Gartura

Gartura (ガチュラ, Gachura)^[1][2] is an alien species of sentient parasitic plant capable of possessing humans. It first appeared in Ultraman Arc The Movie: The Clash of Light and Evil.

Subtitle: Interstellar Parasitic Plant (宇宙寄生植物, Uchū Kisei Shokubutsu)^[1][2][3]

History

Ultraman Arc The Movie: The Clash of Light and Evil

According to the GDF data, Gartura is a space plant of hosting humans with the ability to manipulate their hosts. In 2019, members of the GDF's Space Science Division discovered the creature while investigating a meteorite. Since seeds were found inside the meteorite, it was hypothesized that the creatures fell to Earth via the meteorite and began reproducing.

Since then, it has been found in various countries, including Russia and the Americas. With a succulent appearance, Gartura absorbs the intelligence of its host, and some have high IQs. Its goal to invade and colonize planets through its hosts led the GDF to categorize it as a Red Dangerous entity.

As the second test issued by Sascal to Yuma, a Gartura was found on the construction site of the Hoshimoto City Hall Branch Project. Due to its unusual appearance, Taniguchi from the city's Disaster Prevention and Safety Division sent the plant to SKIP for analysis. During the investigation, Shu identifies the plant as Gartura, but it suddenly attempts to escape. SKIP activates the biohazard prevention mechanism, but Gartura emits high-frequency waves, possessing one of the SKIP members.

The four members begin to suspect each other, but Shu points out that since Gachura has no resistance to caffeine, the person who drinks coffee and is repulsed by it will be the host. After conducting tests, it is finally discovered that Gartura has possessed the body of the Rin and is trying to escape by breaking the base's precautionary mechanism.

Yuma transforms into life-sized Ultraman Arc and battles Gartura Rin. However, the battle is at a stalemate as the infected Rin will be hurt if they don't make the right move. At that moment, YouPi scatters powder made from Shu's crushed coffee beans, causing Gartura to inhale the caffeine, which is expelled by Rin's coughing. Arc attempts to launch Arc Finalize, but Rin uses the Elema Gun to destroy Gartura.

Trivia

• The scene in which SKIP members suspect each other of being possessed by Gartura is widely seen as a nod to John Carpenter's The Thing.^[4]
  • Director Takanori Tsujimoto explained that this plot point was already present in the outline submitted by screenwriter Jun Tsugita. While specific inspirations weren't the focus, it was clear from the script that Tsugita wanted to explore how such a scenario would play out among the SKIP team.
  • At one point, they even considered tying someone to a chair—a direct homage—but ultimately dropped the idea to avoid turning it into parody. Some parts of the sequence were also cut during post-production due to length.
  • As for the intense battle between life-sized Arc and Gartura, Tsujimoto said he simply wanted to see more of Arc in that scale. Combined with how fun the scene was conceptually, it became a kind of fan service only possible through the medium of film.
• Gartura's aversion to caffeine is reminiscent of the parasite featured in the 1998 American film The Faculty.

Data

Stats

• Height: 15 ~ 40 cm^[3]
• Weight: 400 g^[3]
• Origin: Space
• Weaknesses:

TBA

Gallery

Ultraman Arc The Movie: The Clash of Light and Evil

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} https://m-78.jp/news/post-7313
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} https://tsuburaya-prod.com/news/8068
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} https://cocreco.kodansha.co.jp/telemaga/news/feature/arc/Tkrfx
4. ↑ https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0147465
5. ↑ https://hjweb.jp/article/1879964/