Line #35 Series/UltramanMax


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1e3bcd5a_8c91_4763_9801_4d87f085947b.jpeg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''"The strongest! The fastest!! Max Power! Max Speed!!"'']]
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4	->''The 21st Century ... Natural disasters have been occurring all over the world. In addition, monsters thought to be imaginary creatures have also started to appear. To counter the threat, the United Nations created the UDF, the United Defense Federation. Their elite team is the counter monster team, DASH.''
5	-->-- '''OpeningNarration of numerous episodes'''
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7	''Ultraman Max'' is the eighteenth installment in the [[LongRunners long-running]] ''Franchise/UltraSeries'', airing from July 7, 2005 to March 25, 2006 with a total of 39 episodes (plus [[ClipShow one special comprised mainly of stock footage]]). It was preceded by ''Series/UltramanNexus'' and succeeded by ''Series/UltramanMebius''.
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9	[[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture In the not-too distant future]], monsters appear around the world and attack mankind. To combat the threat, the United Defense Federation creates the special anti-monster task force DASH ([[FunWithAcronyms Defense Action Squad Heroes]]). Aiding DASH in its struggle is the alien giant Ultraman Max, who is secretly Touma Kaito, a DASH pilot.
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11	After the [[DarkerAndEdgier darker and]] [[{{Deconstruction}} less kid-friendly]] [[ScrewedByTheNetwork and screwed-up spin]] on Ultraman in ''Ultraman Nexus'', Tsuburaya Productions returned to the franchise's roots, with [[MonsterOfTheWeek a new monster every week]] and an overall light-hearted tone. ''Ultraman Max'' is notable for [[MythologyGag several callbacks]] to previous ''Ultra'' series, from reintroducing several famous ''Ultra'' Monsters and casting players from the original ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' to paying homage to the plots of past episodes and even referencing the first ''Ultra'' series, ''Series/UltraQ''. In contrast to the low ratings of ''Nexus'', ''Max'' was a huge success and set the tone for future Ultra Series like ''Mebius''.
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13	Crunchyroll started [[http://www.crunchyroll.com/ultraman-mebius streaming]] ''Ultraman Max'' beginning October 14, 2014, followed by its successor series, ''[[http://www.crunchyroll.com/ultraman-mebius Mebius]]'' a week later.
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15	Sci-Fi Japan has a series guide [[http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2007/06/03/ultraman-max-official-episode-guide/ here.]]
16	----
17	!!''Ultraman Max'' provides examples of the following tropes:
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19	* AbusivePrecursors: [[spoiler:Nina turns out to be a member of the species that uplifted mankind and after reawakening 100,000 years later, decides humanity has fallen short of her kind's expectations and are failures. So she decides to use her pet monster to kill humanity off so they can start over.]]
20	* ActorAllusion: This show actually invokes as many as past Ultraman actors for both young and older audiences to enjoy, so its a given if said actors put on some allusion to their past role in the Ultra Series.
21	** Episode 29 is one big one for Hiroko Sakurai, Kenji Sahara, Yasuhiko Saijou, and their respective ''Series/UltraQ'' characters Yuriko, Jun, and Ippei.
22	** Likewise, Episode 23 for Masanari Nihei, Susumu Kurobe, and Hiroko Sakurai. A photo of Professor Date, Chief Tomioka, and Professor Yoshinaga together when they were younger is ''literally'' of [[Series/{{Ultraman}} Ide, Hayata, and Fuji]], complete with Science Patrol uniforms.
23	** Kohji Moritsugu cameos in Episode 19 as an archaeologist. [[Series/UltraSeven Guess how he puts on his glasses]]?[[note]]Hint: Dyuwah![[/note]]
24	** Creator/NaoNagasawa plays the title girl of "The Daughter of Zetton", and at several points (when possessed by Alien Zetton), is seen in [[Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger a ninja outfit]], like when infiltrating the DASH base and piloting King Joe.
25	** In "Welcome to Earth Pt. 1: The Science of the Baltans" and Part 2 as well, the policeman played by [[spoiler:[[Series/UltramanLeo Ryu Manatsu]]]] is wearing the [[spoiler:Leo Ring]].
26	* AlienInvasion: As per most ''Ultra'' Series.
27	* AlienNonInterferenceClause: [[spoiler:Max refuses to get involved in the conflict with the Deros because it's a conflict between two civilizations naturally inhabiting the same planet rather than an invasion from an extraterrestrial civilization for this reason.]]
28	* AlternateContinuity: Even though classic Showa monsters and aliens appear here, the series is placed in a different universe from the main M78 timeline.
29	* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever
30	* BewareTheSuperman: Some humans feel this way about Max due to his sheer power, which causes Kaito to try and summon him at the start of the battle to prove there's nothing to fear. Max ''refuses'' to tag in because their agreement was for Kaito to only call him when the situation had proved too much for him to deal with on his own, not just rely on him.
31	* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:Ultraman Xenon]] first appears to save Max's tail.
32	* TheBusCameBack: This series marks the return of multiple Showa kaiju and aliens that haven't appeared in quite a long time until then, such as Red King, Gomora, Zetton, Eleking, Pigmon and Baltan to name a few.
33	* BondVillainStupidity: Moetranga in episode 31
34	* TheCameo: Ultraman Max [[spoiler:and Ultraman Xenon]] appear in ''Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend the Movie'' when Belial arrives on the Land of Light.
35	* CatsAreMean: Tama, Kuro, and Mike.
36	* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler:The Guardian satellite system is a detection array, but during the finale, they used it to restore Max after he was defeated but Giga Berserke.]]
37	* ChristmasEpisode: ''Elly's Christmas'' or episode 26. In the episode, Elly helps an old scientist capture the mythical Yunijin, a bird-like creature that travels through time and space, appearing once every 12 years on Earth for only a few seconds of December 24.
38	* ClipShow: The special 40th episode.
39	* DenserAndWackier: The series' comedic elements are particularly strong, many of Max's fights against the monsters and aliens have a considerable amount of cartoony slapstick and there are also plenty of scenes that are simply way [[ChewingTheScenery too cheesy]] even by toku standards, not to mention the show's narrative can dip into outright SelfParody at times.
40	* DistantFinale: [[spoiler:The end of the series is set in the future, where humanity has succeeded in making a better world and Kaito and Mizuki's grandson is going on a space mission to explore the galaxy. A statue dedicated to Max is also seen, showing mankind has remembered him, as well as one of the Delos' towers (implying the atmosphere has been fixed and they've emerged from hiding).]]
41	* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Look at Professor Yoshinaga in episode 16, after taking a ride in a DASH vessel piloted by an incapacitated Captain. Her hair is standing up and she looks giddy and absent-minded. She even leans on the wall with a huge smile on her face.
42	* FightingClown: The Shaman alien from Episodes 18 and 36. Helps that he's supposed to be a parody of Jim Carrey.
43	* FluffyTheTerrible: Tama, Kuro, Mike.
44	* TheFutureWillBeBetter: A common belief of the heroes. [[spoiler:The ending of the final episode shows this, depicting humanity in the future where they've obtained a peaceful, better society and are ready to join the larger galaxy in peaceful co-existence.]]
45	* GaiasVengeance: A recurring theme in the series. Many of the aliens attack with a motivation to save the environment from humans and Professor Yoshinaga even theorizes that kaiju are created by the Earth itself to punish humanity.
46	* GravityMaster: The Alien Baltans are this, due to advance technology. It's even how their ships work.
47	* GratuitousEnglish: Sean. Justified because he's American, and will pepper his speech with English phrases.
48	* HeelRealization: An ironic one happens in the end: [[spoiler:it's implied humanity realizing that the damage they're causing to the Earth nearly killed off the Delos, who never wronged them in any way, is what caused them to finally dedicate themselves to doing less damage to the Earth, leading to the good future seen in the end.]]
49	* HumansAreBastards: A number of aliens believe this to be true citing the times that humanity fought amongst themselves and the pollution they cause to the planet, though a number of them also learn better by the end of their appearance.
50	* HumongousMecha: [[spoiler:Giga Berserke, who's quite possibly the biggest example in the entire franchise.]]
51	* LighterAndSofter: Compared to the preceding series, ''Series/UltramanNexus'', ''Max'' is much lighter in tone till the point of being a SelfParody of the ''Ultra'' series. However that doesn't mean the series does not have its dark moments.
52	* MidseasonUpgrade: The Max Galaxy.
53	* MonsterOfTheWeek: Gleefully returns to the formula after ''Nexus''.
54	* MythologyGag: This happens ''a lot'':
55	** Max himself looks like a mixture between the original Ultraman and Ultra Seven, the first two great heroes of the Showa era.
56	** Several classic monsters like Gomora, Red King, the Baltan aliens, Pigmon, Eleking, Antlar, et al. appear frequently, sometimes even in multiple episodes.
57	** [[Series/{{Ultraman}} Hayata, Fuji, and Ide]] as well as [[Series/UltraSeven Dan]] turn up as supporting characters.
58	** An entire episode is centered around a monster from ''Series/UltraQ'', and the show itself is established as existing in-universe. The episode was shot in black and white, like the show.
59	** When Zetton appears, [[spoiler:so does Max's superior, Ultraman Xenon, simular to Zoffy's first appearance in the original series. Only this time, Xenon arrives in time to actually fight.]]
60	** In Episode 16, Chief Tomioka raises a spoon in a typical Henshin pose.
61	** Per Episode 24, [[spoiler:Alien Metron from ''Series/UltraSeven'']] survived and has been in hiding for 40 years...
62	** The monster Geronga from episode 29, a physical {{Expy}} of Neronga from the original series.
63	** In "Welcome to Earth Pt. 1: The Science of the Baltans" and Part 2 as well, the policeman played by [[spoiler:[[Series/UltramanLeo Ryu Manatsu]]]] is wearing the [[spoiler:Leo Ring]].
64	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Episode 15, Eve's original form is just harmless immobile object, just being extremely large. DASH team decide to burn it, [[AdaptiveAbility trigger it to counter with fire]] and possibly cause it to begin attacking period.
65	* NotSoStoic: [[spoiler:Elly sheds tears in Episode 16 and the Christmas episode, and her personality changes when she and Pigmon share a body.]]
66	* OneManArmy: Max and Dark Baltan [[spoiler:take this trope literally in that during their fight in that both end up multiplying themselves into armies and duking it out.]]
67	* OnlySaneMan: Elly, especially in Episode 16.
68	* PeoplePuppets: [[spoiler:Pigmon is trapped in Elly's body due to one of Alien Shamer's experiments.]]
69	* PlayAlongPrisoner: Kaito pointed out that Kiif, a benevolent alien, could escape them any time he wanted to, but he refuses to because he desired to earn the Earthling's trust.
70	* RidiculouslyHumanRobots: Elly
71	* RobotGirl: Elly again.
72	* SealedEvilInACan:
73	** Regilla was imprisoned beneath some ruins by an ancient civilization until he broke loose in the modern day.
74	** Red King was imprisoned by aliens beneath the vanishing island. An archaeologist and his partner accidentally break the statue keeping him imprisoned and setting him free.
75	** Alien Tarla and his people were imprisoned in another dimension along with their HumongousMecha Gilfas by Max in ancient times.
76	* SequelEpisode: Episode 24 to "The Targeted Town" from ''Series/UltraSeven'', down to the same actor voicing [[spoiler:Alien Metron]] and even the same director (Akio Jissoji). The episode is even called ''The Untargeted Town''.
77	* ShootTheShaggyDog: A subtle example in episode 24. [[spoiler:Alien Metron claims he still wished to conquer Earth, and had came up with some plans during his hiding. It doesn't matter, the pollution on Earth's so bad that it's no longer worth conquering. The only reason he still lingered here for '''40 years''' is because he ''really likes Earth''.]]
78	* SixthRanger: [[spoiler:Ultraman Xenon]]
79	* StarterVillainStays: Much like ''Tiga'' before it, the show starts off with the attack from two kaijus, Grangon and Lagoras, both which Max managed to destroy after showing up in front of humans for the first time. However, both kaijus return halfway in the series, as Fire Grangon and Lagoras Evo? with Fire Grangon being killed offscreen by Lagoras so that the latter can absorb it's fire powers and return as a more dangerous foe to challenge Max.
80	* StockSoundEffects: Plenty of the new monsters in this series utter either reused roars from past kaiju or generic creature SFX. Regilla bugles like an elk and Eraga has the same usual ''Tyrannosaurus'' roar from ''Film/TheLandUnknown''.
81	* TheStoic: Elly ''again''.
82	* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Defied in regards to Kiif, who came with purely friendly motivations. While a lot of people are suspicious of him, the heroes as a whole are angered by this treatment, as they know he'd have already escaped if he'd wanted to.

Context Series / UltramanMax