The Year We Became Light

At this time, the core theme of "Ultraman Tiga" came into play again.

Ultraman is both light and human!

From the beginning, this tokusatsu series emphasized the importance of humanity's own efforts!

Ultraman's power comes from the light in people's hearts, it is humans who give Ultraman his strength!

"Tiga!"

While many adults were in despair, the children continued to believe in their hero — Ultraman Tiga!

Children of all skin colors and nationalities stood up, shouting Tiga's name, their bodies glowing with golden light.

On the dark-covered earth, the light emitted by the children flew into the sky, gathered in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, and infused into Tiga's statue.

Accompanied by the high-energy theme song, Daiko, inside Tiga, opened his eyes wide.

He was surrounded by light!

Children from all over the world ran towards him.

These lights were the physical manifestation of the hope that the world's children had not abandoned!

These lights revived Ultraman Tiga and transformed him into Glitter Tiga.

At this moment, Tiga was not fighting alone.

Thousands of children had become Ultraman Tiga!

Watching the first-person perspective on the screen, many children at home imitated the kids in the show, posing and mimicking Ultraman's punches and beam attacks.

Finally, Gatangra's shell was shattered by Glitter Zepellion Ray, and he was completely destroyed by a special timer flash from Ultraman Tiga and all the children worldwide!

With the final victory photo of the Super GUTS team, "Ultraman Tiga" officially came to an end.

The photo of the children becoming light and the group photo of the Super GUTS team were posted on Picca Comics' official website, with the caption, "The Year We Became Light."

At that moment, everyone expressed their emotions online:

"Congratulations on the finale~"

"Wow, at first, I thought it would be a tragedy!! Especially given the Porter's track record with Madoka Magica!"

"Thank goodness, no need to send a bunch of knives..."

"The year we all became light!"

"This is the best tokusatsu I've ever seen, no contest! Looking forward to the next Ultraman!!!"

"+1!"

"+10086!"

"Ugh, it feels lonely now that this tokusatsu is over. Can I ever find another series as good as this?"

Many readers shared this sentiment.

The series was truly excellent.

Unfortunately, it had to come to an end, leaving them with a sense of loss.

Besides those who lamented the end of the series, many others discussed the Cthulhu elements in "Ultraman Tiga."

"I think Gatangra is based on the Great Old One, Ghatanothoa."

"Be confident, take out 'I think.' The appearance is similar to Ghatanothoa, and it has the ability to petrify enemies. I have to give props to the Porter for incorporating Cthulhu elements into 'Ultraman Tiga.' So the Porter likes Cthulhu too?"

As the series gained more attention, countless critics shared their reviews online.

"This is the best tokusatsu in my heart, without a doubt!"

"In terms of plot, the entire series avoids any signs of being dumbed down. On the contrary, many episodes reflect on human society or human emotions."

"For example, the episode about biological mutations caused by car exhaust warns about environmental and air pollution issues. There's also an episode about sea monsters mutated by nuclear radiation."

"Many episodes depict alien invasions, but almost every invasion reflects some human social activity or historical process. For instance, the red and blue battle represents mercenary wars, 'No More Slaves' reflects on slavery, and 'The Exiled Target' symbolizes inhumane hunting games."

"In addition, the Porter introduces many super-realistic but scientifically plausible technologies and ideas. For example, the Max Power System uses positron-electron collisions to generate photons, which then use light energy as the propulsion and weapon system's energy source."

"In terms of emotion, this series is superior to other tokusatsu shows. For instance, the love story between Lena and Daiko is a main plotline, and the romance between the tech genius Norui and his girlfriend from a different dimension, as well as the conflicts between the captain and vice-captain, and New Town member's experiences, all feel genuine and likable. Unlike modern dramas filled with needless angst, the emotional lines in this series are smooth and endearing..."

Professional critics' reviews, though filled with grand theories, also helped "Ultraman Tiga" gain even more viewers.

The show's average viewership reached an impressive 3.82, with a Douban score of 9.7.

Online platforms recorded over 10 billion views. (This is not an exaggeration; even the drama "Fights Break Sphere" hit a similar mark...although I haven't watched it.)

For a time, the trending topics online were phrases like "The Year We Became Light" and "Tiga Finale."

It can be said that this series became the hottest show of the year, sparking a wave of "Ultraman Tiga" fever across the country.

At various comic conventions, people could be seen wearing Ultraman Tiga costumes.

And whenever they appeared, many people would flock to take pictures with them.

…

Shortly after the first broadcast of "Ultraman Tiga" ended, a TV station immediately bought the rights for a second run, planning to air it during a secondary prime time slot to keep milking its popularity.

Even if it wasn't the first broadcast, "Ultraman Tiga" was still riding high, guaranteed to pull in viewership.

Moreover, something unexpected yet predictable happened: a representative from a Sakura country TV station called "Kanto Union" named Chihara Rin contacted Picca Comics to purchase the overseas broadcasting rights for "Ultraman Tiga."

Though surprising, it was also expected.

After all, this series was originally a Japanese work in a past life.

Although Ren had modified many Japanese elements into Chinese ones, at its core, Sakura country's culture largely stemmed from China. Hence, their aesthetics were similar, making it natural for them to be interested.

Of course, Picca Comics didn't sell all the overseas rights. They only sold the rights for Sakura country, retaining the rights for other regions.

Although Chihara Rin seemed unwilling and wanted to negotiate, Jada still did not agree.

Soon, Picca Comics officially announced that Kanto Union TV had acquired the rights to "Ultraman Tiga" and was in the process of re-dubbing it, with plans to air it next year.

This news also drew congratulations from many fans.