigger form. Once the monster escaped, it began to attack the city. By the time Next came out of the hole, buildings were burning and falling. One building was about to fall on a young girl and her mother.
====Advent to Junis====
Rushing toward the falling building that was going to crush the young girl and her mother, Next evolved into his next form. The super being propped himself under the structure and held it up long enough for the pair to escape, but The One saw this and attacked. The battle for the city, and possibly the world, started yet again. When the creature began unleashing balls of energy from its jaws, the Next took to the skies.
After absorbing a flock of crows, the One followed vigorously. The two warriors began to dog fight, dodging and attacking one another until the monster used its tail to hold the giant still and pull him in. It began to bash the hero and feed on his energy until the air force arrived, attacking the monster and allowing Ultraman to escape and hit the fiend with two energy cutters, severing its wings and sending the beast falling to the ground.
Once landed, the red and silver giant had little trouble, using his most powerful attack, the Evol-Ray Schtrom, the space beast was vaporized. After this Ultraman honored Maki's request to fly with his son and revived his life force. However as a result Ultraman was forced to go to sleep to regain his energy back. 
===Ultraman Nexus - Later Years===
Many years after the Next finished his battle with the One, Ultraman awoke from his slumber bearing his fully developed form, Nexus. In this form he merged with other humans, and recovering some of his powers. After he merged with Kazuki Komon, he obtained all of his powers, and became Ultraman Noa, his true form, and defeated his sworn enemy, Dark Zagi, and then stayed on Earth to defeat the remaining Space Beast, with Kazuki Komon as his host.
===Ultraman Ginga===
The Next is seen as one of the Ultras seen fighting the deluge of monsters during the Dark Spark War, being transformed into a Spark Doll by the Dark Spark at the war's conclusion. Unlike his prior appearance, he was fighting in his Anphans form as a giant like the other Ultras.
==Profile==
===Stats===
*Age: 350,000 years or older
*Home World: Unknown
*Time Limit: None
===Body Features===
*Eyes: The Next appeared to have no difficulty fighting the One in a dimly lit environment.
*Energy Core: The Next's equivalent to a Color Timer, unlike the normal one it is located with in the body not outside. It goes off when the Dunamist is reaching their physical limits. Unlike a normal Color Timer, it does not change color but flashes yellow and makes a noise similar to a heartbeat.
*: The blades on the Next's arms, with concentration they can charge energy either for the Elbow Cutter or Lambda Slasher. In Junis, they are enhanced and fully developed allowing for the use of the Evol-Ray Schtrom. They are the precursors of Nexus' Armed Nexus.
*Ultra Armor: Unlike most Ultras, the Next's Ultra Armor does not cover his entire body leaving his sinew like flesh exposed. In Junis where the armor was fully developed, while not immune to the momentum, took the One's fireballs without visible damage, whereas entire buildings were being destroyed by them.
===Transformation===
Unlike most Ultras and his succeeding form, the Next doesn't use any manner of device to transform. Maki transformed by pure will although the first time may have been due to the blow he received and the light was trying to save his life. Afterwards he transformed by his own volition. The process begins with his eyes glowing red and the Next's energy lines appearing all over his body as it glows, the light turns blue and he transforms. The blue also appears when he changes back.
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===Forms===
== Other Media ==
=== Ultraman Nexus (video game) ===
The Next in his Junis form appears in this game as one of the secret playable characters. To unlock him, the player must complete Battle Mode using Ultraman Nexus Junis form.
==Merchandise==
===Ultra Hero Series===
*Ultraman The Next (Junis) (2004)
**Release Date: December 2004
**Price: 700 yen
**JAN/ISBN: 4543112253460
**Materials: PVC
:Ultra Hero Series Ultraman The Next is a 6-inch figure based on his Junis form in the climax, and he features 3 points of articulation on the arms and the waist.
UHSN-Ultraman-The-Next-Junis-packaging.jpg
 
*Ultraman The Next (Anphans) (2004)
**Release Date: December 2004
**Price: 700 yen
**JAN/ISBN: 4543112253453
**Materials: PVC
:This Ultra Hero Series Ultraman The Next figure is based on his Anphans form seen in the first half of the movie.
UHSN-Ultraman-The-Next-Anphans-packaging.jpg
*Ultraman The Next (Anphans) (Limited Edition, 2004)
**Release Date: 2004
**Materials: PVC
:This Ultraman The Next (Anphans) is a redeco of the titular mold, featuring colorless translucent plastic with some clear yellow sprays to represent his first appearance where he communicated with Maki. This figure is only available at Lawson, where customers must purchase it along with advance tickets of the movie. 
===HG Series===
===Hyper Hero Real Action Doll Collection===
*Ultraman The Next (Junis) (2005)
**Release Date: May 18, 2005
**Price: 5,940 yen
**JAN/ISBN: 4534598000754
**Materials: PVC, ABS
**Additional accessories: 1 pair Knife-hands, 1 pair of fists
:Released as part of the "Hyper Hero Real Action Doll Collection" line by Ootsuka Planning, this action figure of Ultraman The Next features an articulated frame (decoed in red) with wearable body parts of the Ultra himself. 
*Ultraman The Next (Anphans) (2005)
**Release Date: August 1, 2005
**Price: 5,940 yen
**JAN/ISBN: 4534598000761
**Materials: PVC, ABS
**Additional accessories: 1 pair Knife-hands, 1 pair of fists
:3 months later, the Anphans version of The Next is also available for the line.
==Gallery==
===ULTRAMAN===
The next forming.jpg|The Next first appearing
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Maki first henshin.jpg|Maki before transforming into the Next
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Ultrmn th Nxt VI.png|The Next takes flight
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Next Charging.jpg|The Next charging his beam
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Next Junis.jpg|The Next after his victory against the One
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===Miscellaneous===
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Ultraman-the-next-still05.jpg|The Next vs The One
Ultrmn th Nxt IV.png.jpg|The Next vs The One
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Ultrmn th Nxt III.png|Peace
Ultrmn th Nxt V.png|The Ultra N Project
Ultrmn N Prjct Calender.png|The Ultra N Project on a poster
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Next Design.jpg|Design sketches for the Next
Next.jpg|The next Junis and Anphans toy
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Ultraman-the-next-still07.jpg|The Next's fighting pose
Next-manga.jpg|ULTRAMAN manga
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File:Nexus With Next .png|Nexus shaking hands with The Next
==Trivia==
*When Next was still in the production stage it was being produced under the name Project Yellow Eyes, which may or may not have been done in the spirit of Ultraseven which started out under the name Ultra Eyes.
*The Next is the first Ultra to have a rise scene after his transformation. It appeared during a mental conversation between Maki and Ultraman, during which they finished their merger. The rise scene showed to signify this and their renewed strength.
*Unlike his succeeding forms, the Next experienced the three minute rule, but for a different reason than expected. Because his merger with Maki Shunichi was incomplete, he could be active only for a short time before the two were onset by great pain and fatigue. During his second fight, he lasted for much longer and when the two completely merged, this limit disappeared.
*Unlike most Ultra hosts, save a few, Maki was in control of both forms, because of their incomplete merger, the minds of Maki and the Next only met in short dream-like intervals. Until the end when the two fully merged, Maki had discovered all of his abilities by accident. His situation is thus different from all the following Dunamists and all other Ultra hosts.
*Of his three forms, Noa's voice is only heard by Shunichi during their final dream state.
*The gloves of the Next would be later recycled for the hands of an Alien Serpent in Ultraman Chronicle: ZERO & GEED.
==Also See==
*ULTRAMAN
*Ultraman Nexus
*Ultraman Noa
id:Ultraman the Next
ja:ウルトラマン・ザ・ネクスト
ms:Ultraman the Next
Category:Ultras
Category:Ultra Warriors
Category:Allies
Category:Heisei Ultras
Category:Heroes
Category:Ultraman Type Ultras
Category:Movie Ultras
Category:Protagonists
Category:Ultras with Other Origins
Category:Ultra N Project
Category:Ultra N Project Characters