Product Details

• Actors: Akiji Kobayashi, Hiroko Sakurai
• Directors: Akio Jissoji
• Format: Color, Special Edition, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Expressions in Anima
• VHS Release Date: December 27, 1996
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304333560
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,009 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic!, July 17, 2000

By 

"ultraman_zero" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultraman Special 30th Anniversary Collection: Volume 1, Episodes 1-4 (Originally Urutoraman) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

No high-tech and fancy gadgets, extremely primitive transformation effects, and no computer graphics, but that's exactly what makes this video so special.

For both "matured" (and young) Ultraman fans, this video is a must to complete your collection on the shelf. It is composed of the first 4 episodes of the first and original Ultraman series, which was first shown in Japan back in 1966. In these episodes you can see how the original Ultraman came to Earth and the reason for him merging with Hayata. In addition you get to see the original rubber monsters, the original special effects for the Ultrabeam, the original Ultraman's costume with its zipper... and last but not least, the original, very rough-looking Ultraman's mask (which apparently, was originally designed such that Ultraman's mouth can move when he speaks or when he shouts "Schwartz" in his battles, but didn't work too well). The mask was soon replaced by a more favorable fixed type with a much smoother surface, which is the type you see most often nowadays. All these elements enable you to relive the memories of the original ultra-hero.

In short, this is a classic!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A pop culture gem, April 27, 2000

By 

D. Dittmer (Eau Claire, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultraman Special 30th Anniversary Collection: Volume 1, Episodes 1-4 (Originally Urutoraman) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Any fan of the original Ultraman television series (1966) should treasure this collection of the first four episodes. Just listening to the opening music and watching the first scenes brought back wonderful childhood memories. I even remember some of the dialogue and many of the specific scenes from the multiple times I watched the syndicated series as a child. Don't purchase this tape if you are looking for first-rate special effects; part of the joy of watching these episodes is to be charmed by the "primitive" audio and visual effects. I've searched the internet for additional episodes and have yet to find more from a reputable company. To the video's producers - Expressions in Animation and Tsuburaya Productions - please release more of the original series' 39 episodes. This collection of episodes is a pop culture gem.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultraman...Here he comes from the sky!, February 26, 2000

By 

Biff Fearless "World Reknowned Adventurer" (Cape Coral, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultraman Special 30th Anniversary Collection: Volume 1, Episodes 1-4 (Originally Urutoraman) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Of all the Television shows I watched when I was growing up, ULTRAMAN is far and away my favorite. I started out with Godzilla but when I discovered Ultraman I knew I'd found something special. This video release of the first four classic episodes of the 1966 Japanese import is a true treasure as I haven't seen the seies run on television in years. My only compaint of this video, other than a somewhat sub-standard audio track, is that it only contains 4 episodes. Where is volume 2?