Ultraman Orb

"I am Orb! I light the darkness and strike at evil!"

- Ultraman Orb introducing himself, The Sunset Wanderer "I am Orb! Ultraman Orb!"

- Ultraman Orb showing his true form as Orb Origin, The Holy Sword, Restored

Ultraman Orb (ウルトラマンオーブ Urutoraman Ōbu?) is the main hero of his series.[1] Described as a 'wanderer', Orb continues the theme of Ultras powered by devices that was started three years earlier by Ginga's debut series. He is able to utilize the abilities of his fellow Ultras to transform and gain their powers. At the same time, the Spark Dolls trend of said series has also finally ended.

Design
Aesthetically, Ultraman Orb's motif is based on past Ultra Warriors, which is meant to coincide with Tsuburaya's 50th year anniversary of the Ultra Series. The most concrete evidence is his basic form, Spacium Zeperion, which is based on Ultraman and Ultraman Tiga. Of course, it is also meant as a milestone celebration for the two aforementioned Ultra Warriors' titular series, celebrating their 50th and 20th anniversary respectively. Originally, Ultraman Orb was first teased in a promotional video by Tsuburaya Productions which commemorates the aforementioned anniversary. At the end of the video, a black background with a pair of Ultraman eyes can be seen, with the English letters shown "What's next...?".[2]

Background wise, according to one of Ultraman Orb's writers, Takao Nakano, Orb (and by extension his human form, Gai Kurenai) had his conception based on Ultraseven, whom, like Orb, uses human disguises and started their lives as wanderers on Earth sometime before the setting of their series. Aside from that, other motives and elements include Japanese novel Lone Samurai Monjiro, American actor Clint Eastwood (whose known for his role as wanderers) and singer Tsunehiko Kamijō's image song, Dareka ga Kaze no Naka de. All this is done under the purpose to "re-invoke the wanderer hero in the 21st century world".[3]

Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA
Orb's light appeared as a bright halo of light located at a mountain peak called Warrior's Top on the Planet O-50. Two elite warriors, Gai and Juggler tried to harness the light but out of the two, only Gai was successful, becoming the current giant he is known as. Leaving O-50, their first mission soon became protecting the royal planet Kanon and stopping the threat of Alien Wraith Psychi and his army of Bezelbs, who planned an intergalactic genocide for his twisted idea of peace.[4]

Because Gai was chosen as the warrior of light, his new-found power sparked a rivalry between him and his comrade Jugglus Juggler, who was swayed by the darkness and jealousy of him not being chosen. Their symbolic conflict of light and darkness had become a legend among the universe.

Ultraman Orb
At some point of unknown time, Gai arrived on Earth. There, he was presumed to have fought a King Demon Beast named Maga-Tanothor and obtained Ultraman Tiga's card in the aftermath of said battle.

He made a stop in Rusalka and met a woman named Natasha Romanová, who he befriended. During Maga-Zetton's awakening and rampage, Orb battled against the monster while his friend tried to look for Gai. Noticing Natasha, Orb tried to get her out but when the Ultra was hit by its attack, the blast injured Natasha as well. Seeing his dear friend injured, Orb decided to let out all of his anger, he drew his Orbcalibur and launched a full attack but as a result, the sword broke apart and the impact caused the whole forest to be engulfed with a huge explosion. Resuming his human form, Gai collected Ultraman's Ultra Fusion Card, and then cried out in remorse and despair, knowing that he hurt or possibly killed Natasha in the explosion, judging by the damage that he made and he sealed away his Orb Origin form. Having lost his original form, Gai was forced to rely upon the use of Ultraman and Ultraman Tiga's cards that allowed him to assume the form of Spacium Zeperion.

Present
108 years later in the present day, he finds his old enemy Juggler and fought against the King Demon Beasts, a group of ancient monsters that were sealed by the past Ultra Warriors and several other monsters. During his mission, he comes across the SSP and VTL Squad leader Ittettsu Shibukawa, saving them on numerous occasions and receives new Ultra Fusion Cards with every King Demon Beast he eliminated but unknowingly assisted Juggler, whose original motive was to collect their cards. After defeating Maga-Pandon, Orb seemingly believed that he had stopped Juggler's plan in reawakening Maga-Orochi and during that point faced frequent monster attacks, some of which were sent by the Planet Invasion Union. When Juggler revealed the King Demon Beast cards he had and awakened Maga-Orochi, Orb was quickly defeated by said monster and had his possessions of Ultra Fusion Cards confiscated by none other than Juggler himself.

Belial's Power
Princess Tamayura soon gives him the cards of Zoffy and Ultraman Belial, telling him that both light and darkness combined will give him great power, but at the same time he must control it. While Gai was having problems with Belial's card, it wasn't until Tamayura's sacrifice that caused Gai to release his anger and therefore bringing forth Thunder Breaster. Using this form, Orb brings out payback against Maga-Orochi by slamming the monster through various buildings and slicing off its own tail before destroying it via the Zedcium Ray. Returning to his human form, he regained his cards from Juggler, who admits defeat but warned him that both of them are not very different.

This power once more proven fatal when Gai had no choice but to use it against an inter-dimensional robot, Galactron. While winning against his opponent, he also had endangered two people at once, first is a Z-VTOL pilot whose ship crashed into the mountains and later on Naomi when she was kidnapped as Galactron's hostage. Thunder Breaster almost killed Naomi in his rampage against Galactron and although he eventually stopped thanks to Jetta's plea, the robot's activation of its grand finisher forced the Ultraman to fire his Zedcium Ray. This action made Gai unable to forgive himself (Orb), and doubted if he is worthy of Belial's power.

Regaining Orb Origin
As a result from his previous fight, Orb was branded as a public enemy number one. Still in doubt of himself, he returned to Rusalka and met Juggler again, who summoned Zeppandon, a King Demon Beast that is a fusion of Zetton, Pandon and Maga-Orochi's tail. Although being coerced by Juggler in their fight, Orb refused to utilize Belial's power again and instead use Burnmite's Stobium Dynamite as a cover to escape.

The next day, Juggler awakened Zeppandon again near the Forbidden Forest. Cleared of his own fear for darkness, Orb once more utilized Thunder Breaster while at the same time, maintaining his control over this form. While Zeppandon proved stronger and him being attacked by Z-VTOL planes, Orb shielded the SSP members and thanks to Jetta's filming, his public reputation has been restored. Under Gai's previous order, Naomi sings the melody that accompanies Gai's Orbnica song, Orb/Gai regains faith in his powers and regained/transformed into his original form, Orb Origin. In this form, he shrugged off incoming attacks and overpowered Zeppandon using the Orbcalibur before finishing the monster for good. This as well cause the Dark Ring to vanish, further infuriating Juggler. Despite regaining Orb Origin, the Ultraman still preferred to use his Fusion Up forms, utilizing his original powers when the situation calls for. He also dealt with remnants of Planet Invasion Union, such as a vengeful Tarude that attempted to hunt Juggler for killing his teammates and Maddock via his spare body.

Final battle against Magata no Orochi
As the final battle came closer, various aliens left the Earth after sensing a disturbance that would wipe the entire planet. Juggler, who trained himself to defeat Gai/Orb, detected the same disturbance and to settle his score once and for all. After harvesting the darkness from beneath the Earth, he made his presence known to the public and finally turned giant to face his rival. Orb fought his archenemy and managed to do so after struggling against his rival's new attack.

Soon, a new threat that was predicted by many had arrived in the form of Magata no Orochi, the adult form of Maga-Orochi which was thought to be killed by Orb himself. The Ultra Warrior faced it again but even the same form he used before (Thunder Breaster) and his original power can't deliver the slightest damage to the monster. Reverting to his human persona, an exhausted Gai was forced to deal with Juggler, who kidnapped Naomi in hopes of driving the former to despair. When Naomi confidently took responsibility of her own death, Juggler wasn't able to carry out the deed and instead rescued her from a crashed Z-VTOL. This event revealed that he was Natasha's rescuer in the past, causing Gai to embrace his rival.

Leaving Naomi in Juggler's care, Gai transformed into Orb and charged with all his might, using Spacium Zeperion, Burnmite and finally Orb Origin but neither of them can hurt the beast. Juggler assisted his rival after persuasions from Naomi and the rest of the SSP and VTL reveal the monster's weak spot. While Juggler was binded by Magata no Orochi, Orb used the powers of his Ultra Fusion Cards and fired their signature beams at the monster, ending the prophesied destruction from the ancient past. He reverted to Gai, bidding farewell to Naomi (who actually knew his true identity from the start) and left to parts unknown after swearing to return someday.

Ultraman Orb The Movie: Lend Me The Power of Bonds!
Gai returned to the SSP after a long time traveling around the Earth and met Ultraman X in his X Devizer, who sought his help to search for his separated host Daichi Ozora. But during that time, Mulnau and her forces appeared and captured X as part of her space jewel collection.

Ultra Fight Orb
Orb, along with Ultraman Zero, faces off against Reibatos and uses two new Fusion Up forms; Emerium Slugger and Lightning Attacker.

Statistics

 * Height: 50 m
 * Thunder Breaster: 55 m
 * Origin The First: 10 m ~ 50 m
 * Weight: 50,000 t
 * Hurricane Slash: 35,000 t
 * Thunder Breaster: 55,000 t
 * Origin The First: 10,000 t ~ 50,000 t
 * Weakness: Like all Ultras, Orb's Color Timer is subjected to the three-minute limit. Once his Timer blinks, the Fusion Up of the Ultra Warriors will start to break apart.

All forms

 * Color Timer (カラータイマー): Orb possess an "O" shaped Color Timer.
 * Ultra Armor: Orb has the standard Ultra Armor, being resistant to fire and lasers.
 * Forehead Crystal: Orb has a crystal on his forehead that changes color according to his forms. In Ultraman Fusion Fight, it can be used to fire beams such as the Emerium Ray or the Knuckle Cross Beam.
 * Protector (プロテクター): Orb has 4 metallic pieces of smaller protectors on his chest. This feature is present from Orb Origin/Origin the First and is carried over to all of his in-series Fusion Ups, except Emerium Slugger. In most of the game-exclusive forms except Leo Zero Knuckle and Power Strong, they are absent.

Fusion Up forms exclusive (In-series)

 * Protector (プロテクター): Orb has protectors in both Spacium Zeperion, Hurricane Slash and Emerium Slugger forms.
 * Ultra Horns (ウルトラホーン): In his Burnmite form, Orb has Ultra Horns similar to Taro's in shape and Father of Ultra's in size. It is unknown if these Ultra Horns can manipulate large amounts of energy like the horns of the former two.
 * Orb Sluggers (オーブスラッガー): In his Hurricane Slash and Emerium Slugger form, Orb has a pair of Crest Weapons attached to his head. Unlike typical crest weapons, they do not detach from his head when in use.
 * Triple Sluggers: Orb sports 3 crest weapons on his head in Emerium Slugger form. In the middle is the Eye Slugger, inherited from Seven, and beside it are the Zero Sluggers, inherited from Zero. It is unknown if these are counted as Orb Sluggers.
 * Ultra Breaster (ウルトラブレスター): In his Thunder Breaster form, Orb inherits Zoffy's signature badges of honor on his shoulders.
 * Cyber Mechanic (サイバーメカニック): Orb's Ultra Armor in Lightning Attacker from modeled after futuristic technology.
 * Zenshin Crystals (全身のクリスタル): As Orb Trinity or Lightning Attacker, Orb posesses these in the same places that Ginga and Victory do.