Ultraman Mebius (2006) has continued the refinement of formula that other recent Ultra shows (Maxx, Cosmos etc.) have shown. Yet for all its production gloss, the show is amazingly reminiscent of the original 1966 Ultraman, the second in the Ultra series that began with the black and white Ultra Q. Special Effects pioneer Eiji Tsubaraya would be quite proud, I think, of the positive qualities exhibited in the latest version of his brainchild, produced in celebration of Ultraman's 40th anniversary.
Mebius marks a return to the original Ultra live-action universe as it existed from 1966-1980 (discounting the wretched Ultraman Jonias, an utterly undistinguished cartoon from 1979). Monsters have not attacked the earth in 25 years (since Utraman 80 ended in 1981); the Earth still has a network of paramilitary monster fighters (like the original Science Patrol) just in case! A new Ultraman arrives on Earth just as monsters do, and takes on the vaguely androgynous form of Mirai, a slender, wide-eyed 18 year old with fabulous "anime hair".
All but one of TEAM GUYS is killed by the first monster, and a series of amusing and coincidental (but character-revealing)events lead Murai to recruit the new team members: Marina, a sexy motorcycle chick with amazing hearing; George, a would-be Spaniard ex-soccer star (with even more fabulous anime hair); Konimi, a timid, bespectacled kindergarten teacher; and Teppei, a wealthy medical student. Ryu, a hot-headed ace pilot and the only surviving GUYS member, and Captain Sakomizu, the new, sage-like team captain, round out the cast. Each of these characters has an unexpected back-story that is eventually revealed.
With this in place (as well as a female executive and a couple of comic-relief bureaucrats), TEAM GUYS basically lives the same life as the Science Patrol of 1966, sitting around their cool hi-tech headquarters waiting for monsters to show up! Doesn't sound like much, I know, but the series is produced with such care and the cast has so much personal charm that it is hard not to be hooked.
The monster-of-the-week format is balanced nicely with character stories and back-stories, and several multi-episode arcs help to break the pattern. There's a lot of humor, occasional (but mild) horror, and of course tons of Tsubaraya special effects action, with an especially lithe and acrobatic Ultraman fighting the great beasts amid very lavish miniature scenery. The monsters themselves are a mix of old and new, but even the silliest-looking ones are beautifully realized. Other Ultramen make calculatedly-sentimental appearances.
The show is most successful at maintaining the delicate balance between telling heartwarming and meaningful lessons about friendship, loyalty, family and teamwork to children without a level of condescension that would alienate an adult audience, and providing enough outright sci-fi spectacle, destruction and general Japanese-style mayhem to entertain everyone.
In the middle of the series' run a feature film, "Ultraman Mebius & the Ultra Brothers", featuring several classic Ultraman characters was released, and is also well worth a look for fans, but may be somewhat enigmatic for the uninitiated.
