Starting from this show, the Ultra Series begins to shift from a sci-fi/mystery adventure to superhero fantasy fare. All previous Ultramen (Ultraman, Ultraseven, Ultraman Jack, and Zoffy) make regular appearances in this series, whereas they only made guest appearances in the previous show Return of Ultraman.
Plot
From another dimension, Yapool orchestrated attacks on Earth using biological weapons called "Terrible-Monsters" (超獣, Chōjū) that surpassed ordinary monsters. The first Terrible-Monster Verokron managed to destroy a city and the Earth Defense Force (地球防衛軍, Chikyū Bōeigun) that was dispatched to fight it. A pair of youths, Seiji Hokuto and Yuko Minami, lost their lives in protecting nearby civilians as the fifth Ultra from M78, Ultraman Ace fused with them. The pair were given Ultra Rings (ウルトラリング, Urutora Ringu) each per person and transforms into Ace whenever they perform the Ultra Touch (ウルトラタッチ, Urutora Tatchi).[1] Ever since Ultraman Ace fought on Earth, Seiji and Yuko were enlisted into TAC, short for Terrible-monster Attacking Crew (超獣攻撃隊, Chōjū Kōgekitai), with the Ultra Brothers and Father of Ultra occasionally appeared to help them. Yapool, on the other hand, would send more Terrible-Monsters, including external help from various forces and occasionally went face-to-face with TAC and Ace themselves.
In the middle of the series, Yuko was revealed to be one of the last natives from the Moon and gave her Ultra Ring to Seiji, leaving Earth in episode 28. Seiji was on his own in succeeding episodes. In the final episode, Yapool masqueraded as the child of Alien Simon and combined several of his past Terrible-Monsters into Jumbo King. When Yapool allowed himself to be killed as the children lost their faith in Seiji, the latter exposed his identity to them and fought the chimeric monster, eventually triumphing over Jumbo King. With Yapool's first attempt (of what would become many) at taking over the Earth thwarted at last, Ace departed the Earth to return home.
Episodes
No.
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
1
"Shine! The Five Ultra Brothers" Transliteration: "Kagayake! Urutra Go Kyōdai" (Japanese: 輝け！ウルトラ五兄弟)
In 1972, sometime after the second age of monsters had ended. A new threat has arrived in the form of the Yapool, a race of interdimensional beings. They bring with them genetically, altered cyborgian creations called Terrible-Monster, or Super Beasts; more powerful lifeforms unlike any other seen before. The first such creature leading the attack is Verokron. Sent to destroy Fukuyama, the Earth Defense Force is powerless to stop the monster's advance. Seiji Hokuto, a bakery delivery man, and a nurse named Yuko Minami are killed in the destruction while trying to help fleeing citizens. Ultraman Ace, accompanied by four other Ultra Brothers, appears and revives the two bestowing upon them Ultra Rings that, when shining, allows them to transform into Ultraman Ace. Seiji and Yuko become members of TAC (Terrible-monster Attacking Crew), a Self Defense Force funded by the global combat organization tasked with battling the Yapoolian threat and their army of inter-dimensional monstrosities.
Verokron is seen again with new missiles used by it. TAC weakens the beast with Seiji and Yuko being told by Ace about the Ultra Rings. Then as Verokron destroys Seiji's plane, Seiji and Yuko turn into Ultraman Ace. Ace is nearly defeated by Velekron but Ace uses the Metalium Beam to finish Verokron. The age of Yapool and the Terrible-Monster had begun.
2
"Surpass the Giant Terrible-Monster!" Transliteration: "Dai Chōjū o Koeteyuke!" (Japanese: 大超獣を越えてゆけ！)
Masanori Kakehi Kazuho Mitsuta
Shōzō Uehara
April 14, 1972 (1972-04-14)
An enormous silver-colored egg is found at a construction site. With curiosity getting the best of him, a worker is absorbed into the huge egg shortly before it submerges below ground. TAC investigates, but finds no traces of the construction worker, or the egg. Later, a golden egg-shaped flying object is detected. Seiji intercepts it, seemingly destroying the UFO. Later on during a party for Seiji and Yuko, the golden egg reappears in the city nestling atop a building. Shortly thereafter, the silver egg reemerges and combines to form a super egg with the golden one. TAC discovers that a similar occurrence is described in an ancient Egyptian text about a giant creature named Chameleking hatched from a golden and silver egg that attacked Atlantis. It is surmised that Yapool is attempting to recreate this ancient scenario on Earth.
3
"Go Up in Flames! Terrible-Monster Hell" Transliteration: "Moero! Chōjū Jigoku" (Japanese: 燃えろ！超獣地獄)
Eizō Yamagiwa
Shigemitsu Taguchi
April 21, 1972 (1972-04-21)
On patrol, Yuko witnesses the sky crack open and a monster emerges. Destroying a bridge with a little boy on it, a passenger plane flies overhead and it, too, is destroyed. TAC investigates the wreckage and finds no sign of the little boy, nor the monster Yuko described. Seiji finds the yellow hat belonging to the boy which happens to have his name, Shiro Nakamori, printed on it. Seiji locates his parents and upon meeting the boy, realizes something is wrong with him after he swipes his gun and attempts to kill him with it. It's discovered the boy has been possessed by the Yapool, using him as a host for the monster Vakishim. Luring the main TAC members away with a decoy, Vakishim is sent to destroy the TAC headquarters at the base of Mount Fuji.
4
"A 300-Million-Year-Old Terrible-Monster Appears!" Transliteration: "San'oku-nen Chōjū Shutsugen!" (Japanese: 3億年超獣出現！)
Eizō Yamagiwa
Shinichi Ichikawa
April 28, 1972 (1972-04-28)
5
"The Giant-Ant Terrible-Monster vs. the Ultra Brothers" Transliteration: "Ōari Chōjū Tai Urutora Kyōdai" (Japanese: 大蟻超獣対ウルトラ兄弟)
Tadashi Mafune
Shōzō Uehara
May 5, 1972 (1972-05-05)
6
"Solve the Mystery of the Transforming Terrible-Monster!" Transliteration: "Henshin Chōjū no Nazo o Oe!" (Japanese: 変身超獣の謎を追え！)
Tadashi Mafune
Shigemitsu Taguchi
May 12, 1972 (1972-05-12)
7
"Monster vs. Terrible-Monster vs. Alien" Transliteration: "Kaijū Tai Chōjū Tai Uchūjin" (Japanese: 怪獣対超獣対宇宙人)
Masanori Kakehi
Shinichi Ichikawa
May 19, 1972 (1972-05-19)
8
"Life of the Sun Is the Life of Ace" Transliteration: "Taiyō no Inochi Ēsu no Inochi" (Japanese: 太陽の命 エースの命)
"5 Stars Scattered in the Galaxy" Transliteration: "Ginga ni Chitta Itsutsu no Hoshi" (Japanese: 銀河に散った5つの星)
Yasuo Yoshino
Shinichi Ichikawa
July 7, 1972 (1972-07-07)
15
"Summer Horror Series: Curse of the Black Crab" Transliteration: "Natsu no Kaiki Shirīzu Kuroi Kani no Noroi" (Japanese: 夏の怪奇シリーズ 黒い蟹の呪い)
Eizō Yamagiwa
Shigemitsu Taguchi
July 14, 1972 (1972-07-14)
16
"Summer Horror Series: Scary Story of the Cattle God-Man" Transliteration: "Natsu no Kaiki Shirīzu Kaidan Ushigami Otoko" (Japanese: 夏の怪奇シリーズ 怪談・牛神男)
Eizō Yamagiwa
Toshirō Ishidō
July 21, 1972 (1972-07-21)
17
"Summer Horror Series: Scary Story of the Demon Woman of Hotarugahara" Transliteration: "Natsu no Kaiki Shirīzu Kaidan Hotarugahara no Kijo" (Japanese: 夏の怪奇シリーズ 怪談 ほたるヶ原の鬼女)
Tadashi Mafune
Shōzō Uehara
July 28, 1972 (1972-07-28)
18
"Give the Pigeon Back!" Transliteration: "Hato o Kaese!" (Japanese: 鳩を返せ！)
Tadashi Mafune
Shigemitsu Taguchi
August 4, 1972 (1972-08-04)
19
"The Mystery of the Haunted Kappa Mansion" Transliteration: "Kappa Yashiki no Nazo" (Japanese: 河童屋敷の謎)
Masanori Kakehi
Masao Saitō
August 11, 1972 (1972-08-11)
20
"Stars of Youth Is the Stars of Two" Transliteration: "Seishun no Hoshi Futari no Hosi" (Japanese: 青春の星 ふたりの星)
Masanori Kakehi
Shigemitsu Taguchi
August 18, 1972 (1972-08-18)
21
"I Saw a Vision of the Celestial Maiden" Transliteration: "Ten'nyo no Maboroshi o Mita" (Japanese: 天女の幻を見た！)
"TAC no Isshūkan" (TACの一週間, Takku no Isshūkan, "One week of TAC")
Lyrics: Kyōichi Azuma
Composition & Arrangement: Tōru Fuyuki
Artist: Ace Mennen Call
International Broadcasts & Home media
In July 2019, Mill Creek Entertainment announced that it had acquired most of the Ultraman library from Tsuburaya Productions through Indigo Entertainment, including 1,100 TV episodes and 20 films.[3] Mill Creek released the series on Blu-ray and digital on May 12, 2020, in standard and steelbook sets.[4]
In July 2020, Shout! Factory announced to have struck a multi-year deal with Alliance Entertainment and Mill Creek, with the blessings of Tsuburaya and Indigo, that granted them the exclusive SVOD and AVOD digital rights to the Ultra series and films (1,100 TV episodes and 20 films) acquired by Mill Creek the previous year. Ultraman Ace, amongst other titles, will stream in the United States and Canada through Shout! Factory TV and Tokushoutsu.[5]
