Ultraman
Though it falls just on the cusp of the Winter and Spring 2019 seasons, we’re putting this show down as a Winter entry due to it being completed and available before Spring kicks off in earnest.
The latest in a string of titles getting a modern re-imagining by Netflix, Ultraman is one of the stronger 3D anime adaptations to come to the streaming service.
Set several years after the events of the original series, Ultraman follows Shinjiro Hayata, the son of the original Ultraman. Following the emergence of a new alien threat, he must take up his father’s mantle and fight for the survival of Earth.
It’s a fairly standard setup for an Ultraman series, but the show does a great job of both celebrating and deconstructing the themes of its property.
For every sword and laser-filled battle against extra-terrestrial kaiju, there are discussions of whether all aliens should be viewed as threats.
It’s all presented in a 3D animation style that, while not always perfect, is done well enough to make the show a blast to watch.
