Ultraman Episdoe 1 Ultra Operation #1 Review | Godzilla Island Archive

Note: This review was first published in 2014 on Godzilla Island view and opinions may have since changed.

The episode starts with two orbs flying through space toward Earth. The blue orb crashes into a lake, while the red orb collides mid-air with a science exploration ship. Inside the ship is Hyata, part of a science investigation team. The red orb surrounds Hyata and takes him away.

Inside the orb is Ultraman, who explains he’s been chasing a monster named Bemularthe same monster that was in the blue orb that crashed into the lake. Ultraman apologizes for crashing into Hyata, then sacrifices himself to save him by merging into one being.

Hyata’s team arrives at the lake after learning about the crash, just in time to see Bemular rise from the water. Hyata attacks Bemular from a submarine below the lake, while the rest of the team joins in from the air. Bemular grabs Hyata’s submarine in its mouth and tosses it onto land, then blasts it with his blue fiery breath.

Hyata raises the pod Ultraman gave him and transforms into the giant Ultraman. The two battle intensely, wrestling back and forth. Bemular tries to retreat into space inside his blue orb, but Ultraman destroys it with a ray, blowing it to pieces.

This was a really fun episode. I loved Bemular’s design something different, but with a slight Godzilla vibe, especially with that blue breath. The kaiju costume looked a little cheesy at times but considering it was made for a twenty-minute episode, you have to respect the craftsmanship. For how short their screen time was, these costumes are real pieces of kaiju history.