Growing up I remember watching Spectraman, Ultraman, and reruns of Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot. These shows introduced me to not only a different style of show but also Kaijus! While I would watch Godzilla movies when they were shown every now and then on Saturdays, these shows had something new every episode and the music was just so funky. Go back and listen to the Spectraman and Ultraman theme songs. It was the late 60’s early 70s so you know the music had to be funky.
Netflix has a series of Ultraman shows that vary in their styles and stories but Ultraman Rising is a bit different in it’s delivery. While it still has Ultraman and Kaijus, this one tells a story about family and responsibilities. Ken Sato, voiced by Christopher Sean, is a baseball player that returns home to take the mantel of Ulttraman. His family were the heralds of Ultraman and it is now Ken’s time but his commitment to the baseball team is in the way of him being fully committed. Not only does Ken have issues about being Ultraman, but there is also some family issues going on.
During one fight Ken ends up with a Kaiju egg that ends up hatching into a 35 foot tall baby Kaiju. Ken becomes a surrogate father to this baby and it throws his life into complete disarray. Ken now has to worry about the Kaiju, his baseball career, and being Ultraman. We see in a montage how Ken is trying to balance all of these facets of his life and it’s hilarious. As a parent, I immediately connected to Ken’s struggle of juggling so many plates at once. As Ken tries to raise this baby and hide her from the world and the Kaiju Defense Force run by Dr. Onda, voice by Keone Young, he realizes that he might need some help to do this.
As with some parents, we can get assistance with our kids by reaching out to their grandparents. With a 35 foot tall Kaiju, Ken has to reach out to the only person that he knows has experience with them and that person is his father Professor Sato, voiced by Gedde Watanabe. Professor Sato was Ultraman when Ken was young and did not balance family life and saving the world very well. This has caused a riff between Ken and his father. Ken also blames his dad for his mother not being around. Through this baby Kaiju, the men learn to work together and bury some of the issues they had about their past.
Seeing the two men work together and learning from each other is heartwarming. The heart of this movie is Ken and his father working together to get through their struggle and learning that taking care of the baby Kaiju is the most important thing. The final battle had me on the edge of my seat and there was a moment in it that made me tear up. This movie is about more than fighting monsters, it is about finding yourself, your legacy, and what you will do for those you love. This is a great movie to watch on Father’s Day weekend!
Final Thoughts: Ultraman Rising is a fantastic love letter to parents. While there are some great action sequences and hilarious moments the movie is a lot of fun. Ken Sato is a great character and a great addition to the Ultraman world. Through this movie, we see his development into being Ultraman and the responsibilities he must take. Ultraman Rising is a good time for all and we hope more stories are created. Make sure to stay for the after-credit scene!
Kid-Friendly: Ultraman Rising is a great movie about responsibility and family values. Through the character of Ken, kids will learn about what it means to have responsibilities. Kids can also learn about the importance of family while watching an incredible action-filled movie.
Violence: There is animated violence between Ultraman and the Kaiju.
With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic superhero meets his match when he is forced to adopt a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju. Sato must rise above his ego to balance work and parenthood while protecting the baby from forces bent on exploiting her for their own dark plans. In partnership with Netflix, Tsuburaya Productions, and Industrial Light & Magic, Ultraman: Rising is written by Shannon Tindle and Marc Haimes, directed by Shannon Tindle, and co-directed by John Aoshima.