Netflix definitely has its highs and lows when talking about original films and series. But if there’s something that Netflix has managed to do it in the best way possible, that’s Summer animated films. Back in 2022, the world was gifted with the lovely film The Sea Beast, which ended up being nominated for the Oscars 2023. And to keep up the streak, Netflix released Nimona last year, which ALSO managed to be nominated for the same category in the Oscars 2024. And now, they come up with Ultraman: Rising, which I really hope that it gets the same treatment as their last 2 summer animated films because oh boy… this was way better than I was expecting.
Ken Sato, an esteemed baseball icon, comes back to Japan aspiring to be the newest “champion” to take on the role of Ultraman. Yet, his intentions are disrupted when he finds himself obliged to nurture a newborn kaiju, the progeny of his arch-nemesis, as if it were his own offspring. In addition, Sato must navigate the complexities of his distant relationship with his father and the machinations of the Kaiju Defense Force.
This is a film that will make you feel many different emotions. Ultraman: Rising has a lot to love, the film starts in one way and it ends in a total different tone, an unexpectedly incredible story that will not only please fans but also newcomers who never had any contact with previous Ultraman content before… Staring of with the characters, our protagonist, Ken Sato, is an incredible well developed character that will for sure have you mixed feelings about him. And when I say that I mean that you will never know if you love him or hate him until you watch the full movie and realize that he’s a total different character than the one you saw in the beginning of the film. Ken’s journey is incredible, the more you get to know the character, the more you get engaged with him. You can feel his pain, his grief, his struggles and resonate with the characters in many different ways. Another outstanding character is Mina, the robot that takes care of Ken, she’s funny and gives an extra tone of humor for moments where we need it the most. And then there’s the baby herself, the giant baby kaiju that Ken had to take care of… it’s the most adorable thing ever.
I’ll try not to dive a lot into story details since this is the type of movie that I recommend to watch it blind, because that’s what I did and I just never knew what to expect, and then you’ll be blown away by some twists and, especially, the incredible visuals this film has. Every single action sequence is incredible, there’s definitely an inspiration from films like Across The Spider-Verse and animes, there’s so many especial moments that will leave viewers on the edge of their seat. If you love huge Kaiju fights the. buckle up and prepare yourself because this one is that on its best. The story is what makes this film truly especial, it’s beautiful to see and follow, a story about family, about what it truly means to be a parent…
Just like most films we watch, Ultraman: Rising has some flaws, but they are extremely tiny—so small that they might not even be considered actual flaws. One aspect I wasn’t a huge fan of was the character designs; they felt really bland for most characters, especially in a film where the environment and action sequences boast excellent visual work onscreen. Another point is the villain; it took me a while to become engaged with him, and he never seemed truly menacing. However, I don’t feel like this is a real flaw because the villain is not the focus of this story. He’s just present as an additional element to enhance the narrative, and it ended up contributing to a great result, for better or for worse.
I was left surprised, not as surprised because I’m familiar with Shannon Tindle’s game (Kubo And The Two Strings is one of my favorite animated films of all time) and I knew he would deliver an amazing film as he always did. Ultraman: Rising is an adorable, profound and adrenaline pumping ride that is perfect for both newcomers and old fans of the character. Visuals are outstanding and if you love huge Kaiju fights, this is the real deal.
Ultraman: Rising releases on Netflix on June 14.
