Ultra Q is a tokusatsu science fiction/kaiju series made in the tradition of Toho's many tokusatsu sci-fi/horror films. Produced in black and white by Tsuburaya Productions, this is actually the first of the long-running Ultra Series, and was broadcast on Tokyo Broadcasting System from January 2 to July 3, 1966, with a total of 28 episodes. This series was followed two weeks later by the more popular Ultraman, the second Ultra Series. Ultra Q can be described as a half-hour Tohokaiju series. Executive Producer Eiji Tsuburaya intended this series to be more like the American television seriesThe Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, featuring all kinds of strange and unusual stories. After a survey, the TBS network convinced Tsuburaya Productions to add more giant monsters, as children were intensely interested in them, since Godzilla and Gamera were all the rage at the time. Much like The X-Files, the series features continuing characters who investigate strange supernatural phenomena, including giant monsters, aliens, ghosts, and various other threats. The original planned title of this project was Unbalance, and was subsequently rechristened Ultra Q mostly due to the word "Ultra" gaining popularity due to the Japanese gymnast Gold Medal recipient in the 1964 Summer Olympics using a technique named "Ultra C". The series began production in 1964, with the premiere set for January 1966. At the time, this was the most expensive television series ever produced in Japan. The "Q" stands for "Question" and also tied with another hit TBS series, Obake no Q-tarō, an animated series based on the manga by Fujiko Fujio.
Characters
Jun Manjome: Aviator at Hoshikawa Air Service and amateur SF writer.
Yuriko Edogawa: Reporter for the Daily News.
Ippei Togawa: Jun's aviation partner at Hoshikawa.
Professor Ichinotani: world-renowned scientist, and occasional assistance to Jun, Yuriko and Ippei in times of crisis.
News Desk Editor, Seki: Yuriko's boss and editor at the Daily News.
Monsters
Because of his stature as a filmmaker, and with his close relationship with Toho, Eiji Tsuburaya was ordered by his crew to take what they needed from the prop warehouse, where the various props from his films were stored, for use on the series. The large Manda prop was used for the dragon Kairyu, as well as the giant octopus prop from Frankenstein vs. Baragon became Sudar, while the Maguma suit from Gorath was repurposed as Todora. Other suits and props were refurbished to play some of the monsters, such as Godzilla for Gomess, King Kong for Goroh, Baragon for Pagos, and a small, mechanical Rodan prop was stripped down and rebuilt as the bird monsters Litra and Largeus, respectively.
In 1967, Ultra Q was licensed from Tsuburaya and TBS by CBS Films, producers of The Twilight Zone. For the task of dubbing, CBS hired Film House in Toronto, Canada, what is now DeLuxe Toronto. Tsuburaya provided translated scripts, plus English language opening and closing credits, and a custom, swirling title-card. The series itself was dubbed in its 28-episode entirety. At some point, CBS Films backed out of licensing the series, and it was picked up, along with Ultraman, by United Artists Television, producers of The Outer Limits. Subsequently, United Artists Television hired Titra Studios to dub Ultraman. Ultraman was syndicated, however, Ultra Q was not, due to being in black-and-white at a time when most television was switching to color. After Ultraman finished its run in syndication, audio and film masters, and other materials, for both series went into storage, eventually finding their way into the MGM vaults, after MGM acquired United Artists in 1980. Initially it was commonly believed, even by Tsuburaya Productions, that only one episode, Episode 3, was dubbed into English as a pilot. Over the last decade, other episodes have been discovered in the hands of U.S. private collectors on the 16mm film format.
Radio drama
In 2003, a weekly radio drama series was produced called The Ultra Q Club. It featured voice acting from the original Ultra Q cast.
Legacy
In the years following the show's original run, a live action film called ' was released in 1990. In 2004, a new series called ' was produced, while another series called Neo Ultra Q began airing in early 2013.
Production
The original concept of the show was ultimately used for a 13-episode horror anthology series entitled Horror Theater Unbalance that was produced by Tsuburaya Productions in 1973. Various Ultra Q monsters were reused or redressed for various monsters in Ultraman. Kemur and Ragon returned, while the Garamon suit was reused and repaired to serve as Pigmon. Other suits were altered to play other monsters, such as Peguila being altered into Chandorah, Kemur being altered into Alien Zetton, Pagos being altered into Neronga, while the head of the Cicada Man was modified to become the head of Alien Baltan. Finally, Peter's suit was modified to become that of Gesura.
Home media
released the complete series of Ultra Q on DVD on August 13, 2013. In July 2019, Mill Creek Entertainment announced that it would release Ultra Q on Blu-ray in North America on October 15, 2019 in standard and steelbook editions, as part of an announcement that the company had acquired most of the Ultraman library from Tsuburaya Productions through Indigo Entertainment, including 1,100 episodes and 20 films.
