Netflix’s Ultraman: Rising is a film that completely surprised me—not just because of its bold action sequences and heartfelt story, but because of how well-produced and accessible it is, even for newcomers to the Ultraman franchise. As someone who enjoyed it from start to finish, I came away impressed with how the film blends blockbuster spectacle with a surprisingly personal story.

One of the strengths of Ultraman: Rising is that it doesn’t require any prior knowledge of Ultraman to enjoy. The movie never assumes you’ve seen past series or know the lore—it simply introduces you to its version of the character and lets you quickly pick up on how his powers work. You also get just enough background to understand that the protagonist’s father was once the original Ultraman, passing on a heroic legacy that still looms over the present. This generational thread adds depth without overwhelming new viewers.

The premise is both classic and refreshingly new: Ultraman faces the usual colossal kaiju battles that fans expect, complete with big-screen-worthy action and city-shaking fights. But what really makes the story stand out is the twist—it slows down in the middle to focus on the hero’s struggle with an unexpected responsibility: caring for a baby kaiju. While he’s celebrated in his public life and adored for his fame, privately he’s juggling this secret role as a caregiver, hiding the baby from those who would see it as a threat. The irony is sharp, since Ultraman’s usual duty is fighting adult kaiju to protect the city, yet here he’s forced to protect and nurture one.

And honestly, the movie sneaks in some surprisingly relatable adult humor when it comes to parenting. There are moments that perfectly capture just how exhausting it can be to raise an infant or toddler—the sleepless nights, the constant attention, the chaos that never seems to stop. My wife and I found ourselves looking at each other and chuckling, and at one point we even turned to our kids and said, “See? See how tired we get caring for you guys?!” (all in good fun, of course). Those touches made the story hit even closer to home for us as parents, while still being entertaining for our kids.

This clash of responsibilities gives the movie its emotional core. The protagonist wrestles with keeping the baby safe while also living up to his obligations as a hero and public figure. That push and pull grounds the film and gives it a level of relatability I didn’t expect from a kaiju action movie. Sure, the pacing slows during these quieter moments, but I appreciated the balance—it gave the characters space to breathe and made the action sequences that followed feel all the more rewarding.

In the end, Ultraman: Rising feels like the best of both worlds: it has all the big, spectacular battles you’d expect to see in a theater, but it’s also a heartfelt story about family, legacy, and responsibility. Whether you’re a longtime Ultraman fan or someone who’s never seen a single episode, the film is approachable, entertaining, and ultimately uplifting. For me, it was an absolute joy to watch, and easily one of Netflix’s strongest animated films in recent memory.