{"product_id":"ultraman-zearth-2-superhuman-great-battle-light-and-shadow-ウルトラマンゼアス2-超人大戦-光と影-rare-original-japanese-movie-poster-1997-b1-size-71-103-cm-ja33","title":"“Ultraman Zearth 2: Superhuman Great Battle – Light and Shadow” (ウルトラマンゼアス2 超人大戦・光と影), Rare Original Japanese Movie Poster 1997, B1 Size (71 × 103 cm) JA33","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThis is an original \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese B1 theatrical poster\u003c\/strong\u003e printed in \u003cstrong\u003e1997\u003c\/strong\u003e for the first release of \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eUltraman Zearth 2: Superhuman Great Battle – Light and Shadow\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cstrong\u003eウルトラマンゼアス2 超人大戦・光と影\u003c\/strong\u003e).\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eProduced by \u003cstrong\u003eTsuburaya Productions\u003c\/strong\u003e and released in Japan through the \u003cstrong\u003eShochiku\u003c\/strong\u003e theatrical network, this large-format poster comes from a distinctive late-1990s chapter in the \u003cem\u003eUltraman\u003c\/em\u003e franchise, when the long-running series embraced a more self-aware, comedic and theatrical style while still delivering classic tokusatsu spectacle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eFilm background\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eReleased on \u003cstrong\u003e12 April 1997\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cem\u003eUltraman Zearth 2\u003c\/em\u003e is the sequel to the 1996 feature \u003cem\u003eUltraman Zearth\u003c\/em\u003e and forms part of the franchise’s 30th-anniversary era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eUnlike the more solemn, mythic tone associated with many earlier \u003cem\u003eUltraman\u003c\/em\u003e productions, the \u003cem\u003eZearth\u003c\/em\u003e films are notable for blending superhero action with broad comedy and parody. At the centre of the story is \u003cstrong\u003eKatsuto Asahi\u003c\/strong\u003e, a timid but earnest hero who transforms into \u003cstrong\u003eUltraman Zearth\u003c\/strong\u003e, a character memorably defined by his fear of dirt and germs. The sequel escalates the concept by pitting him against a dark counterpart, creating one of the most visually striking “hero versus anti-hero” campaigns in 1990s Japanese genre cinema.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eFor collectors of \u003cem\u003eUltraman\u003c\/em\u003e, tokusatsu, and late-Showa \/ early-Heisei theatrical paper, original large-format posters from this period are increasingly difficult to find, especially in strong condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003ePoster design\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis is one of the best-known and most dramatic designs created for the film’s theatrical campaign.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe composition is dominated by a tense face-off between \u003cstrong\u003eUltraman Shadow\u003c\/strong\u003e on the left and \u003cstrong\u003eUltraman Zearth\u003c\/strong\u003e on the right. The two figures confront one another in profile, filling almost the entire sheet and creating an immediate sense of conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA sharp bolt of lightning splits the composition vertically, visually reinforcing the film’s subtitle, \u003cstrong\u003e“Light and Shadow”\u003c\/strong\u003e, while the bold central Japanese tagline reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「最強の敵は、ウルトラマンだ。」\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(\u003cstrong\u003e“The strongest enemy… is an Ultraman.”\u003c\/strong\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe contrast between the two characters is handled beautifully:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUltraman Shadow\u003c\/strong\u003e appears in dark navy-black and gold, with glowing red eyes and a more sinister presence.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUltraman Zearth\u003c\/strong\u003e is rendered in vivid red, silver and white, with bright yellow eyes and a more familiar heroic profile.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAcross the top sits the metallic franchise title \u003cstrong\u003eウルトラマンゼアス2\u003c\/strong\u003e, while along the bottom runs a narrow strip of small photographic portraits showing members of the human cast and monster\/villain line-up, adding a lively commercial touch to the otherwise sleek, minimalist design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe result is a highly effective theatrical image: bold, clean, instantly readable from a distance, and very much in keeping with the oversized display formats used in Japanese cinemas during the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe B1 format\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003ePrinted in the impressive \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese B1 format\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cstrong\u003e71 × 103 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e), this poster is significantly larger than the standard B2 issue and was intended for more prominent in-theatre or public display use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eOriginal B1 posters were typically produced in far smaller numbers than regular retail-sized paper and are often far scarcer today, especially for 1990s genre titles and tokusatsu films. Surviving examples in strong condition are particularly desirable, as these larger sheets were more vulnerable to handling and display wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis poster is in \u003cstrong\u003eexcellent condition overall\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eIt shows only \u003cstrong\u003eminor signs of theatrical display\u003c\/strong\u003e, including \u003cstrong\u003etiny pinholes in each corner\u003c\/strong\u003e, along with light handling wear consistent with age and original cinema use. The colours remain strong and vivid, with the dark blue background, bright lightning bolt, and saturated red \/ yellow \/ gold costume details all presenting exceptionally well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003ePlease refer carefully to the photographs provided, as they show the \u003cstrong\u003eexact poster\u003c\/strong\u003e being offered for sale, including both front and reverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eIt is \u003cstrong\u003enot a reproduction or a reprint\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eIt is now \u003cstrong\u003eover 25 years old\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCode: JA33\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57279819514234,"sku":null,"price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/man-looking-at-an-art-gallery-wall_5_957d40e0-e49f-480c-808e-d82fe9aab173.jpg?v=1789688910","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/ultraman-zearth-2-superhuman-great-battle-light-and-shadow-%e3%82%a6%e3%83%ab%e3%83%88%e3%83%a9%e3%83%9e%e3%83%b3%e3%82%bc%e3%82%a2%e3%82%b92-%e8%b6%85%e4%ba%ba%e5%a4%a7%e6%88%a6-%e5%85%89%e3%81%a8%e5%bd%b1-rare-original-japanese-movie-poster-1997-b1-size-71-103-cm-ja33","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}