In the saga of Ultraman, the hero’s primary function has predominantly been to protect the Earth from menacing kaiju. In a surprising turn of events in “Ultraman: Rising,” Ultraman’s usually straightforward narrative is challenged as he takes up the role of a not-so-typical father. He adopts a baby kaiju, causing fans to question this contradictory development within the Ultraman universe.
Fantasy writer-director Shannon Tindle’s concept of introducing a baby kaiju, Emi, seems to mirror the trend of animation studios portraying younger versions of familiar characters, which invariably attracts fan attention and boosts merchandise sales. Emi is described as a diminutive, awkwardly adorable creature, born from the violent, fire-spewing kaiju Gigantron.
Rewinding Ultraman’s origin, the film introduces a loaded backstory, introducing Ken Sato, the voice of our hero, who valiantly surges into battles with monsters while also dealing with his absent Ultraman father. Leading a double life, Ken exists as a celebrated baseball player by day and a towering, gallant Ultraman by night.
His battles continue off the battlefield with his personal vendetta against Gigantron, who he accuses of his father's disappearance, and his rivalry with Dr. Onda, the head of the Kaiju Defense Force who is resolute in eradicating all kaiju.
As Ken takes in Emi, audiences witness him trying to balance fatherhood, his baseball career, and his responsibility as Ultraman, catering to her needs amidst fears that she might wreak havoc within populated areas.
Even though the film caters to long-term Ultraman fans, it also offers lighter scenes where Ken endeavors to pacify and nourish Emi with help from a droid named Mina. In questioning Ken's choice of adopting Emi, the film seems to waver in establishing a consistent identity for Ultraman.
The film even attempts to incorporate a romantic subplot, which feels like an additional burden on an already overloaded narrative. However, it does deliver on the large-scale fights the audience craves.
Towards the end, the film features Emi joining Ultraman in an epic fight against Mega Gigantron. The narrative tries to intertwine parental struggles within the extensive chaos, but the continuous disappearance and reappearance of parental figures lead to confusing conclusions about Ultraman’s destiny and the central message of the movie.
