Ultraman Tiga

Plot

Set in an alternate universe in the year 2007-2010 (2049 in the U.S. dub), giant monsters and conquering aliens start to appear, as was foretold by an apocalyptic prophecy about an uncontrollable chaos over the Earth. Facing the threat, the TPC (Terrestrial Peaceable Consortium) is created along with its branch, GUTS (Global Unlimited Task Squad). Through a holographic message in a capsule found by researchers, the GUTS gets knowledge about a golden pyramid built by an ancient civilization. At the site, three statues of a race of giants who defended early human civilization on Earth about 30,000,000 years ago. GUTS finds the three ancient statues, but two of them are destroyed by the monsters Golza and Melba. The third one gains life from the spiritual energy of officer Daigo, descendant of the ancient race. Daigo and the remaining statue merge into a single being, made of light. Shortly after defeating the two monsters, Daigo is revealed by the hologram of the prophecy that 30 million years in the past, a great evil that not even the giants could stop, destroyed the ancient civilization.

The same evil reappears in the finale of the series, the Ruler of Darkness Gatanothor, and his servants, Gijera and Zoigar. Gatanothor defeats Ultraman Tiga with ease, withstanding the Delcalium Light Stream and a modified version of the Zeperion Ray, both Tiga's finishes, and turns him back into a stone statue, but the light of humanity is able to turn him into Glitter Tiga, giving him the power to defeat Gatanothor and save the Earth. However, Tiga's victory came at a cost. Daigo was no longer able to become Tiga after the Spark Lens disintegrated into dust after his final battle. It is revealed that Tiga, although no longer bound to Daigo, its energy now remains in the heart of all those who believe in Tiga, inner-strength and justice. Given the right conditions such as times of despair, the sparks will gather and the Tiga statue will be revitalized.

Episodes

1. The One Who Inherits the Light (光を継ぐもの, Hikari o Tsugu Mono)
2. Stone of Legends (石の神話, Ishi no Shinwa)
3. The Devil's Prophecy (悪魔の預言, Akuma no Yogen)
4. Sa-yo-na-ra Earth (サ・ヨ・ナ・ラ地球, Sa.Yo.Na.Ra Chikyū)
5. The Day the Monster Came Out (怪獣が出てきた日, Kaijū ga Detekita Hi)
6. Second Contact (セカンド・コンタクト, Sekando Kontakuto)
7. The Man Who Came Down to Earth (地球に降りてきた男, Chikyū ni Oritekita Otoko)
8. On Halloween Night (ハロウィンの夜に, Harowin no Yoru ni)
9. The Girl Who Waits for a Monster (怪獣を待つ少女, Kaijū o Matsu Shōjo)
10. The Closed Amusement Park (閉ざされた遊園地, Tozasareta Yūenchi)
11. Requiem to the Darkness (闇へのレクイエム, Yami e no Rekuiemu)
12. S.O.S from the Deep Sea (深海からのSOS, Shinkai kara no SOS)
13. Human Collecting (人間採集, Ningen Saishū)
14. The Released Target (放たれた標的, Hanatareta Hyōteki)
15. The Phantom Dash (幻の疾走, Maboroshi no Shissō)
16. Resurrected Friend (よみがえる鬼神, Yomigaeru Kishin)
17. Red and Blue's Battle (赤と青の戦い, Aka to Ao no Tatakai)
18. Golza's Counterattack (ゴルザの逆襲, Goruza no Gyakushū)
19. GUTS to the Sky (part 1) (GUTSよ宙（そら）へ 前編, Gattsu yo Sora e (Zenpen))
20. GUTS to the Sky (part 2) (GUTSよ宙（そら）へ 後編, Gattsu yo Sora e (Kōhen)
21. Deban's Turn (出番だデバン!, Deban da Deban)
22. A Fog's Coming (霧が来る, Kiri ga Kuru)
23. Dinosaurs' Star (恐竜たちの星, Kyoryū-tachi no Hoshi)
24. Go! Monster Expedition Team (行け! 怪獣探検隊, Ike! Kaijyū Tankentai)
25. The Devil's Judgement (悪魔の審判, Akuma no Shinpan)
26. Evil Monster Realm of the Rainbow (虹の怪獣魔境, Niji no Kaijū Makyō)
27. I Saw Obico! (オビコを見た!, Obiko o Mita!)
28. One Vanishing Moment (うたかたの…, Utakata no...)
29. Blue Night's Memory (青い夜の記憶, Aoi Yoru no Kioku)
30. Monster Zoo (怪獣動物園, Kaijū Doōbutsuen)
31. The Attacked GUTS Base (襲われたGUTS基地, Osowareta Gattsu Kichi)
32. Zelda Point's Defenses (ゼルダポイントの攻防, Zeruda Pointo no Kōbō)
33. Vampire City (吸血都市, Kyūketsu Toshi)
34. To The Southern Limit (南の涯てまで, Minami no Hate Made)
35. The Sleeping Maiden (眠りの乙女, Nemuri no Otome)
36. The Time-Transcending Smile (時空をこえた微笑, Toki o Koeta Hohoemi)
37. Flower (花, Hana)
38. The Mirage Monster (蜃気楼の怪獣, Shinkirō no Kaijū)
39. Dear Mr. Ultraman (拝啓ウルトラマン様, Haikei Urutoraman-sama)
40. Dream (夢, Yume)
41. Friend from Space (宇宙からの友, Uchū kara no Tomo)
42. Town Where the Girl Disappeared (少女が消えた街, Shōjo ga Kieta Machi)
43. Land Shark (地の鮫, Chi no Same)
44. The One Who Inherits the Shadows (影を継ぐもの, Kage o Tsugu Mono)
45. Eternal Life (永遠の命, Eien no Inochi)
46. Let's Go to Kamakura! (いざ鎌倉!, Iza Kamakura!)
47. Goodbye to Darkness (闇にさようなら, Yami ni Sayōnara)
48. Fugitive from The Moon (月からの逃亡者, Tsuki kara no Tōbōsha)
49. The Ultra Star (ウルトラの星, Urutora no Hoshi)
50. Take Me Higher! (もっと高く!～Take Me Higher!～, Motto Takaku!~Teiku Mī Haiyā~)
51. Master of Darkness (暗黒の支配者, Ankoku no Shihaisha)
52. To The Shining Ones (輝けるものたちへ, Kagayakeru Mono-tachi e)

Cameos

Episode 49

The original Ultraman helps to defeat monster Yanakagi. As mentioned earlier, Tiga is from an entirely different timeline than the original Ultra series, so a lot of plot contortions are made in order to bring together this dream team, to honor the 30th anniversary of the original Ultraman.

Films

Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey (2000): The story is set two years after the final episode.

Ultraman Tiga Gaiden: Revival of the Ancient Giant (2001): A direct-to-video special set many years after the end of the series (Year 2038, 21 years after the events of Ultraman Dyna) In it, Daigo and Rena also have a son who is named Tsubasa.

Team ups

Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna: Warriors of the Star of Light (1998) Ultraman Dyna was one of the main Ultraman to appear in this movie (as events of the movie is set during times of the Dyna series). Ultraman Tiga also makes an important appearance.

Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna & Ultraman Gaia: Battle in Hyperspace (1999)

Superior Ultraman 8 Brothers (2008): Tiga was one of the main Ultramen to appear in this film, alongside Showa-era Ultra Heroes, marking the first major "crossover" between Showa and Heisei Ultramen. In the film, Tiga, Dyna, Gaia, Mebius, Ultraman, Seven, Jack and Ace all became glitter by the hope of humans, and at last beat Kagehoshi. This movie occurs in an alternate universe where Ultras never came to Earth and were thought of as legends from a TV show. Ultraman Mebius crossed over into this universe to team up with them.

Ultraman Ginga S: Showdown! Ultra 10 Warriors!! (2015) Tiga is one of the Heisei-era Ultra hero to fight along with other 9 Heisei-era Ultra Heroes.

Ultraman X: Here It Comes! Our Ultraman (2016): Tiga is one of the Heisei-era Ultra hero to fight along with X and Ultraman along with other 5 Heisei-era Ultra Heroes.

Cast

Daigo Madoka (マドカ・ダイゴ, Madoka Daigo)/Nagano (長野, Nagano, 49): Hiroshi Nagano (V6) (長野 博（Ｖ６）, Nagano Hiroshi (Bui Shikkusu))

Rena Yanase (ヤナセ・レナ, Yanase Rena): Takami Yoshimoto (吉本 多香美, Yoshimoto Takami)

Megumi Iruma (イルマ・メグミ, Iruma Megumi)/Yuzare (ユザレ, Yuzare, 50): Mio Takaki (高樹 澪, Takaki Mio)

Seiichi Munakata (ムナカタ・セイイチ, Munakata Seiichi): Akitoshi Ohtaki (大滝 明利, Ōtaki Akitoshi)

Masami Horii (ホリイ・マサミ, Horii Masami): Yukio Masuda (増田 由紀夫, Masuda Yukio)

Tetsuo Shinjoh (シンジョウ・テツオ, Shinjō Tetsuo): Shigeki Kagemaru (影丸 茂樹, Kagemaru Shigeki)

Jun Yazumi (ヤズミ・ジュン, Yazumi Jun): Yoichi Furuya (古屋 暢一, Furuya Yōichi)

Souichiro Sawai (サワイ・ソウイチロウ, Sawai Sōichirō): Tamio Kawachi (川地 民夫, Kawachi Tamio)

Masayuki Nahara (ナハラ・マサユキ, Nahara Masayuki): Take Uketa (タケ・ウケタ)

Tetsuji Yoshioka (ヨシオカ・テツジ, Yoshioka Tetsuji): Ken Okabe (岡部 健, Okabe Ken)

Mayumi Shinjoh (シンジョウ・マユミ, Shinjō Mayumi): Kei Ishibashi (石橋 けい, Ishibashi Kei)

Naban Yao (ヤオ・ナバン, Yao Naban): Ichirō Ogura (小倉 一郎, Ogura Ichirō)

Reiko Kashimura (カシムラ・レイコ, Kashimura Reiko): Takako Kitagawa (北川 たか子, Kitagawa Takako)

Yūji Tango (タンゴ・ユウジ, Tango Yūji): Yoichi Okamura (岡村 洋一, Okamura Yoichi)

Ultraman Tiga (ウルトラマンティガの声, Urutoraman Tiga no Koe): Yūji Machi (真地 勇志, Machi Yuji) (voice)

Guest cast

Omi Yanase (ヤナセ・オミ, Yanase Omi, 7): Shigeru Araki (荒木 しげる, Araki Shigeru)

Ryosuke Sanada (サナダ・リョウスケ, Sanada Ryōsuke, 11, 47): Jun Yuzuhara (柚原 旬, Yuzuhara Jun)

Sayaka Ijuin (イジュウイン・サヤカ, Ijūin Sayaka, 11, 47): Michiko Shimazaki (島崎 路子, Shimazaki Michiko)

Zara (ザラ, Zara, 14): Shogo Shiotani (塩谷 庄吾, Shiotani Shōgo)

Lucia (ルシア, Rushia, 14): Motoko Nagi (梛野 素子, Nagi Motoko)

Takuma (拓磨, Takuma, 15): Takuma Aoki (青木 拓磨, Aoki Takuma)

Noodle Shop Vendor (夜鳴きそば屋, Yonaki soba-ya)/Obiko (オビコ, Obiko, 27): Shoichiro Akaboshi (赤星 昇一郎, Akaboshi Shōichirō)

Kyoto Inui (イヌイ・キヨト, Inui Kyoto, 41): Tom Saeba (冴場 都夢, Saeba Tomu)

Keigo Masaki (マサキ・ケイゴ／イーヴィルティガ, Masaki Keigo, 43-44, 52): Takashi Kora (高良 隆志, Kōra Takashi)

Shin Hayate (ハヤテ・シン, Hayate Shin, 48, 52): Masaki Kyomoto (京本 政樹, Kyōmoto Masaki)

Ultraman (ウルトラマンの声, Urutoraman no Koe, 49): Satoshi Furuya (voice)

Suit actors

Ultraman Tiga (Multi and Sky Type): Shunsuke Gondō (権藤 俊輔, Gondō Shunsuke)

Ultraman Tiga (Multi and Power Type): Koji Nakamura (中村 浩二, Nakamura Kōji)

Monsters and Aliens: Daisuke Terai (寺井 大介, Terai Daisuke)
Ryūki Kitaoka (北岡 久貴, Kitaoka Ryūki)
Daisuke Kanemitsu (金光 大輔, Kanemitsu Daisuke)
Koji Nakamura (中村 浩二, Nakamura Koji)
Toshio Miyake (三宅 敏夫, Miyake Toshio)
Motoko Nagino (梛野 素子, Nagino Motoko)

English-dub actors

In 2002, an English adaptation dub of the series was produced by 4Kids Entertainment and recorded by their in-house dubbing studio, 4Kids Productions. The adaptation dub aired on the Fox Box Children's block on Fox in the United States.

Wayne Grayson as Daigo Madoka

Erica Schroeder as Rena Yanase

Megan Hollingshead as Megumi Iruma

Jimmy Zoppi as Masami Horii

Dan Green

Mike Pollock

Corinne Orr

Pamela Hill as Bully / small boy

David Moo

Jason Samuels

Andrew Paull as Tetsuo Shinjoh

Eric Stuart

Songs

Opening theme

"TAKE ME HIGHER"

Lyrics and Composition: Jennifer Batten, Alberto Emilio Contini, Giancarlo Pasquini

Japanese Lyrics: Kazumi Suzuki (鈴木 計美, Suzuki Kazumi)

Arrangement: Yasuhiko Hoshino (星野 靖彦, Hoshino Yasuhiko)

String Arrangement: Mitsuo Hagida (萩田 光雄, Hagida Mitsuo)

Choral Arrangement: Hiroaki Suzuki (鈴木 弘明, Suzuki Hiroaki)

Artist: V6

Original Artist: [Dave Rodgers, English version of Take Me Higher before V6 translated it into Japanese language]

"TAKE ME HIGHER" reached #1 of the Oricon Weekly Rankings Charts for the week of September 30, 1996, and became a Platinum Record.

Ending Theme

"Brave Love, TIGA"

Producer: Gorō Kishitani (岸谷 五朗, Kishitani Gorō)

Lyrics: Sunplaza Nakano

Composition: Barbe-Q Wasada (バーベQ和佐田, Bābe Kyū Wasada)

Arrangement: Yasuhiko Fukuda (福田裕彦, Fukuda Yasuhiko)

Artist: Earth Protection Force (地球防衛団, Chikyū Bōei-dan)

Leader: Gorō Kishitani

Members: Takashi Utsunomiya (宇都宮 隆, Utsunomiya Takashi), Toshiaki Karasawa, Naoto Kine (木根 尚登, Kine Naoto), Sunplaza Nakano, Yasafumi Terawaki (寺脇 康文, Terawaki Yasufumi), Masahiko Nishimura, Barbe-Q Wasada, Papala Kawai (パッパラー河合, Papparā Kawai), Patrick Bommarito (パトリック・ボンマリート, Patorikku Bonmarīto), Funky Sueyoshi (ファンキー末吉, Fankī Sueyoshi), Yasuhiko Fukuda (福田 裕彦, Fukuda Yasuhiko), Honjamaka (ホンジャマカ, Hidehiko Ishizuka (石塚 英彦, Ishizuka Hidehiko), Toshiaki Megumi (恵 俊彰, Megumi Toshiaki)) Sequel

It is widely thought that Dyna is related to Tiga, and Ultraman Dyna is the sequel to Ultraman Tiga.

Adaptations

Dark Horse Comics published a manga-style series based on Ultraman Tiga in 2003–2004.