Director Hirokazu Kore-eda to Produce THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN Documentary Film

Tsuburaya Productions announced that acclaimed film director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Nobody Knows, Shoplifters) will produce THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN documentary film.

This film features leading creators from various fields, such as film, special effects, and design from both Japan and abroad have gathered, and their respective perspective intertwine, revealing the essence of Ultraman. It also explores the unique world of Ultraman, and unravel the powerful appeal of both Ultraman and the monster designs. Furthermore, it sheds light on the ideas and work of Eiji Tsuburaya and the staff at the time, tracing how Ultraman spread throughout the world.

That said, the ones participating in this documentary are:

• Guillermo del Toro (Film director: Pacific Rim, Frankenstein)
• Hirokazu Kore-eda (Film director: Nobody Knows, Shoplifters)
• Hideo Kojima (Game creator: Metal Gear series, Death Stranding series)
• Hideaki Anno (Director/Producer: Evangelion series, Shin Ultraman)
• Shinji Higuchi (Film director: Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman)
• Nicolas Winding Refn (Film director: Drive)
• Shannon Tindle (Film director: Ultraman Rising)
• John Aoshima (Film director: Ultraman Rising)
• Kairi Narita (Son of Ultraman art director, Tohl Narita)
• Pat Cadigan (Science fiction author: Synners, Ultraman novelization)
• Takashi Shimizu (Film critic, creative director)
• Noi Sawaragi (Art critic)
• Hidenori Okada (National Film Archive of Japan's curator)
  
• Susumu Kurobe (Actor: Ultraman's Hayata)
  
• Hiroko Sakurai (Actor: Ultraman's Fuji)
  
• Sandayu Dokumamushi (Actor: Ultraman's Arashi)
  
• Toshihiro Iijima (Writer and director: Ultraman, Ultraseven)
  
• Kazuo Sagawa (Cinematographer: King Kong vs. Godzilla)
  
• Kiyoshi Suzuki (Cinematographer: Return of Ultraman, Ultraman Leo)
  
• Sadao Iizuka (Optical cinematographer: Ultra Q-Return of Ultraman)
  
• Tokuko Shishikura (Script supervisor: Ultra Q)

Featuring the tagline, "What exactly is 'Ultraman'?", the film is part of the Ultraman Series' 60th anniversary celebrations, and is directed by Yutaka Nakamura and Kazuki Yoshida. THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN is set for a July 3rd release in Japan.