Ultraman Z: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Ultraman Z: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 14, 2025

With every new Ultraman release, I continue to be amazed not merely at the rapid rate at which Mill Creek is releasing the franchise to the Blu-ray format but also the rapid rate with which the franchise is spilling onto screens all around the globe. The decades-long obsession with Japan’s popular export — maybe not her biggest but one of her most enduring, and endearing — only seems to be gaining traction, especially now in the franchise’s New Generation Hero series which has aimed to spread popularity by offering the program in more ways and producing it with an eye towards building the fan base while also continuing to satisfy those who have been around for 10, 20, 30, and maybe even more years. With Ultraman Z, Tsuburaya Productions celebrates the 10-year anniversary of Ultraman Zero with 25 new spinoff episodes (plus three recap episodes) that does not take the franchise in a new direction but continues in that uncanny tradition of maintaining momentum and building fan engagement while maintaining relative familiarity with the show’s roots.

Ultraman Z follows the title character tracking down the deadly Devil Splinters to Earth. There, Z teams up with the heroic human team, codename STORAGE (Special Tactical Operations Regimental Airborne and Ground Equipment), and fights alongside the anti-monster robot “Sevenger.” Z also bonds with a human STORAGE officer named Haruki Natsukawa, who pilots “Sevenger.” As they battle terrible foes of increasing strength, the fate of the world once again hangs in the balance.

So, if you read that plot synopsis and found it to sound familiar, chances are you’re at least someone who has dabbled in the franchise at some point or another, because the show does, at least on its top surface and along its most linear pathway, follow the fundamentals of its predecessors. Yet what this iteration does well is to not only play to so many of the themes and storylines from previous entries, but do so in a way that makes jumping in here relatively painless with (mostly) clear details of the how’s and why’s of those connections plain to see but also not a hindrance to those who may not be as familiar with the ins-and-outs as more veteran viewers. So, it does what it does in the right way: it’s deep and superficial at the same time, rewarding for veterans and easy and fun for newcomers. That’s the mark of a good show, good writing, and passionate people at the helm. Everyone wins!

One of this series’ highlights is the relationship between Z and Haruki. While it’s never all that novel — again speaking in terms of the most basic ebbs and flows working in the overreaching narrative — there’s a depth to the relationship that goes beyond the normal franchise bondings and pairings and allows for a richer drama, especially as the show begins tinkering and toying with deeper themes that cause them challenge individually and as a fighting unit. The rest of the roster is solid, with a nice blend of new and well- (though maybe a little underwhelming) developed secondary characters as well as some surprises, especially in the return, and transformation, of a familiar name and face.

The action and production values are everything fans have come to expect from the more recent Ultraman productions. While it maintains the familiar charm (obvious miniatures galore) and caters to the franchise’s tried-and-true formula, there’s obviously a good bit of innovation here that brings the show squarely into that modern, daresay even cutting edge, place where it’s bigger, brighter, faster, and more suitable for modern audiences while, again — and it seems it bears repeating with most every Ultraman review — still catering to the longtime audiences. Expect plenty of action-packed excitement, unforgettable clashes, and great character moments, in one of the better of the recent Ultraman efforts.

Ultraman Z: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Color me very impressed with Mill Creek's work on Ultraman Z. The 1080p presentation is gorgeous, filling the 1.78:1 frame with resolutely sumptuous video elements that are crisp, sharp, boldly colorful, and fully lifelike in every shot. The image couldn't be any more crisp or clear at the 1080p resolution. Near infinite definition spreads side to side, top to bottom, corner to corner. Razor-sharp details abound on anything and everything, from faces to clothes, from Ultra and Kaiju costumes to every little nook and cranny visible within the frame. Nothing escapes peak detail at 1080p. Viewers will be able to soak in every element in each frame with expert precision and perfect sharpness. This is particularly impressive in various Ultra and kaiju battles, where the pause button becomes the viewer's friend, allowing for opportunity to explore every one of the costume's many details. There will never be any question into what, exactly, what into making every one of them, at least the surface. Colors are rich and bold, ranging from colorful attire, natural greenery, and the explosion of colors on Ultras and kaiju creatures. Every frame is packed with brilliantly vivid, deeply saturated, and realistic color expression. This extends to skin tones, which appear perfectly balanced and accurate in every shot, no matter the lighting. Speaking of, white balance is wonderful (especially on-screen text) and black levels are inky deep and perfectly so. At normal viewing distance, I didn't spot any troublesome compression issues, either.

Ultraman Z: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Utlraman Z arrives on Blu-ray with a pair of DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtracks, the primary being the native Japanese track and the secondary being the English dub. I spent most of the time with the Japanese track and walked away satisfied. It's lively and crisp, highly detailed and effortlessly clear. Range along the front is solid, with good separation, fluid dynamics, and wide stretch to the furthest ends of the stage. I did find myself wishing for surround immersion in various action scenes, and the absence of a 5.1 track is pretty glaring, at times, but this track does all it can (and then some!) within the 2.0 configuration. Dialogue is centered and crisp for the duration. I only sampled the English here and there and found no significant departures in terms of fidelity, stage stretch, and overall definition and detail.

Ultraman Z: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sadly, this three-disc Blu-ray release of Ultraman Z contains no supplemental content per se, but there are three "Bonus Recap Episodes" (1080p, Dolby Digital 2.0, 24:28, 24:28, 24:30) that are, yes, story recaps for the full series run. If you've watched and are ready for the next series, watch this to catch up. Also, the set includes a small, stapled booklet with an episode and kaiju guide. No digital copy codes are included, but this release does ship with a non-embossed slipcover. It's worth noting that the back of the box advertises the inclusion of "a playable card from the 'Ultraman' card game," but I was not fortunate enough to receive one. I don't know if that was an accidental failure to include it in my particular copy or if it's a printing error and no cards were actually distributed with this set.

Ultraman Z: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ultraman Z is one of the most technically polished in the franchise as well as being both accessible to newcomers and deep enough to satisfy longtime (and really longtime) franchise fans. The Blu-ray is likewise polished, especially in the video department where I could find no flaw. I wish the audio was presented in the 5.1 configuration, but this is near best case scenario for 2.0. No supplements is a bummer, but expected. Recommended, especially at a bargain price!