All spoilers for Ultraman Z, Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga, and it's crossover episode are unmarked. You Have Been Warned!
Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga: The Movie: Episode Z also known as Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z is the theatrical film of Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga serving as a continuation of the series, featuring Ultraman Z and his human host, Haruki Natsukawa as guest characters.
The film takes place two years after the final battle of Trigger, with the world having been at peace ever since, but now the members of GUTS Select, Ultraman Trigger, Trigger Dark and Z all have to deal with a brand-new threat: Evil Trigger, an Alternate Self of the nefarious Evil Tiga who appears on Trigger's Earth mysteriously to cause mayhem and destruction. All the while GUTS Select gets a new captain replacing Tatsumi while something bad happens to Z.
The film was released in Japanese cinemas and on the Tsuburaya Imagination streaming service on March 18th, 2022.
The film's trailer can be seen here
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The film includes examples of the following tropes
- Batman Gambit: Freeing Kengo from the Eternity Core was one by Zabil, so he could steal his power and become an Ultraman.
- Big Bad Ensemble: The Rylo cult is initially assumed to be the threat, then Haruki appears to announce that Celebro has escaped. And then Captain Tokioka/Zabil is revealed to be the leader of the cult.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Captain Tokioka is a seemingly mellow person. Zabil is ranting, insane and bitter at Trigger for robbing him of what he saw as his destiny.
- Breaking Old Trends: Unlike the New Generation movies before it, Episode Z does not introduce any kind of new Transformation Trinket or new forms for the titular Ultraman to use.
- Brought Down to Badass: After both the GUTS Falcon and Nursedessei are trashed by Evil Trigger, the members of GUTS-Select continue to fight with handheld weapons.
- Colon Cancer: There's four colons in the full official title.
- Crossover: With Ultraman Z featuring not just the titular Ultra, but also a good amount of Kaiju that appeared in his series. And then Celebro turns out to be part of the Big Bad Ensemble and even transforms into Destrudos.
- Demonic Possession: Haruki suffers this, courtesy of Celebro.
- Fetch Quest: When Kengo returns, his Hyper Keys are scattered and need to be gathered.
- Finale Movie: To Ultraman Trigger in general, being the series' main cast's last hurrah before the release of Ultraman Decker, a series set in the same universe but several years later and with a new cast.
- Happy Ending Override: This film is a downplayed example for the ending of Ultraman Z, since Celebro escaped from being dissected by Yuka and managed to cause more havoc in an alternate dimension, though it's ultimately subverted since Himari managed to recapture him before he can start a new Civilisation Self-Destruction Game.
- History Repeats: Once again after the destruction of Destrudos, Celebro is captured by a female member of the defense team with a net.
- One-Winged Angel: After being driven out of Z, Celebro transforms into Destrudos using his Medal.
- Plot Hole: Haruki's Z-Riser was still damaged during his last appearance in the Trigger TV show, with him leaving it in Akito's hands for repairs while he returns to his own world with his custom GUTS Sparklence in the meantime. Despite this, Haruki already has his Z-Riser with him when he first appears in the movie, with no indication as to when he got it.
- Remember the New Guy?: Captain Tokioka is introduced as the replacement for Tatsumi, who was Shizuma’s right-hand and Akito’s mentor. He turns out to be this two times over, as he is really Zabil, a love interest of Yuzare who intended to become a Giant of Light to oppose the 4 Dark Giants.
- Something We Forgot: Subverted, after Evil Trigger is defeated, the cast realizes that Himari is missing, who then shows that she was busy capturing Celebro.
- The Stinger: After the credits, we get a first look of the next Ultraman: Ultraman Decker.
- Trailers Always Spoil: Not for the film itself, but the trailer reveals that all of the main cast survive the events of Trigger and that Ignis can transform into Trigger Dark.
