Ultraman is a Japanese icon and one of the longest-running multimedia franchises in Japan, featuring the legendary, giant tokusatsu hero taking on kaiju capable of leveling entire cities. From the original 1966 tokusatsu series to the current modern versions, Ultraman has proven to be a huge fan favorite and there is merchandise, toys and other collectibles for this iconic Japanese franchise.

Ultraman has gone through many iterations, from the original tokusatsu series and its sequels, to anime and manga, to live-action films and novels. These have spawned a lot of merchandise over the years, and much of it is already available outside of Japan, from Blu-rays to various toys and manga.

Best Ultraman Toys and Collectibles

Bandai has released a Sofvi Heroes series for Ultraman, featuring a soft action figure of several characters from the long-running franchise over the years, including this original 1966 version of our titular hero. While these cheap action figures don’t have great articulation, they’re a popular choice among fans of the tokusatsu genre.

These soft and rubbery action figures from the Sofvi series are about five inches tall, made from vinyl, PVC and ABC material, and are actually quite lightweight. They also come with trading cards of the characters, with this one including a card of Ultraman himself.

Ultraman began in 1966, and this original television series that started it all is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray. The Blu-ray collection includes four discs that together contain all 39 episodes.

The series tells the story of the arrival of a gigantic alien race, the “Ultras”, on Earth, who protect the planet from various alien invasions, which often end with a gigantic Kaiju attacking Japan in monster-of-the-week battles.

One of the new titles that has revived the Ultraman franchise is the Ultraman manga by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi, which follows the exploits of the last Ultraman, Shinjiro, a seemingly ordinary teenager who happens to be the son of Shin Hayata, the original Ultraman. Hayata passed on his “Ultraman Factor” to his son, granting Shinjiro the power to take on unruly aliens and threats to the planet.

The manga is published by Viz Media and has even been adapted into an anime. The first volume tells how Shinjiro became the new Ultraman and how he initially fought with his newfound powers.

This model kit that fans can build themselves is part of Bandai’s Figure-Rise standard model kit line, which means that these are highly detailed, highly poseable snap-together kits. Those familiar with building Gundam model kits or GunPla will be able to get to grips with building these fantastic model kits.

This Figure-Rise Standard kit includes two chest cavity options, so modelers can choose between a highly articulated chest or a chest cavity into which they can insert LED lights (which are not included) and create a cool lighting effect. It also includes several effects and accessories, including Ultraman’s iconic Spacium Beam, which is to Ultraman what the atomic breath is to Godzilla.

Mego has released an 8-inch action figure of classic tokusatsu icon Ultraseven, including a cloth version of her uniform. She has 14 points of articulation and is more than ready to defend Earth from alien invasions, making her a great addition to any Ultraman collection.

Ultraseven was the second member of the Ultras to ever have his own television show, and this classic tokusatsu character is immortalized in this cool action figure.

In this new take on Ultraman from visionary director Shinji Higuchi (Shin Godzilla) and legendary anime mastermind Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Takumi Saito plays Shinji Kaminaga, the senior strategy officer who worked for the National Police Agency’s security bureau. However, Ultraman accidentally killed him and must now take his place by assuming his memories and identity while secretly protecting the planet from gigantic alien kaiju.

The film received mostly positive critical reception worldwide and won several awards in Japan, showing the enduring legacy of Ultraman across the decades, even outside of Japan. And yes, this film does indeed feature some gigantic kaiju battles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Ultraman series are there?

Including the Ultraman Arc, 36 tokusatsu series have been broadcast on Japanese television. In addition, there have been seven special series, as well as several anime, spin-offs, miniseries, films, TV specials, and crossovers, including 1993’s Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider.

Does Ultraman hold a Guinness World Record?

Ultraman holds the world record for a title with the most spin-off shows of all time. This record continues to grow, especially with the addition of the Ultraman Arc. Of course, this doesn’t include the numerous spin-offs that the original ’60s show had in other media.

Does Ultraman have any notable fans?

Yes, Ultraman has some very famous fans, including Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, who stated that Ultraman was a formative influence on his work. Ant-Man director Peyton Reed and video game designer Hideki Kamita (Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, Bayonetta) have also stated that they are huge fans of Ultraman and the series has influenced their respective works.