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Ultraman Orb Spinoff Series' Promo Shows Gai, Jugglus as Allies

The official website of the Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA spinoff series began streaming the series' first promotional video on Thursday. The video shows Gai Kurenai and Jugglus Juggler fighting side by side.

The 12-episode series will debut on the Amazon Prime instant video service on December 26. A new episode will stream every Monday.

The series will explore the past of protagonist Gai Kurenai and antagonist Jugglus Juggler. The duo once fought on the same side and used the same power.

Hideo Ishiguro is (live-action Gokusen's Kengo Honjo) reprising his role as Gai Kurenai/Ultraman Orb, and Takaya Aoyagi (Parasyte -the maxim-'s Kusano) is returning as Jugglus Juggler. Gai uses a round transformation item to borrow the powers of previous Ultraman characters and transform into a new form.

Kazuya Konaka (Ultraman: The Next) is directing the series alongside Hideki Oka (Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna: Warriors of the Star of Light assistant director). Hirotoshi Kobayashi (Ultraman X) and Soutarou Hayashi (live-action Negima! Magister Negi Magi) are overseeing the series' scripts.

The main television series premiered on July 9 in Japan, and Crunchyroll is streaming the series as it airs in Japan. Kiyotaka Taguchi, who directed last year's Ultraman X series, once again directs Ultraman Orb. The director stated that the series contains "themes of traveling the noble path and returning to one's roots, while still being a funny and interesting Ultraman series." Ichirō Mizuki is performing the show's theme song "Orb no Inori" (Orb's Prayer). The series is also getting a live-action film on March 11.

The long-running Ultraman series is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Last year's Ultraman X debuted in July and ended in December, and Crunchyroll streamed the series as it aired.