WoO is was a television series project planned by Tsuburaya Productions, conceived as their first special effects drama series. Proposed to Fuji Television in 1963 by Eiji Tsuburaya and Tetsuo Kinjo, the project was ultimately canceled.
Production
It is believed that the initial proposal for WoO was submitted to Fuji Television in the spring of 1963. The series revolves around a shapeless extraterrestrial creature named WoO from the Andromeda Nebula, drifting to Earth and aided by nude photographer Joji Akita to solve mysterious events together. Originally planned as part of the "Tsuburaya Fantasy Science Film Theater " series, each episode was slated for 30 minutes, totaling 39 episodes with a different protagonist each season. According to the original proposal, the first season's protagonist was WoO, the second season featured Rapper , and the third season introduced Space Horse .[1]
In April 1964, the contract between Fuji Television and WoO ultimately fell through, with Fuji TV representative Nishimura Gosuke citing "contractual issues" at the signing. The contract dispute stemmed from discrepancies in the contract terms between Fuji TV and Toho, leading to frustration on Toho's part. Anticipating revenues from WoO, Tsuburaya Productions had already ordered two high-performance optical printers, the only ones globally available at the time from the American Oxberry company. However, due to the project's cancellation, payment became impossible despite the equipment being in transit and unable to be canceled. At that time, Hajime Tsuburaya facilitated the purchase through TBS to utilize the equipment. Subsequently, TBS decided to use this equipment to start filming the special effects series Ultra Q. According to contemporary newspaper articles, production of WoO was believed to have ceased sometime after autumn 1964.
At the end of 1965, just before the broadcast of Ultra Q, TBS requested the development of a new program. It was during this time that the original submission for WoO evolved into TBS's version of "WoO," incorporating an organization called A.G.C (Art Graphic Center). While this proposal was not adopted, the concept later evolved into the foundation for Ultraman.[2]
Episodes
The series had a total of 13 planned scripts, with scripts completed for episodes one through five.[3]
The script collection of Tetsuo Kinjo published by Asahi Sonorama includes scripts for episode 1 and episode 2 of this work.[4] Asahi Sonorama's "The whole data issue of Ultraman" contains the full script of episode 5.[5]
| No. | Title | Screenwriter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alien Visitation [Note 1][6] | Tetsuo Kinjo, Eiji Tsuburaya (original case) | |
| Synopsis: Akita and Mari aim for Mount Fuji. At the summit's weather observation station, radio waves are blocked by dark sulfur gas. Sensing something amiss, the Mishima Observatory dispatches a rescue team. After developing photos taken by Mari in their office, Akita finds only strange images. They set off again towards Mount Fuji.
In the mountains at night, they encounter WoO and become friends, but are attacked by the rescue team. The next morning, a helicopter attacks WoO but is shot down in retaliation, and the crew is rescued by WoO. They reunite with WoO at the hot spring resort, but the police force attacks. WoO hide at the bottom of the lake. | |||
| 2 | Fuji Five Lakes Incident [Note 2][7] | Tetsuo Kinjo | |
| Synopsis: Akita and his team came to Lake Yamanaka for work, along with Taro and the models. There, a strange accident occurred which was later revealed to be a prank by WoO. Throughout the day, they encountered similarly odd occurrences during their filming up to the river mouth.
At Lake Sai, a juvenile delinquent escaped from a correctional facility and fled from the police, encountering similar strange phenomena and getting caught. Similar incidents occurred at Lake Shoji and Lake Motosu. It became clear that the Fuji Five Lakes are connected underground and that WoO acted alone. Another juvenile delinquent attacked Taro's group but was repelled by WoO and handed over to the police. | |||
| 3 | Great Earthquake [Note 3] | Hiroyasu Yamaura | |
| Synopsis: In Kogane Valley, while an earthquake occurred, a hotel opened for business. Akita and his team were there for filming. Geologist Shimamura and Junko were attacked by unknown assailants, but were rescued by WoO, who informed them about a major volcanic eruption scheduled for 11 o'clock the next day.
They informed the hotel owner, Daizo, about the eruption, but were captured by the police. The two in the cell were rescued by WoO. Using his wit, Akita managed to evacuate the residents away from Kogane Valley, but Junko went missing. When they returned to the hotel, they found Daizo and Junko, and at that moment, the volcano erupted! The four were saved by WoO. | |||
| 4 | Frozen Amoeba [Note 4][8] | Takeo Murata, Hiroyasu Yamaura, and Koji Kajita, Ryu Mitsuse (original case) | |
| Synopsis: The JET passenger plane crashes due to freezing. While filming aboard a summer boat, Akita and the others encounter Fuyuko. Suddenly, the boat malfunctions and the temperature inside drops. Passengers are rescued by helicopter, but Akita and Fuyuko are missing.
The Japan Coast Guard predicts that icebergs are heading towards the Tsurumi industrial waterfront and initiates bombing. Akita, rescued by WOO, learns that freezing amoebas caused by the Alien Route are the cause. He requests WOO's help to exterminate them but is refused. It is revealed that Fuyuko was a Alien Route, and the Alien Route are defeated by WOO. | |||
| 5 | *WoO and the Explosion Maniac [Note 5][9] | Shoji Otomo | |
| Synopsis: Near a bridge on the Tokaido Shinkansen, Akita witnessed a derailment accident. Akita was initially suspected by the police due to his scoop, but the recovered train driver confirmed that the real culprit was someone else. After being released, Akita met a man named Fujikawa who had invented a new brake system.
Japan Railways received a threatening letter from Taro Soka. With the help of WoO, the accident was prevented in time. When another bomb threat came from Soka, Akita followed Taro to track Fujikawa. Nagoya faced a bomb threat, putting the train Akita was on in danger. Akita contacted WoO, and both Fujikawa and the bomb were eventually neutralized. | |||
| 6 | WoO's First Love | N/A | |
| 7 | WoO Gets Furious! | N/A | |
| 8 | Magic Line | Hiroyasu Yamaura, Tetsuo Kinjo (original case) | |
| 9 | Gorgeous Murder Warning | N/A | |
| 10 | Shatter the Undersea Base | N/A | |
| 11 | The Green Terror | N/A | |
| 12 | WoO's Great Trouble | N/A | |
| 13 | WOO's Tears | N/A | |
- ↑ During the preparation draft stage, the title of this episode was "WoO's Visitation" .
- ↑ During the preparation draft stage, the title of this episode was "Squirming Lake Bed" .
- ↑ During the preparation draft stage, the title of this episode was "Major Eruption" .
- ↑ During the preparation draft stage, this episode was the fifth installment.
- ↑ During the preparation draft stage, this episode was the fourth installment titled "Explosion Maniac" .
TBS's WoO
TBS's version of "WoO" was a new project request made just before the broadcast of "Ultra Q" in late autumn of 1965.The conceptual proposal document for this version is still preserved today.[10]
| No. | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | WoO Appears |
| 2 | Metatron M |
| 4 | Space Spores |
| 4 | Space Monster |
| 6 | Shatter the Undersea Base |
| 7 | Blood-sucking Shell |
| 8 | WoO and WoO |
| 9 | Primitive Kaiju |
| 10 | Earth's Last Day |
| 11 | Chase the Missile |
| 12 | Rose of Mars |
| 13 | Crisis of the Space Station |
Gallery
Trivia
- In terms of casting, the only actress publicly announced was Yoshimi Ukiss, planned to play the lead role (portraying Dorothy).[11] According to "Genesis of Ultraman," the only confirmed actor for the lead role of Jiro Akita was Kenji Sahara.[12]
- Ken Kumagai commissioned concept art from Japanese artist Shigeru Komatsuzaki based on the preparation for that series. Five concept art pieces are known to exist, all of which are in black and white. The only color version found depicts a scene from episode 12, "WoO's Great Trouble," showing WoO causing destruction in Tokyo.[13][14]
- The title of the series became the source for the name "Woo," which appeared in the episode 30 of Ultraman.
- The residual plan of WoO later resurfaced in 2006 as Bio Planet WoO, featuring a supporting character named Jiro Akita, who shares the same name as the original protagonist. In this series, he appears as a magazine journalist.
References
- ↑ https://x.com/ymtgt435/status/1228942083404124160
- ↑ Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 02: Ultraman, pg 4
- ↑ http://ultraq.web.fc2.com/woo.html
- ↑ Tetsuo Kinjo Scenario Masterpiece Collection pg 353-394
- ↑ The whole data issue of Ultraman pg 311-332
- ↑ https://k.mandarake.co.jp/auction/item/itemInfoJa.html?index=657989
- ↑ https://jp.mercari.com/zh-TW/item/m68852939738
- ↑ https://k.mandarake.co.jp/auction/item/itemInfoEn.html?index=681883
- ↑ https://k.mandarake.co.jp/auction/item/itemInfoJa.html?index=570029
- ↑ http://imaginerjp.livedoor.blog/archives/562194.html
- ↑ https://x.com/ichikawakon/status/1130724054753693696
- ↑ Ultraman Genesis (2003) pg 14
- ↑ https://ascii.jp/elem/000/001/273/1273700/
- ↑ https://x.com/team_treasures/status/790029192951844864