Ultraman Gaia (series)

is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the 14th show in the Ultraman Series. It was created by Chiaki J. Konaka and produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Mainichi Broadcasting System.
The series can be watched on Tubi and Roku.
==Production==
Tsuburaya Productions achieved significant success with the high-quality content of their TV series Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Dyna, produced between 1996 and 1997. By the end of 1997, it was decided internally to produce the third installment of the "Heisei Ultraman" series.
At that time, the planning stakeholders included Tsuburaya Productions, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Yomiuri Advertising, Bandai, and Kodansha. When deciding to produce the third installment, the discussion atmosphere indicated that, unlike the previous work Ultraman Dyna, which was positioned as a "sequel to Tiga," this new series should change direction and adopt an entirely new world view. Therefore, the setting was completely altered compared to the previous two series, with the new world view no longer being interconnected, and the time period setting almost coinciding with the broadcast year., pg 4Ultraman Gaia (TV Magazine Special Edition) pg 76
In 1998, simultaneous with the production of Ultraman Dyna, planning meetings for the new series began, gradually establishing its direction. After numerous discussions, several key points for the new series were finalized, including: "enhancing the series by using the concept of Taiga drama as a model," "introducing two competing Ultraman," "establishing a recurring enemy throughout the series," "incorporating bold transforming machinery and rich mechanical effects," and "forming a special investigation team composed of land, sea, and air experts." Tsuburaya Productions also added two more points: "continuing the human Ultraman concept" and "depicting themes close to the heart, set in modern times." Based on these points, the project plan was further developed.
The subsequent planning and setting work was undertaken by Tsuburaya Productions and Yomiuri Advertising. Initially, three writers submitted their own proposals, all of which depicted another Ultraman as a "brother," but failed to break through the traditional framework and were not adopted. By April, Masato Oida and Nobuyuki Koyama from Tsuburaya Productions began collaborating with Yomiuri Advertising to compile new proposals.
Oida's intention at the time was to comprehensively enhance the inherent appeal of Ultraman. Carrying a hastily organized proposal document from the planning department, he visited Chiaki J. Konaka, who had previously participated as a screenwriter for Ultraman Tiga, inviting him to join the new project in the capacity of a head writer. After accepting the proposal, Konaka presented his own ideas, including making the protagonist younger, strengthening the realism of team roles, such as by adding an aerial team, and creating unprecedented enemy images. These ideas were generally approved, and Konaka was confirmed as a head writer.http://www.konaka.com/alice6/ultra/characters.pdfhttp://www.konaka.com/alice6/ultra/mission.pdf
The basis of the mechanical design this time was the hexagonal prism container machinery and the aerial mothership base, a design proposed early on by Bandai. Konaka incorporated a thrust reverser into the mechanical design, closely linking it with the concept of the "Alchemy Stars," further elucidating the protagonist's background.
In May 1998, Hirochika Muraishi joined the meeting as the lead director. His idea was to break away from the traditional framework followed by previous Ultraman series, emphasizing the collaboration of professionals against formidable enemies. The special effects director was Kazuo Sagawa. Konaka began advancing the establishment of the Ultraman image, based on the concept of "Ultraman grounded on Earth," further developing the concept of "human Ultraman" from the previous two works, emphasizing the protagonist's strong will, which foreshadowed dramatic plot developments. Thus, the character names emerged from the Gaia hypothesis, a concept related to the Earth's environment, and were established as "Ultraman Gaia" and "Ultraman Agul." They have conflicting philosophies in regards to defending the Earth from a mysterious, malevolent, and extremely intelligent cosmic entity. The first half of the series explores the growing tension between them, and their eventual clash. The second half has them reconcile their differences so they can defeat their common enemy., pg 5
At the stage when the planning was roughly finalized, all participating writers gathered for a general meeting. Hosted by Konaka, the meeting confirmed the basic direction of this series. Firstly, Konaka announced the emphasis on scientific research and presented relevant data. Then, Oida outlined the overall development and goals of the plot, including the timing of the two Ultraman's confrontation and Gaia's upgrade. Each writer's main responsibilities were discussed, and detailed decisions were shared through fax and other means. These writer meetings were held weekly until the content for the first quarter was finalized. In these meetings, Konaka acted as the main adjuster of the story flow and coordinator of concepts, emphasizing plots not relying on character backgrounds and highlighting characters as professionals. The recurring enemy throughout the series was given a name, but since these enemies wouldn't physically appear like Yapool, the term "Radical Destruction Bringer" that Konaka used to explain the concept of the enemy was eventually adopted.
Regarding the main concept of the project, Konaka once stated that the plot of Ultraman Gaia was related to contemporary issues such as the Kyoto Protocol, depicting how modern humans might need to address environmental problems, such as environmental destruction, wildlife extinction, and pushing the Earth itself towards destruction.Ultra Tokusatsu Perfect Mook Vol.14: Ultraman Gaia pg 21 Meanwhile, monsters were portrayed as beings coexisting with the Earth, awakening due to the Radical Destruction Bringer Event. In the first half of the story, Gamu fought and defeated the monsters in battles, but in the latter half, Gamu realized that the monsters were also Earth's creatures, and innocently defeating them would be detrimental to the future of the Earth. Additionally, from the outset, there was a hope to influence children, the main audience, to have a positive concept of the future through the series, avoiding being constrained by apocalyptic views and encouraging them to embrace the possibilities of the future through correct scientific progress.http://www.konaka.com/alice6/ultra/gaia_ps.html
Hiroshi Maruyama was in charge of designing both Ultraman, and Kaigome Productions and the modeling department accelerated the modeling work. On June 22, 1998, the special effects team of Ultraman Gaia began filming. The main filming began on July 3. Ultraman Gaia was officially announced at a program production presentation on July 16, marking the formal production of the series.Ultraman Gaia (TV Magazine Special Edition) pg 77
There were no more full meetings of writers after the second quarter. As the image of the entire work had been established among all participants, the writers began creating scripts in the usual manner. The writers responsible for the crucial episodes from 23 to 26 completed their scripts through collaborative discussions. The third quarter was originally set to be a period emphasizing diversity. Konaka also took a relatively conservative approach, with the only requirement being to enhance the global perspective, requesting Keiichi Hasegawa and Muraishi to set the stage overseas and introduce a female protagonist when they collaborated.
Considering the plan in the first quarter where Agul's powers were absorbed by Gaia and he exited the stage, it was decided to retain Agul/Fujimiya from the start of the second quarter due to his strong appeal to children and his significance in the story. His revival was then considered after the third quarter. Eventually, when planning the fourth quarter, a climax scene was arranged for Agul's triumphant return. This series, like its predecessors, achieved success in both toy sales and viewership ratings.https://www.sanspo.com/article/20230329-TGD63U7TBJIVPEKMKSNBNTSQCU/
==Synopsis==
Gamu Takayama is a 20 year old member of an organization called Alchemy Stars. After a monster known as C.O.V. attacked the Earth, Gamu falls through a portal of light and meets the giant: Ultraman Gaia, who gives him his powers. Later, when Gaia was in trouble in episode three, another Ultraman, Ultraman Agul appeared. Can they save the Earth? Who is Agul, is he friend or foe? Later in the series it is seen that Agul, too, is a being of justice, but only protects the Earth, not humanity. The conflict between the two later leads to a duel, opening a wormhole that allows a giant beast to reach Earth. What will happen then?
==Characters==
===Protagonists===
*Gamu Takayama
*Hiroya Fujimiya
===GUARD===
*Tatsumi Chiba
*Hiroyuki Hiiragi
*Kosuke Ranbashi
*Ryuichi Senuma
====XIG====
=====Operation Crew=====
*Akio Ishimuro
*Seiichiro Tsutsumi
*Atsuko Sasaki
*Georgie Leland
*Saika Ukai
=====Team Lightning=====
*Katsumi Kajio
*Yasushi Kitada
*Satoshi Ogawara
=====Team Falcon=====
*Tatsuhiko Yoneda
*Koichi Hayashi
*Toru Tsukamori
=====Team Crow=====
*Miho Inagi
*Juri Mishima
*Kei Tadano
=====Team Hercules=====
*Satoru Yoshida
*Takanobu Kuwabara
*Mitsugu Shima
=====Team Seagull=====
*Atsushi Koyama
*Renji Matsuo
*Michael Simmons
=====Team Marlin=====
*Katsutoshi Yokotani
*Gentaro Imai
*Kingo Iwao
===Alchemy Stars===
*Daniel McPhee
*Catherine Ryan
*Miku Asano
===KCB===
*Kenji Tabata
*Reiko Yoshii
*Michifumi Inoue
*Umezawa
===Others===
*Sato
*Makoto
*Nakaji
*Shigemi Takayama
*Yuichi Takayama
*Megumi Kuroda
*Kyoko Inamori
*Ritsuko Sasaki
*Yuki
*Shusaku Sawamura
*Kijuro Mato
*Hirano
*Radical Destruction Cult
===Ultras===
*Ultraman Gaia
*Ultraman Agul
===Kaiju===
*Radical Destruction Bringer
*Dragon in Gamu's Vision
*C.O.V.
*Geel
*Apatee
*Primal Mezard
*Mezard
*Bokurag
*Gan-Q Code №00
*Gan-Q Code №01
*Tenkai
*Anemos
*Crabgan
*Rezaito
*C.O.V. II
*Baby C.O.V.
*Varsite
*Mizunoeno Dragon
*Wolf Gas
*Psycho Mezard
*Antimatter
*Reanimated animal corpses
*Deents
*Mother Deents
*Alguros
*Imit-Ultraman Agul
*Diglobe
*Zonnel
*Psycho Mezard II
*Lilia
*Geschenk
*Candea
*Pazuzu
*Gomenos
*Zonnel II
*Geel II
*Zoruim
*Mimos
*Enzan
*Rukulion
*Gokigumon
*Kijuro Mato
*Gan-Q Code №02
*Aeroviper
*Syazac
*Wolf Fire
*Unidentified Aliens
*Algona
*X-Savarga
*Queen Mezard
*Phantom-Ultraman Agul
*Tigris
*Tsuchikera
*Pazgeek
*Σ-Zuigul
*Black Gamu
*Satan Bizor
*Spirit Parasites
*Bizorm
*Izac
*Super C.O.V.
*Super Pazuzu
*Blitz-Blotz
*Tigris II
*Shinryoku
*Mokian
*Deathbringer
*Zebubu
*Dobishi
*Fishman
*Kaiser Dobishi
*Gomenos II
*Geel III
*Tigris III
*Zonnel III
*Syazac
*Zog
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===Suit Actors===
*Ultraman Gaia: Shunsuke Gondo (V1 & V2), Koji Nakamura (Supreme Version)
*Ultraman Agul: (Played by )
==Music==
:;Opening Theme
*
**Lyrics: Chinfa Kan
**Composition: Miki Matsubara
**Arrangement: Kazuya Daimon
**Song: Masayuki Tanaka & Kazuya Daimon
:;Insert Themes
*LOVE IS ALIVE (Episode 10) 
**Song: Hitomi Sudo & B.B.WAVES
* (Episode 1, 27, 30, 34 & 35)
**Lyrics: Kumiko Aoki
**Composer: Yasuo Kosugi
**Arrangement: Kazuya Daimon
**Song: Masayuki Tanaka & Kazuya Daimon 
:;Ending Themes
*Lovin' You Lovin' Me (Episode 1-26)
**Lyrics: Watanabe Natsumi
**Composer and arranger: P.KAWAI
**Song: B.B.WAVES
*Beat on Dream on (Episode 27-51 & Gaia Again)
**Lyrics: Komuro Mitsuko
**Composer: Daisuke Inoue
**Arranger: Kenichi Sudo
**Song: Tomohiko Kikuta
==Home Media==
Ultraman Gaia VCD Cover.jpg|Volume 1 (episodes 1-4)
51GMDCTC0BL.jpg|Volume 2 (episodes 5-8)
794945cb5e 061004 450.jpg|Volume 3 (episodes 9-12)
31dea058d1_061005_450.jpg |Volume 4 (episodes 13-16)
51Q4vQkXfcL.jpg|Volume 5 (episodes 17-20)
A018b821ed_061007_450.jpg|Volume 6 (episodes 21-24)
51DNH5Y0YVL.jpg|Volume 7 (episodes 25-28)
1894895c6f 061009 450.jpg|Volume 8 (episodes 29-32)
51KNRZV315L.jpg|Volume 9 (episodes 33-36)
E3fea3ceb0 061011 450.jpg|Volume 10 (episodes 37-40)
5f6bf40def 061012 450.jpg|Volume 11 (episodes 41-44)
B7ce303f8f 061013 450.jpg|Volume 12 (episodes 45-48)
Cc985cb1e5_061014_450.jpg|Volume 13 (episodes 49-51)
Climax Stories Gaia.jpg|Climax Stories: Ultraman Gaia
Gaia MB DVD.jpg|Ultraman Gaia Memorial Box
Ultraman Gaia Blu-ray.jpg|Complete Blu-ray Box (episodes 1-51)
Gaia Mill Creek.webp|Mill Creek's DVD box set (episodes 1-51)
==Gallery==
Ultraman Gaia Poster 1998 1.jpeg
Logo gaia.png
Ultraman Gaia English Logo.png
Ultraman Gaia 1998 4.webp
==Trivia==
*While cleaning out his closet in 2020, star actor Takeshi Yoshioka found production plans for the series. This revealed that the working title of the series was simply "Ultraman '98" at the time, XIG was called DOG, Gamu Takayama was called , and Hiroya Fujimiya was to act as a sort of "elder brother" figure to Gamu.
==External Links==
*MBS official website
*CBC official website
*Ultraman Gaia at Tsuburaya Productions' official website
==References==
id:Ultraman Gaia (seri)
ja:ウルトラマンガイア
Category:Series
Category:Heisei Series
Category:Ultraman Gaia
Category:Productions