By VeVe Staff · July 29, 2025
Have you watched Ultraman Rising yet?
It’s the latest chapter in a story that’s been evolving since the 1960s. The film landed in 2024, created by Netflix and Tsuburaya Productions, and it brings something new to the table. This is Ultraman reimagined. Fresh animation. Real emotion. A global lens that speaks to longtime fans and new collectors alike.
It’s a different kind of Ultraman. One made for right now.
In this article, we’ll explore the story, the characters, and the deep threads connecting it all to Ultraman history. We’ll also show you where to collect your own part of the legacy through VeVe’s digital Ultraman collectibles and comics.
Ultraman Rising is a story about legacy, responsibility, and a kind of fatherhood no one sees coming.
Ken Sato is a Japanese baseball star who returns to Tokyo. He’s expected to take up the mantle of Ultraman, following in the footsteps of those before him. But after a battle with a kaiju, he’s left with its orphaned baby. Now he’s not just Earth’s protector. He’s a parent.
The film balances action with emotion. Ken’s journey isn’t only about saving the world. It's more than that. It’s about confronting his past, reconnecting with his father, and figuring out who he wants to be.
Directed by Shannon Tindle, the animation brings energy and personality to every scene. On VeVe, that energy becomes something you can collect. Every pose, transformation, and kaiju clash lives right in your space through digital Ultraman collectibles and AR display.
Ken Sato is the main character and heart of the story. He’s the new Ultraman, but he didn’t exactly ask for it.
Abroad, Ken is a confident baseball star. But when he returns to Japan, the spotlight shifts. He’s forced to confront the legacy he left behind and a father who pulled away after the loss of Ken’s mother.
Taking on the Ultraman mantle wasn’t part of his plan. Neither was raising a kaiju.
That changes when he meets Emi, a baby kaiju left behind after a battle. Caring for her becomes the turning point. Ken starts to grow. He sheds the ego and begins to understand what real responsibility looks like.
His journey is full of conflict. Conversations with his estranged father. Moments of reflection with Mina, a robotic assistant with a personality modeled after his mother. These scenes bring a level of emotional depth that’s rarely been explored in Ultraman history.
The film features a cast of layered, emotionally resonant characters that contribute to Ultraman Rising's depth and appeal to new fans:
Together, these characters reinforce themes of legacy, responsibility, and redemption, which are central to fans who collect Ultraman collectibles.
The voice cast in Ultraman Rising brings real heart. These aren’t just performances. They’re what make the humor real, the action exciting, and the emotions believable.
Christopher Sean leads as Ken Sato. He brings swagger, yes, but also vulnerability. His voice work gives Ken room to be flawed, to struggle, and eventually to grow. We were already fans of his performance. After working with him during the VeVe digital release, we’re even bigger fans now. You can hear the care he brings to every line.
Tamlyn Tomita voices Mina, Ken's AI mother figure with warmth and quiet strength. She’s a grounding force in the story, helping Ken find clarity in the middle of everything falling apart. Her delivery adds heart without ever pushing too hard.
Gedde Watanabe gives Professor Sato the weight he needs. He plays the role with a quiet sadness, showing how duty and grief can sit side by side.
Keone Young as Dr. Onda adds edge. Julia Harriman as Ami brings balance and levity. Together, the cast creates a world that feels full, lived-in, and emotionally real.
The English voice casting respects the roots of Ultraman history while making it accessible for a global audience. It’s one of the reasons this film feels like a bridge between cultures, generations, and longtime fans.
Grab your family and a full bucket of popcorn, because Ultraman Rising has a runtime of 116 minutes (1 hour and 56 minutes). It was released globally on Netflix on June 14, 2024.
In its debut week, it reached #2 on Netflix’s global Top 10 English-language films, appearing in over 60 countries’ top streaming lists.
Fan sources estimate that when Ken Sato transforms into Ultraman, he stands around 40 meters tall (131 feet), which aligns with the size of classic Ultra heroes.
The film honors the classic kaiju battle scale while using modern animation to make battles more dynamic and emotional.
His height not only maintains continuity within Ultraman history but also reinforces the visual and thematic divide between his human and superhero identities. It’s also symbolic of the emotional growth Ken undergoes. That scale comes to life in VeVe’s AR experience. Ultraman doesn't just appear. He arrives with presence.
Ultraman Rising is an alternate universe entry that honors classic Ultraman themes while presenting a self-contained narrative. It is not connected to the main Ultra Series continuity but draws inspiration from several core concepts:
Its emotional tone aligns more closely with Ultraman Nexus or Shin Ultraman, which also explores deeper, more personal themes.
In terms of visuals, Ultraman Rising pays tribute to the transformation sequences and Specium Beam attacks familiar to fans of the Showa and Heisei eras. However, it reinterprets them in a Westernized animation style, blending Eastern mythology with Western narrative pacing. You can view and collect poster artwork from Ultraman Rising on VeVe.
.jpeg)
If you’re looking to extend your fandom, VeVe offers a wide range of officially licensed Ultraman collectibles, including digital figures and comics. Each piece gives fans a new way to connect with the Ultraman universe and celebrate its legacy.
With VeVe’s augmented reality feature, fans can explore a new dimension of collecting that blends nostalgia with innovation. These Ultraman collectibles bring the series into today’s world, offering a fresh way to experience a timeless favorite.
Founded in 2018, VeVe was created for collectors by collectors to bring premium licensed digital collectibles to the mass market. With over 8 million NFTs sold, VeVe is the largest carbon neutral digital collectibles platform, and one of the top grossing Entertainment Apps in the Google Play and Apple stores. #CollectorsAtHeart
