History YMMV / Ultraman

* OnceOriginalNowOverdone: To modern viewers, it may seem like a goofy and stereotypical Japanese superhero show, but it must be emphasized that this series was ''huge'' when it debuted -- one of the most expensive TV shows of its day and drawing in enormous ratings of around 30-40% of all Japanese TV viewers.

** Episode 11, "The Ruffian from Outer Space", where kaijuu Gyango wasn't even the problem, the problem was the silly jerk who wished him into existence.

** For {{Toku}}satsu in general, ''Ultraman'' was responsible for helping the genre move away from {{kaiju}} trashing cities on cinema to superheroes battling monsters on weekly television, resulting in franchises like ''Franchise/KamenRider'' and ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' joining the likes of ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' and ''Film/{{Gamera}}'' as the many faces of the Tokusatsu genre as a whole.

** The use of ForcedPerspective in Ultraman's TransformationSequence, where a tapered miniature torso (wide at the top, narrow at the bottom, no legs) was made to look like it suddenly grew to giant size. Most of the Showa Ultras used variations of ths technique (Taroh and Ace had exceptional sequences). Toys were created based on the miniature(s).

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: To modern viewers, it may seem like a goofy and stereotypical Japanese superhero show, but it must be emphasized that this series was ''huge'' when it debuted -- one of the most expensive TV shows of its day and drawing in enormous ratings of around 30-40% of all Japanese TV viewers.

** [[BigBadFriend Edo]] is a liaison for the Star Cluster Alliance, seemingly serving as an ally for Ultraman and SSSP. In truth, Edo plots to destroy the Ultramen and their reputation out of a [[WellIntentionedExtremist genuine belief]] that they can conquer or destroy Earth in minutes if they chose to. To his ends, Edo has his allies in the Star Cluster Alliance commit crimes and [[FrameUp frame]] the Ultramen for them while harnessing the power of the Giant of Light from the four Ultramen to resurrect Zetton. Unleashing Zetton onto the Ultramen, Edo joins the fight when they defeat Zetton, reviving the monster to full strength while he battles Shinjiro Hayata. Seemingly killing Shinjiro, Edo only loses when Shinjiro gets a HeroicSecondWind and is joined by his allies to defeat Edo. Edo [[FaceDeathWithDignity dies with dignity]], commenting that he’ll be watching Shinjiro’s progress from beyond.

* {{Padding}}: After Arashi rescues Shinjiro from the SSSP, they spend some time recapping the backstory of every Ultraman they know to find out which ones were the four Ultramen that Mephisto wants dead. What makes this sequence obvious padding is that it took place in ''episode 6 of the final season''.

* ItsShortSoItSucks: Some fans are not pleased that the series is only 13 episodes long and doesn't adapt the whole manga. The series has been confirmed to be getting a second season, though unfortunately it too suffers from short episode counts (''6 episodes in total'').

** The episode "Coast Guard Command" is about the monster, Gesura who is a green fish-looking monster who is obsessed with [[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsChocolateWithNutsMermaidManAndBarnacleBoyV CHOOOOOOOOOOCOLAAAAAAAAAAATE!!!!]]

** Similar situation to ''Series/UltraSeven'' and [[PokemonSpeak Dada]]/[[BigBad Alien Guts]].

* AuthorsSavingThrow: Pigmon's debut episode has him seemingly die by being crushed by rocks scattered by Red King. No one bats an eye or comments that they can't find Pigmon and end the episode. According to episode summaries Pigmon was resurrected by Gerionomon. Yet again he dies but this time the final minute of the episode is devoted to a funeral for the little monster, including salutes and a moment of silence. A much better response to the death of a brave little token good monster.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: ''Series/UltramanLeo'' borrowed [[NonMaliciousMonster Gyango's]] roar for the Gillas Brothers, the kaiju responsible for [[SickeningCrunch crippling]] and [[ShapeshifterModeLock humiliating Ultraseven]].
** Similar situation to ''Series/UltraSeven'' and [[PokemonSpeak Dada]]/[[BigBad Alien Guts]].

* CompleteMonster:
** [[StarterVillain Alien Adacic]] is an alien SerialKiller Shinjiro is sent to terminate. Adacic is [[EstablishingCharacterMoment introduced]] in a room full of corpses he's drained of blood while [[AxCrazy gleefully]] finishing off the latest of many such massacres he's committed. Leading the fight into the city, Adacic intentionally stops the chase and fights Shinjiro in the middle of a crowded street. When the teenager Rena tries to encourage Shinjiro, Adacic tries to murder her out of boredom and soon begins blowing up the area and endangering countless civilians in the process. When his arm is sliced off, Adacic goes berserk and decides he'll eat every civilian in the area out of spite. Despite being the first MonsterOfTheWeek, Adacic proves one of the worst and most sadistic in the entire series.
** [[SoftSpokenSadist Ace Killer]] is the leader of Ace Killer Squad. A [[PsychoForHire sociopathic mercenary]], he's the true perpetrator of the airline explosion that kick-started the series, killing most of those on board, children included, an act which for him [[ButForMeItWasTuesday was simply an average day on the job]]. When Moroboshi and Shinjiro track him down, Ace Killer's trap kills Moroboshi's entire squad, something which the mercenary couldn't care less about. Despite not being part of his current job, Ace Killer decides to kill the two anyway [[ForTheEvulz for his own amusement]], and tortures both Shinjiro and Seiji, assuring the latter his childhood friend Yuko is next on his list. After being temporarily killed by Seiji, Ace Killer decides to brutalize the already mortally wounded boy and mount his skull in his trophy room. Even in death, Ace Killer tries to destroy the entire area with a massive bomb in [[TakingYouWithMe one final act of spite]]. Despite being a hired soldier, Ace Killer enjoys every second of it and cares for nothing else, not even his own squad.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The show is fondly remembered in Latin America, particularly Mexico and Argentina, to quote: "it was the ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' of our generation!" In Brazil, which had already liked Toku years earlier with ''National Kid'', it was also popular, with reruns airing continuously until 1986 and sporadically ever since, as well as the go-to Toku hero, not until Toei's ''[[Series/KyojuuTokusouJuspion Juspion]]'' arrived in 1985.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: Pigmon's debut episode has him seemingly die by being crushed by rocks scattered by Redking. No one bats an eye or comments that they can't find Pigmon and end the episode. According to episode summaries Pigmon was resurrected by Gerionomon. Yet again he dies but this time the final minute of the episode is devoted to a funeral for the little monster, including salutes and a moment of silence. A much better response to the death of a brave little token good monster.

** Fuji's obsession with pearls, culminating with poor Ide carrying her packages on her shopping trip

* HilariousInHindsight: The episode "Coast Guard Command" is about the monster, Gesura who is a green fish-looking monster who is obsessed with [[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsChocolateWithNutsMermaidManAndBarnacleBoyV CHOOOOOOOOOOCOLAAAAAAAAAAATE!!!!]]

** It's difficult to overstate just how much this show rebuilt and codified the {{Kaiju}} genre. Whereas before, a giant monster coming out of the sea to wreck up the place would be like a typhoon or hurricane: unstoppable, and the little humans scurrying away from it could only hope to rebuild afterwards or put up token resistance. The cost of stopping one would be horrendously high (Film/Godzilla1954) or worryingly public (Film/KingKong), requiring military deployment. While ''Ultra Q'' set the ball rolling, from ''this'' show onwards, it became entirely believable that those little humans could fight back on their own terms, and do it [[MonsterOfTheWeek once a friggin' week]] at that. Oh, and the big guy on Earth's side - the idea that Earth could have external, fairly long-lasting help from elsewhere - is also a nice change of pace.

** It's difficult to overstate just how much this show rebuilt and codified the {{Kaiju}} genre. Whereas before, a giant monster coming out of the sea to wreck up the place would be like a typhoon or hurricane: unstoppable, and the little humans scurrying away from it could only hope to rebuild afterwards or put up token resistance. The cost of stopping one would be horrendously high (Film/{{Gojira}}) or worryingly public (Film/KingKong), requiring military deployment. While ''Ultra Q'' set the ball rolling, from ''this'' show onwards, it became entirely believable that those little humans could fight back on their own terms, and do it [[MonsterOfTheWeek once a friggin' week]] at that. Oh, and the big guy on Earth's side - the idea that Earth could have external, fairly long-lasting help from elsewhere - is also a nice change of pace.

* UncannyValley: Dada, who looks like a mime wearing tiki masks, and makes an unearthly groan.
** Ultraman, with the type-A mask, combined with NightmareFuel

** "Man-niisan" for Ultraman which means "Brother Man" because his real name is never revealed. ''Series/UltramanMebius'' is the first to use the nickname but ''Series/UltramanZ'' brought it back to popularity.