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Review | Netflix movie review – Ultraman: Rising is a wholesome take on the Japanese superhero

  • A baseball star returns to Japan from the US and inherits the Ultraman role in a tale that charms with its warm-hearted simplicity

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A still from Ultraman: Rising, directed by Shannon Tindle and voiced by Christopher Sean and Gedde Watanabe. Photo: Netflix

4/5 stars

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Inspired by one of the most iconic superhero franchises of all time, Ultraman: Rising is a new English-language take on the towering alien protector, from first-time director Shannon Tindle.

Tindle is best known for his story and character work on animated fantasy Kubo and the Two Strings; his new adventure follows young baseball star Ken Sato (voiced by Christopher Sean), who returns to Japan after living and playing in the United States for the past 20 years.

Sato must reconcile his heavily scrutinised celebrity status with his role as Tokyo’s ultimate protector, after reluctantly inheriting the role of Ultraman from his ageing father.

Ultraman: Rising | Official Trailer | Netflix

As if playing for the Giants while battling extraterrestrial giants wasn’t challenging enough, Sato inadvertently adopts a 10.7-metre (35ft), fire-breathing baby monster that is being hunted down by the heavily militarised Kaiju Defence Force.

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Produced by Industrial Light and Magic, the special effects house responsible for Jurassic Park, Avatar and The Avengers, in collaboration with Tsuburaya Productions, original creators of Ultraman, Ultraman: Rising wields enough kaiju-stomping, flying giant robot action to delight hardcore fans of the genre.

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