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Logo-heroThis article is about a crossover special in the Tokusatsu Super Hero subgenre.

Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider (ウルトラマンVS仮面ライダー, Urutoraman tai Kamen Raidā) is a Japanese superhero crossover television special between Tsuburaya Productions' UltramanIcon-crosswiki and Toei Company's Kamen RiderIcon-crosswiki. It primarily features clips from both series, interviews with the stars, and a scripted team-up battle between both heroes.

The television special aired on July 21, 1993. It was also released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1993. In 2011, Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider was re-released on Blu-Ray and DVD for the 45th anniversary of the Ultra Series and the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series.

Premise[]

264px-UltrvsKmnRdr

The special is an in-depth retrospective of the two franchises, making comparisons between the different characters, their weapons, powers and so forth. Segments include:

  • “The Specium Ray Vs. The Rider Kick”, which showcases the various attacks and finishing moves of each character.
  • “Jet VTOL Vs. Cyclone”, which spotlights the many jets, tanks and other vehicles used in the Ultra Series, and the different motorcycles ridden by the Kamen Riders.
  • KaijuIcon-crosswiki Vs. KaijinIcon-crosswiki”, in which the many giant monsters (kaiju), and humanoid monsters (kaijin) that have been fought over the years are shown.
  • "Henshin Vs. HenshinIcon-crosswiki" shows the different transformation rituals of the Ultra Brothers and Kamen Riders.
  • "!?" is a humorous segment examining some of the more wacky and oddball moments of the various shows (such as various Kaijin grunts, growls, and other sounds, characters acting silly, and other funny moments).

Interspersed among the many clips are interviews with Hiroshi MiyauchiIcon-crosswiki, who played Kazami ShiroIcon-crosswiki in Kamen Rider V3Icon-crosswiki, and Kohji MoritsuguIcon-crosswiki who played Dan MoroboshiIcon-crosswiki in UltrasevenIcon-crosswiki.

The final segment of the special is the short film "Super Battle: Ultraman vs Kamen Rider" The main characters, UltramanIcon-crosswiki and Kamen Rider 1Icon-crosswiki appear on the scene separately, each fighting an original kaijinIcon-crosswiki and kaijuIcon-crosswiki. When the two monsters are nearly defeated, they merge into a more powerful kaiju. Ultraman experiences trouble and calls for Kamen Rider 1's help. Kamen Rider 1 is then able to grow to enormous size to fight alongside Ultraman. Combining their powers, the two were able to successfully destroy the monster.

Characters[]

Heroes[]

Ultraman Shin HayataIcon-crosswiki
Kamen Rider 1 Takeshi HongoIcon-crosswiki

Villains[]

DVD/Blu-ray[]

After having been unavailable for years, it was announced in a press conference held on June 24, 2011 at the offices of Bandai that the special is being released on both DVD and Blu-ray on Oct. 26th, 2011. This is to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Ultraman, and the 40th anniversary of Kamen Rider. To be included with the release is a special interview with Susumu KurobeIcon-crosswiki who played Shin HayataIcon-crosswiki (Ultraman), and Hiroshi FujiokaIcon-crosswiki who played Takeshi HongoIcon-crosswiki (Kamen Rider #1). [Ultraman][Kamen Rider]

Production[]

The short, with the exception of the narrator and some background extras, featured no face or voice actors, only suit actors, and only used recycled soundbytes for both the voices of Ultraman and Kamen Rider 1.

Staff[]

Music[]

Theme song
  • "Tatakau Tame ni Umareta Senshi" (戦うために生まれた戦士 The Soldier Born to Fight)
    • Lyrics: Hirō Takada (高田ひろお, Takada Hirō)
    • Composition: Asei Kobayashi (小林亜星, Kobayashi Asei)
    • Arrangement: Takeo Suzuki (鈴木武生, Suzuki Takeo)
    • Singer: Hironobu Kageyama (影山ヒロノブ, Kageyama Hironobu)

Errors[]

  • In the opening sequence featuring images of the Ultramen and Kamen Riders, Kamen Rider 2Icon-crosswiki was not featured.

Notes[]

  • The credits sequence was redone for the DVD release of this special.
  • At the end of the credits sequence, Ultraman is seen riding on a giant New CycloneIcon-crosswiki labelled with the Science Special Search Party's logo on it, while Giant Kamen Rider 1 is seen doing Ultraman's signature Spacium Beam stance.
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