Ultraman - Talk Up!

[August]

Many of the reviews were blaming BCI, but I knew it had to be on Chaiyo's end. I really hope BCI doesn't continue a relationship with them after Volume 2.

I would be more concerned with Panasonic suing Chaiyo out of the universe for ripping their digital masters, which is easy to prove.

I'd rather wait however long it takes, if it means getting future classic Ultraman releases lisenced straight from the source.

Chaiyo is the company that should be blamed for all of this. TPC was in the midst of selling ULTRAMAN to a large US company for DVD release when Chaiyo started acting up. TPC didn't want to do anything that would turn off potential distributors -- putting them into the middle of a legal dispute -- so, they decided to wait until they could quell Chaiyo. It has to be a resounding defeat so Chaiyo doesn't have a single iota of credibility. This is completely a sound approach. Chaiyo will crumble, it's only a matter of time.

What really gets me is one reviewer claiming that BCI had the option to go through Tsuburaya. But from the Henshin Online! interview it didn't seem that way at all.

Again, that's BCI's side of the story (I was the one conducting that interview). Courts never accept one side of the story, and so that goes for everyone else who is concerned about this case. TPC is remaining quiet, because this is what their lawyers have advised them to do, because you can't build a credible case by getting into pissing matches. TPC's lawyers are working for TPC's best interests and in that regard we have to wait and see what will happen next. Chaiyo set themselves up -- as the old saying goes, "Give 'em enough rope, and they'll hang themselves."

It may have also been the same reviewer that claimed Tsuburaya had no interest in marketing Ultraman outside of Japan. Which I don't buy in any way.

Untrue. Obviously by TIGA being sold to 4Kids and Dark Horse doing the TIGA comic books, and Funimation releasing the original Japanese episodes of TIGA. Not to mention Image Entertainment buying the rights to the TIGA & DYNA and GAIA movies. Ridiculous. If it weren't for Chiayo, we would have had a deluxe box set of the original ULTRAMAN five years ago.

It's a double edged sword: It's awesome because of the exposure and the fact that the popularity from this may give TPC ideas if the rumors to release Ultraman Max/Nexus in the states hold up.

I haven't heard anything from Tsuburaya Productions about this -- but, they are offering ULTRAMAN: THE NEXT and the all of the other Ultra Series after ULTRAMAN TARO for sale outside of Japan.

It's like buying an AnimEigo DVD, buy it knowing full well that there's only the Japanese track with subs.

What's wrong with that? Plus, they just released a remastered widescreen version of the English dubbed SHOGUN ASSASSIN with no Japanese tracks! For only $19.95 ($16.95 during their Summer Sale which ends today, check out their front page for details and listings). SHOGUN ASSASSIN page http://www.animeigo.com/samurai/shogun_assassin.t

Here's hoping the Shadow Warriors/Kage no Gundan release holds up better.

It will, because BCI is getting their masters directly from the source: Toei themselves. In September, BCI/Ronin Entertainment is also releasing the SISTER STREET FIGHTER box set -- four Etsuko Shiomi martial arts actioners in all! All from Toei Video's new digital masters! Two of the films feature Michi Love from JAKQ, Sentai villian Masashi Ishibashi, Emi Hayakawa (Bellestar from THE KAGESTAR), Yasuaki Kurata, and many other folks people will recognize from Toei productions -- as well as Sonny Chiba! You can also catch many famous JAC members as background villains, such as Kenji Oba!

The four films in this set include ONNA HISSATSU KEN, KAETTEKITA ONNA HISSATSU KEN, ONNA HISSATSU KEN KIKI IPPATSU and HISSATSU ONNA GO DAN KEN. The last film features African-American martial artist Ken Wallace, whom I interviewed for this box set's booklet. Plus, there will be several extras -- and, of course, the films themselves!

Check out their packaging!

 

[Kimiden]

What's wrong with that?

Nothing, AnimEigo rocks

 

[MotoPsycho]

I haven't heard anything from Tsuburaya Productions about this -- but, they are offering ULTRAMAN: THE NEXT and the all of the other Ultra Series after ULTRAMAN TARO for sale outside of Japan.

I saw Tiga on Amazon, but that's it. Can you point to some legit releases for Ultraman stuff other than the Series 1 release? And do those Ultraman Taro and up have subs at least?

 

[August]

Only the ULTRAMAN TIGA series and the movies ULTRAMAN TIGA & ULTRAMAN DYNA and ULTRAMAN GAIA: THE BATTLE IN HYPERSPACE were officially licensed through Tsuburaya Productions. The other series after ULTRAMAN TARO are up for licensing in North America, but a DVD company has to buy them first before they can be sold here. Tsuburaya Productions does not sell DVDs to the public.

 

[MotoPsycho]

Ah, gotcha. I picked up Gaia - Battle for hyperspace, so just have to get those others Thanks for the info

 

[August]

You are welcome! I am sure that others will tell you about Malaysian VCDs with English dubbing of some of the shows, but the quality is so-so and the dubbing is heavily accented (and hard to understand at times). There are licensed VCDs from HK, but no English subs or dubs.

 

[ForeverRed]

Ai Yi Yi Yi.... I said no Chiayo flamewar. :bawling:

Anyway... I watched 6 episodes on Disc 1.

There are some questions....

1. I'm little bit confused... here's the question. Ultraman first arrived to the Earth and how can he choose Hayata? Does he knows anything about his ability? Like in Tiga, Daigo was chosen to be Ultraman Tiga.

2. Ide has became a susepcious on Hayata because he always disappears. I'd like to know that on what episode Ide finds out that Hayata is Ultraman? Just give me the number of episode and no spoilers, please. I'll get Ultraman Season 1, Volume 2 on October.

3. Why did Gesura destroy some boats? I know he loves cocoa beans but why did he destroy some boats? Was he mad or something?

4. The helmet, what's up with helmet? It looks like it's clay to me.

I think that's all I got.

Here's my favourite Kajiu....

1. Baltan. I loved this monster.
2. Gesura

I'll be watching disc 2 later sometimes late tonight or tomorrow. hehe. I'm loving Ultraman so far. Can't wait to see more episodes. :buttrock:

 

[ryuuseipro]

Ai Yi Yi Yi.... I said no Chiayo flamewar. :bawling:

It had to come up eventually . . .

And the truth will return to haunt even Chaiyo. Just like Edgar Allen Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart. :rolleyes2:

But I digress . . .

Anyway... I watched 6 episodes on Disc 1.

There are some questions....

1. I'm little bit confused... here's the question. Ultraman first arrived to the Earth and how can he choose Hayata? Does he knows anything about his ability? Like in Tiga, Daigo was chosen to be Ultraman Tiga.

2. Ide has became a susepcious on Hayata because he always disappears. I'd like to know that on what episode Ide finds out that Hayata is Ultraman? Just give me the number of episode and no spoilers, please. I'll get Ultraman Season 1, Volume 2 on October.

3. Why did Gesura destroy some boats? I know he loves cocoa beans but why did he destroy some boats? Was he mad or something?

4. The helmet, what's up with helmet? It looks like it's clay to me.

I think that's all I got.

Here's my favourite Kajiu....

1. Baltan. I loved this monster.
2. Gesura

I'll be watching disc 2 later sometimes late tonight or tomorrow. hehe. I'm loving Ultraman so far. Can't wait to see more episodes. :buttrock:

1.) Ultraman just felt bad for killing Hayata by accident! I guess maybe he was able to see that Hayata had a good soul or something?

2.) That's part of the fun! But answering this question would be a spoiler in itself. I also have doubts the planned 2nd DVD will even be out.

3.) Despite his hunger for cocoa, Gesura was, apparently, the average giant monster on the loose. It was violent when it fought with Ultraman, though. Go figure.

4.) Ultraman's mask, er, face was made of FRP latex, as Eiji Tsuburaya originally wanted a lifelike Ultraman (His mouth was supposed to move; Note that sometimes his mouth was open, and sometimes closed!). This is the Type A Ultraman.

The smoother Type B and C Ultramans (the former had a narrow mouth, and the latter a wide grin) are the ones that should be more familiar to you, and their solid masks were made from fiberglass, IIRC. Type C, until now, was the most standard look for Ultraman. (Ultraman in Ultraman Moebius & The 6 Ultra Brothers is a mix of all Types, for nostalgic reasons.)

Hope that helped some!

 

[August]

I did not engage or start a flame war against Chaiyo in this thread. I simply stated facts. The "give 'em rope and they'll hang themselves" comment can be taken however it needs to be taken, but I never said anything like, "May Chaiyo burn in the boiling oils of Hell," or anything of that nature.

1. Ultraman felt responsible in taking an innocent life, which is why he shared his life force with Hayata.

3. The pollution levels in Tokyo Bay upset Guesla's metabolism, turning the normal lizard into a giant mutation.

4. Jon is correct. They decided to drop the latex mask, because the results on film proved to be unsatisfactory, and they decided to go with a static fiberglass (FRP) mask.

BTW, the Baltans rule!

 

[ForeverRed]

2.) That's part of the fun! But answering this question would be a spoiler in itself. I also have doubts the planned 2nd DVD will even be out.

Aww man. You can't tell me what episode number is. Oh well. I'll have to get Volume 2. Hehe.

4.) Ultraman's mask, er, face was made of FRP latex, as Eiji Tsuburaya originally wanted a lifelike Ultraman (His mouth was supposed to move; Note that sometimes his mouth was open, and sometimes closed!). This is the Type A Ultraman.

The smoother Type B and C Ultramans (the former had a narrow mouth, and the latter a wide grin) are the ones that should be more familiar to you, and their solid masks were made from fiberglass, IIRC. Type C, until now, was the most standard look for Ultraman. (Ultraman in Ultraman Moebius & The 6 Ultra Brothers is a mix of all Types, for nostalgic reasons.)

Is that what you're talking about?

(I got those from UltramanLah! Community)

I did not engage or start a flame war against Chaiyo in this thread. I simply stated facts. The "give 'em rope and they'll hang themselves" comment can be taken however it needs to be taken, but I never said anything like, "May Chaiyo burn in the boiling oils of Hell," or anything of that nature.

Ohh ok. Sorry, I was being understood. :sweat:

1. Ultraman felt responsible in taking an innocent life, which is why he shared his life force with Hayata.

Ohh, I see. That explains why he choose Hayata.

3. The pollution levels in Tokyo Bay upset Guesla's metabolism, turning the normal lizard into a giant mutation.

I find it quite funny because he is like throwing a fit. :laugh: But interesting facts tho.

BTW, the Baltans rule!

:buttrock:

Thanks, ryuuseipro and August! You guys rock!

I'll be watching Disc 2 tomorrow.