For the past 60 years, Ultraman has inspired millions with themes of hope and righteous spirit, carried forward through his many successors, including Ultraseven, Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Ginga, Ultraman Zero, Ultraman Taro, and most recently Ultraman Omega, among many others.
One of the biggest strengths of the Ultraman franchise is that each series can be enjoyed as a standalone, which means that new viewers can understand the lore through any version they choose. Even for those discovering Ultraman for the first time, the character has long been a pop-culture touchstone, getting references in series such as Ben 10, DAN DA DAN, and Godzilla. In this article, I will be sharing the experience at the Ultraman event held at the American Dream Mall in New Jersey, covering merchandise, photo opportunities, the live show, and more.
Portions of this coverage have been lightly edited for clarity, as some photos were taken by our reporter with the rest belonging to Bandai Namco and Tsuburaya Productions
The Entrance into Another World Experience
Upon entering the mall, attendees were greeted by a tall Ultraman inflatable, complete with a cape, standing high above the crowd and immediately drawing attention. We were then welcomed by the event’s fantastic MC, Christopher Sean, who portrayed Ken Sato and Ultraman in Ultraman: Rising. In addition, several iconic characters from the franchise were present for photo opportunities, including Ultraman, Ultraman Zero, Ultraman Omega, Alien Baltan, Alien Metron, Dada, Eleking, Gomora, and Red King.
Bandai Namco set up an impressive pop-in space with plenty of room to showcase a wide range of Ultraman merchandise. The display featured billboards highlighting the hero’s journey since the 1960s, exclusive trading cards, and standees of iconic battle scenes, among many other attractions. In addition, the statue of Christopher Sean’s Ultraman from Ultraman: Rising was also on display at the Bandai Namco Official Store inside the mall.
The Live Show Experience
One of the advantages of hosting the event at the American Dream Mall was the wide, open space that allowed attendees on all three levels to view the main showcase. Thousands of visitors gathered throughout the area, with benches available for those who wanted to sit and enjoy the live demonstration featuring Ultraheroes and Kaiju.
- Ultraman (Original)
- Ultraman Zero
- Ultraman Omega
- Alien Baltan
- Alien Metron
- Belial
- Dada
- Eleking
- Gomora
- Red King
- Nodachi Zamsher
- Glenfire Indigo
The performers delivered impressive choreography that made the showcase feel like a live filming session straight out of an Ultraman episode. Their athletic abilities, including butterfly kicks, wheel kicks, somersaults, and even taking hits convincingly, added a remarkable level of realism to the experience. The black screen behind them enhanced the presentation with the visual effects that fans look forward to, including Ultraman’s iconic rise, the Spacium Beam, and group appearances from both heroes and foes.
Towards the end of the climactic battle, all of the Ultra Heroes joined forces to fight the final opponent, Belial. He was once an Ultraman before succumbing to his own greed and pride. Belial arrived with additional support from Glenfire Indigo and Nodachi Zamsheer, each engaging in their own one-on-one encounters that featured swordsmanship, the appearance of a gigantic Kaiju, Arch Belial, along with energetic support from the crowd!
Ultraman Omega called out to the crowd, asking for strength by having everyone shout, “GO ULTRA HEROES.” The moment was further enhanced by the song “Missing Link” by MindaRyn and ASH, which added to the intensity of the scene. The Ultra Heroes rose to their feet once more and defeated the monstrous Belial through their combined teamwork and the unwavering energy from the audience. The entire show was remarkable, not only because it highlighted themes of hope and determination, but also because it reminded everyone that the crowd could also fight alongside the heroes.
Conclusion
Free events of this scale are typically held only in Japan, so experiencing something that local fans enjoy regularly was truly one of the highlights of the day. To stay updated on future live shows and related activities, be sure to follow the official Instagram accounts of Tsuburaya Global and Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles America.
Thank you to Bandai Namco and Tsuburaya Productions for organizing such an enjoyable event for all attendees. We also extend our appreciation to Christopher Sean for welcoming everyone with warmth, serving as an excellent MC, and for his work as Ken Sato and Ultraman in Ultraman: Rising.
Ultraman Omega arrives on Netflix on November 28, Friday, and Ultraman: Rising is already available to stream. For more coverage, including interviews with Christopher Sean and Kyuramen, be sure to check out our additional articles from this exciting weekend.
© Tsuburaya Productions
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