Ultraman Orb (series)

is the 26th entry in the Ultraman Series, and was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ultraman and the 20th anniversary of Ultraman Tiga. It aired from July 9, 2016 to December 24, 2016. This series is not part of New Ultraman Retsuden and therefore aired on Saturdays instead of Tuesdays. It is the first show since Ultraman Mebius to air on Saturdays. It is Chapter 6 of the Ultraman Orb Chronicle.https://m-78.jp/news/n-3764
The series can be watched on Shout TV, Tubi, Pluto, Roku, and Prime Video.
==Production==
Ultra Q and Ultraman began airing in 1966. To commemorate their 45th anniversary, Ultraman Retsuden started broadcasting on the TV Tokyo network in July 2011. Following this, in July 2013, New Ultraman Retsuden began airing, which included only 11 episodes but was treated entirely as a drama unit, producing a 30-minute new series, Ultraman Ginga. After that, a new series, including a 30-minute new "Ultraman" and a 3-minute new mini-series, would be released every year. These attempts gradually gained public acceptance, and over time, the number of new series increased, establishing a system of producing theatrical versions at the end of TV series., pg 4
Ultraman Orb is the first independently released new generation series after New Ultraman Retsuden and also the 50th-anniversary commemorative series of the Ultraman series. Before the conception of this series, Tsuburaya Productions released a promotional video on YouTube on January 24, 2016, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ultraman series. At the end of the video, a black background with a pair of Ultraman eyes and the English letters "What's next...?" were displayed.https://tokusatsunetwork.com/2016/01/tsuburaya-releases-teaser-for-upcoming-ultraman-project/. On February 6, Field Corporation, the parent company of Tsuburaya Productions, revealed in its financial report on February 1 that a new Ultraman series would premiere in July. However, the report did not disclose any other information about the new series.https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-02-06/fields-new-ultraman-series-to-premiere-in-july/.98395https://www.tsuburaya-fields.co.jp/ir/j/library/presentation/qa_20160204_1.html
On April 25, 2016, Tsuburaya Productions announced and revealed details about the new series Ultraman Orb. Kiyotaka Taguchi, who directed Ultraman X, returned as the director, and Yuji Kobayashi and Takao Nakano returned as the series' writers. Following this announcement, Orb finally appeared in episode 147 of New Ultraman Retsuden and its promotional video. As a TV program, the rest of the cast for the series was announced on the official Tsuburaya Productions website on May 26, 2016.https://m-78.jp/news/n-3827 New Ultraman Retsuden continued to air until June 25, 2016. Ultraman Orb officially began broadcasting as a new program in July 2016.https://m-78.jp/news/n-3891
The initial planning for the series began around the end of filming for Ultraman X in 2015. After the overall filming of Ultraman X was completed in early October 2015, the planning for the new series officially commenced. Along with Taguchi, Koichi Sakamoto and Yuichi Abe also joined the team. According to Taguchi, the inspiration for Ultraman Orb came from his collaboration with screenwriter Takao Nakano twice during Ultraman X. The initial concept stemmed from Nakano's proposal based on Edogawa Ranpo's The Boy Detectives Club, featuring a detective Ultraman akin to Kogoro Akechi, engaging in a battle with a foe resembling The Fiend with Twenty Faces, with a detective team analogous to Kobayashi Yoshio in between. Taguchi was highly intrigued by this setup and strongly recommended Nakano as the series composer. However, due to concerns over familiarity, the detective theme was ultimately adjusted.https://mantan-web.jp/article/20170527dog00m200001000c.html
Firstly, the protagonist Gai Kurenai's drifter image was proposed by Nakano. After the detective setting was abandoned, Nakano suggested the drifter as an alternative. He believed that Dan Moroboshi in Ultraseven was also a drifter at the beginning of the story. Additionally, Nakano resonated with "Spaghetti Western," Kogarashi Monjirō, and the stateless route of Nikkatsu films, viewing the drifter as a more fitting hero than a detective. The name Gai Kurenai also derived from "sunset," and it referenced "○○ Gai" from Nikkatsu filmshttps://www.nikkatsu.com/dig/feautures/features_01.html. Taguchi resonated with Sanjuro and was interested in the hypothetical scenario of "what if Dan hadn't joined the UG." Thus, the protagonist of this series blends the characteristics of a detective and a drifter, with a strong personality. The underlying reason for this setup was the need for a compelling character and attributes to define the tone of the work and drive the story.https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20170310-ultaraorb/, pg 5
Tsuburaya Productions initially decided against introducing an organization similar to previous defense teams. However, Taguchi strongly opposed depicting Ultraman without such a defense team in place. During project coordination with Tsuburaya Productions, he ensured the preservation of the worldview involving a defense team. Based on his creative direction in episode 16 of Ultraman X titled "Feature Report! 24 Hours Inside Xio," Taguchi proposed that the defense team should include members resembling police roles, leading to the introduction of the down-to-earth character Shibukawa Ittetsu. While not prominently featuring the defense team, decisions were made to introduce elements like differently colored Jet VTOL, gradually emphasizing the team's presence throughout the series.https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20160708-ultraman/
The initial concept of Ultraman Orb's character was simple: the protagonist possesses the powers of two Ultramen. However, to enhance the story's clarity, the basic form of Orb Origin was introduced, and the consistent theme became "rediscovering one's true self." When shaping the character of Gai Kurenai, not only did they portray him avoiding his past cold image, but they also added cheerful and unexpected traits. Actor Hideo Ishiguro, who played Gai, differed from recent actors in the Heisei era Ultra series in that he was an experienced actor rather than a newcomer.https://www.crank-in.net/interview/43991/1https://v-storage.jp/talk/interview/42694/
Regarding Jugglus Juggler, Gai's adversary, Taguchi requested that actor Takaya Aoyagi portray a thorough sense of instability. Aoyagi's superb acting amplified moments of cruelty following laughter or anger, perfectly contrasting with Gai throughout the series, embodying the concepts of light and darkness within justice. Throughout the series, under Taguchi's steadfast intent, the serious and comedic elements were integrated, embracing the spirit of "playing even on the main axis!" with a serious attitude, thus creating an entertainment piece filled with a spirit of service.https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20160708-ultraman/3
The prequel web series Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA, depicting Orb's birth, premiered on Amazon Video in Japan starting from December 20, 2016, and concluded on March 13, 2017.https://m-78.jp/news/n-4304
==Synopsis==
Naomi Yumeno has had the same strange dream since she was young: visions of a shining giant of light battling a giant monster.
With her interest sparked by those dreams, she starts the paranormal phenomena tracking website called "Something Search People" with her friends Jetta Hayami and Shin Matsudo.
One day the trio are on the tail of a unidentified mysterious animal suspected of causing strange meteorological activity. They ignore the warnings of Naomi's uncle Ittetsu Shibukawa, an officer with the special investigations team VTL, and head towards the center of the strange weather. There they suddenly encounter the Lord Monster of wind, Maga-Basser! Naomi is blasted by the vicious winds but rescued by the vagabond, Gai Kurenai.
By using his Orb Ring to read the power of two previous Ultras, Gai is able to Fusion Up into a warrior of light from a distant galaxy, Ultraman Orb! And thus the curtain rises on a series of intense battles between Ultraman Orb and the Lord Monsters, while behind the scenes, the mysterious Juggler takes hold of his Dark Ring while smiling sinisterly...
===Gai's Ultra Hero Special Study===
 is a segment at the end of the show where Gai will feature the Ultra Fusion Card and Kaiju Card of the week.
==Characters==
===Protagonist===
*Gai Kurenai
===SSP===
*Naomi Yumeno
*Jetta Hayami
*Shin Matsudo
===VTL===
*Ittetsu Shibukawa
*Ryutaro Suganuma
===Antagonists===
*Jugglus Juggler
*Planet Invasion Union
**Alien Mefilas Don Nostra
**Alien Metron Tarude
**Alien Nackle Nagus
**Alien Zetton Maddock
===Others===
*Natasha Romanová
*Tamayura
*Haruka Kirishima
*Keiko Yumeno
*Soichi Kofune
*Tetsuko Shibukawa
*Yoko
*Akie Kishine
===Ultras===
*Ultraman Orb
===Kaiju===
*Maga-Zetton
*Maga-Basser
*Maga-Grand King
*Maga-Jappa
*Maga-Pandon
*Hyper Zetton Deathscythe
*Aribunta
*Hoe
*Ragon Parent
*Ragon Child
*Gubila
*Alien Babarue Babaryu
*Telesdon
*Kelbim
*Black King
*Maga-Orochi
*Galactron
*Zeppandon
*Alien Zelan
*Alien Shaplay Katarohi
*Bemular (Empowered)
*Renki (Crimson Lotus Knight)
*Maya
*Hyper Zetton Deathscythe (Reserver)
*Alien Pitt Myu
*Nova
*Black Directive
*Kamaitadon (Mentioned)
*Demaaga
*Gomess (S)
*Magatano-Orochi
==Cast==
*: 
*: 
*: 
*: 
*: 
*: 
==Staff==
*Directors: Kiyotaka Taguchi (main director), Yuichi Abe, Ryuichi Ichino, Suguru Tomita, Masayoshi Takesue
*Series compositors: Takao Nakano, Yuji Kobayashi
*Screenplay: Takao Nakano, Yuji Kobayashi, Sotaro Hayashi, Akio Miyoshi, Hirotoshi Kobayashi, Hisako Kurosawa, Junichiro Ashiki, Uiko Miura, Daiki Seto, Hiroki Uchida, Sachio Yanai.
*Music composer: Takao Konishi
==Music==
:;Opening Theme
*Orb no Inori
**Lyrics & Composition: Toshihiko Takamizawa
**Arrangement: Toshihiko Takamizawa and 
**Artist: Ichiro Mizuki and voyager
:;Ending Theme
*Shine your ORB
**Lyrics: TAKERU and Chiaki Seshimo
**Composition & Arrangement: 
**Artist: voyager feat. Hideo Ishiguro, Miyabi Matsuura, Naoto Takahashi, Hiroaki Nerio
==Home Media==
In Japan, the series was released on 8 DVDs and two Blu-rays sets. Both Blu-rays contain special features such as trailers and Gai's Ultra Hero Special Study segments, with the second notably containing deleted scenes from various episodes with explanations.https://m-78.jp/orb/goods/ Mill Creek also released the series and movie in the United States with English subtitles on November 19, 2019.https://www.millcreekent.com/collections/the-ultra-verse/products/ultraman-orb
Ultraman Orb DVD 51.jpg|Volume 1 (episodes 1-2)
Ultraman Orb DVD 52.webp|Volume 2 (episodes 3-5)
Ultraman Orb DVD 53.jpg|Volume 3 (episodes 6-8)
Ultraman Orb DVD 54.jpg|Volume 4 (episodes 9-12)
Ultraman Orb DVD 5.jpg|Volume 5 (episodes 13-15)
Ultraman Orb DVD 56.jpg|Volume 6 (episodes 16-18)
Ultraman Orb DVD 57.jpg|Volume 7 (episodes 19-21)
Ultraman Orb DVD 58.jpg|Volume 8 (episodes 22-25)
Ultraman Orb BOX 1.jpg|Blu-ray BOX I (episodes 1-13)
71m3YZ4rPnL._SL1000_.jpg|Blu-ray BOX II (episodes 14-25)
Orb_Bu_ray.jpeg|Blu-ray BOX I contents
Ultraman Orb Series and Movie Blu-Ray Case.png|Series and Movie release by Mill Creek
==Gallery==
===Images===
Orb logo.webp
Orb logo en.png
D1ebc4cf01211adec922e5b947775271.jpg
3aa57b920bcef422ae4a8131742d353d1468015744 full.jpg
OrbSeriesPoster.jpg
===Videos===
"Ultraman Orb" Sneak Preview!!
"Ultraman Orb" the latest Special Trailer Movie!!
歴代ウルトラ戦士を“フュージョンアップ”！特撮ドラマ「ウルトラマンオーブ」製作発表会1-0
石黒英雄、「ウルトラマンオーブ」主演に「全力で挑む」 柳沢慎吾らキャストと登場！ 特撮ドラマ「ウルトラマンオーブ」製作発表会2 Hideo Ishiguro Ultraman Orb-0
「ウルトラマンオーブ」の主題歌は水木一郎！OP映像も公開 特撮ドラマ「ウルトラマンオーブ」製作発表会3 Ultraman Orb Ichirou Mizuki
『ウルトラマンオーブ』オープニングムービー！！|Opening movie
==External Links==
*Official website
*Ultraman Orb at Tsuburaya Productions' official website
==References==
id:Ultraman Orb (seri)
ms:Ultraman Orb
Category:Series
Category:Heisei Series
Category:Ultraman Orb
Category:Productions
Category:Ultraman Orb Chronicle
Category:New Generation Series