This is a character list for the 1979 anime The Ultraman, a joint collaboration of Tsuburaya Production's Ultra Series with the anime studio Sunrise. In contrast to the Showa Era Ultra Series (from Ultra Q to Ultraman Leo), The Ultraman took place in an alternate universe wherein the main Ultraman Joneus was the first to arrive on Earth, as well as his point of origin not being Land of Light in M78, but rather the planet Ultra U-40.

Earth Defense Army The is a United Nations organization established for the purpose of Earth's defense, space development and observations around the world. There are bases located in the United States, Europe, Africa, and the Far East. Each branch had its own group of , abbreviated as SDS, an elite squad of soldiers and scientists formed in the wake of mysterious phenomenon across the globe.

Science Defense Squad The series focuses mainly on the Far East branch of the SDS; the Earth Defense Army members led by Captain Akiyama, who later on was promoted in episode 26 with Gondo replacing him in episode 28. In the event of Empire of Heller's full-scale invasion on Earth, the SDS disobey orders from Earth and joined the U-40 Fleet to attack the Titan Base and made their invasion on Heller City of U-40. During their raid on the main tower, they were captured and almost executed by Mac Datar before Joneus interfered while Pig released them from their restrains. With the victory of the U-40 Fleet over the war, the SDS were sent back to Earth and bid farewell to Joneus and Amia months later.

/Captain Adams

The original captain of the SDS, who hand picked his Far East branch members on his own. Back in his days as a normal officer, he was a dear friend of Ogawara, who quit his job to build his anti-monster weapon Hector. In addition to his calm behavior, Akiyama is also observant towards his members. In aftermath of Gibaruga's fight, he was transferred to the monster observation team in the USA branch. /General Steel

The succeeding captain, after replacing Akiyama in episode 28. He is known for wearing a scarlet coat over his uniform. Because of his harsh regiment, the SDS members were insecure with him at first until Gondo managed to save them by instructing the Super Maddock to repair at an emergency rate. Despite his boisterous attitude, he approached his members as an older brother-like figure in contrast to Akiyama's fatherly figure. He had a great intuition towards a monster's movements, such as being able to predict Gamiba's presence on Maroi Island after knowing such place had no record of earthquake by natural means but is also fearful of supernatural existence (such as the rumored sightings of Yuki-onna). When the Empire of Heller's invasion on Earth increased, Gondo rebelled against the high authorities of Earth Defense Army by sending the entire SDS on a mission to join the resistance movement from U-40 to stop the Empire of Heller on their home planet. /Lieutenant Marconi

Compared to other SDS members, Kei was enlisted after he persuaded Captain Akiyama for the membership. He is the team's sharpshooter and is always cautious on Hikari's constant absence during monster attacks. Despite his boastful antics, Marume is also a thoughtful person and has soft spot for children. /Lieutenant Glenn

The designer of the Super Maddock, whose recruitment into the team is due to his experience with the aforementioned aircraft. Even before the formation of SDS, Tobe had met Mutsumi earlier as they discussed their interest on the recent mysterious phenomenon that plagued the Earth. He is the team's weapons developer and was the acting captain in-between Akiyama's departure and Gondo's introduction into the SDS. In most missions, Tobe would plan any modifications made on the Super Maddock to better fit in selected mission. In the final episodes, Tobe and Marume managed to figure out Hikari's connection to Joneus by his constant absence during missions, as well as their computer saying there is virtually no difference between the two. /Lieutenant Anne Johnson

An 18 year old medical officer that joined the team due to making researches on the recent mysterious phenomenon. She hated being given a special treatment and strives to keep up with her male members. /Scotty Harrison

A worker of the Space Satellite EGG3, who encountered Joneus while on his way to join the SDS and had since join forces to fight against monster and alien attacks resulted from a string of mysterious phenomenon on Earth. Because of their merger, Hikari trains daily to keep up with Joneus's performances. In the past, Hikari had once saved the entire Space Satellite EGG3 despite his declining oxygen level by killing a caterpillar-state Goglan from chewing the generator. Additionally, his act of keeping his heroic deeds a secret allows Joneus to choose him as a suitable host, having observe the incident from afar. At one point, Hikari and Joneus lost their lives in fighting the Devil Spirit and were brought to U-40 to be treated. There, he learned of his planet and U-40's connection to each other, fighting against invaders from Badel Star and bonded with Joneus again to save both U-40 and Earth. In the final episodes of the series, Hikari's constant absence has caught the attention of the rest of the SDS members, deducing his connection to Joneus. The two separated as Hikari joined the SDS in raiding Heller City's main tower but merged with Joneus during a fall from the tower.

Other members of Earth Defense Army /PDQ

One of the 100 robots who served the Earth Defense Army, Pig, or known by his actual name is chosen to aid the SDS as an analyzer. When Robot 101 was sent on a test run in the SDS's base, Pig felt itself outdated with constant ringing of monster presence (due to Compugon's activity) and ran away from the base with a malfunctioned Badei in order to commit suicide until Compugon's appearance restore his self confidence. In the event of Invader People's invasion on Earth, Pig becomes a stand-in pilot after Tobe and Marume stuck in monster containment planet Prison while Hikari (and later Mutsumi) was hospitalized from his injuries.

SDS's monkey mascot and Pig's companion. In episode 43, Monchi entered the Heller Army's electron transmitter by accident and fused with their Dostony A into until the Heller Fleet split them back to normal. As a result, the Dostony it bonded to had its consciousness suppressed and was brought back to the Heller Army's Titan Base. Monchi was separated shortly after and escaped the base through said transmitter to return to Earth.

Earth Defense Army's latest robot manufactured by the . It was sent to SDS for its training and demonstrate an apathetic behavior to its senior Pig due to the latter being an outdated model. After Compugon's destruction, 101 passed its test run with a 98% and was transferred to the Japan Alps.

A series of assistant robots found on the Battle Ship "Ultria." One particular model, 2001, was activated by Pig and served the SDS since then. The miniature robot is constantly at odds with Pig due to their same positions. Although it exited the Ultria before its destruction, what happened to it in the events after the Heller Empire's collapse are unknown.

Nicknamed "Yuri," a female worker in the Earth Defense Army's coffee shop, who previously failed in an entry exam for the enlistment of SDS. Being a fan of monsters, her room has several pictures of them, including those from Return of Ultraman, such as Woo and Chameleking. She initially left her home at South Ukigo Island and lied about her membership to her father until the Islanda incident. However, the two reconciled as her father encouraged her on her job.

The chief of Earth Defense Army in the Far East branch, he recruited Captain Akiyama as the first leader of the SDS.

A rude London-born professor of Japanese descendant from the Africa Branch of the Earth Defense Army. Henry had been studying the disappearance of forests in Africa for a year and discover its cause to be the Toughguilar family of monsters. He gained custody of the two monsters cubs, Tafugirao and Tafugirako, and brought them along to Africa. He is least favored by the members of SDS due to his behavior and the inability to remember others' names properly but at the same time was revealed to have feigned his carelessness to observe others' behavior properly. In episode 44, Henry was given the permission from the Earth Defense Army to study the Ultria as he found a second control room and allowing the ship to split into two components during battle.

An African member of Earth Defense Army whose helicopter crashed in a desert.

Mechs and vehicles /Super Star: A multipurpose aircraft designed by Tobe. It was originally made for the Far East branch of Earth Defense Army before Captain Akiyama demanded the ship in exchange for leading the SDS. During long distance missions, it can act as a mobile base and has a room for scientific analysis. In episode 6, Tobe modified the Super Maddock with harpoon ammunition and an outer shell for underwater combat. It was destroyed in episode 37. /Mini Rocket: A red fighter jet of Earth Defense Army used for reconnaissance purposes. It has canard wings and laser guns on each side. Pig once rode a malfunctioning gray-colored Badei before the others talked him out of his suicidal thoughts. In episode 47, space variants of the Badei units were introduced to fight against the invading fleet. : An orange-colored prototype VTOL which usually stored on the left side of Super Maddock. It is equipped with a rotating cannon on its back. Episode 48 saw the development of a space variant of the Beatamy for outer space combat purposes. : A subterrene first used for investigating forest disappearances in episode 5. In episode 33, a second unit called the was built as its successor with twin drills and used in the underground exploration of Maroi Island. : Six-wheeled patrol cars with butterfly doors. : An aircraft used by Tobe and Marume to explore the monster containment planet Prison in episode 34, but was destroyed by a rampaging monster. : A 300 meter long space combat ship which was created by the people of U40 and buried underneath the South Pole for safekeeping. In the height of the Empire of Heller's invasion on U-40, Amia escaped to Earth and reactivated the ship, giving it to the SDS in countering Heller's attack on Earth, as well as replacing the destroyed Super Maddock. Being made by the Ultras, the ship is powered by a nuclear fusion energy that is not of Earth properties and can sustain itself for at least 100 years. In episode 44, the Ultria was shown capable of splitting into two different components, and respectively.

Ultra People In The Ultraman, the are human-like residents of , demonstrating a similar culture to Ancient Greece, wearing garments such as the Himation and Toga. Despite their initially primitive appearance, they possess advance science and technology, with an underground city which was hidden beneath the planet's surface.

A long time ago, the citizens of U-40 were human-like beings who wished to expand their race further to the outer space. Earth was one of the stars they visited and established the very first human civilization with Neanderthals. To combat against the evil forces in space, they created the and became . They would soon discard the Ultra-mind within a black hole to prevent any misuse from outside forces.