The following is a list of characters who appear in Shin Ultraman.
open/close all folders
Ultraman
Giant Humanoid Lifeform, Ultraman/Lipiah
- "In order to give humans even the slightest chance to survive, I will remain on Earth."
Voiced by: Issey Takahashi (Japanese), Steven Kelly (English)
An extraterrestrial silver giant that descends to Earth during a Kaiju rampage, quickly defeating the beast.
- All-Loving Hero: He protects humanity no matter what, even offering his own life so Shinji can live once again.
- A Form You Are Comfortable With: Since his true form is, in a way, unsettling, thanks to its unnaturally large size (at least compared to humans, as he refers to them as "little lifeforms") and his unchanging mask-like face; Ultraman uses a human disguise. Ultraman smiling in Kaminaga's form, something he'd never be able to do in his true form, may be a way for him to put people at ease and show trust.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Late in the film, Ultraman threatens that he can bring untold amounts of destruction if he's obstructed from his self-appointed protection of humanity. It is unknown if he was bluffing in the negotiations, but his stoicism truly gave him a Poker Face to dread. Notably, he's the only Extraterrestrial to do this with the Japanese government; Zarab and Mefilas were dishonest with their "peaceful" intentions, and Zoffy only told Ultraman what he was about to unleash upon Earth.Ultraman: I don't get involved with human society. I'm merely an observer. I am not a threat to you.
Government Official: Sadly, an overwhelming majority of the international community doesn't trust you. If you can't come with us, with can't guarantee the lives of the SSSP.
Ultraman: Intimidation is a terrible thing for a human to do. If you do that I won't hesitate to wipe out the humans before Zetton does.
Goverment Official: Isn't that intimidation as well?
Ultraman: I am negotiating on equal ground. If you wish for humans to live, please refrain from futile attempts to meddle with the SSSP.
Goverment Official: Understood. - Big Brother Instinct: Ultraman sees a kinship with humanity out of curiosity for their varied natures and heroism. Putting his very life on the line in every fight because he sees them as helpless to the horrors of the vast cosmos. Unlike Mefilas, he expresses neither condescension nor disgust at their weakness, nor does he desire to manipulate them. He legitimately feels compelled to protect them.Ultraman: I want to protect these helpless, vulnerable little lifeforms.
- Birds of a Feather: If he knew or not is unknown, but he and Shinji Kaminaga seem to share the same heroic and sacrificial spirit. In fact, maybe this is why he decided to take his place. Not only to make amends for his part in Kaminaga's death, but as a gesture of respect in humanity as a whole. Kaminaga's sacrifice may have been the trigger behind Lipiah's interest in mankind.
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: In keeping with his alien nature, Ultraman is puzzled by human behavior as much as the Katokutai are puzzled by Ultraman himself.
- Crazy-Prepared: He left Asami his Beta Capsule knowing that Alien Zarab would kidnap him, a trace with ink so he could be tracked, contacted one of Shinji's old partners beforehand and filled him in with the info so Asami could rescue him, and also left Yumi an USB with data on the Beta system so Taki could find a way to defeat Zetton in case he wouldn't be able to defeat him himself.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: Even when framed as a criminal in both Earth and his people, he sees his duty as being mankind's protector, against kaiju and extraterrestrial threats. Even if one of his own people demand he surrender himself, he won't abandon mankind. When threatened to not interfere at the risk of his own life, he continues with little hesitation. It is implied this is because of his fusion with a human, but it is ambiguous if this is the case or he grew to care for mankind on his own.
- Determinator: Breaking the laws of the Planet of Light, framed as a criminal by Earth laws, feared and hated by both the SSSP Katokutai and humanity as a whole. None deter him from saving as many human lives as he can.
- Doppelgänger Gets Same Sentiment: Justified. It's revealed that Kaminaga's been Dead All Along, and Ultraman had merged with his life force to masquerade as him in a separate body. Due to various gaps in information that Ultraman simply didn't bother to clarify to the SSSP, they regard him as Kaminaga showing his true colors as an extraterrestrial in hiding. So Ultraman gets the sentiment simply because the SSSP aren't aware that he's a doppelgänger.
- Fusion Dance: Ultraman establishes a connection to the dead Shinji Kaminaga, creating a separate Shinji Kaminaga that is both Ultraman and Shinji. Ultraman-as-Shinji likens this coexistence as something in between a human and the red giant.
- Humanity Is Infectious: He asks himself why a human would give his life for the life of a child. So he decides to live among them as a man himself. Because of his studies, he concludes mankind deserves to be protected from the constant threats it receives from aliens and giant monsters. This is a downplayed example, as he doesn't seem to outwardly become more "human" he nonetheless feels compelled to protect them and even wishes to be human himself so he can fully understand their experiences.
- Intrigued by Humanity: Ultraman shows a great interest in humanity thanks to Kaminaga's death while trying to protect an innocent. Seeing them as a young species that deserves his protection to grasp them better, he chooses to live as a man in order to analyze their ways and is shown reading their books on philosophy and science. He also seems to respect their resourcefulness, as he never shows hostility to any humans, be they hostile or not. All in all, it is his mere interest that grew into an unconditional love for humanity.
- Messianic Archetype: No matter what happens, Ultraman fights in the defense of humanity. Even at the cost of his own life. His kindness towards practically everybody also seems to display messianic vibes. The SSSP and mankind seem to treat him as the last and only line of defense against threats that are insurmountable, likening it to praying to a merciful deity. Ultraman himself regards an idolatry-centered view as a flawed assesment to him, seeing himself as an organism first and foremost.Hiroko Asami: [At seeing phones ringing all around because of Zetton] They just want us to get Kaminaga to do something.
Taki Akihisa: They are depending on Ultraman for everything now.
Kimio Tamura: Humans have always prayed to gods when they are desperate. Ultraman is the closest thing we have to a god. No wonder people cling to him. - Named by the Adaptation: The film identifies the usually nameless Ultraman as "Lipiah".
- Nerves of Steel: Ultraman never shows fear at any point in the film. Seemingly acknowledging new events as matter of factly. From Zarab's reveal to the final opponent, Ultraman never wavers on his self-appointed guardianship of mankind.
- Nonhumans Lack Attributes: Used as a joke: while listing everything about Ultraman that defies human understanding, Yumi concludes the list by admitting he's so beyond them they can't even tell if he's naked or not.
- No Social Skills: Naturally, as he is an alien who has just wanted to learn about humans. His first interaction with Asami (as Shinji) is really awkward and robotic; and he doesn't seem to realize there's anything wrong with sniffing around Asami's body to memorize her scent in order to find the Beta Box. He avoids most problems simply by not interacting often.
- Normal Fish in a Tiny Pond: Like his television progenitor, Ultraman is not a particularly strong member of the Space Garrison. He struggles against high-profile galactic criminal Mefilas, and while he's unable to escape the pull of a six-dimensional black hole, his commanding officer Zoffy is able to rescue him from it with ease after locating him.
- Spell My Name With An S: His true name was originally understood as Ripia (リピアー) before being officially romanized as Lipiah.
- The Voiceless: When in his giant form, Ultraman does not vocalise at all, not even the signature battle cries the original Ultraman makes. While he can speak to Mefilas and Zoffy, it's implied that they are communicating through telepathy instead of conventional speech.
- Superman Substitute: In Shin Ultraman, a unique twist is given to the character's resemblance to DC Comics' Superman. While previous versions had subtle similarities, the Shin incarnation reconstructs Ultraman's premise. He is an alien who identifies with humanity and protects them from alien threats at all costs. What makes this version notable is that Ultraman's role as mankind's protector is explicitly shown, despite not being raised by humans. It stems from the sacrifice of a kind man. Initially, his interest in humanity is akin to a scientist studying a primitive civilization, but he eventually embraces altruism. Unlike Superman, who sometimes wishes for a normal life, Ultraman desires to fully experience being human, from vulnerabilities to strength of will. Despite different paths, both heroes share an unconditional love for humanity and embody hope and protection.
- White Sheep: Out of all extraterrestrial life shown in the movie, Ultraman is the only one who has shown concern for those weaker than himself. Going as far as arguing with Mefilas about how mankind should develop as a species. Compared to his superior, Zarab and Mefilas, he seems to be the only alien who actually is willing to empathize with humanity as a whole.
SSSP (enforcement unit)
In General
The SSSP enforcement unit (almost always referred to simply as the SSSP), named after the S-Class Species Suppression Protocol issued by the Japanese government, is a specialized government unit tasked with managing efforts to defend against S-Class Species.
- Adaptational Wimp: Unlike their Science Patrol counterparts, they are a government department that has to request military firepower from the JSDF and US Army.
- Cool Plane: The Katokutai have access to a military helicopter, used to transport the team to the location of a Kaiju rampage. They temporarily use a troop-transport helicopter to store Mefilas' Beta Box once Ultraman secures it.
- Dub Name Change: In Japanese, the SSSP is officially called Kaiju Special Countermeasures Office, Specialized Team (short for 禍威獣特設対策室専従班note ), or Katokutai (禍特対) for short, a homophone with the Katokutai of the original Ultraman TV show. Its English name, a metonym named after a protocol called SSSP that the unit enforces, is meanwhile a reference to the SSSP English acronym sometimes used to refer to the Katokutai.
- Experienced Protagonist: Somewhat. As of the present of the film, the Katokutai have experience from dealing with Kaigel and Pagos when they are heading to suppress Neronga. Unfortunately, Neronga and the threats following prove to be beyond the Katokutai alone.
- Government Agency of Fiction: The Katokutai is a subordinate unit to the Japanese Disaster Preservation Agency, a fictional Japanese government agency.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Among the Kaiju shown in the opening, the Katokutai were first deployed against Kagiel and Pagos, though we don't get to see what they did.
Kimio Tamura
Captain Kimio Tamura
- "I sensed a different intelligence in that giant, different from the Kaiju."
The Captain of the SSSP. Formerly from the Ministry of Defense.
- The Leader: The Levelheaded type, focused on getting things done.
Tatsuhiko Munakata
Chief Tatsuhiko Munakata
- "What is your motive for coming here?"
The office Chief of the SSSP.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Shares this role with Tamura, as the team's Chief. He does everything he can to make sure the SSSP can operate with minimal red tape getting in the way.
- During the Gabora crisis, he negotiates with the United States to get their bunker busters, and has the Ministry of Defense foot the bill.
Shinji Kaminaga
Shinji Kaminaga
- "Captain, there's a child still in the village. I'll take care of this immediately."
The SSSP's Executive Strategist.
- The Aloner: It's mentioned by the others that Kaminaga keeps to himself a lot when introducing him to Asami. This ends up being lucky for Ultraman, as Kaminaga's apparent aloofness towards his teammates allowed him to avoid being suspected of being Out of Character when taking his place.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: When Shinji spots a little kid still in the town that Neronga is smashing his way through, he immediately heads out to get the child to safety. This is already dangerous for him (though it is part of his job), but he chose to do this before learning about the Ultraman's approach. This results in Shinji getting killed when Ultraman first lands, sending debris flying and mortally hitting Kaminaga.
- Meaningful Name:
- The kanji for Kaminaga, 神永, roughly translate to "eternal god"—fitting considering his becoming host to Ultraman.
- Meanwhile, his first name, Shinji, is made up of the kanji 新 (lit. "new") and 二 (lit. "two/2"). Shinji Kaminaga is a new version of the original Ultraman protagonist Shin Hayata. Kaminaga is also one of two characters who use his own name, with the other being Ultraman-as-Kaminaga.
- Significant Reference Date: According to his dog tags, Kaminaga was born on July 17, 1986. July 17th is when the first episode of the original Ultraman TV show was aired.
- Walking Spoiler: In regards to his connection to Ultraman. He's been Dead All Along since Ultraman's landing during the Neronga crisis, and rather than being a mere host like Shin Hayata, Ultraman had fused with the dead Kaminaga's body in order to live among humans.
- Working-Class Hero: Before joining the Katokutai, Shinji Kaminaga served as a police officer under the National Police Agency Security Bureau.
Akihisa Taki
Akihisa Taki
The SSSP's Unparticle Physicist.
- Character Development: Taki goes from cheerful and hopeful, to slowly cracking under the pressure of insignificance of mankind's technology, knowledge and physical attributes compared to Extraterrestials whose tech seems nearly magical. Eventually, he's talked out of this dark place and actually manages to help save humanity one more time.
- Expy: Of Science Patrol member Ide from the original series. Taki's Character Development goes so far as to parallel Ide's from the episode "The Small Hero".
- Gave Up Too Soon: He has some serious problems with this, having taken too many hits regarding the events happening with the extraterrestrials. If Yumi hadn't told him about the USB left by Ultraman containing the Beta system basics, he would have stayed that way, believing that humanity didn't stand a chance.
- Go Mad from the Revelation: Downplayed, but Taki seems somewhat rattled at how advanced, mysterious and near untouchable alien tech seems to be. Their impossible mastery of physics making humanity's greatest scientific efforts, which he seemingly took pride in, rendered trivial and void. Driving him to despair when the last enemies show up. Ultraman indirectly gives him hope again.
- The Smart Guy: Shares this role with Yumi Funaberi, he specializes in studying the impossible mechanics of the Kaiju.
Yumi Funaberi
Yumi Funaberi
- "Welcome to Kasumigaseki's last remaining regiment!"
Played by: Akari Hayami
Voiced by: Emily Frongillo (English)
Voiced by: Emily Frongillo (English)
The SSSP's Universal Biologist.
- Gratuitous English: Occasionally uses English.
- Nice Girl: When Hiroko joins the Katokutai, Yumi gives her a friendly welcome to their headquarters in Kasumigaseki.Welcome to the independant youngbloods!
- Post-Stress Overeating: While she and the other SSSP members are being detained, Yumi is seen eating snacks. Lots of snacks. It's noted that she's stressed during this, since they're in trouble with the government.
- The Smart Guy: Shares this role with Taki Akihisa, she specializes in studying Kaiju biology. In fact, extra materials confirm that she's the scientist who discovered Peguila's weakness.
- The Smurfette Principle: Yumi is the sole female on the Katokutai until Hiroko Asami joins the team.
Hiroko Asami
Hiroko Asami
- "Being a buddy is all about trust."
Played by: Masami Nagasawa
Voiced by: Dawn M. Bennett (English)
Voiced by: Dawn M. Bennett (English)
A data analyst who transfers to the SSSP after the Neronga crisis. She is partnered up with Shinji Kaminaga to investigate Ultraman, unaware that the two are one and the same. Hiroko's from the Public Security Intelligence Agency.
- Audience Surrogate: She shares the audience's interest in the mysterious Ultraman and their belief that he's a benevolent being.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: Was turned gigant by Mefilas just so he could enter in contact with the prime minister and being controlled by him as well.
- Character Tics: The film makes it noticeable how often she slaps her own butt to motivate herself."Let's show some spirit!"
- Genki Girl: She's eager to work with the SSSP against the Kaiju. The trope even makes its way into her Character Tics entry, described above.
- Giant Woman: She gets kidnapped and turned into a mind-controlled giant by Mefilas.
- Leg Focus: The film occasionally focuses on Asami's legs, such as when she switches from her walking shoes to her work heels on her first day of work, and while she's turned into a giant in full view of the public.
- The Power of Trust: She emphasizes to Shinji that as fellow Katokutai members, being partners/"buddies" is all about trust. Learning Kaminaga is actually the "Ultraman" they've been tasked with investigating results in her lashing out at Ultraman, though she backs off when Kaminaga asks her what she would have done if he'd told her.[rough translation from original Japanese] "So you made fools of us?! You deceived us?!"
- Sixth Ranger: Played With. She joins the Katokutai after the Neronga crisis, which is the first event covered following the opening montage. As such, she plays an important role for the rest of the film.
Japanese Government
Prime Minister Taishi Okuma
Prime Minister Taishi Okuma
Played by: Kyusuke Shimada
Voiced by: Charlie Campbell (English)
The current Prime Minister of Japan. Having authorized the creation of the SSSP, Okuma becomes more involved when Extraterrestrials approach him.Voiced by: Charlie Campbell (English)
- Slave to PR: His attempt at making an agreement with Zarab leaves Okuma with egg on his face after Zarab is exposed and defeated by Ultraman.
Kagami
Kagami
- "The motives of those in power never change."
A former associate of Shinji Kaminaga's, from Public Security. When Zarab meets with the Prime Minister, Kaminaga gets into contact with Kagami to learn more of the extraterrestrial's movements.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: His role only lasts as long as he is needed, disappearing from the story once Asami has the information needed to reach the captured Kaminaga.
The Government Official
The Government Official
Played by: Yutaka Takenouchi
Voiced by: Jim Foronda (English)
Voiced by: Jim Foronda (English)
A member of the Japanese government who facilitates the public Beta Box agreement between the Prime Minister and Mefilas.
- The Cameo: While he is not credited as such, this character is meant to be Hideki Akasaka, one of the major characters from Shin Godzilla.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: In light of the SSSP being apprehended for their part in seemingly messing with the Mefilas-Earth agreement, the Government Official wants to have them released in order for them to get back to work. Later, he backs off from having Ultraman/Kaminaga apprehended when the Extraterrestrial makes it clear that he won't let the government do the SSSP any harm without consequences.
- The Stoic: Despite encountering Mefilas and Ultraman in their human guises and witnessing their true Extraterrestrial forms, this official maintains his calm.
S-Class Species
In General
Massive creatures that have appeared in Japan, leaving destruction and chaos in their wake.
- Bio Weapon Beast: Mefilas says that these creatures are bioweapons stationed on Earth. He uses their awakening to lure a Light Lander to Earth.
- Bizarre Alien Biology: It is unknown if they are actually aliens, but their biology is nothing like any terrestial mammal, reptile or avian. Both beasts are similar body wise, but Gabora has drills on his back and has spikes on his neck that open like a flower to protect said head. The combined spikes and back growths can work like actual drills without any pain or bodily harm, allowing Gabora to burrow quite effectively. Neronga, while less extreme in his bodily powers, can absorb uranium and throw it back like a blast of electricity. It can also turn invisible.
- Dub Name Change: In Japanese, the Kaiju of Shin Ultraman are referred to with the homophonous term "Kaiju" (禍威獣 "Powerful Calamity Beast"); the "S-Class Species" name found in the English version appears to have been invented to enable the "S-Class Species Suppression Protocol" name for the SSSP.
- Extra Digits: Pagos, Neronga and Gabora have six fingers on each hand.
- Kaiju: It's in the name, although this writing of Kaiju stands for "Powerful Calamity Beast".
- Mythology Gag: The Kaiju that appear in the opening montage appear, and are vanquished, as they did in Ultra Q. For example:
- Gomess surfaces from a tunnel network, just as his Ultra Q counterpart did. However, his archnemesis Litra does not appear, and he is instead defeated by a hail of tank artillery.
- Peguila appeared in Tokyo and caused havoc, much like its second appearance in Ultra Q. It was also defeated after a scientist (implied to be Yumi Funaberi, confirmed in supplemental material) discovered its weakness, though unlike the original this one did not manage to flee and was defeated.
- Much like their original episode, Larugeus flies past Kumamoto Castle and into the sunset, being the only Kaiju of the film to survive by the fact that by the time people were mustering opposition, Larugeus was already long gone.
- Pagos, much like the original, turns to stone upon death.
S-Class Species # 1 through 6
Gomess, Mammoth Flower, Peguila, Larugeus, Kaigel, and Pagos
The creatures that first awakened and were defeated by the Japanese Self-Defense Force, later with the direction of the Katokutai.- Adaptation Name Change: Goga the Shellfish Monster is renamed to Keijel, the dissolution kaiju.
- An Ice Person: Peguila can freeze things with his breath, and general causing a massive blizzard in Tokyo.
- Ambiguously Evil:
- It is not fully unknown what Juran/Mammoth Flower did to warrant its destruction, aside of its cloud of pollen in the middle of Tokyo.
- It is also uncertain how much malice Larugeus has. Judging by the fact that it is only shown escaping, it is likely it wasn't more hostile than a lost bird in an encumbering place.
- Brutal Bird of Prey: Downplayed, but Larugeus looks the part. Also it is the only beast that escapes, and without any injuries.
- Botanical Abomination: The Mammoth Flower lives up to its name, as a gigantic flower of presumed deadliness. It was killed before it was said why it needed to die. It is presumed it can produce toxic pollen and steal the blood from living beings, like the original Ultra Q incarnation.
- Chased Off into the Sunset: The fate of Larugeus, minus the being-chased-off part. He's the only kaiju in the movie that actually escapes.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: Gomess is killed by the Japanese Self-Defence force's Type 10 tanks instead of being killed by its arch-nemesis, Litra. Likewise for Keijel/Goga.
- Eye Awaken: Gomess's introduction opens with this.
- Kaiju: Of course. They are very first giant monsters that besieged Japan. Assuming that Shin Godzilla is canon to this film, then, he technically came before them.
- Identical Stranger: It is unknown why Gomess looks incredibly similar to Shin Godzilla other than a homage to the fact that he was originally created from a reused Godzilla suit. Alongside the fact that modern counterparts keep that look. This is also why Pagos has a near-identical head and body to Gabora and Neronga. For the same reasons as Gomess and Godzilla. But there is a hint they might be connected by being of the same literal "mold" of artificial monsters.
- Mysterious Past: Nobody knows where they came from or why they appeared, resulting in them initially being called "Supernatural Unknown Lifeforms" or "Gigantic Unknown Lifeforms". It is implied, that there is a possibility Mefilas and/or his kind know their origin, as he says the kaiju are bioweapons awakened by the contamination of Earth. It is unknown if Mefilas's species engineered them. The creation of the other two kaiju Gabora and Neronga were intended by the filmmakers to look artificial, so there is a chance the Shin Ultra Q beings also are of similar origin.
- Muggles Do It Better: Before Ultraman arrived to Earth, the Japanese Self-Defense force and the Katokutai killed their own share of kaiju, with nothing more than modern weapons like tanks and clever outside-the-box tactics. Out of them all, only Larugeus is the one who made it out alive off Japan, simply because it escaped.
- Non-Malicious Monster: Uncertain, but Larugeus escaped by unknown means (perhaps by using its size-shifting capabilities that he used in Ultra Q), so it is likely that it simply was an oversized lost animal, possibly being a test subject for the technology Mefilas uses to turn Asami into a Giant Woman.
- Not Zilla: Gomess looks blatantly like a modified 3D model of Shin Godzilla. Mostly as a homage to the origins of the very first kaiju in Ultra Q being a reused Showa-era Godzilla suit.
- Kill It with Ice: Pagos dies, presumibly, by eating something in a container that makes it freeze and shatter like a damaged statue. The method is similar to how Shin Godzilla was defeated in his movie. The ending of the movie may imply this similarity was intentional.
- Predecessor Villain: All of them appeared before Ultraman's arrival alongside Neronga and Gabora. Their emergence prompted the formation of the Katokutai in order to protect Japan from further monster attacks. If it wasn't for them, there would be no way for Ultraman to have "joined" their ranks and aided them.
- Reused Character Design: Gomess, Pagos, Gabora and Neronga all share similarities to Toho kaiju designs. This was a deliberate effort by the filmakers to pay tribute to the origins of their suit design.
- Gomess is a modified Shin Godzilla model.
- Gabora, Pagos and Neronga were all originally crafted from the same Baragon design. This was replicated by using a similar 3D model with a variety of differences for each beast. Anno deliberately wanted to invoke this trope for saving money and to show the similarities between the beasts. Liking it to them being subspecies or sharing the same shape because they are weapons.
- Small Role, Big Impact: Pagos shares roughly the same amount of screentime as the other reimagined Ultra Q kaiju before its death, but the SSSP still reference their encounter with it while mobilising against the suspiciously similar Gabora. Funaberi also notes the similarities between it, Neronga and Gabora, hinting that the kaiju aren't what they seem. It's likely the Extraterrestrials used it as a test-bed for developing succeeding kaiju due to its successful run against humanity.
- Tiny-Headed Behemoth: Strangely enough, Larugeus has an oddly small head. Looking almost like he was overweight. If this was intentional, such a bodymass doesn't slow him in down in the least.
- This Is a Drill: Keigel, like its original counterpart, has drills on its shell. It uses them to burrow.
- Wind from Beneath My Wings: Larugeus' wings are powerful enough to shake the ground and create dust clouds.
Neronga
S-Class Species Number 7, Neronga
The seventh recorded Kaiju. Its rampage through Yamanashi Prefecture forces the JSDF and the SSSP to respond, as well as a massive silver giant.- Adaptational Wimp: Downplayed, but Neronga in the original show fought Ultraman bravely. Giving him the best he could in the battle. This one on the other hand, would rather run away than risk injury. This is not unlike animals in reality, that may vary between being willing to fight unknown enemies to running away out self-preservation instincts winning out. There is also the fact that Ultraman here simply uses his beam attack than simply wasting time fighting Neronga hand to hand.
- Head Swap: Much like the original Neronga suit from Ultraman being Pagos with a different head attached, here it's also simply Pagos with a different head. This foreshadows that the Kaijus are bioweapons with interchangeable parts.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: Neronga throws a tantrum once his source of nourishment is cut off.
- Invisibility: A reconstruction of this trope. Neronga's sheer size means its form always remains visible due to the large cloud of dust it kicks up wherever it goes, and unlike the Neronga that appeared in Ultraman Z this one cannot mask its body heat, making it detectable by thermal cameras. However, Funaberi theorizes that the invisibility isn't meant for stealth, but rather to No-Sell beam weaponry by allowing light to pass through its body, which it later demonstrates by turning invisible to briefly withstand the Specium Beam before succumbing to it. Kaminaga also posits that it makes itself visible as an intimidation tactic.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: After seeing how Ultraman can ignore his strongest electric attack, it just chooses to leave rather than fight a battle it cannot win. Not that it succeeds on the retreat.
- See the Invisible: Perpetually suffers this as the destruction and dust it leaves in its wake render its invisibility so apparently useless that the SSSP wonders what the point is. Justified as it wasn't intended to hide Neronga, just protect it from light and energy-based weapons.
- Shock and Awe: Consumes and uses electricity, for food and biological attacks, respectively.
- The Worf Effect: It's the first Kaiju that human weaponry cannot defeat and threatened to lay waste to the entirety of Japan. Naturally, when Ultraman appears, none of its abilities do any damage to the silver extraterrestrial and it quickly gets defeated by his Specium Beam.
Gabora
S-Class Species Number 8, Gabora
The eighth and final recorded Kaiju. Its hunt for radioactive material brings it near Kamikita City, and towards a storage facility.- Achilles' Heel: While the rest of its body is well-armoured and tough enough to survive a continuous MOP-2 bomb barrage with nary a scratch, its head is extremely vulnerable. Ultraman kills it with a single straight punch to its face after tanking its Breath Weapon.
- Multiple-Tailed Beast: It has two large, drill-like tails and a third, smaller tail normally hidden beneath the two larger tails.
- Nuclear Mutant: It feeds on radioactive waste and can fire a radioactive beam from its mouth. As Mefilas later informs Ultraman, its true purpose was to clean up nuclear waste by consuming it, though that didn't stop Gabora from leaving a trail of radiation in its wake.
- Skull for a Head: Much like Pagos, it has a head that resembles a multi-eyed skull.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: As a nod to its similar role in the original series, Funaberi notes that Gabora is very similar to Pagos, sharing the same diet, behaviour and radioactive Breath Weapon. Given the kaijus' true nature as bioweapons, it implies Pagos was a prototype for Gabora.
- This Is a Drill: The petals surrounding its head form a drill when closed, while two of its tails are flexible drills that constantly spin like Archimedean screws
to propel it underground.
Extraterrestrials
In General
Soon after the appearance of Ultraman on Earth, a few other extraterrestrials follow suit, but with more destructive motives and the deceptions to match.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: The aliens seem nice and downright cordial with human authorities. Offering them planetary alliances between their people and humanity, promising to share their advanced technology. They use this friendliness as a way to lower people's guard and manipulate events in their favor.
- Bizarre Alien Biology: Both extraterrestrial creatures have rather striking features that defy common biological characeristics:
- Alien Zarab's back is either transparent, invisible, or just isn't there. The insides of his body are nothing but a red, empty space. He also has his characteristic Lamprey Mouth even though still needing a translator to speak directly the same language as the SSSP.
- Alien Mefilas is inhumanly thin and has no visible mouth. He speaks through a glowing yellow organ where the mouth would be located. He also can divide his palms in half. Using it to grab Ultraman during their fight.
- Flight: Both aliens can fly like the Ultramen. In Zarab's case, it aids his False Flag Operation in discrediting Ultraman. It is confirmed this is done by some sort of gravity manipulation.Politician: How does he fly?
Zarab: By utilizing the energy of Spacium-133. He warps gravity and manipulates it. - Hypocrite: Unknown if this is intentional, but the extraterrestials seem to share the same "peaceful" mindset. Telling the Japanese politicians that they aren't a threat and simply want to begin friendly relationships with Earth. Despite the fact that what they do is anything but peaceful.Zarab: A being with this degree of of destructive power is trying to annihilate you. As someone who simply wants peace, i cannot tolerate this extraterrestrial.Mefilas: Unlike the native species of this planet, we are civilized.[In a meeting with politicians] We seek to create the same thing, to create a world brimming with peace and joy that permeates the multiverse. I abhor violence. But when it comes to violent beings like Zarab, sometimes power is neccessary for defense.
- Manipulative Bastard: Zarab and Mefilas both employ plans that involve fooling the masses, with the former taking the opportunity to discredit Ultraman and the latter offering technology without warning its users of its side effects. Zoffy foregoes this in favor of just telling Lipiah that all humanity is going to die.
- Reality Warper: All aliens shown in the film posssess technology that is impossible for humans to replicate on their own. Able to alter physics to create anti-gravitational flight. Storing energy, objects and living beings in other dimensions, being able to grow to gigantic sizes without the square cube law interfiering and hologram generation. Incredibly fast and advanced hacking. To the point internet news can be casually deleted off the Earth in seconds. It seems almost magical, as all of these feats are archived without effort.It is all done with little to no external devices. As if it was a inherent power the aliens possess.
- Shapeshifting: The aliens use variations of this to fulfill their manipulative ploys:
- Zarab tries to fool the populace by changing his form to Ultraman's to confirm the government's fears of the later being a threat to japan.
- Mefilas can disguise himself in human form, in what seems to be some sort of solid holographic technology.
- The Stoic: All three invaders (including Ultraman himself) are collected individuals who barely show hints of emotionality. Zoffy in general is practically more robotic than the somewhat more human Lipiah. Possibly because he lacks his empathy towards lesser species.
- Vichy Earth: The extraterrestrials seem to wish to ally with humanity. In reality, these alliances are nothing more than a ploy to take over Earth, with little to no benefits for mankind.
Zarab
Extraterrestrial Number 2, Zarab
- "You can call me Zarab. And just like Ultraman, I am a visitor from another planet. Consider me Extraterrestrial Number 2."
Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda (Japanese), Kellen Goff (English)
An alien that appears after the Pagos rampage. He is responsible for orchestrating a plan to turn the countries of Earth against each other and discredit Ultraman, by using an impostor-Ultraman form.
- Adaptational Badass: This Zarab can disguise himself as Ultraman quite better than all previous versions. Sadly, this didn't help enough to defeat his foe.
- Adaptational Superpower Change: He doesn't have the Mind Control abilities the original Zarab had, but has Invisibility instead. That said, he proves persuasive even without the former, and his Technopath abilities means he doesn't even need to possess someone else to listen in on a meeting like the original did to Ide.
- Art Evolution: This Zarab resembles the original show's design and Tohl Narita's concept art of him. The openings on his left and right sides of his head (which loosely resemble ears) do not have red in them. Nor he has blue coloration on his "cheek" holes. His eyes are surrounded by line like depressions on his respective facial openings. These depressions glow blue. His scales, instead of being brown, seem more azure toned. His mouth is more seamlessly integrated into his face, looking either invisible till opened or a faint outline. Also, there is the obvious fact, that to resemble Narita's sketch, he seems to not have a visible back (but apparently it was modelled according to the Shin Ultraman Design Works Art Picture Book). This exposes a blank crimson inside, with no organs, bones or muscle.
- Badass in Distress: Pulls this by kidnapping Ultraman's human host.
- Bizarre Alien Biology: Zarab's back is either invisible or simply not there, exposing an empty red inside. During his showdown against Ultraman, falling debris from a building appears to collide against his back in a way that suggests the former.
- Conspicuous Trenchcoat: He dresses in one alongside a hat to hide among the populace and meet the Japanese officials.
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: Zarab is a very professional being and seems to mostly act under business like mindset. He only shows the front of his body, the back, organs, muscles and bones, all made invisible. Making him look like a hollow being. As he can deliberately make himself invisible, this shows he may do this as a way to talk to others. Seeing no point at seeing his back. He sees mankind as a whole remarkable animals, but dangerous ones. The fact that he says "Once a marker is discovered on a planet, intelligent lifeforms must be destroyed." This seems to imply, what he does is simply duty. Unlike the traditional misanthropic natures of genocidal aliens in fiction, Zarab doesn't seem to have any personal investment in his assignment. He even seems to dislike needing to use Ultraman for his goals, acknowledging they are just doing their job. Zarab sees someone knowing his true motives as a danger.Zarab: Curiosity killed the cat. It's in your nature as an intel officer , but this time, you'd gone too far.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: In the original episode, Zarab was sent crashing to the ground by Ultraman, who then fires the Spacium Ray at him. In this film, Ultraman sends him hurtling skyward with the Spacium Ray, then launches an Ultra Slash at him, bisecting the extraterrestrial height-wise.
- Dissonant Serenity: Zarab in all situations, shows little emotion. This becomes unnerving once he reveals to Ultraman what his actual plans are.
- False Flag Operation: He, like previous incarnations in TV shows, wants to frame Ultraman. He does this by taking his form and sowing destruction upon the world.
- Faux Affably Evil: This alien Zarab seems nice and forthcoming with humanity, readily asking for a peace treaty with the Japanese government. In reality, his species wants to use said treaty in a conspiracy to make nations fight each other and exterminate Homo sapiens. The fact that he wants to incriminate Ultraman for his crimes should be proof enough of how vile he actually is. As if to emphasise his duplicity, he adjusts his height to appear to be waist-high when meeting government officials, but grows to roughly Kaminaga's height when interrogating the kidnapped Ultraman.
- Foil: Zarab contrasts very well with the other aliens in the movie:
- Unlike Mefilas Zarab wants to wipe mankind out from the getgo. He doesn't have any delusions what he's doing is nothing other than negative. Even if he says "it is worth doing." While both use manipulation, not just for mankind, but for the Land Lighter protecting them, Zarab wants mankind to kill each other. Basically doing the bare minimum. Mefilas on the other hand, wishes to make mankind compliant and useful for his species to use. One wants to preserve for their own purposes Even seeing it as a good thing. The other thinks it is a good thing to destroy humanity.
- Zoffy and Zarab share the same goals, but it is ambiguous if they share the same motivation to the fullest. They both theorize humanity as dangerous and needing destruction. But while Zoffy believes that for altruistic means, Zarab seems to see it as simply a job. "That is what i do.". Alongside the fact, that while both don't dirty their hands directly, Zarab wants to frame Ultraman by himself. Being very willing to fight him off. Zoffy never enters direct combat with his subordinate. Alongside the fact, that he developts a fondess for humanity at the end of the movie. Zarab just plain dies.
- Half the Man He Used to Be: Zarab is killed by Ultraman's Ultra Slash, cutting him in half.
- Hologram Projection Imperfection: Not an actual holographic example (until
Word of God confirms otherwise), but Zarab's Ultraman disguise flickers like a force field when hit directly. The fact that he clutches his head when he crashes against a building in pain and shifting between his real self and who he intended to frame up, suggests it was indeed a biological function of his body, almost like a non-lethal Shapeshifter Swan Song. - Logical Weakness: Zarab possesses the ability to tamper with electronic media. However, he can't use it on analog media like film negatives, which allows Kaminaga's associate and team to track him down.
- Nothing Personal: To him, the annihilation of humanity may just be a ''job'' he does with dispassionate effectiveness. He doesn't even seem to loathe Ultraman, as he deems it unfortunate, but to him, it has to be done.
- Omnicidal Maniac: Zarab exposits to Ultraman, matter of factly, that he'll make mankind wipe each other out. While he seems to respect the archivements of the human species, he deems them too dangerous to leave alive. It may even be possible that he shared the very same motivation as Ultraman's Superior.Ultraman: Why wipe out humans?
Zarab: Once a marker is discovered on a planet, intelligent lifeforms must be destroyed. That is what i do. Homo Sapiens have destroyed species they have considered harmful. From my perspective, it is no different. And while Homo Sapiens possess sophsiticated intellect and technology, They are a disorganized species that breeds unncesesarily. They are worth wiping out. - Power Palms: He can create some sort of energy attack from both hands, shown as a blue continuous blast of energy beams that bend to strike the target. It is powerful enough to even stop the Spacium Beam out cold.
- Shapeshifter: Zarab can take Ultraman's shape almost perfectly.
- Sizeshifter: In addition to being able to grow to giant size, he can adjust his height when human-sized to appear shorter or taller depending on who he interacts with; while he appears at about waist-height when he interacts with the Japanese government, he grows to roughly Kaminaga's height when kidnapping and interrogating him.
- Soft-Spoken Sadist: While he doesn't seem sadistic, the fact that he sounds remarkably human on his true form, is rather unsettling. He doesn't seem to raise his voice and sounds like a calm regular man, with no filters or echo of any kind. Perhaps done with the translation device as a way to not intimidate humanity.
- Stone Wall: He can tank the Spacium Beam for a while and take a decent amount of punishment from physical combat, but his actual offensive ability is limited in effectiveness against Ultraman. As such, he's reduced to running away and trying to slow down the pursuing Ultraman after his disguise is gone.
- Technopath: This version of Zarab can control electronic data alongside being able to produce power outages.
Mefilas
Extraterrestrial Number 0, Mefilas
- "'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' One of my favorite sayings."
Played by: Koji Yamamoto
Voiced by: Jordan Woollen (English)
Voiced by: Jordan Woollen (English)
Another alien who appears under the pretense of establishing first contact between humans and his planet.
- Adaptational Comic Relief: Downplayed, but this take on Alien Mefilas seems more easy going, able to make gentle ribbing. His habit of collecting and repeating human phrases at appropriate times is also a source of light humor, as he states most of these are his "favorite" sayings. We also learn, near the end of his appparence, his two least favorite. Compared to most, where is played as a serious and openly malicious creature, this Mefilas is far more able to joke around with others.
- Adaptational Intelligence: Mefilas' plan, unlike others, is not as convoluted and nonsensical as in the original show. Instead, he manipulates the Japanese government with the alluring prospect of fighting back against the kaiju on their own terms (giant sizes). When he transforms someone into a giant, the context is changed, into it being simply a demonstration of the Beta Box's capabilities. He even tries to come to Ultraman for an alliance instead of antagonizing him like Zarab has.
- Adaptation Personality Change: This Mefilas is much more subtle and superficially cordial than other versions. He doesn't reveal his true plans to the public and isn't hostile to humanity from the get-go. Look at at Adaptational Intelligence for a more complete picture. He honestly feels more manipulative and intelligent than the previous incarnations that were meant to fulfill this role. Outside of the "professional" side of his personality, he seems more willing to have fun. Being able to have a talk with Ultraman without hostility and he openly enjoys human culture. His love of Earth seems to be genuine, seeing inherent beauty on its ecosystem. In in all, he seems less like a Toku villain and more of a businessman, whose job just happens to endanger humanity.
- Ambadassador: Introduces himself as a "Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary". He's also a pretty good planner, manipulator and fighter.
- Ambiguous Situation: It is unknown if Mefilas is his actual name, as he shows his card with it. Or if it is his planet's name, just like the TV show.
- An Offer You Can't Refuse: Publicizes mankind's unique genetic compatibility with devices such as the Beta Box to the rest of the universe, intending to coercing humanity to accept his offer to have the means to defend themselves from potential extraterrestrial exploitation. Even if that means they would still be enslaved to an extent.
- Art Evolution: Apart from Gabora's radical skull redesign and Zetton's. Alien Mefilas gets the greatest radical physical reworking in the film. His body is far slimmer than any of his previous suit designs (perhaps the most skinny creature in the movie). His traditional blue insect like eyes are fused into a waxing crescent moon or half ring like shape. His metallic looking beard resembles a mink collar like design. Looking more flourished. His legs are no longer have two patterns to embellish them. Between cuboid designs in the shins and a lumpy pattern of small spheres in the thighs. The legs are now composed of the cube design. The chest is now more defined and his mouth organ is smaller and looking like a soft Y. His palms in both hands and feet are metallic with red portions on the soles. With a line indentation. His small bump on his back is emphasized, looking like two triangular wedges. There is a crimson line dividing his palms and feet to imply they can actually separate. As shown in the fight.
- "Ass" in Ambassador: Mefilas may be a very polite person and courteous, but his goals are less noble than they seem.
- Badass Bookworm: Despite seemingly being more of a charming human-like alien, Mefilas actually is perhaps the one enemy Ultraman struggles the most in melee combat. Outside of the last opponent he fights. His intellect in fooling the Japanese government shows that he has a silver tongue and it is possible he's involved in the technological knowhow of his Beta Box.
- Badass Pacifist: Alien Mefilas is more of a planner. Wishing to allow humanity to be fooled into serving his purposes. The moment Ultraman and co sabotage the presentation, he is shown as the most skilled fighter in the movie. Almost handling the fight at the start, overwhelming Ultraman.
- Big Bad: Downplayed, but Mefilas and his kind are indirectly at fault for Zoffy's usage of Zetton alongside the presence of the Calamity Beasts. They planned to force humanity into a position of desperation, so they could use them as tools. They took advantage of mankind's ecological role in awakening the Calamity Beasts. They did this to test humanity's worth as a bioweapon. If it wasn't for him, other aliens wouldn't have realized the potential of mankind as tools of destruction.
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: He shows a genuine love of Earth but shows no issue whatsoever with enslaving humanity to turn them into bioweapons for his race, and even that part is devoid of the usual malice and intentional cruelty that comes with these scenarios as Mefilas shows himself unable to see why Ultraman is defensive about humans and why he feels the need to protect them. This is really notable, when he exposits his goals to Ultraman. Saying humanity is beautiful only for being a bountiful resource to extract. Alongside telling Ultraman, that he instilled a sense of hopelessness in humanity, both intellectually, technologically and physically in his plots, as a positive thing for mankind. Saying that, thanks to Ultraman's involvement, he introduce humanity into his "idealistic" notion of dependance on his species. Being genuinely grateful to his unwitting pawn because of this.Mefilas: I wanted my plan to be as cost-effective as possible. So, I've used what i could obtain in this planet, including Zarab. By having them fight you...I made humans feel physically powerless. Revealing the Beta System made them intellectually powerless. I wanted them to learn first hand their dependence on the mighty. You have been instrumental in instilling humanity, my idealistic notion of unconditional obedience to extraterrestrial life. I am very grateful to you.
- Breakout Villain: The film's reinterpretation of Mefilas ended up popular enough to where Koji Yamamoto would end up reprising the character for commercials.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: He may look goofy and somewhat overly formal, but in reality he's one of the smartest characters in the movie. His plans almost come to a success. Even if not, he's the second foe in the film who gave Ultraman the fight of his life.
- Catchphrase: "[ insert phrase/saying here ] is my favorite phrase." At the start of the final battle, he states "The ends justify the means, my least favorite phrase."
- Cyclops: His true form has only one, unblinking blue eye. It even looks like it is frozen in a angry glare.
- Cloudcuckoolander: Downplayed, but he seems somewhat goofy in some scenes. As his catchphrase is to collect human sayings for appropriate usage, saying they are his "favorite". He enjoys himself on a playground's swing while explaining his Evil Plan to Ultraman, and ends his tension-laden meeting with Ultraman by asking to split the bill at the restaurant. He honestly comes across as he's having fun on Earth.
- Con Man: Seems to be his job in a nutshell. No matter how many pleasantries he tries (genuine or not), all he wants is to further himself and his species. He was about to con humanity by offering them a way to fight kaiju. What he didn't tell them, is that it would transform them into monsters themselves. Presumably under his control as well.
- Condescending Compassion: Mefilas treats mankind in his public business persona with a polite, gentle nature. Able to walk around them and interact with their creations in a respectful, non-threatening manner. But in reality, he sees them as a biological resource that can be transformed into a weapon. But even this is seen as a positive for Earth's dominant species, in his warped opinion. Calling mankind as a "abundant and precious biological resource". Even stating he wishes to rule Earth with humanity as his slaves, before they are are attacked by other living beings of either kaiju or extraterrestrial origins. He even says that his faulty Beta Box is something he wants humans to possess, as a way to protect themselves from the aforementioned threats. He seems to be utterly honest with Ultraman about his plans and goals, so one can believe he believes what he says.
- Cultured Badass: He's an evil but polite extraterrestrial who's well-versed in human culture and likes to quote proverbs. He's also an incredibly strong fighter on par with Ultraman, and might even have won their match if he didn't retreat upon seeing Zoffy's presence and realising Earth is doomed.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: This alien, compared to Zarab, is able to match if not outright overwhelm Ultraman. To the point that he practically makes him waste his Spacium energy on a beam struggle. If it wasn't for his escape, he could have potentially won.
- Dark Messiah: To fit his status as an Evil Counterpart to Ultraman, he has shades of this trope. He describes his Beta Box technology as a gospel to Earth, while he chose to appear as a human to the SSSP as if a mockery of the hypostatic union of Christ. Even his Stealth Hi/Bye when introducing himself in a locked room has parallels with Christ making similar sudden appearances to the apostles post-resurrection.
- Deadpan Snarker: Not often, but sometimes he makes some zingers here and there.[After Ultraman teleports from the Planck Brane to snatch Mefilas's Beta Box]
Mefilas: You searched directly inside the Planck Brane using a woman's scent? For the noble Ultraman to engage in such licentious behavior... "The ends justify the means." One of my least favorite sayings. - Deal with the Devil: He's actually truer to this trope than in his previous appearances (including in the original series), because he offers something humanity actually desperately needs: A way to combat the escalating threat of the kaiju with superior technology. While withdrawing the fact that there will be negative consequences for this. (The possibility of wars in the name of obtaining Beta Box/Capsule technology by other nations alongside the fact that it will make humanity turn into monsters against their will.)
- Didn't Think This Through: After seeing all the damage he caused to Asami's reputation when he turned her giant as part of his test of the Beta Box, Mefilas wipes the footage of the gigantified Asami off the face of the Earth while apologizing because he didn't expect humans to share that kind of info so quickly.
- On a more dramatic note, Mefilas' plan to lure a Light-lander to Earth for his purposes works a little too well. When a second Light-lander, Zoffy, shows up in Mefilas' sight during the penultimate battle, Mefilas realizes his plan has come to naught and ends the battle in order to cut his losses.
- Don't Make Me Destroy You: What the meeting with Ultraman amounts to. Either he allies himself with Mefilas, or stays out of his way. Ultraman obeys neither.
- Even Evil Has Standards: He may have malicious intentions behind his arrival on Earth, but Mefilas absolutely detests perverts. He erases all the candid photos people took of Asami as a Giant Woman circulating on the internet and apologises to her, and when Ultraman tracks down the Beta Box by Asami's scent, he calls him out on resorting to such licentious means to achieve his goal.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: He doesn't seem to grasp why Ultraman is concerned with humanity. Refusing to join him into enslaving them and exploiting them. To him, they simply are a tool to use and abuse.
- Evil Is Petty: Mefilas loses his cool a bit when forced to transform, kicking and holding Ultraman by the throat. It almost seems like a spiteful tantrum. Mocking Ultraman beforehand, by implying he is a pervert is not exactly very mature either.
- Faux Affably Evil: This Mefilas seems like a cordial homo sapiens looking extraterrestial who finds beauty on Earth's ecosystem and its inhabitants. In reality, even if he seems sincere about his love of Earth and liking human culture, he truly doesn't care about the actual sentient inhabitants of the planet. He knows Ultraman does care, but he dismisses and mocks him over it. To him, humanity is nothing but a "biological resource" to be used. His pleasantries may be nothing more than a professional courtesy and to fool people. He may even blame them for their Kaiju problem in the first place, saying that what they have done is similar to a natural disaster.
- Humans Are Insects: Mefilas seems to regard humanity as nothing more than cattle to be harvested and used for inhuman purposes.
- Human Resources: The main purpose to visit Earth as an ambassador is not to share human technology and unity, but to enslave them. Not only that, to use them as bioweapons, in what Mefilas calls "biological resource".
- Klingons Love Shakespeare: Mefilas seems to love Earth as a whole. He enjoys himself in children playgrounds, eating and drinking in pubs, and quotes a lot of human proverbs. He may not mean it when he says he "likes" humanity, but he sure seems to love what they'd made.
- Lack of Empathy: Despite seeming like a nice man, Mefilas reveals to Ultraman that he sees humanity the same way workers in a paper factory see wood: a natural resource ripe to be extracted and exploited. Even if he says he likes humanity and Earth, he truly doesn't see humans as worth worrying about. Ultraman believes that ruling humanity with manipulation, despair and lies is not good for their development as a species. Mefilas mocks him for his concern for mankind.
- Lean and Mean: He's rail-thin even compared to the already lean Ultraman, and he has malicious intentions behind his seemingly benevolent goals. His lack of muscular definition doesn't stop him from effortlessly kicking Ultraman around either. According to the Shin Ultraman Design Works Art Picture Book, his physique was designed with martial artists in mind.
- Manipulative Bastard: Mefilas arrives the moment Zarab, his fellow alien invader, is done with. He opportunistically puts his plans into motion at a time of great need. Offering humanity a solution to the troubles they have with kaiju, while trying to convince Ultraman to work for him. He's so good at it, the government actually signs him up for a demonstration. He even hides the fact that Humanity will turn into monsters after exposure to the Beta Box. It is even implied that his kind may have planned the awakening of the giant monsters, to both lure Ultraman to both join him and prove his theory about using humanity as bioweapons. Alongside corralling humanity into unconditional service to the aliens.
- Multi-Armed and Dangerous: A downplayed example, but he can split his hands open lengthwise to form two hands on each arm.
- My Card: he introduces himself to the Japanese government by offering them his card.
- Nothing Personal: He doesn't seem to have any real grudge against mankind. For him, this invasion is nothing but a job to be done. Mefilas even admits he likes humanity, but there is the chance he likes Earth more than its actual inhabitants. It is even implied he'd rather have humans under his control than be left without a leash, to fall prey to other hostile alien intellects (and kaiju).
- No-Sell: Mefilas can slap away Ultraman's Ultra Slashes as if they were made of paper. The same attack was able to kill Alien Zarab, which is a testament to how durable Mefilas's skin is.
- No Mouth: Much like the original, he doesn't have a visible mouth at all, somehow speaking through a yellow, glowing, Y-shaped organ where the mouth would be. Despite this, his human form, which is ostensibly a result of his use of hard-hologram technology, allows him to enjoy food, as seen at an izakaya restaurant.
- Rage Breaking Point: Ultraman ruining his public demonstration and taking his Beta Box was apparently the last straw. He even told him beforehand to not interfere if he refuses to help. Mefilas kicks the alien hero in contempt twice, before trying to strangle him.
- Satanic Archetype: Just like his main counterpart, his main objective is offering people tempting propositions that sound too good to be true. While he reaps the benefits. Just like the aforementioned Deal with the Devil, he's using grounded and logical version of his original plan. He tempts both Ultraman and humanity. Ultraman rejects him out of moral reasons, while the ignorant Japanese government goes with it.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: The moment he sees Zoffy arrive on Earth, he calls it quits knowing that it's no longer worth the risk to try and execute his plans since Zoffy is too powerful and is about to destroy Earth as a whole, all the while regretting that Earth will be wiped out, he leaves the planet and takes with him the Beta Box before "things start getting ugly."
- Spikes of Villainy: Mefilas himself doesn't have them on his true form, but his Beta Box Igniter has about five to six spikes in its design.
- Sugary Malice: Mefilas never openly acts like a jerk. He might not even see himself as evil, but it is rather clear he wants to play humanity around for his own purposes. Like Zarab, he basically wants to fool humanity into giving him a position of power, while the humans believe they are being benefited from it.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: He introduces himself to the SSSP by suddenly appearing in a locked room they're in, which further emphasises his mysterious power as an extraterrestrial.
- The World Is Just Awesome: A very dark version if not a downright Deconstruction of the concept: Mefilas states that he loves the Earth. He sees it as a beautiful planet...that he needs to take for himself. Perhaps to protect it. And he's willing to use deceit to take it over.Mefilas: More than anything else, I want this beautiful planet for myself.
- Talking Lightbulb: Alien Mefilas, true to his original incarnations, speaks this way.
- Tranquil Fury: Mefilas betrays a hint of anger on his body language when he fights Ultraman. Kicking him with naked spite like a football and necklifting him. It is almost surprising how much he exudes fury without saying a single word. The shape of the eye probably helps.
- The Unsmile: While he acts in a polite and friendly fashion, it's clear that his smile never really reaches his eyes when in human form, which shows how little sincerity is behind his words.
- Walking Spoiler: Mefilas is this because his involvement of the plot actually gives context to the attacks of the Calamity Beasts and gives another alien character a reason to be hostile to humanity.
- We Can Rule Together: Mefilas approaches Ultraman the opposite way to Zarab. While Zarab tries to defame his foe, Mefilas actually approaches him with a restaurant dinner to talk about ideologies. Offering an alliance, if he rejects it, to simply stay out of his way and stay silent.
- Worthy Opponent: He talks with Ultraman about his plans in a cordial manner, offering for a partnership. This is very telling, because he referred to humans he also politely interacted with as a biological resource to be harvested. He also helps him after defeat, apparently with no hard feelings attached to it. Despite the fact that he seemed very angry at being opposed, he was able to move past it.
Spoiler Extraterrestrial Characters
The Emissary
Emissary of the Planet of Light, Zoffy
"Ultraman… Have you become so fond of humans?"
Voiced by: Kōichi Yamadera (Japanese), Theo Devaney (English)
Ultraman's superior and a representative of the Planet of Light, who's come to Earth for very bad reasons.
- Adaptational Name Change: The film uses the spelling of Zōfi (ゾーフィ) instead of the original Zofī (ゾフィー), as a nod to the mistaken magazine articles naming him as the final villain in the original series' finale.
- Adaptational Villainy: Unlike his mainline counterpart, this Zoffy is far less caring about humanity and is ruthless in executing what he believes necessary to preserve peace, in this case destroying humanity. He even threatens to have Ultraman prosecuted for merging with a human as it violates laws of the Land of Light. He gets better after Ultraman sacrifices himself to take out Zetton.
- Always a Bigger Fish: Mefilas seems like he'd be the biggest threat around with how easily he fights Ultraman, but he doesn't even bother to stay on Earth once Zoffy arrives and books it, showcasing that Zoffy is a larger threat in every aspect than him.
- Anti-Villain: Despite his willingness to eradicate humanity, he tries to convince Ultraman to step aside, and tries to save him after the latter destroys Zetton. When Ultraman convinces Zōffy to grant Shinji his life force, Zōffy does so, sounding sad as he says:"Ultraman… Have you truly grown so fond of humans? … Very well. I will grant your wish."
- Big Bad Ensemble: With Mefilas and Zarab, though he's the bigger threat of the three.
- Composite Character: He is the film's version of Zoffy, but he takes Alien Zettonian's place as Zetton's master, and also has the extremism, detached view of humans and extremist erradication plan of the Delacion.
- Cruel Mercy: Positions Zetton directly above Earth so that when it fires, mankind will be painlessly wiped out almost instantaneously.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: While not strictly evil, he's baffled at Ultraman's sacrifices for humankind. At least he granted him his wish to revive Kaminaga.
- Expy: His motivations, actions and use of a planet-busting weapon to try and destroy humanity before they can become a threat to the Universe makes him similar to the Delacion; to boot both come to better understand the views of the heroic Ultra(s) of the film after their sacrifices to take out their superweapons.
- Moral Pragmatist: He only wishes to kill humanity to preserve multiversal peace and to prevent it from being cruelly exploited by unscrupulous aliens. Ultraman shows him that it's feasible for the species to protect itself with some assistance from the Planet of Light, prompting Zoffy to change his tune.
- Mythology Gag:
- His colors are based on a painting of an alternate Ultraman mode by Tohl Narita named "Ultraman Divine Change", which would have been Ultraman Great's design.
- His name change and role as Zetton's master are based on magazines published at the time of the original series' finale, which erroneously listed him as Zetton's master and misspelled his name.
- The Needs of the Many: Zoffy puts it succinctly:Zoffy: Each of billions of humans can be used as a bioweapon. Now every intelligent lifeform in the multiverse knows that. The best decision is to prune them all now, while we have the chance. [...] The Planet of Light has documented 13 billion intelligent lifeforms. The loss of one will have no impact in the universe.
Ultraman: For the inhabitants of this planet... One is all there is. - The Unfought: The only opponent that Ultraman faces but never fights himself. If anything, they only exchange words instead.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: He has seen that Mefilas wanted to weaponize humanity, so to him, it is but a logical choice to destroy them all. For the sake of protecting more innocent lives outside of Earth.
Final Weapon for Celestial Suppression
Final Weapon for Celestial Suppression, Zetton
"…Zetton…Zetton…"
Zoffy and the Land of Light's ultimate weapon, a satellite capable of destroying entire planetary systems in one blast. When Zoffy believes Earth and humanity must be destroyed, he sends out this superweapon, forcing Ultraman to fight it.
- Adaptational Nonsapience: Unlike the original Zetton who acted on its own even after its master, Alien Zetton, died; this Zetton is not sentient and only works if its controller commands it. It can at least say its name, however.
- Adaptational Badass: Its destructive capacities are far bigger, as its main attack is a planet-busting death ray and is said to be even more powerful than that at its full might. It's also much bigger, enough to dwarf Ultraman.
- Composite Character: Is the film's version of Zetton, but its role as a non-sapient war machine that destroys planets for a higher entity with a detached view on lifeforms brings to mind Giga Endra.
- Final Boss: The last opponent Ultraman faces in battle in the film. While Zoffy is its master, Ultraman never confronts him.
- Horrifying the Horror: Judging by Mefilas's reaction and the fact that Ultraman knows of it, Zetton has a reputation of dread that even the universe's worst aliens are wary of.
- Mechanical Abomination: Zetton looks nothing like his original incarnation, which was some sort of giant, beetle like monster, with ambiguous robot like characteristics. In here, it looks like a vaguely humanoid machine made of geometric shapes. Its monstrous size, which makes even kaiju and Ultramen look like action figures, is proof in itself that this is truly something more alien than its original counterpart.
- Sinister Silhouettes: A more realistic version of this trope, but it orbits Earth menacingly throughout the film's Darkest Hour, floating in the sky with its crucified silhouette plainly visible as a grim reminder to the characters that Earth is counting down towards its doom.
- Starfish Robots: Fittingly, its out there, almost modern art like figure, makes this incarnation of Zetton look truly like a machine designed by extraterrestials. It has a X like head-shape, showing its iconic antennas in a similar position to what the original design had. Its glowing central organ, is now a semi transparent spike that sits between Zetton's X like head shape. Its limbs are cones and it no longer has hands or feet. its immense size also shows the sheer surreal factors of its design. Perhaps a necessity, as it is made to destroy worlds, which would perhaps require such a immense size. Even big enough to dwarf most kaiju in not only this movie, but others as well.
