First Impressions: Ultraman Omega

As the Ultraman franchise enters its sixth year of delivering worldwide simulcasts with multi-language subtitles via its ULTRAMAN Official YouTube Channel, there isn't a shadow of a doubt that Tsuburaya Productions are leading the way when it comes to making their shows available on a global scale. For its 2025 entry (and 35th mainline series), we enter a brave new world with Ultraman Omega. The series compositors are Toshizo Nemoto and Junichiro Ashiki (both veteran writers for the New Generation era), while its main director is Masayoshi Takasue (who previously held the same role for Ultraman R/B and Ultraman Decker). Unfortunately unlike previous entries Ultraman Arc and Ultraman Blazar it seems an English language dub won't be available on the day of release, but is said to be coming at a later date.

Somewhere deep in space, a red and silver giant battles against a hoard of insect-like creatures - defeating them in a tremendous explosion but blasted as he attempted to flee. On Earth, Kosei Homoshi watches as a humanoid-shaped meteorite falls from the sky. Then at his workplace, he encounters a mysterious man who has seemingly lost his memory.

Suddenly, the giant monster Graim erupts from the ground - causing panic on a planet that has never seen such a thing before. As the mysterious man witnesses the kindness Kosei shows to others in this crisis, he reveals some incredible abilities. Transforming right in front of Koisei's eyes, the man becomes the same humanoid he earlier saw fall from the sky - Ultraman Omega!

As I previously wrote with my first impressions of Ultraman Arc's debut episode last year, after so many years of watching long-standing franchises renew themselves annually the similarities between each series premiere become quickly apparent, and its the little differences that set each one apart. This feels especially true for Ultraman, where most series have had the same basic setup for some time now. You have a world that frequently suffers from kaiju attacks, a dedicated organisation set up to defend against said attacks, a protagonist that may or may not be part of the organisation at the beginning of the series and an Ultra that comes to Earth and bonds with said protagonist. The nuances may be different, but generally that's how it's been since at least Ultraman Z back in 2020. Ultraman Omega immediately turns that on its head by not only stripping away the defence force, but also imagining a world where apparently neither kaiju or heroes exist. This premise immediately allows for a very different type of story to what we've seen in the last few years, one where we get to see everything built from the ground up and people have to come to terms with the catastrophes they're suddenly faced with. Watching established organisations with giant robots consistently lose so that Ultraman gets to be the hero has been a frustration in previous series, so at least here if a defence force comes along at a later time there will be some justification for it.

However the decision not to feature a defence team as the series focus isn't just one that offers more story potential, its also something the creative team were keen to do as a response to the current state of the world. Wary that children across the world are currently subject to news of various armed conflicts across the world, Takasue has stated that giving them a reprieve from that and not creating an "overly solemn atmosphere" was a conscientious decision. And personally? I absolutely love that. Much like Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger featured more Super Sentai alumni cameos and Kamen Rider Fourze had a lighter tone as a direct result of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, it's always nice to see these shows attempt to offer children an escape from the world today. While in the grand scheme of things it might not seem like much, but it's a heartwarming gesture towards the target audience and helps contextualise these series differently when looked at in the time of their release.

Another big difference going into Ultraman Omega is that this time we aren't seeing an Ultra come to Earth and bond with a human, but seemingly come to Earth and take human form. Not only that, but our mysterious hero (who remains unnamed in the episode itself, but promotional material as revealed as "Sorato Okida") arrives as an amnesiac, prompting even more questions. Is this like Ultraseven where the Ultra has assumed the form of a human when they arrived on Earth, or Ultraman Orb where a humanoid alien has gained the ability to transform into an Ultra? While this might have already been revealed in the promotion in the lead up to the series (I've tried not to look), this episode really kept the details vague in order to keep that sense of mystery as well as give Omega's human guise that extra sense of unworldliness. Actor Shori Kondo immediately makes a great first impression here, presenting a character that feels both alien and amnesiac without one trait necessarily dominating the other. He's only going to get more interesting as he becomes more familiar with Earth culture and his memories slowly return, giving us more backstory to the newest Ultra hero.

But as likeable as our hero may be, this success comes from his pairing with Kosei - portrayed here by Haruto Yoshida. A seemingly normal human with no previous ties to giant monsters or aliens (for now anyway), Kosei is quite unlike any Ultraman supporting character we've had in some time - but it's the bond he develops with Sorato that makes him the perfect choice for this series. Ultras have always been inspired by humanity's potential, and here we see one directly taking action after seeing one person's acts of kindness towards complete strangers. Despite all the focus on aliens and monsters, this is the kind of thing Ultraman has always been about and it's presented here in such an effective way because Kosei really could be any of us. The dynamic the pair have in this episode is by far its strongest quality, and how these bonds will continue to develop (especially as Kosei knows that Sorato is Ultraman Omega) already feels like it could be the biggest driving force behind the series.

Before we even get into the main story itself though, Ultraman Omega dazzles with its impressive opening sequence in which Omega battles against a swarm of monsters before being shot down to Earth. Handled by Shirogumi, the visual effects studio that worked on Godzilla Minus One, this fully-CGI sequence is quite unlike anything we've seen in an Ultraman premiere before. While scenes like this could never replace the detail and craftsmanship of suit choreography and miniature work, it is however a great companion to it - allowing for faster, more kinetic fight scenes and taking them to more alien landscapes harder to realise with a physical set. Though it seems unlikely that Omega will be making use of these on a regular basis, it's exactly the kind of opening set piece to lure viewers in and show off the look and abilities of Omega at a fast pace.

For those looking for something a little more traditional though, the rest of the episode has you covered. We get a brand new kaiju in the form of the "Burning Kaiju" Graim, a great looking monster that once again carries the look and sensibilities of classic Ultraman kaiju whilst also also feeling fresh and modern. Omega himself also impresses in his debut fight, continuing the Ultraseven comparisons with a more melee-based fight style wielding a Slugger weapon. Even with a fairly simple design Omega immediately stands out from previous Ultras thanks to his predominately red face, a trait which also brings out those gorgeous blue crystalline eyes all the more. The absence of kaiju in this world also makes the appearance of a hero all the more significant, something that's definitely played up by the focus on Sorato remembering that he can fly. Superheroes have taken many shapes and forms over the years across the world, but if there's one power that's often been considered synonymous with them since the very beginning - it's flight.

After so many years and so many different entries, it's pleasing to see that the Ultraman franchise can still surprise. Ultraman Omega delivered a premiere that was so intrinsically Ultraman in terms of its themes and messages, but also felt completely fresh in the way it mixed up previously established ideas or reintroduced ones we haven't seen in some time. Setting it on an Earth with no previous kaiju attacks or established science/defence force gives way to so much potential when it comes to storytelling, as does the dynamic between Sorato and Kosei. Wrapped up in an episode that also continues to push the franchise when it comes to action, 2025 is poised to be another great year for Ultraman.