The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army

, known in Thailand as , is a tokusatsu Science-Fiction/kaiju/superhero film produced in 1974 by Tsuburaya Productions of Japan and Chaiyo Productions of Thailand. It was released theatrically in Japan on March 17, 1979.
In 1984, the film was reissued in Thailand in an edited form, known as , which contained the unauthorized use of footage from the compilation film Ultraman ZOFFY, and was later edited into the also unauthorized English language film, Space Warriors 2000.
Due to the many legal issues faced by Tsuburaya Productions because of Chaiyo, the company has, at least unofficially, disowned this movie.
==Summary==
This film has the 6 Ultra Brothers, Zoffy, Ultraman, Ultraseven, Ultraman Jack, Ultraman Ace and Ultraman Taro, teaming up with the Hindu monkey-god Hanuman, who was merged by Mother of Ultra with a young Thai boy who was cruelly murdered by a group of robbers, to fight five evil monsters. They are Gomora (from Ultraman), Dustpan (originally from Mirrorman), Astromons, Tyrant and Dorobon (all from Ultraman Taro), which were accidentally awakened by a rocket test gone terribly wrong.
==Plot==
A young boy named Kochan visits a temple in Thailand to carry out a rain dance, believing it could cure the world of an ongoing drought caused by the Sun becoming closer to Earth. Three robbers arrive, stealing priceless artefacts from the temple. When the boy tries to intervene, the robbers beat him, but he gets up and gives chase, only to be shot in the face when he climbs aboard their jeep, killing him. Fortunately, Mother of Ultra, witnessing the incident from Nebula M78, revives the child, granting him the ability to transform into the legendary deity Hanuman. As Hanuman, Kochan tries to persuade the Sun to move back to its normal location, but he turns back to normal briefly when the robbers reappear and try to shoot him. However, the bullets harmlessly bounce off his skin, and he transforms into Hanuman again to take revenge, crushing the thieves with his fist.
Meanwhile, a weather modification experiment is being conducted using sounding rockets. While the first rocket test goes ahead as planned, causing rainfall, the second explodes on its launchpad, causing a chain reaction that destroys the others at the test site in a massive detonation. The explosion creates an earthquake which in turn causes a fissure to form in the ground, from which emerge five evil monsters. They are Gomora (from Ultraman), Dustpan (originally from Mirrorman, being the only monster out of the set to not originate in a main Ultra Series entry), Astromons, Tyrant and Dorobon (all from Ultraman Taro), which were accidentally awakened by a rocket test gone terribly wrong. Koh transforms into Hanuman, but is rapidly overpowered by the monsters.
Hanuman calls on the Six Ultra Brothers for help; Ultraman, Zoffy, Ultraseven, Ultraman Jack, Ultraman Ace, and Ultraman Taro, who travel from the Land of Light to aid him. Eventually, the seven heroes triumph over the monsters, and all return home.
==Appearances==
*Kochan: A religious boy who died chasing after the robbers. He is later revived as Hanuman.
*Annan: Kochan's friend.
*Marissa: Annan's sister.
*Dr. Wisut: A scientist who, dismissing religious beliefs and prayer, tries using scientific ways to resolve the drought.
*Sipuak: A pilot working at Dr. Wisut's center, he often fools around with his partner.
*Sisuliya: A pilot working at Dr. Wisut's center, he often fools around with his partner.
*Robbers: A gang of robbers who steal the head of a religious statue.
===Ultras and Other Heroes===
*Mother of Ultra
*Hanuman
*Ultraman
*Ultraseven
*Ultraman Jack
*Ultraman Ace
*Ultraman Taro
*Zoffy
===Kaiju===
*Gomora
*Dustpan
*Tyrant
*Dorobon
*Astromons
==Cast==
* Sanit Kaewadee as Koh
* Yupon Thammasri as Hanuman (voice), Narrator
* Ouab Somchat as Annan
* Yodchai Meksuwan as Dr. Wisut
* Pawana Chanajit as Marissa
* Sipuak as Himself
* Sisuliya as Himself
* Kaan Boonchoo as Robber in Green
* Prida Somthobsuuk as Robber in Blue
* Jan Wanpen as Robber in Black
* Kinichi Kusumi as Surya, Ultraman (suit)
* Pu Jindanuch as Little Girl at Temple
* Tukta Jindanuch as Girl at Temple
* Sompote Sands as Reporter
English Dub
* Ted Thomas as Hanuman, Narrator, Sipuak, Robber In Green
* Chris Hilton as Dr. Wisut, Robber in Black
* Lynne Wilson as Koh, Marissa
* Warren Rooke as Sisuliya, Ultraman, Robber in Blue, Robber in Green (Some scenes)
* Ian Wilson as Surya
Japanese Dub
* Ai Sakuma as Koh
* Issei Futamata as Hanuman
* Sumiko Shirakawa as Annan
* Ryuji Nakagi as Dr. Wisut
* Yoko Kuri as Marissa
* Junpei Takiguchi as Sipuak
* Shingo Kanemoto as Sisuliya
* Tetsuo Mizutori as Robber in Green
* Shigeo Hashimoto as Robber in Blue
* Toshio Furakawa as Surya, Ultraman
* Uesaka Taeko as Mother of Ultra, Flower of Life
==Production==
This film, along with Jumborg Ace & Giant, marked the only time Tsuburaya Productions and Chaiyo Productions officially worked together. Decades after this film was made, relations between the two companies have deteriorated, leading to the court battle over rights to the Ultraman characters (specifically the ones depicted in this film) and even Jumborg Ace, which was eventually won by Tsuburaya in 2008.
==International distribution==
Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers Studio acquired the film for international distribution from Chaiyo and created a 95-minute version initially released in Mandarin-speaking markets under their jurisdiction, with most Hinduist and Buddhist religious aspects of the film deleted or altered to become mythological in nature. Hanuman was renamed Ultraman, while also being referred to as "an Ultraman" and "the Ultraman," Anjana is named "the goddess," and Surya is renamed "Helios." The shorter export version was edited on the film's original negative, and the scenes cut back into the film at a later date, as distinct tape splices appear on the uncut film specific to where edits were made in the export version. 
Shaw Brothers released the film theatrically in Hong Kong as on February 26, 1975, using the English title The Ultraman in newspaper ads. It was shown as the headliner of a double feature with Shaw Brothers' The Flying Guillotine, held over from its premiere engagement. Shaw Brothers then retitled the film with the English onscreen title Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen (or Hanuman & the 7 Ultramen on publicity materials) and released it in Singapore and Sandakan, Malaysia on May 22 and October 5, 1975, respectively. A VHS rip of Shaw Brothers' retitled Mandarin release turned up on YouTube in 2014. 
In Taiwan it was released by Hongdae Pictures as on June 27, 1975. It is thought that the version shown was probably identical to Shaw Brothers' retitled Mandarin release other than the title card and distributor logo. Taiwanese posters note that the film was also shown in 70mm. It was reissued in Taiwan on January 25, 1985 in a version apparently adapted from the 1979 Japanese theatrical cut. 
Shaw Brothers created an English export dub for their version entitled Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen with dialog based on the English theatrical subtitles for their Mandarin version. It was recorded in Hong Kong at Shaw House and features the voices of Ted Thomas, Chris Hilton and Warren Rooke. This English dubbed version is known to have at least been released in Beirut, where it was distributed during the Lebanese Civil War by Sannan Brothers with dual Arabic and French subtitles, most likely imported from a Middle Eastern Francophone country. This release was later put out on VHS in the 1980s by an unknown distributor before a VHS copy surfaced in 2022 and was preserved.
==Gallery==
468551 615537178464561 1245036999 o.jpg|1974 theatrical poster
File:HAT7Utaiwanposter.png|Taiwanese Poster
File:HAT7UHKposter.jpeg|Hong Kong poster
HAT7Umalaysianposter.jpg|Malaysian Poster
File:HAT7U Lebanon poster.png|1975 Lebanese poster
Poster 1-2.jpg|Alternate Japanese poster
Poster 1.jpg|1984 Hanuman vs. 11 Ultraman reissue poster
HAT7Ushawbrosdistributionadvert.jpeg|Distribution advert
HAT7U HK advert 1.jpeg|Hong Kong newspaper advert
HAT7U HK advert 2.jpeg|Hong Kong newspaper advert
Taiwanese Hanuman.jpg|Taiwanese advert
Vlcsnap-2016-05-05-05h03m23s76.png|Thai theatrical title card
Vlcsnap-2016-05-05-05h05m51s29.png|Taiwanese Chinese title card
File:HAT7Uenglishexporttitlecard.png
Vlcsnap-2016-05-05-05h04m52s172.png|Japanese title card
Vlcsnap-2016-11-04-21h03m36s148.png|Thai reissue title card
Vlcsnap-2016-05-05-05h09m20s71.png|Thai VCD title card
Six ultra brothers VHS.jpg|Japanese VHS (clamshell)
Six ultra brothers VHS tape.jpg|Japanese VHS (tape)
HAT7ULebaneseVHScover.jpeg|80s Lebanese Tape (cover)
HAT7ULebaneseTape.jpeg|80s Lebanese Tape (box and tape)
Six ultra brothers LD.jpg|Japanese LaserDisc (front)
Six ultra brothers LD back.jpg|Japanese LaserDisc (back)
Hanuman apc dvd 2003.jpg|Thai DVD (APS, 2003)
Hanuman vs 7 ultramans label.jpg|Thai DVD (disc, APS, 2003)
Hanuman vcd tiga.jpg|Thai VCD (Tiga, 2008?)
Hanuman tiga dvd 2008.jpg|Thai DVD (Tiga, 2008)
HanumanVS7Ultraman.jpg
Hanuman zeno dvd 2016.jpg|Belgian DVD (Zeno Pictures, 2016)
Hanuman zeno dvd 2016 fr.jpg|French DVD (Special Edition, Zeno Pictures, 2016)
Vlcsnap-2016-05-05-05h28m15s140.png|Main Menu (APS DVD, 2003)
Vlcsnap-2016-05-05-05h28m20s195.png|Chapter Menu (APS DVD, 2003)
Chaiyo121.jpg
Ultra-Brothers-Hanuman.jpg
Ultra-Brothers-Hanuman 2.jpg
Ultra-Brothers-Hanuman 3.jpg
Gomora v Ultraman & Hanuman.png
File:HAT7UHKposter.jpeg
==Trivia==
*Sompote Sands himself appears as a photographer at the rocket base. He also narrates a thank you message at the end of the film. (Original 1974 Cut)
*The rocket base was filmed at Japan, the MAC logo was visible to seen in the door. The same base was filming as Ultraman Leo.
*The two vehicles from TV series was MAC Rody and TAC Car were also shipped to Thailand for filming in rocket explosion scene. After movie was complete, Tsuburaya brought MAC Rody and TAC Car back for storage.
*The movie states that: 
**The Land of Light had eternal peace, ignoring the Ultimate Wars that was brought up in Ultraman Taro.
**The Land of Light's 300 cities are heated up by 900 heaters. [DVD Subtitle]
**Ultraman Taro taught the Ultra Brothers how to fight. [DVD Subtitle]
**Mother of Ultra seems to be mother to all the Ultra Brothers, who also seem to be literal blood brothers.
*Stock footage from episode 17 of Fireman is used during the rocket explosion scene.
===Differences between the Thai & Japanese theatrical cuts===
*Editorial changes to the film overall:
**The Japanese version reworks the majority of the film's sound design from the ground up, and while it shares many of the same Toru Fuyuki cues, they are arranged and placed in the film differently, and none of the cues from Mirrorman heard in the Thai score are utilized. All instances of Thai traditional music are also replaced or removed.
**Chaiyo logo removed from the opening sequence.
**The Japanese title sequence has the credits layered over footage of the monster battles from later in the film instead of the composite of the solar system seen in the Thai version. The Thai Hanuman pob Jed Yodmanud theme is also replaced with Bokura no Urutoraman.
**The Japanese version heavily cuts the subplot with Sripuak and Sisuliya, two pilots who work at Dr. Wisut's rocket center.
**The rain dance sequences are heavily abridged and edited to focus more on Koh and Anan at times.
*During Hanuman's vengeance on the robbers:
**Many shots deemed unimportant/redundant are removed from Hanuman's pursuit of the robbers.
**Hanuman's killing of the final robber is censored, cutting before the bloodshed is shown.
*During the fight sequence between Hanuman/Ultra Brothers & Gomora:
**The Thai cut uses the instrumental version of Ultra Roku Kyodai, while the Japanese cut uses Bokura no Ultraman.
**Hanuman dancing after he uses the Crescent Cutter is shortened in the Japanese cut.
==See also==
*Hanuman and the Five Riders, another film produced by Chaiyo featuring Hanuman teaming up with the first five Kamen Riders, unlike this movie, it was produced without involvement or permission from Toei Company
Category:Movies
Category:Showa Movies
Category:Team-Ups