The Ultraman Phenomenon | Celebrating 60 Years of a Heroic Legacy
About this Event
Since its debut in 1966, Ultraman has evolved from a groundbreaking Japanese television series into a global cultural icon whose influence has shaped generations of filmmakers, animators, and creators worldwide. Created by Eiji Tsuburaya (founder of Tsuburaya Productions, VES Hall of Fame inducted director/filmmaker known as the “Father of Tokusatsu”), the wildly popular series followed the adventures of superhero Ultraman and pioneered the genre of tokusatsu ( “special effects”), the live-action effects-driven entertainment that would go on to define sci-fi and fantasy for decades. Countless creators from filmmaker Guillermo del Toro to video game designer Hideo Kojima have found inspiration in Ultraman’s innovative craft, powerful storytelling and sheer visual creativity. As the franchise celebrates its 60th anniversary, Ultraman continues to serve as a wellspring of imagination for not only fans, but also the next generation of international creators across film, television, animation, and gaming.
Join us for the 60th anniversary celebration this July at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles with special episode screenings, a feature documentary, and an exclusive filmmakers’ panel honoring Ultraman's far-reaching legacy.
Main image: ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS
Part I | Screening of THE ORIGINS OF ULTRAMAN (2026)
Planned by acclaimed filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda, this new documentary film brings together an extraordinary lineup of internationally renowned filmmakers and tokusatsu creators—including Guillermo del Toro, Hideo Kojima, Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi, and Nicolas Winding Refn—to explore the deep impact of Ultraman on their own work, and what makes it an enduring cultural icon. Through their unique perspectives, the documentary examines the franchise's groundbreaking creativity, technical innovations, and resonant vision, where both heroes and kaiju (giant monsters) are imbued with depth, humanity, and purpose through unforgettable character designs and compelling storytelling.
Part II | Filmmakers’ Panel
Following the screening, guests are invited to a special talk featuring Hirokazu Koreeda, Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima, co-directors of Ultraman: Rising. Together, they will discuss Ultraman's profound influence on entertainment and its impact on generations of fans worldwide, from children discovering the hero for the first time to lifelong enthusiasts to the creators behind some of today’s most popular TV, films, animation and games.
A Month of Celebration
To share the joys of Ultraman with viewers at home, a special selection of curated episodes will be available to stream for free on YouTube throughout the month of July. Featuring some of the franchise's most memorable adventures across different eras, this limited-time lineup offers both longtime fans and newcomers the perfect opportunity to experience the stories, heroes, and iconic kaiju that have inspired the generations. Click here
- (7/1) EP15 | Terrifying Cosmic Rays
- (7/2) EP23 | My Home is Earth
- (7/17) EP1 | Ultra Operation No. 1
- (7/24) EP2 | Shoot the Invader
- (7/25) EP8 | The Monster Anarchy Zone
- (7/31) EP3 | SSSP, Move Out!
©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS
About the Speakers
Hirokazu Koreeda
©Mikiya Takimoto
Born 1962 in Tokyo, Japan. After graduating from Waseda University in 1987, Koreeda joined TV Man Union where he directed several prize-winning documentary programs. In 2011, he launched his production company BUN-BUKU.
In 1995, his directorial debut, Maborosi, based on the original novel written by Miyamoto Teru, won the 52nd Venice International Film Festival's Golden Osella. After Life (1998), distributed in over 30 countries, brought Koreeda international acclaim. In 2001, Distance was selected in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and with his fourth work Nobody Knows (2004), Yagira Yuya garnered much attention for becoming the youngest person to ever receive the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actor Award. In 2006, Hana, a film centered on vengeance, became his first attempt at a period piece. In 2008, he presented the family drama Still Walking, which reflected his own personal experiences, and received high praise from around the world. In 2009, Air Doll was world premiered in Un Certain Regard at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival and was widely praised for marking a new frontier in its depiction of a sensual love fantasy. In 2011, I Wish won the Best Screenplay Award at the 59th San Sebastian International Film Festival. In 2012, he made his TV directorial debut with the series Going Home.
His feature film Like Father, Like Son (2013), won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, received the audience awards at San Sebastian, Vancouver, and Sao Paulo International Film Festivals and broke the box office record of his past films in many territories. In 2015, Our Little Sister premiered in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and received five awards including Best Film and Best Director at the Japan Academy Prize, as well as the Jury Prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival. In 2016, After the Storm premiered in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2017, The Third M**der premiered In Competition at the 52nd Venice International Film Festival. In 2018, Shoplifters won the Palme d'Or at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, the Best Foreign Film at the 11th Césars, and many other awards, as well as being nominated for the 91st Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
In 2019, his first feature shot outside Japan, The Truth with two French film legends, Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche, is the opening film in Competition of the 76th Venice International Film Festival. In 2022, his first Korean film Broker won the Ecumenical Jury Prize and Song Kang-Ho the Best Actor Award, the first award for a Korean actor, at the 75th Cannes Film Festival. In 2023, his first-ever Netflix series The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House was released worldwide, and his latest feature Monster won the Queer Palme and writer Yuji Sakamoto the Best Screenplay Award, at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. In 2025, he adapted and directed the Netflix series Asura, a remake of Kuniko Mukoda's iconic home drama, now available worldwide and featuring Rie Miyazawa, Machiko Ono, Yu Aoi, and Suzu Hirose.
In 2026, his original film The Sheep in the Box, starring Haruka Ayase and comedian Daigo, was officially selected for the Competition section at the 79th Cannes International Film Festival. Also that year, a live-action film adaptation of the popular manga Look Back, originally created by Tatsuki Fujimoto, is scheduled for release.
Shannon Tindle
Emmy-winning filmmaker, Shannon Tindle, has served as a designer, story artist, writer, director, and executive producer for television and feature films. He has collaborated with DreamWorks, Disney, Cartoon Network, and Universal Studios on a wide range of projects, including Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, The Croods, and Coraline. Shannon was the creator of Kubo and the Two Strings, which was nominated for two Oscars and won the BAFTA for Best Animated Feature.
In 2022, Tindle served as the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of his first live-action series, Lost Ollie, which garnered 10 Emmy nominations and 5 wins. Most recently, Tindle co-wrote and directed, Ultraman: Rising for Netflix, for which he won his second Emmy. He is currently directing a John Wick Prequel film for Lionsgate. Shannon is also a proud member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
John Aoshima
Photo by Gilbert Flores
John Aoshima is an Emmy Award-winning and Annie Award–nominated director whose work spans some of the most beloved animated television series and feature films of the past two decades. He is known for his contributions to Disney’s Gravity Falls, the long-running animated comedy American Dad!, and the Emmy Award-winning feature film Ultraman: Rising.
Born in Japan and raised in Southern California, Aoshima earned a BFA in Character Animation from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). He began his career working across a wide range of acclaimed productions, including Futurama, The Simpsons, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Star vs. the Forces of Evil, and DuckTales, developing a reputation as a versatile storyteller and filmmaker.
After many years in television animation, Aoshima transitioned into feature films, serving as Head of Story on LAIKA’s BAFTA Award-winning Kubo and the Two Strings. He later joined Netflix Animation as Sequence Director on the Emmy Award-winning limited series Maya and the Three before co-directing Ultraman: Rising, a collaboration between Tsuburaya Productions and Industrial Light & Magic that introduced the iconic Japanese hero to a new generation of audiences.
Aoshima is currently Co-directing the upcoming Hello Kitty feature film while continuing to develop original series and feature projects. Drawing from both his Japanese heritage and American upbringing, his work reflects a lifelong appreciation for character-driven storytelling and animation as a global art form.
About THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN
Featuring exclusive interviews with world-renowned directors and creators, including Guillermo del Toro, Hirokazu Koreeda, Hideo Kojima, Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi, and Nicolas Winding Refn.
A commemorative documentary celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Ultraman series. This masterful film explores the origins of the legendary Japanese Tokusatsu (special effects) series, Ultraman. Through the eyes of today's most influential filmmakers and visionaries, the truth behind Ultraman is finally unveiled.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 20.00
