ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE Update: Da-iCE Stage Greeting

: 23 March 2017

Ultraman Orb Trinity poses with the members of Da-iCE at a promotional event for ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions and Shochiku. © 2017 “Ultraman Orb The Movie” Film Partners

Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., Tsuburaya Productions Official Site: m-78.jp/orb/movie (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Tsuburaya Productions and distributor Shochiku have held a number of promotional events featuring cast and crew members of their new release, ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE (??? ?????????????????????, Gekijoo-ban Urutoraman Oobu Kizuna no Chikara, Okari Shimasu!). The most recent took place this past Tuesday, March 21st at the CINECITTA` Kawasaki. In attendance were Taiki Kudo, Toru Iwaoka, Yudai Ohno, Sota Hanamura and Hayate Wada of Da-iCE (pronounced “Dice”), the musical group that performed the film`s theme song, “Two As One”. Lead performer Kudo and vocalist Hanamura were also voice actors for some of the aliens in the movie. Ultraman Orb was also on hand in his new Orb Trinity form from the film, along with the bad guys Alien Serpent and Rekyum the Radio Wave Creature. ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE is now playing in cinemas across Japan.

Taiki Kudo (voice of Alien Serpent, Cicadawoman): "[In the movie] I think you will see the amazing life of Alien Serpent. I was worried that my voice was too restrained for the aliens, but the director [Kiyotaka Taguchi] always said `I want you to bring the heat`." "ULTRAMAN GREAT... did you like it? [Kudo enjoyed the ULTRAMAN GREAT series as kid.]" "We were also responsible for the theme song `Two As One`. I actually struck a `fusion up` pose in front of the chorus so I could link with the movie. There will be new discoveries made every time you watch the movie, so I would like you to see it many times."

Toru Iwaoka: "I like the original Ultraman, Taro and Seven. I`ve been inspired by Ultraman since I was little, and I often used the phrase `3 minutes`. So it was very appropriate to be in charge of a theme song for the first time with this movie." "Ultraman has been a great work since before we were born, so I`m happy if I was able to help a little. I hope this movie will allow you to think about the meaning of the `bonds` theme."

Yudai Ohno: "Since I have been with Da-iCE for 7-8 years, I feel `bonds` with the other members. Our album NEXT PHASE, containing the [ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE] theme song, has wide variations in the world of music, so you won`t get tired listening. The theme song has this phrase I liked -- `? Even if you are away now ~`. I believe that `Two As One` is open to individual interpretation depending on how you listen." "When I was little I liked Ultraman and wanted to become him, so it is quite wonderful to be standing next to Ultraman on this occasion. I created the theme song of Ultraman and was delighted that pleased my parents and relatives even more than it did me. I was really happy!"

Sota Hanamura (voice of Rekyum, Hupnath): "Today I met Reykum [one of the aliens he voices in ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE] for the first time! It was difficult dubbing him [laughs]." "Did you ever notice that Ultraman Great`s ears are shaped like a human being`s? I focused on that so much, I got an ear fetish [laughs]." "While `Two As One` plays over the end credits, I think that you can grasp the meaning of the lyrics and the theme of this work."

Hayate Wada: "I am happy that our song become the theme of [ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE]. If I ever become an alien, I want to be one who is not attacked by Ultraman! When I was little I would play the game of Ultraman Tiga and Dyna [laughs]." "It is my first theme song so I`m really happy. We will continue to borrow from `the bond of orbs` and `your bonds` and we will work hard, so again thank you."

About Tsuburaya Productions

Tsuburaya Productions, creator and copyrights owner of the superhero ULTRAMAN series was founded in 1963 by Eiji Tsuburaya, world-renowned special effects wizard also known for his special effects work on the Godzilla series. With more than fifty years` experience, it is one of Japan`s oldest and most respected independent film and television production houses. Its popular Ultraman TV and film series which premiered in 1966 has been seen in over 100 territories worldwide and has spawned over 3,000 licensed products. In addition to production, the company also handles character licensing and program distribution and staging live stage shows both domestically and internationally.

About Shochiku Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1895, Shochiku functions as a highly-tuned vertically integrated entertainment entity, encompassing feature film and television production, theatrical distribution of Japanese & foreign motion pictures, worldwide sales, exhibition, DVD and home video distribution and the Kabuki Theater. Shochiku operates one of the most successful motion picture divisions in Japan. The company has produced a number of critically and financially successful films, including the 2002 Academy Award nominee for best foreign language film THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI, directed by Yoji Yamada, the first Japanese Academy Award nomination for a live-action film in 22 years. Shochiku’s latest include DEPARTURES by Yojiro Takita, the 2009 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film.

For more information on ULTRAMAN ORB and ULTRAMAN ORB THE MOVIE, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: