Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider

This special presents a retrospective look at two longrunning tokusatsu icons, blending documentary segments with a short action piece. The program breaks down the heroes' gear, fighting styles, and mythologies through interviews and archival clips, then stages a compact showdown called "Super Battle: Ultraman vs Kamen Rider." In that final vignette Ultraman and Kamen Rider 1 each take on their own monstrous opponents. When those foes fuse into a stronger threat, Ultraman struggles and signals for help. Kamen Rider 1 responds in an unexpected way, growing to enormous scale so the two can fight side by side, a brief, physical spectacle that emphasizes practical effects and suit performance without changing the past of either franchise.

Directed by Keita Amemiya and drawing on creators Shinichi Sekizawa and Masaru Igami for its concept, the 1993 release mixes documentary framing with staged tokusatsu action, featuring voice appearances from Susumu Kurobe and Hiroshi Fujioka.

Among genre fans this special is remembered for putting two household names into the same frame and for its playful show of scale and stuntcraft. Seeing veteran actors like Hiroshi Miyauchi and Kohji Moritsugu appear as themselves adds a layer of backstage nostalgia. The sequence where Rider enlarges to join Ultraman sticks in viewers' minds, and the emphasis on suit actors and miniature sets speaks to the tactile roots of tokusatsu filmmaking.

Critical and fan reception leans positive, though coverage is largely within specialist circles. The available rating sits high, but from a small sample. Viewers tend to appreciate the program as a tribute to legacy heroes, highlighting cooperation, heroism, and the contrast between personal combat and giant-monster spectacle. It works best for people who like practical effects, stunt work, and a concise, affectionate look at two franchises rather than a full crossover epic.