Tag: Tokusatsu

Travelling to Japan? Ultraman’s 60th Anniversary is Ongoing! Here’s Where to Get Your Tokusatsu On!

It’s not too late to enjoy the celebrations! Ultraman’s 60th Anniversary has plenty of attractions being celebrated around South Asia. Here’s an #events listing of what’s happening till the end of the year!

Ultraman's 60th AnniversaryUltraman’s 60th anniversary celebrations are far from over. Although there was a Shōwa-era appearance during G-FEST in Chicago from July 10–12, fans have to travel to Japan to truly get a feel for how beloved this hero is. There are events taking place all over the country, as well as in other parts of East Asia. While Tokyo remains one of the easiest places to find Nebula M78’s greatest hero hiding in the mix, here’s a selection of some of the best shows to attend.

Some focus on the franchise’s history, while others spotlight the newest Ultra Heroes and current television productions.

August 2026

Ultra Heroes EXPO 2026
Summer Festival in Tokyo

Ultra Heroes EXPO 2026 Umeda Summer FestivalThis event continues at Ikebukuro Sunshine City in Tokyo from August 5 to 24 and at each stop, will introduce a different live-stage story. With appearances connected to Ultraman Teo, this show looks big! It also h as historical displays, live performances, Ultra Shot photography sessions and the Ultraman Department Store.

As one of the largest annual Ultraman gatherings in Japan, it remains the most complete option for fans who want stage entertainment, displays and exclusive merchandise in one place.

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The Origin of Ultraman and Celebrating 60 Glorious Years!

The party isn’t over yet! Though Fantasia Film Fest is officially over, we got lots more films to review, and for The Origin of Ultraman, this anniversary year has a few more events to run its course for fans worldwide. In part two, we’ll list where to find them!

The Origin of Ultraman
Played at Fantasia Film Festival on July 17, 2026 at the Cinéma du Musée

When asked which character from Japan is the most iconic, I personally believe that’s tough to answer. It’s either Gojira or Ultraman. While everyone knows who the former is and why he came to be, a sense of mystery still surrounds The Origin of Ultraman. A quick look online reveals a deceptively simple narrative: he is an alien who came to Earth to protect humanity. And, to be fair, Gamera is niche.

Yet, when debating which of the two franchises is truly recognized as an institution, I would argue it is Ultraman, hands down. Yu Nakamura and Kazuki Yoshida’s excellent documentary not only provides terrific insights from filmmakers, artists and historians around the world about how Tohl Narita shaped the iconic face and costume design, but also reveals what went on in his mind behind all the creature designs he sketched out too. This work also firmly shows why this hero is so beloved from the perspective of many individuals.

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Celebrating 20 Glorious Years at Fantasia Film Festival! Garo Taiga and Reintroducing This IP To A New Generation

Newcomers don’t need to know the franchise to enjoy Garo Taiga. It’s fairly self contained and can be an entry point to this franchise.

Garo Taiga Movie PosterA anniversary is being celebrated early at Fantasia Film Festival! Here, Garo Taiga made its cinematic worldwide debut for its emerald jubilee while fans in Japan must wait until October 17, 2025. Getting an early look is exciting—I’m always eager for any IP known for intense action and visceral body horror. With a few challenges involving some amusing tough guys to defeat–namely a duo whom I like to call the Clockwork Twins–and a foul-mouthed talking ring (wonderfully voiced by Hironobu Kageyama), I couldn’t help but think of Vampire Hunter D, where the protagonist’s left hand also has a sarcastic personality.

When there are transformation scenes as wild as The Guyver, and it sticks to a premise simple enough for younger viewers, it’s a visceral element I can enjoy. Here, our hero, Taiga Saejima (Hiroyuki Watanabe) must retrieve a stolen artifact housing the souls of four elementals. They can help him face his rival, Jado (Toshiki Seto), or hinder him. When this individual is too powerful to face alone, Taiga will need ‌help from other Makai Knights for help.

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You Just Gotta Bebop to KPop Demon Hunters’ Epic Showdown

In South Korea, the all girl singing sensation simply known as KPop Demon Hunters have to deal with demons not only within themselves but also with the demons-in-disguise, The Saja Boys! Just who wins out depends on who you ask….

kpop demon hunters movie poster Now Streaming on Netflix
Spoiler Alert

When the tokusatsu genre becomes predictable, blending it with other narrative styles is necessary to keep things fresh—and that’s where KPop Demon Hunters excels. This film is an enjoyable mix of Sailor Moon and Rock and Rule, with a splash of satire that hits the mark. However, one overused trope still lingers: why must every Asian superheroine have impossibly long legs? Ever since CLAMP popularized the look, I’ve hoped for more body diversity.

In another respect, this movie also stands out for its hilarious take on the behind-the-scenes world of K-pop. It’s a musical showdown between the girl group Huntrix—Rumi, Mira, and Zoey (Park Sooyoung, Lee Suhyun, and Sandara Park)—and the newly arrived Saja Boys. Though the trailer gives a lot away, it’s no surprise they’re demons in disguise. Their leader, Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), is planning to help his king return to the material world and harvest souls. But despite his devotion to this ancient evil, there’s something conflicted about him.

Similarly, Rumi struggles to connect with her guardian, much like Jinu wrestles with his own isolation. As the faces of their respective teams, Rumi finds support among her bandmates, while Jinu remains emotionally cut off—his silence only deepening the weight of his mission. This shared loneliness sets the stage for a connection neither of them expects.

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Thoughts on the Kung Fury 2 Leak And How to Save It

If you didn’t hear the news about the Kung Fury 2 leak, then I got a recap before the video got taken down and thoughts on who should help bring it to the masses.

Kung Fury 2 Temp PosterWild Eye Releasing should pick up the tab to deliver David Sandberg’s sequel to Kung Fury. This homage to various genres, ranging from 80s style tokusatsu to buddy cop to sci-fi is a godsend. Kung Fury 2 is a no hold barred bonkers as Last Action Hero! Thankfully, newcomers or those who haven’t heard of this cult film can find the original on YouTube (or scroll to the end of this article to see the short).

If you are a fan of Power Rangers or even TMNT, this indie movie is for you! It’s a wonderfully hilarious parody of 80s schlock cinema, and all those cheap budget exploitation films from the 70s even count too! Apparently, last Friday a sizzle reel of the sequel leaked online, and with no surprise, it’s no longer available. Other folks may have since reposted it, but there’s no word on when those will disappear too. Someone might attempt to put it online again on another, less vigilant service.

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Steve Wang and an Amazing 40 Years in the Makeup Effects Industry. Reflections on the Film That Defined His Career: Kung Fu Rascals

Not everyone will be aware that Steve Wang’s career as a master creature effects artist is approaching 40 years!

Kung Fu Rascals Blu-ray
Available to preorder on Amazon USA

Steve Wang’s behind-the-scenes credits are vast, and to talk to him about the work that got him recognized as an award-winning creature creator and master FX artist was an absolute pleasure. He grew up watching shows like Ultraman, Super Sentai along with many Japanese monster movies which would later influence his creations.

One movie that helped him get recognized in Hollywood was Kung Fu Rascals, which was very DIY, funded out of his own pocket when studio support faded, and it’s now finally getting a Blu-ray treatment from Visual Vengeance, a subsidiary of Wild Eye Releasing.

This film emerged in the early 90s when the tokusatsu genre was truly getting a foothold in North America. Before then, martial arts films with stars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan were all the rage. Fans wanted more, the style that transitioned out of one decade to another certainly influenced this filmmaker. He loved all those classics and they certainly had an influence on his style.

And to know more about where he came from, I had the opportunity to talk to him.

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