The classic Japanese alien superhero returns to a new form in this really good film that could be split into a limited episode series.

Due to the existence of a certain lizard, a series of alien creatures known as “kaiju” has been popping up on Earth. To ensure the safety of the Earth, Japan has created the S-Class Species Suppression Protocol (SSSP) Force. One of the members of the team is Shinji Kaminaga, who appeared to have been injured when a Kaiju appeared on Earth. However, a mysterious silver alien being emerged to stop the Kaiju. When new SSSP member Asami is partnered with a recovered Kaminaga, she reads the reports on the silver alien, dubbing him “Ultraman”.

However, when a shapeshifting alien, Zarab, attempts to discredit Ultraman by revealing the shocking discovery of Kaminaga’s ability to transform into Ultraman, the real Ultraman stops Zarab, but not before the UN and others learn of Kaminaga. Into hiding, Kaminaga, who has become the host of Ultraman from his injury, discovers that two more alien beings, including Ultraman’s very own superior, plot to use the governments as a means to destroy humanity. Fully understanding how much humanity cares, Ultraman now must save Earth and will go great lengths to achieve it.

With the success of Shin Godzilla in 2016, it would mark the start of the “Shin Japan Heroes” universe. The idea was for Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion) and Shinji Higuchi (the live-action Attack on Titan saga) to make new versions of classic Japanese heroes. The next would be the Tsuburaya alien superhero Ultraman, which starts off with a bit of a small connection to Shin Godzilla as the big-G is deemed responsible for the invasion of the Kaiju.

What is quite intriguing here is that when we are used to seeing Ultraman, it usually works like this. Kaiju comes and wreaks havoc, Ultraman is transformed and saves the day only to disappear and have its host return. Well, this time around, Shin Ultraman does something very different. When we see Ultraman’s first appearance, we soon learn the hero is in possession of Kaminaga, well played by Takumi Saito. Instead of Kaminaga speaking from his mind, we see Kaminaga speak from the mind of the alien hero himself. Which is actually pretty cool because one of the antagonists, Zoffy, is Ultraman’s superior who thinks humanity isn’t worth saving, but by possessing and seeing what Kaminaga sees, Ultraman has a full understanding of humanity.

Masami Nagasawa is great as Hiroko Asami, Kaminaga’s partner in the SSSP who attempts to understand him and even gets into a pickle or two herself. However, Asami is just a strong female who despite finding herself in conflict with her new partner and his alter ego, is willing to go above and beyond to help save Earth. What fans will find fascinating is that both and SJHU co-creator Hideaki Anno along with the OG Ultraman himself, Bin Furuya, did the motion capture for this Ultraman and the action scenes look great here, even if some of the CGI effects towards the end are a miniscule subpar compared to earlier in the film, but it is totally forgivable.

Shin Ultraman is a great addition to the Shin Japan Heroes Universe with its new vision of seeing humanity from the alien’s perspective filled with some pretty exciting Ultra-action. Definitely worth checking out.

WFG RATING: A

Cleopatra Entertainment presents a Toho Studios/Cine Bazar/Tsuburaya production. Director: Shinji Higuchi. Producers: Hideaki Anno, Kazutoshi Wadakura, Takehiro Aoki, Tomoya Nishino, and Masaki Kawashima. Writer: Hideaki Anno; based on the character created by Eiji Tsuburaya. Cinematography: Osamu Ichikawa, Keizo Suzuki, Katsuro Onoue, Masayuki, Ikki Todoroki, Shinji Higuchi, Hideaki Anno, and Linto Ueda. Editing: Yohei Kurihara and Hideaki Anno.

Cast: Takumi Saito, Masami Nagasawa, Hidetoshi Nijiyama, Daiki Arioka, Akari Hayamo, Tetsushi Tanaka, Kyusaku Shimada, Ryo Iwamatsu, Bin Furuya, Issy Takahashi (voice), Koji Yamamoto.

Cleopatra Entertainment will release the film on Digital on July 4 and then a DVD/Blu-Ray release date of July 11.