Around since the 1960s, Ultraman went from a live-action series in Japan that expanded into more shows, films, manga, and anime. The Ultra Series has fans not only of all ages but located all over the world. Stars of Netflix upcoming film Ultraman Rising, shared their backstory with Ultraman and Kaiju plus how they would handle raising a giant monster baby!
Ultraman Rising Interview: Christopher Sean, Tamlyn Tomita, & Gedde Watanabe
If you're a Kaiju fan like I am, Ultraman Rising is the film for you. It's perfect for the whole family and honestly what isn't there to love about watching a new parent take care of a cute giant baby monster? Although parenting any baby is not easy! I was thrilled to not only ask stars Christopher Sean, Tamlyn Tomita, Gedde Watanabe about their history with Ultraman but also to find out how they would handle a baby Kaiju. Sean had the best answer and I'm 100% sure it can't be topped!
I would love to know what your experience is with Ultraman because he's been around for a while, so have you been a fan in the past or are you just like I really love Kaiju monsters so I'm in?
Gedde: Kaiju, yes! For me when I saw Kaiju I went oh that's my favorite ! As a kid I knew about Ultraman and I saw the old versions of it where you could see the strings and all the animation was pretty corny but I loved it. That was also the first time I saw an Asian hero. So that was exciting to me. That's kind of my connection to [Ultraman].
Tamlyn: Ultraman was a rare occurrence because it wasn't broadcast on American television. The whole world of Gojira, Godzilla, and the plethora of other superheroes coming out of Japan started trickling in in the 70s and the 80s so it was there but it wasn't as impactful as the youngsters like Christopher having grown up with the accessibility to stories of Ultraman and all the other various kaiju in the in the superhero universe. We're just very very proud to be a part of this this new iteration.
Christopher: [When] I was a kid in Japan, I'd go to the festivals [like] Omatsuri. I'd wear the Ultraman mask that the kid is wearing in the movie! I watched it as a kid in Japan, came to America, and it was just kind of gone. When they brought the property back I was like I know everything! I know this franchise! I hired a tutor and started studying Japanese and started studying the origins of Ultraman and yeah so quiz me!
Spoiler alert- I did not quiz him! I don't like to lose! 
In the film, Ken becomes the unexpected surrogate father to a baby Kaiju. Who are you calling for help? Sean: I'm calling Robert Irwin. Steve Irwin's son because he works with animals in the sanctuary in Australia and he's amazing and I loved his father. Tamlyn: That's an excellent answer. Sean: We're doing it together. and we all agreed that was the best answer and no one was topping that!
Watch the Full Interview with Christopher Sean, Tamlyn Tomita, & Gedde Watanabe
About Ultraman Rising
With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato (Christopher Sean) reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic superhero meets his match when he is forced to adopt a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju. Sato must rise above his ego to balance work and parenthood while protecting the baby from forces bent on exploiting her for their own dark plans. Ultraman Rising starts streaming on Netflix June 14, 2024. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
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