Ultraman Leo
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| Ultraman Leo | |
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| Format | Science fiction, action, adventure |
| Created by | Tsuburaya Productions |
| Starring | Ryū Manatsu, Kōji Moritsugu, Mieko Mita |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| No. of episodes | 51 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 24 minutes (per episode) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | TBS |
| Original run | April 12, 1974 – March 28, 1975 |
Ultraman Leo (ウルトラマンレオ Urutoraman Reo?) is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the 7th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Ultraman Leo was aired between April 12, 1974 to March 28, 1975, with a total of 51 episodes.
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[edit] Background
Ultraman Leo series was helmed as the last of the golden age of Ultra Series. During the 'Oil Shock' which hit world economy in the 1970s, the production of monster-based series became less popular, in addition to more animated series being produced.
It is also noted that the series was also produced behind schedule due to extended episodes for its predecessor, Ultraman Taro.
[edit] Plot
Leo comes from Nebula L-77 (Leo constellation), and takes the human form of Gen Otori. Ultraseven appears to fight a new foe, Maguma-sejin and his two "pets", the Red and Black Gillas. However, Magma badly wounds Seven, graphically breaking Seven's leg. Ultraman Leo drives off the foes, but Seven is confined to his human form because of his injury. The Ultra Eye are destroyed when Dan attempts to transform, and Dan takes up a role as the captain of Monster Attacking Crew. Gen is a gymnastics teacher on the side. Gen and Dan regularly train together, allowing Leo to learn many moves in human form. Mid-series, MAC is destroyed by Commander Black, and Dan vanishes, seemingly abandoning MAC(this would have serious consequences several years later, Dan is a fugitive next time he is seen in the Ultraseven OV series.). Gen spends most of his time later training the kids to defend themselves. When Commander Black captures Gen when he cannot transform, the kids kill Black in rage. Satisfied that the kids are able to defend themselves, Gen sails out to sea, his favorite student watching as he leaves.
[edit] Later Years
Ultraman Leo returns in Ultraman Mebius to help Mebius fight a monster. At first, Gen is challenging Mirai to a one-on-one combat (as Leo and Mebius respectively) to Mebius' defeat. Leo is also seen with his twin brother, Astra, as long as with other Ultra Brothers to resurrect the Sun during the final episode of Mebius.
[edit] Ultraman Leo Statistics
- Height
52 meters - Weight
48,000 tons - Flight Speed
Mach 7 - Running Speed
600 kilometers per hour - Home Planet
Nebula L77/M78 - Human Form
Gen Ohtori - Transformation Item
Leo Ring
[edit] Powers
- Wrist Beam
A beam that shoots from his hands- Leo Kick
One of the most used weapons involivng an extremely powerful fly kick - Double Leo Kick
Similar to the Leo Kick, Leo uses both legs. (Used against Akumania Seijin) - Timer Shot
A blue beam from his ColorTimer. - Timer Shot, Version 2
Leo draws his hands across his chest (at which point his Color Timer flashes), into the air, across his chest again, than extends them toward the target. The white beam comes from his hands, but the ColorTimer is the implied power source. - Hand Slicer
Leo can use his hand to cut off an enemie's weapon, remove dangerous body part or slice an opponent in half. - Multiple Backflips
One of Leo's ways to avoid enemies's weapons - Space Ray
A laser which he shoots from his forehead. - Ultra Grenade
Leo draws a hand back to channel red and black energy into a ball, which he then hurls at his foe with a highly destructive yield. - Lightning Cutter
Leo can jump into the air, performing many flips in rapid succession with his limbs outstretched. This throws off lightning bolts and turns his whole body into one big Ultra Slash. - Resurrection
Leo can fire a white, sparkling beam from his eyes to bring the recently dead to life. This is a rare power, even among Ultramen. - Incapacitator
A beam similar in appearance to Ace's Punch Laser, Leo can temporarily put an enemy to sleep. - Arm Shields
By gathering energy around his entire body and concentrating it around his hands and lower arms, Leo can repel attacks that would ordinarily seriously injure him. This operates on the same principal the Theory of Reverse Magnetism. The catch is that the attack must be blocked with the hands or lower arms; other areas are likely more vulnerable than usual. - Ultra Double Flasher
A devastating red bolt of energy that Leo could fire when he joins hands with his brother, Astra. - Ultra Mant
A multi-purpose cape given to him by Ultraman King in Episode 26, which he normally hides in the blue band he wears on his left arm. The Mant can make monsters smaller, and can turn into an umbrella.
- Leo Kick
[edit] MAC Members
MAC is one of the most radically different Ultra support teams. As mentioned above, the captain is Dan Moroboshi, who is Ultraseven deprived of his ability to transform. MAC also has a flowing membership. Members get killed off and replaced with frightening rapidity. To top it all off, MAC gets annihilated mid-series (Episode 40). There are (were) bases in orbit above North and South America, Africa, Northern Europe, and Japan. This is in addition to numerous land-based bases as well.
- Captain Dan Moroboshi
- Gen Ohtori
- Ichiroh Aoshima (seen eaten alive)
- Akio Kuroda
- Kiyohiko Akaishi
- Junko Shirakawa
- Haruko Momoi
[edit] Cameos
- Episode 1
Leo saves Ultra Seven from certain death at the hands of Magma-seijin and the Gillas brothers. Ultra Seven's leg is damaged and Dan Moroboshi can no longer transform into him. They develop a mentoring relationship. As the MAC captain, Dan plays a recurring role. - Episode 10
Leo meets one of the remaining survivors of Nebula L77. Lon, his long lost pet. Lon had turned into a monster due to all the sufferings he had endured after his home was destroyed. Leo turned Lon into a dog. Gen and his friends are playing with this dog at the end of the episode. - Episode 12
While taking the kids for a run, Gen meets Saam Long, he claims that he is a member of the MAC and proves it by showing that he already has the uniform. It is not known whether or not if he really is a MAC member. There are some clues to this answer. Firstly, unlike other members, Saam Long's vest does not have a number. Nothing is known about him after he left MAC to the Himalayas to catch snowmans. He promised that he'll be back but he did not return for the rest of the series. - Episode 22
Astra joins Leo in the fight against brother monsters Gallon and Liter. - Episode 26
After being shrunk by Pressure-seijin, Leo is rescued and resized by Ultraman King. They defeat the alien together and King gives Leo the Ultra Mant. - Episode 29
Yuriko Hishimi reprises her role as Anne from the Ultra Garrison of Ultra Seven. - Episode 30
Hiroko Sakurai (Fuji from Ultraman) plays the human form of Rolan, the "most beautiful monster in the world." Also, Susume Kurobe (Hayata, the original Ultraman) makes a cameo as the farmer father of some kid. - Episode 33
Astra fights Akumania-seijin. - Episode 34
Ultraman "Jack" delivers a monster ball to Dan Moroboshi, but monster Ashuran slaps a mask on him. For some reason, Ultra Seven makes an appearance as well. - Episode 36
Astra fights Atlanta-seijin. - Episode 38-39
Leo defends fake Astra from Zoffy, Ultraman, Ultraman "Jack," and Ultraman Ace in the ultimate Ultra rumble, after fake Astra steals the Ultra Key, which causes the Land of Light to head on a collision course toward Earth. In addition, to controlling the orbit of the Land of Light, the Ultra Key shoots a very destructive ray. Flashback to when the Ultra Father uses the Ultra Key to disintegrate an entire planet of evil. Gen gets into a fist fight with Dan. Leo even absorbs direct hits from simultaneous beams from three of the Ultramen, which knocks him out good. Had Ace not had his attention called skyward to an attacking Leo, he would likely have been killed right then and there by the Leo Kick. The other Ultramen were hurt, but the Leo brothers lost in the end due to Fake Astra standing still, knowing that Leo would try to take the blow for him. Ultraman King reveals that this Astra is in fact Babalou-seijin in disguise, hence Astra causing Leo to attack the other Ultramen while nearly killing himself trying to defend his "brother" against the combined force of their energy beams. Leo and the real Astra repair the broken Ultra Key with their Ultra Double Spark. Ultraman King has Dan accept Leo and Astra officially as new Ultra brothers. The Ultra Father and the Ultra Mother nod their approval. - Episode 40
A flying saucer destroys the MAC base killing everyone on board except Gen but what happened to Dan is unknown. All of Gen's friends in the sports center are killed including Tohru's sister. - Episode 46
Astra, against Hanglar. - Episode 50
Ultraman King uses a beam from his hands to resurrect Leo, who is dismembered by Bunyo. - Episode 51
Ultra Seven appears in Gen's dream.
[edit] Production and Series Notes
- The show got off on a bad start. The previous series, Ultraman Taro, was extended from 49 to 53 episodes because pre-production of Leo was running behind schedule.
- The MAC song sings about the MAC Mole and the MAC Shark, but these machines were never used in battle on the series (although the Shark makes an appearance in the opening credits after episode 28).
- The series was written for more of an adult audience than Taro, because Tsuburaya was losing positive ratings from adults due to the child oriented nature of Taro.
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