Ultraman: Rising

As professional baseball player Kenji "Ken" Sato (Ken) returns to his native Japan, whispers of unfinished family business swirl around him like a tantalizing mist. Reporter Ami Wakita attributes his sudden departure from the threshold of a championship win in America to this rumored lingering emotional baggage. But beneath the surface, Ken's true motivations are far more extraordinary: he's returning to Japan to confront an unexpected legacy as the colossal superhero Ultraman, a mantle reluctantly bequeathed to him by his father, Professor Sato.

The memories of his mother Emiko still lingered in his mind like a ghostly whisper, and the recent news of her disappearance only added to his turmoil. As Ultraman, Ken faces off against the behemoth Neronga, but after their battle, he's left feeling unappreciated by the very citizens he's sworn to protect. In a moment of vulnerability, he confides in Mina, his A.I. assistant, that he never wanted to be Ultraman and longs for a simpler life.

Meanwhile, Dr. Onda, Chief Officer of the Kaiju Defense Force (KDF), monitors a clandestine operation involving a mysterious package. However, their plans are foiled by Gigantron, a winged kaiju, which forces Ken to abandon his baseball game and face the beast in an impromptu battle. As Gigantron loses consciousness atop the package, it's revealed to be an egg, soon followed by the hatching of an infant Gigantron.

With Mina's assistance, Ken reluctantly takes on the role of guardian for this new life, naming her Emi after his mother. Despite initial reluctance, he begins to form a bond with Emi as they navigate the challenges of parenthood together. When Emi escapes and runs amok through Tokyo, Ken seeks guidance from Ami, a parent herself, who shares words of wisdom on embracing the unpredictability and rewards that come with raising a child.

As Ken grows emotionally attached to Emi, he teaches her the intricacies of baseball, but his dual life as Ultraman and father proves increasingly demanding. When Onda demands the return of Emi, citing her significance as a missing asset, Ken refuses, knowing she's more than just a valuable resource. In a moment of desperation, he accidentally injures Emi's shoulder while trying to save her from harm.

Realizing his limitations as a single father, Ken finally reaches out to his estranged father for help, marking the beginning of their long-overdue reconciliation. With Sato's guidance and expertise, they work together to heal Emi and nurture her growth, ultimately forging a newfound bond between them that transcends their earlier differences.

As Onda unveils his plan to harness Emi's echolocation abilities to locate the elusive kaiju island and eliminate all monstrous threats, he presents it as a means of achieving a noble end: humanity's protection. His motivation stems from the devastating loss of his family during a catastrophic kaiju-Ultraman incident, an event that has left a lasting scar on his psyche. Meanwhile, at their rustic retreat, Ken and Sato confront their troubled past, now that Ken has gained insight into the struggles faced by both parents and Ultramen. However, Emi's metamorphosis accelerates as the KDF closes in, leaving Sato gravely injured. Ken swiftly transports his father to a healing chamber back home, while Emi bursts forth from her cocoon, now adorned with majestic wings. Her ears perk up at the distant calls of her birth mother drifting across Tokyo Bay, prompting an instinctual flight towards their reunion.

The KDF launches a surprise assault on Ken's homestead, obliterating Mina and his father's life support tube, which then sinks into the depths of the sea. Ultraman tracks Emi to the center of Tokyo Bay, only to encounter a mechanical Gigantron, whose metallic hide gives way to reveal a flesh-and-blood core - the original, still living entity encased in armor plating. As Ultraman unleashes his fury upon the mechanized monstrosity, he is abruptly halted when he senses life beneath its metal exterior. Just as all hope seems lost, Emi manages to shatter the KDF's control over Gigantron, freeing the creature from its mechanical prison.

Onda, meanwhile, transforms a KDF vessel into a colossal mecha and engages the two Ultras in a fierce battle, blaming Ultradad for the tragic loss of his family. Onda's defeat serves as a precursor to a self-destruct sequence, which he triggers with cold calculation. Ultraman erects a protective barrier around himself and the mecha, allowing Onda one final, poignant moment to relive cherished memories of his loved ones before the impending detonation.

Later, Ami - her shoulder now bearing the scars of her ordeal - conducts an interview with Ken, who has grown noticeably more mature since their last encounter. Ken attributes this metamorphosis to the wisdom imparted by his family, revealing a heartfelt voicemail from his mother that expresses her hopes for Ken and Sato's reconciliation, as well as the selfless decisions they made as parents aimed at preparing their son for the challenges of life.

In the end, Ken and Sato successfully locate kaiju island, with Emi and Gigantron serving as invaluable guides. In a post-credits scene that hints at future adventures, Emiko contacts Ken, revealing her predicament: she is stranded on Ultraman's home planet, Nebula M78.