2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the start of broadcasting for Ultraman Series. The cutting-edge Ultraman figure, which can be said to be the "50th year conclusion" derived from Bandai's movable figure technology, is finally born. We asked Mr. Koji Igarashi (animation researcher) to talk about the background.

The fantasy special effects series "Ultraman", which is the gold standard of Japanese hero programs. It will be 50 years since the start of the broadcast in 2016.
Ultraman Series is a series that has created so many derivative series that it is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. At the same time, it means that many figures have been made over the past 50 years.

There are various categories of Ultraman figures. Soft vinyl dolls, plastic models, monster erasers ... and movable figures. In particular, movable figures are also item that reflect the ideas of each era. It is the category where the evolutionary flow can be seen most clearly.

And it is this SHFiguarts Ultraman that appears in the 50th anniversary of the start of "Ultraman" broadcasting. Here is the conclusion to the two questions that have been the challenges for successive movable figures: "Is it better to resemble more?" And "Is it better to move as a figure?" It is "just like" and "move very much". The technology accumulated by SHFiguarts produced the most advanced Ultraman figures.

▲ A fighting pose unique to the original Ultraman. The modeling of the head thoroughly reproduces the completed mask used in the latter half of the series.

▲ not only can reproduce the familiar action, is shaped with an awareness of the real thing of the suit, strike a reality than ever before.

▲ The appearance sequence of Ultraman. Pay attention to the cutting on the surface of the eye. You will also be amazed at the shape of the fist that is conscious of the fingers inside the gloves.

Ultraman is the ultimate simple style hero. Therefore, it is fundamentally difficult to make a movable figure. There have been various approaches so far, but it was rather essential to make some arrangements.

However, this SHFiguarts Ultraman is different. By applying the theme of Ultraman to the concept of SHFiguarts, he challenged to produce a movable figure with extremely no arrangement.

As mentioned above, what the planning staff of SHFiguarts Ultraman found as a direction was to balance detail and movement. How can Ultraman appearing in the video be made into a movable figure as it is ...? SHFiguarts Ultraman's style was born through such trial and error. While observing the appearance of Ultraman who is active in the video, we will set up movable parts. By incorporating it into a format that is the opposite of the "ULTRA-ACT" series, which was created on the premise of being movable, we were able to achieve both unprecedented modeling and movement.

In this way, SHFiguarts Ultraman became a figure with the maximum movable part while keeping the details that make the style even feel the presence of a suit actor. In particular, you can feel the uniqueness of SHFiguarts, such as the shape of the wrist, the part from the deltoid muscle to the pectoralis major muscle, and the shape of the buttocks.

▲ The appearance pose of Ultraman. Please pay attention to the line where the waist flows from the arm and chest. The point of SHFiguarts is to have both graceful form and movement.

▲ Flight pose. You can turn your head up to this point. Also, both hands are perfectly aligned. The true value of SHFiguarts' movement can be seen here as well.

Firing pose of ▲ Supeshiumu rays. We want you to focus on the balance of the left and right shoulder. Dare By not symmetrically, we have successfully combined the build and a movable-conscious image.

S.H.Figuarts Ultraman
Price: ¥ 5,616 (tax 8% included)
Release date: July 2016

■ Product Specifications
Height: Approx. 150 mm
Material: PVC, ABS

»Product Details page is here

≫SHFiguarts Ultraman Special Page

©円谷プロ