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 "slug": "ultraman-orb",
 "title": "Ultraman Orb (ウルトラマンオーブ)",
 "updated": "2026-11-01",
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 "excerpt": "Ultraman Orb (ウルトラマンオーブ) is Tsuburaya's 2016 tokusatsu series, the 42nd Ultraman, airing 25 episodes on TV Tokyo from July 9, 2016. Hero Gai Kurenai (Hideo Ishiguro) uses Fusion Up, combining two past Ultra warriors' powers via the Orb Ring, directed by Kiyotaka Taguchi for the franchise's 50th anniversary.",
 "snippet": "Ultraman Orb (ウルトラマンオーブ) is Tsuburaya's 2016 tokusatsu series, the 42nd Ultraman, airing 25 episodes on TV Tokyo from July 9, 2016. Hero Gai Kurenai (Hideo Ishiguro) uses Fusion Up, combining two past Ultra warriors' powers via the Orb Ring, directed by Kiyotaka Taguchi for the franchise's 50th anniversary.",
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 "markdown": "# Ultraman Orb (ウルトラマンオーブ)\n\n**Ultraman Orb** (ウルトラマンオーブ) is a Japanese tokusatsu (special-effects) television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions, TV Tokyo, and Dentsu, broadcast on the [TV Tokyo](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-tokyo) network from July 9 to December 24, 2016 in a Saturday 9:00–9:30 morning slot, running 25 episodes<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://kojiko.cool.coocan.jp/ultra.html)</sup>. Its hero, the 42nd Ultraman in the series' history, fights by borrowing the power of past Ultra warriors and transforming into forms with different characteristics, a mechanic called Fusion Up<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup>. The series aired in the year marking the 50th anniversary of the original 1966 *Ultraman* broadcast<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup>.\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Broadcast | July 9 – December 24, 2016, TV Tokyo network, Saturdays 9:00–9:30, 25 episodes<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://kojiko.cool.coocan.jp/ultra.html)</sup> |\n| Production | Tsuburaya Productions, TV Tokyo, Dentsu<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup> |\n| Lead | Hideo Ishiguro as Gai Kurenai, the wandering young man who becomes Ultraman Orb<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup> |\n| Main director | Kiyotaka Taguchi, continuing from *Ultraman X* (2015)<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup> |\n| Signature mechanic | Fusion Up: two Ultra Fusion Cards double-read on the Orb Ring combine past warriors' powers<sup>[3](https://www.b-ch.com/titles/5268/)</sup> |\n| First form | Spacium Zeperion, combining Ultraman and Ultraman Tiga<sup>[4](https://ultraman.fandom.com/ja/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%83%AB%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96)</sup> |\n| Time limit | Fusion Up lasts 3 minutes; below one minute the Color Timer blinks and the borrowed warriors begin to emerge from Orb's body<sup>[4](https://ultraman.fandom.com/ja/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%83%AB%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96)</sup> |\n| Follow-ups | *The Origin Saga* (12 episodes, Amazon Prime Video, 2016–2017), theatrical film (March 2017), *Ultra Fight Orb* (8 episodes, 2017), *THE CHRONICLE* (26 episodes, 2018)<sup>[2](https://kojiko.cool.coocan.jp/ultra.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.shochiku.co.jp/cinema/lineup/ultraman/)</sup> |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and characters\n\nThe story follows Naomi Yumeno (played by Miyabi Matsuura), who since childhood has repeatedly dreamed of a giant shining figure battling a monster. That dream leads her to found SSP (Something Search People), a paranormal-phenomena tracking site, with her friends Jetta Hayami (Naoto Takahashi) and Shin Matsudo (Hiroki Nerio)<sup>[3](https://www.b-ch.com/titles/5268/)</sup>. Investigating abnormal tornadoes, the group encounters the drifter Gai Kurenai, whose true identity is Ultraman Orb, a warrior of light from across the galaxy<sup>[3](https://www.b-ch.com/titles/5268/)</sup>.\n\nGai transforms by double-reading two cards containing the power of past Ultra warriors on the transformation device called the Orb Ring, fusing their abilities into a single new form<sup>[3](https://www.b-ch.com/titles/5268/)</sup>. Behind the battles stands his adversary Jugglus Juggler (Takaya Aoyagi), a mysterious man wielding the Dark Ring, who laughs darkly as the war over the terrifying Maga-Orochi-class monster beasts, the Lord Monsters, begins<sup>[3](https://www.b-ch.com/titles/5268/)</sup>. The cast also includes Shinji Yanagihara as Naomi's uncle Shibukawa Ittetsu of the special investigation team Beetle<sup>[6](https://www.allcinema.net/cinema/pdf/356475)</sup>.\n\n### Franchise context and follow-up works\n\nThe series arrived at a symbolic moment. The original *Ultraman* first appeared on television on July 10, 1966, in the \"Ultraman Eve Festival: Ultraman Is Born\" special, with the series proper starting the following week on July 17; that series recorded a 36.8% average rating and a 42.8% peak<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup>. Orb was presented as the 42nd hero in that lineage<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup>.\n\nThe property expanded quickly beyond the 25-episode run:\n\n- ***Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA***, a 12-episode prequel story, streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video from December 26, 2016 to March 13, 2017<sup>[2](https://kojiko.cool.coocan.jp/ultra.html)</sup>.\n- The theatrical film ***Gekijoban Ultraman Orb: Kizuna no Chikara, Okarishimasu!*** opened in March 2017. In it, an alien army of darkness tries to turn the Earth into a jewel with the Dark Ring, Ultraman Zero and Ultraseven join the battle, and the bonds with the New Generation Heroes Ginga, Victory, and X grant Orb the ultimate power of \"Trinity Fusion\"<sup>[5](https://www.shochiku.co.jp/cinema/lineup/ultraman/)</sup>.\n- ***Ultra Fight Orb***, an 8-episode short-form battle series, aired from April 15 to June 3, 2017, ahead of *Ultraman Geed*<sup>[2](https://kojiko.cool.coocan.jp/ultra.html)</sup>.\n- ***Ultraman Orb THE CHRONICLE***, a re-edited compilation program narrated by Gai himself, ran on TV Tokyo from January 6 to June 30, 2018 for 26 episodes, packaging the TV series, the film, and *Ultra Fight Orb* with new specials<sup>[2](https://kojiko.cool.coocan.jp/ultra.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[10](https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/uo/introduction/)</sup>.\n\n## Fusion Up\n\nFusion Up is the series' central mechanic. Fusion Up forms combine the powers of two previous Ultra Heroes, but Orb Origin is his original form and Orb Trinity combines the powers of Ginga, Victory, and X: the first announced form, Spacium Zeperion, fuses the original Ultraman and Ultraman Tiga, the two series whose anniversaries (50 years and 20 years respectively) the 2016 broadcast year celebrated<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://ultraman.fandom.com/ja/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%83%AB%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[15](https://tsuburaya-prod.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Summary_orb-1.pdf)</sup>. In the transformation sequence, reading a card summons the corresponding warrior's figure, which overlays Orb's body; the transformation sound combines the two warriors' own sounds, and Orb can change to another form after transforming<sup>[4](https://ultraman.fandom.com/ja/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%83%AB%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96)</sup>.\n\nThe borrowed power carries a cost. A Fusion Up lasts three minutes, and when less than a minute remains and the Color Timer, shaped like the letter O on Orb's chest, begins to blink, the borrowed warriors visibly start to emerge from Orb's body<sup>[4](https://ultraman.fandom.com/ja/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%83%AB%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96)</sup>. Orb's design reflects the mechanic: his head shape and body motifs evoke the warriors he has fused with, his eyes are bluish white with black worked into the torso, and the vertical crystal on his forehead shines a different color for each form<sup>[4](https://ultraman.fandom.com/ja/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%83%AB%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96)</sup>. The toy line mirrored the show: Bandai's DX Orb Ring reads the Ultra Fusion Cards, announcing each warrior's name and playing the combined transformation sound for forms such as Hurricane Slash and Thunder Breaster<sup>[7](https://toy.bandai.co.jp/assets/products/ultraman/documents/4549660207955000.pdf)</sup>.\n\n## Production\n\nTsuburaya Productions announced the series on April 25, 2016, positioning Orb as a \"wandering\" new Ultraman who fights by borrowing the power of past warriors<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup>. Kiyotaka Taguchi served as main director for the second consecutive year after *Ultraman X*, with Abe Yuichi, Ichino Ryuichi, Tomita Taku, and Takesue Masayoshi also directing, and series composition by Takao Nakao and Yuji Kobayashi<sup>[1](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.allcinema.net/cinema/pdf/356475)</sup>.\n\nAt the production announcement event at Tokyo Toy Show in June 2016, Taguchi explained his approach to the anniversary year: rather than a \"grand summary\" of 50 years of Ultraman, he deliberately steered toward \"an experiment in where to take Ultraman from now on,\" telling staff and cast \"if in doubt, play!\"<sup>[8](https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1465540773)</sup>. In a pre-broadcast interview he added that since the hero concept of borrowing Ultraman's and Tiga's power was already set, he chose not to add further world-building callbacks to past series<sup>[9](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20160708-ultraman/)</sup>. The same event announced that the theme song would be performed by the veteran anison singer Ichiro Mizuki<sup>[8](https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1465540773)</sup>.\n\n## Reception and availability\n\nThe series has remained available long after broadcast. As of 2026 listings, it streams on services including U-NEXT (unlimited viewing), Hulu, and DMM TV, with rental or purchase options on Prime Video, TELASA, J:COM STREAM, and music.jp<sup>[11](https://filmarks.com/dramas/1421/2863/vod)</sup>. Tsuburaya's official channels have also revisited it: the 60th-anniversary project released *Ultra Fight Orb* episodes for free limited windows on the official YouTube channel in 2025<sup>[12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTU_KogHBac)</sup>, and a 10th-anniversary official upload of the first episode followed in 2026<sup>[13](https://digitalcreators.jp/channel/ja/UC5PBnSG7C0WXp5gjd4bzKtw/videos/)</sup>. In a fan popularity ranking of all Ultraman series, *Ultraman Orb* placed 20th<sup>[14](https://ranking.net/rankings/best-ultraman)</sup>.\n\n## References\n\n1. [新TVシリーズ『ウルトラマンオーブ』放送開始プレスリリース（2016年4月25日）, 円谷プロダクション公式](https://m-78.jp/pressrelease/160425-orb-2)\n2. [ウルトラマンドットコム・ウルトラマン教（シリーズ放送・配信年表）](https://kojiko.cool.coocan.jp/ultra.html)\n3. [ウルトラマンオーブ, バンダイチャンネル 作品ページ](https://www.b-ch.com/titles/5268/)\n4. [ウルトラマンオーブ, ウルトラマン Wiki (Fandom)](https://ultraman.fandom.com/ja/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%83%AB%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96)\n5. [劇場版 ウルトラマンオーブ　絆の力、おかりします！, 松竹](https://www.shochiku.co.jp/cinema/lineup/ultraman/)\n6. [ウルトラマンオーブ (2016), allcinema](https://www.allcinema.net/cinema/pdf/356475)\n7. [ウルトラマンオーブ DXオーブリング 取扱説明書, バンダイ](https://toy.bandai.co.jp/assets/products/ultraman/documents/4549660207955000.pdf)\n8. [新番組『ウルトラマンオーブ』製作発表会レポート！, アニメイトタイムズ (2016)](https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1465540773)\n9. [放送直前『ウルトラマンオーブ』田口清隆監督独占インタビュー, マイナビニュース (2016)](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20160708-ultraman/)\n10. [イントロダクション　ウルトラマンオーブ THE CHRONICLE, テレビ東京アニメ公式](https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/uo/introduction/)\n11. [ウルトラマンオーブの動画配信サービス・視聴方法・サブスクまとめ, Filmarksドラマ](https://filmarks.com/dramas/1421/2863/vod)\n12. [『ウルトラファイトオーブ 親子の力、おかりします！』ウルトラマンシリーズ60周年記念公式配信, ウルトラマン公式YouTube (2025)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTU_KogHBac)\n13. [ウルトラマン公式 ULTRAMAN OFFICIAL by TSUBURAYA PROD. YouTube最新動画一覧, デジタルクリエイターズ](https://digitalcreators.jp/channel/ja/UC5PBnSG7C0WXp5gjd4bzKtw/videos/)\n14. [歴代ウルトラマン作品人気ランキング, みんなのランキング](https://ranking.net/rankings/best-ultraman)\n15. [Summary Orb 1.pdf, tsuburaya-prod.com](https://tsuburaya-prod.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Summary_orb-1.pdf)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › Japanese contemporary drama*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Ultraman Orb (ウルトラマンオーブ)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/ultraman-orb. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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 "speakable": "Ultraman Orb is Tsuburaya's 2016 tokusatsu series, the 42nd Ultraman, airing 25 episodes on TV Tokyo from July 9, 2016."
}