“Ultraman / Ultra Family” (これがウルトラファミリーだ!!), Original Japanese Long-Format Promotional Poster 1979, 36 × 98 cm, B291
This is an original Japanese long-format promotional poster printed in 1979 celebrating the great Ultra Family line-up from Tsuburaya Productions. Issued at the height of the late-1970s Ultraman revival, this striking panoramic piece brings together the principal heroes of the franchise’s classic Shōwa-era run in one dramatic, highly collectible composition.
A superb ensemble image, it is both a nostalgic children’s entertainment artifact and an important visual record of the Ultraman franchise at a key moment in its history.
Franchise background
Created by Eiji Tsuburaya and produced by Tsuburaya Productions (円谷プロ), the Ultraman franchise remains one of the foundational pillars of Japanese tokusatsu. Across television, film, live events, and magazine culture, the Ultra heroes became enduring icons of postwar Japanese popular culture.
By 1979, the franchise was undergoing a major resurgence, coinciding with the broadcast of The Ultraman and renewed theatrical and promotional activity. This poster reflects that moment perfectly, presenting the expanded Ultra Family as a unified heroic lineage.
The line-up shown here includes, from left to right:
- Ultraman King
- Ultraman Leo
- Ultraman Taro
- Return of Ultraman / Ultraman Jack
- Ultraman
- Ultra Seven
- Ultraman Ace
- Zoffy
- Astra
- Father of Ultra
- Mother of Ultra
Poster design
The design is wonderfully bold and immediate. Set against a deep black outer-space background enlivened by glowing bursts of light and stardust, the eleven Ultra characters stand in a continuous panoramic row, each posed in a distinctive stance. At the centre is the original Ultraman, anchoring the composition as the symbolic heart of the franchise.
The upper-right corner carries the large yellow slogan:
「これがウルトラファミリーだ!!」
“This is the Ultra Family!!”
Each character is identified with small red text beneath, while the lower-left corner bears the ©円谷プロ copyright notice. The overall effect is celebratory, graphic, and unmistakably of its period—an ideal piece for collectors of tokusatsu, kaiju, and vintage Japanese pop culture.
Format
This is a Japanese long-format poster, measuring approximately 36 × 98 cm. Pieces of this type were often distributed folded, sometimes as promotional premiums or magazine-related inserts, and are far scarcer today than standard B2 theatrical posters.
Condition
Very good / excellent condition. A very attractive example overall, with strong colour and excellent display presence. There are original fold lines, as expected for this format, along with light general handling wear consistent with age and original distribution. Once displayed, it presents extremely well.
Please refer carefully to the photographs, as they show the exact poster for sale.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
