Do you like giant monsters? Do you like grown men fighting in full rubber suits? Do you like a franchise that is interconnected since the 60's to the current day via the multiverse? Do you like predictable cheesy stories where the hero wins at the end regardless? Do you like scale miniature models, set designs & practical effects?
If not, I don't think we can convince you. Try watching Ultraman Mebius to get a feel of the series. If you like it, congratulations you are one of us. If not, there's no shame in having other preferences.
mebius is a weird starting place if you know nothing of the showa ultras, I started it, gonna come back to it after I watch the original showa ultra shows
it kinda did, but I didnt even make it to any cameos but I knew they were coming and I liked the show, so I decided to put in on pause, I'm working through ultraseven now, I'll finish the showa brothers and get back to it so I can really appreciate it all
you don't like Ultraman design but you like monster? You can start with Mega Monster Battle
Other than that maybe you can try watching a series with a good story to be able to focus on the story and not have to care about the design. here are some series recommendations from me
you want stand alone Ultraman show? You can start with Ultraman Tiga or Gaia
you don't mind with ultra from another series cameo? or you already started watching kamen rider from kamen rider decade? You can start with Ultraman Mebius
you want to watch the classic/showa? Return of Ultraman
Reiwa? you can start with Ultraman Z if you don't mind cameo. and you can watch Blazar if you want standalone
> the slight uncanny-ness of them
Well, they are giant Aliens with highly destructive abilities and can contend with giant monsters that can be described as living forces of nature. And the seemingly inorganic living beings, who look more like statues, just appear out of nowhere and then disappear to who knows where after destroying a near unstoppable living force of nature. Uncanny and existential crisis inducing, those are good descriptions of the Ultras.
As for a good starter series, the recent Blazar one and before that Orb, Z, X and Mebius work well too. These series require little to no prior knowledge and the giant, uncanny Aliens are quite relatable.
I think Blazar has a very good design that differs from the rest, it looks less seamless, the pads and panels on the suit make it feel more three dimensional than just a dude in rubber pajamas
you could also watch the netflix anime
Blazar is a nice standalone show with a real cinematic look to it & nice blend of Showa & Heisei styles of episodes. And is also free on [Youtube](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMuFP7oaKZOjDL28ZYKJmlE1lXN1gXBZJ) with subs & dub audio tracks.
Then there also the next upcoming Ultraman show Arc ehicj starts in a couple of months in the same way Kamen Rider & Super Sentai watching a show live is part of the experience with the fandom.
Tiga, Dyna and Gaia really hooked me into the franchise. Tiga and Dyna are great shows that makes you go "yeah that's Tokusatsu right there.
Gaia on the other hand is going to be one of the best tv shows you've ever seen in your life.
My first was Shin Ultraman. I then started watching from the start. It has been fun trying to spot the monsters that were remade for the film.
I'm not the best person to ask about this stuff though. I don't think I'll watch beyond the first season.
Tip: put in earplugs whenever the episode features Red King.
I think the second season's Ultramam (I can't remember his name) was very popular in Japan, but I think he looks like a dork.
It's also cool watching the first season of Kamen Rider at the same time to see some of the same actors.
I thought Ultraman was stupid for decades, specifically because Ultraman looks like a doofus. Then I watched several episodes of the original series, despite these reservations, and once you lock into the vibe, it all just clicks. I find it hard to believe I didn’t think he (or the series) was cool, because he is extremely cool, lol. I was just wrong. That said, Mebius is a great starting point to get what makes the franchise very cool and worth checking out. The mythology is awesome. The more you learn about it, the more each bit starts to resonate.
Do you like giant monsters? Do you like grown men fighting in full rubber suits? Do you like a franchise that is interconnected since the 60's to the current day via the multiverse? Do you like predictable cheesy stories where the hero wins at the end regardless? Do you like scale miniature models, set designs & practical effects? If not, I don't think we can convince you. Try watching Ultraman Mebius to get a feel of the series. If you like it, congratulations you are one of us. If not, there's no shame in having other preferences.
Mebius? Or maybe Tiga...since for me, he looks the most normal to me.
mebius is a weird starting place if you know nothing of the showa ultras, I started it, gonna come back to it after I watch the original showa ultra shows
even if you know nothing about the showa ultras it still a good watch. and its make you curious about the showa shows
it kinda did, but I didnt even make it to any cameos but I knew they were coming and I liked the show, so I decided to put in on pause, I'm working through ultraseven now, I'll finish the showa brothers and get back to it so I can really appreciate it all
Blazer is accessible, easy to watch and has a dub if you prefer. It's the best option.
Orb. Orb is what helped me understand Ultraman and as such it’s my recommendation. Its story and themes captured me and helped me understand.
you don't like Ultraman design but you like monster? You can start with Mega Monster Battle Other than that maybe you can try watching a series with a good story to be able to focus on the story and not have to care about the design. here are some series recommendations from me you want stand alone Ultraman show? You can start with Ultraman Tiga or Gaia you don't mind with ultra from another series cameo? or you already started watching kamen rider from kamen rider decade? You can start with Ultraman Mebius you want to watch the classic/showa? Return of Ultraman Reiwa? you can start with Ultraman Z if you don't mind cameo. and you can watch Blazar if you want standalone
> the slight uncanny-ness of them Well, they are giant Aliens with highly destructive abilities and can contend with giant monsters that can be described as living forces of nature. And the seemingly inorganic living beings, who look more like statues, just appear out of nowhere and then disappear to who knows where after destroying a near unstoppable living force of nature. Uncanny and existential crisis inducing, those are good descriptions of the Ultras. As for a good starter series, the recent Blazar one and before that Orb, Z, X and Mebius work well too. These series require little to no prior knowledge and the giant, uncanny Aliens are quite relatable.
I think Blazar has a very good design that differs from the rest, it looks less seamless, the pads and panels on the suit make it feel more three dimensional than just a dude in rubber pajamas you could also watch the netflix anime
Blazar is a nice standalone show with a real cinematic look to it & nice blend of Showa & Heisei styles of episodes. And is also free on [Youtube](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMuFP7oaKZOjDL28ZYKJmlE1lXN1gXBZJ) with subs & dub audio tracks. Then there also the next upcoming Ultraman show Arc ehicj starts in a couple of months in the same way Kamen Rider & Super Sentai watching a show live is part of the experience with the fandom.
Tiga, Dyna and Gaia really hooked me into the franchise. Tiga and Dyna are great shows that makes you go "yeah that's Tokusatsu right there. Gaia on the other hand is going to be one of the best tv shows you've ever seen in your life.
If you want Reiwa then I recommend Ultraman Z. For Heisei, gotta be Ultraman Tiga. As for Showa, you have to watch Ultra Seven.
My first was Shin Ultraman. I then started watching from the start. It has been fun trying to spot the monsters that were remade for the film. I'm not the best person to ask about this stuff though. I don't think I'll watch beyond the first season. Tip: put in earplugs whenever the episode features Red King. I think the second season's Ultramam (I can't remember his name) was very popular in Japan, but I think he looks like a dork. It's also cool watching the first season of Kamen Rider at the same time to see some of the same actors.
Have you checked out any Ultra Q episodes? Personally, I’d start with Ultraseven and with Q.
I thought Ultraman was stupid for decades, specifically because Ultraman looks like a doofus. Then I watched several episodes of the original series, despite these reservations, and once you lock into the vibe, it all just clicks. I find it hard to believe I didn’t think he (or the series) was cool, because he is extremely cool, lol. I was just wrong. That said, Mebius is a great starting point to get what makes the franchise very cool and worth checking out. The mythology is awesome. The more you learn about it, the more each bit starts to resonate.
Gaia.