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What did you think of Ultraman Arc episode 21?

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Going Ultra! Ultraman Arc Episode 21: The Dream Bird – When Tokusatsu Transcends Into Art

By MJ Muñoz – Author, Artist, Analyzer – MJMunoz.com

Introduction: A Transcendent Episode

Ultraman Arc Episode 21, “The Dream Bird” (Yume Sake Torii), originally aired December 7, 2024. The episode was directed by Yusuke Akitake with special effects direction by Naoyuki Uchida, and written by Takao Nakano.

What makes this episode extraordinary is that it transcends Ultraman. This isn’t merely a good Ultraman episode – it’s a fantastic episode of science fiction TV. It’s exceptional speculative fiction, period. This is probably the best episode of Arc so far and perhaps one of the best Ultraman episodes I’ve ever seen.

It reminds me of that renowned Ultraseven episode (Episode 21) that Cydrixar recommended to me, where a man faces imminent death while having a casual conversation with his mother – a beautiful human story with emotional depth. “The Dream Bird” achieves that same transcendent quality, going beyond the confines of tokusatsu to deliver something truly special.

Multiple Themes in a Complex Narrative

The Author’s Struggle

The episode centers on Rin’s friend Aoi, a writer working for a small magazine. We see flashbacks of them as children playing imaginatively, and later as young adults when Aoi excitedly tells Rin about her writing career aspirations.

Aoi’s present reality is far from her dream. She trudges through her job at a small publication where her editor demands quantity over quality, forcing her onto a content treadmill that prevents her from telling the stories she truly wants to share. This pressure to constantly produce rather than create quality work mirrors the struggles many creatives face today.

Wishing vs. Working

Aoi finds a mysterious red orb and inadvertently makes a wish. We later learn this orb is an advanced technological tool capable of granting wishes. Rin tells Aoi an important truth: you have to work for your dreams – you can’t just wish them into existence.

This philosophical position is validated by the orb itself, which suggests that getting things handed to you isn’t beneficial for personal growth compared to striving and working hard to achieve your goals.

This connects to a debate I explore in my own novel, Mockwing Mayhem: Is hard work inherently valuable, or is it the accomplishment that matters? Are there worthwhile endeavors that don’t require hard work? The episode leans toward valuing the journey of effort, but acknowledges the complexity of these questions.

Parenthood and Work-Life Balance

Another dimension of the story involves parenthood, selflessness, and work-life balance. Aoi feels trapped in her job, lamenting that she’s watched friends get married while her career demands prevent her from building a personal life.

The dream bird, Dori, takes on qualities of both a pet and a child for Aoi. She feeds him, cares for him, and defends him. The way Dori repeatedly interrupts her work mirrors how children naturally disrupt the workflow of parents. When others react negatively to Dori’s appearance, it parallels how parents sometimes feel when others are uncomfortable around their children.

Depression, Rage, and Grief

After Dori is shot by the GDF, Aoi experiences profound grief that transforms into rage. In her emotional outburst, she declares, “I try so hard at my job. I work so hard. I never get anywhere. And I had this one thing that was special to me, and you took it from me. I don’t care about this world anymore.”

This raw emotional moment leads to Dori transforming into King of Mons, a manifestation of her creative ideas (shown through scattered post-it notes) and her deepest pain. The episode brilliantly connects creativity, loss, and rage in this transformation sequence.

Self-Reflection and True Desire

Near the end, before Aoi wishes for the orb to go away, the orb speaks with her voice, saying “No one ever asked me what my wishes are. I was created to grant everybody else’s wishes, but nobody ever asked me what I want.”

This moment of self-reflection reveals that Dori was always a manifestation of herself – her ideas, desires, and creativity. What she thought was an external friend was actually a reflection of her own creative potential.

Masterful Special Effects and Visuals

The special effects direction by Naoyuki Uchida deserves special recognition. When Givas and Arc attack together, they create a scene where cars fly into the air, and we get a shot through a car’s window as it flips, viewing the battle from inside.

The episode also features spectacular aerial shots looking straight down at the battle, offering a unique perspective on the action. These creative angles and dynamic shots elevate the spectacle beyond typical tokusatsu fare.

Uchida’s previous work includes assistant special effects direction for all of Blazar, as well as directing standout Arc episodes like “Goodbye Rin” (Episode 9) and “To My Distant Friend” (Episode 10) – establishing a pattern of excellence.

Ultraman Deep Cuts and References

The episode includes numerous references to Ultraman lore:

• King of Mons originally appeared in a crossover movie featuring Ultraman Tiga, Dyna, and Gaia. In that story, it was created by a kaiju fanatic’s wish using a Red Sphere – paralleling Aoi’s creation in this episode.
• The publishing company where Aoi works is located in Kitagawa Town, a setting from Episode 8 of Ultraseven.
• Writer Takao Nakano also wrote Episode 15 of Blazar (“Betwixt Morn and Dusk”), which itself referenced Episode 15 of the original Ultraman (“Terrifying Cosmic Rays”) and featured Gavadon.

The Return of Givas

One of the episode’s highlights is the return of Givas, who comes from the moon to assist Ultraman Arc against King of Mons. I’ve been hoping to see Givas again and wondered how he would return to the story.

The moment when Givas uses his claw to hold King of Mons still so that Yuma can deliver his final attack is exceptionally well-executed. Despite his simple design, Givas remains a fascinating and effective character.

A Beautiful Ending

The episode concludes with a poignant coda. Aoi is told to treat her experience as a dream, a lost memory, yet as she trudges up the stairs carrying her bags, she hears Dori’s familiar call. She pauses, listens with fond remembrance, then continues up the stairs with renewed purpose to pursue her dreams.

This circular structure (we see her climbing these stairs multiple times throughout the episode) creates a beautiful sense of closure while suggesting that the experience, though perhaps forgotten consciously, continues to inspire her subconsciously.

Final Thoughts

“The Dream Bird” stands as a testament to what tokusatsu can achieve when it aims beyond genre conventions. It delivers deep thematic exploration of creativity, dreams, parenthood, and self-reflection while still providing the spectacular monster battles fans expect.

The episode’s ability to balance philosophical depth with visual spectacle makes it a standout not just for Ultraman Arc, but for television storytelling in general.

Mockwing Mayhem Update

As I continue to analyze these stories that move me, I’m putting the finishing touches on my own book, Mockwing Mayhem. It’s about magical bugs -called Grobugs- who battle dark creatures with weapons made of light to protect children.

In the story, a Mockwing (a mist-like bird monster that hunts children) discovers the Grobugs’ home and brings its entire flock to attack. These young, untrained Grobugs must defend their home and protect the children these dark creatures seek to harm.

I’m currently finalizing the cover and making last-minute edits. If you’d like to learn more, visit Grobugs.com to sign up for updates and receive a bonus guide to the world of the Grobugs. If you enjoy my analysis of stories like Ultraman, I think you’ll appreciate the heart I’ve put into this tale.

Until next time, take care and be well!