Shin Ultraman doesn’t deviate much from Japanese monster movie conventions. Scientists, military personnel, and other costumed shirts stare at computer screens to provide breathtaking commentary. Even the human-focused scenes showcase an amazing level of storytelling skill and narrative organization. At times, the camera is placed on the floor, looking up at the SSSP team, crouching in front of a laptop and his computer. Sometimes the camera is across the room from the human subject. Just constant movement and ever-changing perspective.
Its relentless pace and crazy presentation reflect how tech-addicted humans perceive Ultraman’s existence. Even with all the screens, phones and cameras available, we still have to turn the corner and peek at an imperfect picture of what’s going on. However, they quickly recall their limited understanding of reality.
Higuchi and Anno’s alien monsters also speak and act with just the right mix of childlike simplicity and adult-friendly quirkiness. reminds Shinji of Just as aliens see us as natural resources, we see Ultraman and his monster friends as potential weapons.
Each monster fight confirms what Ultraman fans already know: he’s always there to take a punch for you. He doesn’t even make the sound of his mouth, just the whine of his noise his body makes as it glides through the air like a drone jet. Ultraman acts like a child’s dream of heroism: he’s inhuman, agile, completely trustworthy, and instantly understood.
