Eiji Tsuburaya

Eiji Tsuburaya ranks alongside Willis H. O'Brien and Ray Harryhausen as one of the great visionary SFX masters of twentieth-century fantasy cinema. Best remembered as the amazing special effects genius behind the "Godzilla" series of monster films commencing in 1954, he also contributed effects to a host of other Japanese monster / fantasy / science fiction / drama / propaganda films for over four decades. Eiji Tsuburaya had a keen interest in the cinema from a young age, and legend has it that he acquired a second-hand movie projector when he was only ten years old, and pulled it apart and put it back together with relative ease. He began work as a cinematographer in Kyoto around 1919 and then enhanced his skills to include camera work throughout the 1920s, at which time his eye for detail was in high demand from many studios. Around 1938, he became head of Special Visual Techniques at Toho Studios, and during the Second World War, he was involved in the production of several Japanese propaganda films. He went freelance after the war, and in 1954 he collaborated with director Ishirô Honda on the monster epic Gojira (1954) (aka "Godzilla"). The film was an enormous hit in Japan, and additional scenes were filmed with US actor Raymond Burr and then inserted strategically to give the movie western appeal. "Godzilla, King Of The Monsters" was then released in the USA to strong box office takings, and Godzilla has since appeared in over two dozen films spanning over fifty years, becoming a key cult icon of Japanese culture!! The incredibly talented Tsuburaya went on to be the SFX director behind dozens of Japanese monster & science fiction classics including Sora no daikiju Radon (1956) (aka "Rodan"), Bijo to ekitai ningen (1958) (aka "The H-Man"), Densô ningen (1960) (aka "The Telegian"), Mosura (1961) (aka "Mothra"), Kingu Kongu tai Gojira (1962) (aka "King Kong versus Godzilla"), Varan the Unbelievable (1962), Matango (1963), Furankenshutain tai chitei kaiju Baragon (1965) (aka "Frankenstein Conquers the World"), and Kaiju soshingeki (1968) (aka "Destroy All Monsters" ). Tsuburaya had also established his own production company in 1963 (Tsuburaya Productions), creators of the highly popular "Ultraman" character, and subsequent TV shows and films. On January 25, 1970, while vacationing in Shizuoka Prefecture, Tsuburaya suffered a sudden, fatal heart attack. His incredible film & SFX production company is still active today under the guidance of his grandson, Kazuo Tsuburaya.

Works

7.2

Shin Ultraman

The Japanese government sets up a special task force to fight the giant creatures suddenly appearing across the country. Soon, the squad unexpectedly meets a giant silver humanoid who starts appearing every time a space monster attacks!

Release Date: 2022-05-13

Department: Writing

Job: Original Story

Vote Count: 176

3.7

Dragon Force: Rise of Ultraman

The crisis of Genesis Crystal is imminent, and Evan begins the crazy countdown to ruin the world. Ultraman needs to maximize his abilities in order to stop the Earth from being destroyed. He choses [sic] a little boy as his representative in the world and vanishes soon, leaving a magic cube to encourage him and hope it will help motivate his strong power. Everyone is trying every possible way to open up the magic cube. Dr. J even finds that tge little boy's fart is the key to set up a series of laugh-out "fart-induced" experiments to try to figure out the secret.

Release Date: 2019-01-18

Department: Writing

Job: Original Concept

Vote Count: 3

2.0

Dragon Force: So Long Ultraman

Dragon Force: So Long, Ultraman is a Chinese action animated film animated by BlueArc Animation in cooperation with Le Vision Pictures, TIGA Entertainment and UM Corporation. It is based on the 2012 3D animated series Dragon Force created by Kazuya Hatazawa and a sequel to the 2013 movie of the same name.

Release Date: 2017-10-01

Department: Writing

Job: Original Concept

Vote Count: 5

8.5

Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider

A special retrospective of the two franchises, with segments making comparisons between the different characters, their weapons, powers and so forth. The final segment of the special is the short film "Super Battle: Ultraman vs Kamen Rider" The main characters, Ultraman and Kamen Rider 1 appear on the scene separately, each fighting an original kaijin and kaiju. When the two monsters are nearly defeated, they merge into a more powerful kaiju. Ultraman experiences trouble and calls for Kamen Rider 1's help. Kamen Rider 1 is then able to grow to enormous size to fight alongside Ultraman.

Release Date: 1993-07-21

Department: Writing

Job: Original Series Creator

Vote Count: 2

5.0

Ultraman - The Alien Invasion

Jack Shindo and Stanley Haggard are astronauts doing research on the planet Mars. On a routine mission to survey the desolate landscape, they found out that there are other living creatures on the planet! Their biggest threat is Goudis, whose monsters have been ordered to kill all life on earth. Returning from a mission on Mars, the Ultraman has to take on Goudis to save the planet and all the human beings on Earth!

Release Date: 1993-02-01

Department: Writing

Job: Original Story

Vote Count: 1

8.2

Akio Jissoji's Ultraman

Akio Jissoji's Ultraman is a 1979 Japanese tokusatsu kaiju film directed by Akio Jissoji. It is a compilation film made up of scenes from Jissoji's episodes of the original Ultraman TV series.

Release Date: 1979-03-17

Department: Production

Job: Executive Producer

Vote Count: 4

6.9

Godzilla

A re-edited Italian-language dubbed version of the original Godzilla, using as a basis the U.S. version, "Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" (1956), plus WWII newsreel footage and clips from other science fiction films. The re-edited film was then colorized via a process called "Spectrorama 70" consisting of applying various colored gels to the black and white footage. The film's opening and ending also features new music composed by musicians Fabio Frizzi, Franco Bixio, and Vince Tempera (under the pseudonym Magnetic System).

Release Date: 1977-01-01

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects Director

Vote Count: 46

4.8

Daigoro vs. Goliath

An inventor and his family try to raise funds to feed a giant monster named Daigoro so that he doesn't shrink. Meanwhile, a meteor lands into the sea bringing with it another giant monster named Goliath. Will Daigoro be able to stop Goliath?

Release Date: 1972-12-17

Department: Production

Job: Producer

Vote Count: 5

6.4

Space Amoeba

When a space probe crash-lands on a far-flung Pacific atoll, the craft's alien stowaways decide to take over their new world one creature at a time. Soon, the parasitic life forms latch onto three indigenous critters -- a squid, a crab and a snapping turtle -- and transform them into colossal mutant monsters.

Release Date: 1970-08-01

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Special Effects Supervisor

Vote Count: 50

5.8

Latitude Zero

A massive underwater volcano erupts and puts a group of investigative scientists in danger. They are rescued by an atomic super submarine named The Alpha under the command of Captain McKenzie. The group is quickly taken to a vast underwater city known as Latitude Zero, a fantastic, Atlantean type utopia, a world beneath the ocean with its own sun. It is soon discovered that Captain McKenzie is at war with the evil Dr. Malic, a cruel scientist who wishes to rule mankind all the while conducting genetic experiments on humans and animals. Malic sends his agents to kidnap Dr. Okada, a human scientist who has created a serum that can immunize exposure to radiation.

Release Date: 1969-07-26

Department: Production

Job: Production Manager

Vote Count: 26

7.3

Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature

The film consists of re-edited material from the original television series Ultraman. Episodes 1, 8, 26, and 27 were used for the film. They were narrated by Hikari Urano as an "Ultraman Documentary". Allegedly only one new scene was shot, and that some parts of the movie where shot in black and white for unknown reasons. The movie screened at the same time as the Toho movie King Kong Escapes.

Release Date: 1967-07-22

Department: Directing

Job: Director

Vote Count: 3

6.3

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

Searching for his brother, Ryota stows away on a boat belonging to a criminal alongside two other teenagers. The group shipwrecks on Letchi island and discover the Infant Island natives have been enslaved by a terrorist organization controlling a crustacean monster. Finding a sleeping Godzilla, they decide to awaken him to defeat the terrorists and liberate the natives.

Release Date: 1966-12-17

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 194

6.8

Invasion of Astro-Monster

Astronauts Glenn and Fuji investigate Planet X and encounter mysterious aliens known as the Xiliens, who ask Earth's people to help save their world from "Monster Zero". In exchange for borrowing Godzilla and Rodan, the Xiliens offer a cure for cancer. As Glenn investigates, he develops a romance with Miss Namikawa and uncovers the Xilien's true intentions.

Release Date: 1965-12-19

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 222

The Crazy Adventure

Release Date: 1965-10-31

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

6.6

Frankenstein Conquers the World

During WWII, Germans obtain the immortal heart of Frankenstein's monster and transport it to Japan to prevent it being seized by the Allies. Kept in a Hiroshima laboratory, it is seeming lost when the United States destroys the city with the atomic bomb. Years later a wild boy is discovered wandering the streets of the city alone, born of the immortal heart.

Release Date: 1965-08-08

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 64

8.3

The Retreat from Kiska

In 1943, the Aleutian island of Kiska was fortified by a small contingent of Japanese soldiers. When word arrived of an impending attack by an overwhelming force of Americans, the Japanese Navy attempted one of the most daring and unlikely evacuations in military history. This is that story.

Release Date: 1965-07-04

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 3

7.0

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

After a meteorite unleashes a three-headed beast upon Tokyo, Mothra tries to unite with Godzilla and Rodan to battle the extraterrestrial threat.

Release Date: 1964-12-20

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 253

6.8

Whirlwind

Set at the end of the Siege of Osaka this film follows the exploits of several members of the defeated Toyotomi clan as they cope with the post battle chaos and the persecution of the Shogun's army. Five samurai decide on different fates when it becomes clear that their side is being destroyed. One wants to attack the enemy head on in a final honorable death. Another decides to commit hari-kiri but wants to find a glorious view to do it. His close friend, the "coward", just wants to run and give up the life of a samurai. The final two set their own castle on fire to garner favors from the enemy and therefore avert their own death during the massacre of all defeated soldiers as

Release Date: 1964-07-26

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Special Effects Supervisor

Vote Count: 8

7.0

Mothra vs. Godzilla

Journalists Ichiro Sakai and Junko cover the wreckage of a typhoon when an enormous egg is found and claimed by greedy entrepreneurs. Mothra's fairies arrive and are aided by the journalists in a plea for its return. As their requests are denied, Godzilla arises near Nagoya and the people of Infant Island must decide if they are willing to answer Japan's own pleas for help.

Release Date: 1964-04-29

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 293

6.5

Atragon

The legendary empire of the lost continent of Mu reappears to threaten the world with domination. While countries unite to resist, an isolated World War II Captain has created the greatest warship ever seen, and possibly the surface world's only defense.

Release Date: 1963-12-22

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects Coordinator

Vote Count: 50

6.9

Matango

Five vacationers and two crewmen become stranded on a tropical island near the equator. The island has little edible food for them to use as they try to live in a fungus covered hulk while repairing Kessei's yacht. Eventually they struggle over the food rations which were left behind by the former crew. Soon they discover something unfriendly there...

Release Date: 1963-08-11

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Special Effects Supervisor

Vote Count: 98

6.6

King Kong vs. Godzilla

When an underhanded pharmaceutical company goes to a remote tropical island to steal King Kong for advertising purposes, they get more than they bargained for when the gigantic ape attacks an unsuspecting village and an enormous octopus.

Release Date: 1963-06-26

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 249

4.2

Varan the Unbelievable

In an effort to find an economic means of purifying salt water, a joint U.S.-Japanese military command is set up on an isolated Japanese island where an unusual salt water lake is situated. However, their purifying experiments arouse the prehistoric monster Obaki from hibernation at the lake's bottom, and it proceeds to attack Japan. Although made by a U.S. independent film company, this film was based on a Japanese Toho monster film of 1958, "Daikaiju Varan", from which all of the monster effects scenes and a few incidental dramatic shots were edited into it.

Release Date: 1962-12-07

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 28

6.9

King Kong vs. Godzilla

The advertising director of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, frustrated with the low ratings of their sponsored TV program, seeks a more sensationalist approach. He orders his staff to Faro Island to capture King Kong for exploitation. As Godzilla re-emerges, a media frenzy generates with Pacific looking to capitalize off of the ultimate battle.

Release Date: 1962-08-11

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 311

6.6

Gorath

In 1976, a drifting star named Gorath is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Although it is smaller than Earth, its enormous mass is enough to destroy the planet totally. A mission sent to observe Gorath is destroyed after the ship is drawn into the star, with a later mission barely escaping the same fate. However, Astronaut Tatsuma Kanai is left in a catatonic state due to his near death experience. Unable to destroy the invading star, Earth's scientists undertake a desperate plan to build giant rockets at the South Pole to move the planet out of Gorath's path before it is too late.

Release Date: 1962-03-21

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 20

6.2

The Last War

A Japanese family is torn apart by the tensions of an avoidable nuclear world war between the superpowers.

Release Date: 1961-10-08

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects Coordinator

Vote Count: 10

7.4

Daredevil in the Castle

During the raging war between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans, the swordsman Mohei (whose family has been completely decimated) is recruited by Toyotomi to overcome the seat of power, Osaka Castle. Mohei's daredevil skills will be put to severe tests.

Release Date: 1961-01-03

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Special Effects Supervisor

Vote Count: 8

6.6

The Human Vapor

A librarian is subject to a scientific experiment which goes wrong and transforms him into 'The Human Vapour'. He uses his new ability to rob banks to fund the career of his girlfriend, a beautiful dancer. The Human Vapour is ruthless in his quest for money and kills anyone who stands in his way, especially police. He soon becomes Tokyo's most wanted criminal. Can he be stopped before he kills again?

Release Date: 1960-12-11

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 16

5.8

Battle in Outer Space

In 1965, the space station JSS-3 is destroyed by a fleet of UFOs, which then begin a global siege on Earth, using rays to manipulate gravity and control the minds of men. In response, a global council meeting is held to determine the source of the attacks and prepare a rocket ship armada for a counter-attack, a true battle in outer space. . . The film is a sequel of sorts to Toho's THE MYSTERIANS in the reprise of the Etsuko Shiraishi character of that film as its heroine. It was edited to 74 minutes for its American release.

Release Date: 1959-12-26

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 42

5.4

The Three Treasures

The legend of the birth of Shintoism. In Fourth Century Japan, the Emperor's son Ouso expects to succeed his father on the throne, but Otomo, the Emperor's vassal, prefers Ouso's stepbrother, and conspires to have Ouso die on a dangerous mission he has contrived. But Ouso prevails in the mission and returns to his father's castle under a new name, Prince Yamato Takeru. Otomo plots to have the Prince sent into even greater danger, but Otomo is unaware that the gods have favored the Prince and the outcome is far from what any of them expected.

Release Date: 1959-11-01

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 11

8.5

Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender

In World War II, the commanding officer of a sub, against his will takes on board two Western diplomats, to take them to the Canaries and arrange an armistice. When they get there, peace has been declared, but the sub's crew don't know as their radio has failed. They send their passengers ashore and go out to face a final battle...

Release Date: 1959-07-04

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Special Effects Supervisor

Vote Count: 2

6.3

Gigantis, the Fire Monster

A prehistoric monster called Gigantis emerges alongside another creature named Angurus.

Release Date: 1959-05-21

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 33

The Adventures of Sun Wu Kung

The mythical adventures of the legendary Chinese trickster Monkey, who must outwit a variety of wily demons who stand in the way of him and his fellow Buddhist travelers. Though portrayed as a literal, if rather anthropomorphized, monkey in the original legends, this film substitutes the spindly comic actor Norihei Miki, sans makeup.

Release Date: 1959-04-19

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Special Effects Supervisor

8.0

The Hidden Fortress

In feudal Japan, during a bloody war between clans, two cowardly and greedy peasants, soldiers of a defeated army, stumble upon a mysterious man who guides them to a fortress hidden in the mountains.

Release Date: 1958-12-28

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 629

3.2

Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman

An American scientist tells two colleagues about the finding of an abominable snowman living in the Japanese alps, where it is worshipped by a remote tribe as a god, and how it was discovered by modern man after it raided a skiers shelter following an avalanche, killing all inside. This is an adaptation of the Japanese film "Jūjin Yuki Otoko" (1955) with added American-made footage, narration, and music.

Release Date: 1958-12-01

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 10

5.7

Varan

When a rare species of butterfly is found in a mysterious valley in Japan, a pair of entomologists go to investigate and find more. They discover Varan, a giant monster, who decides to leave the valley and head straight for Tokyo.

Release Date: 1958-10-14

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 29

6.2

The Tale of the White Serpent

As a young boy, Xu-Xian is forced to free his pet, a small snake. Unbeknownst to him, the snake is actually a young snake goddess named Bai-Niang and she is in love with him. Many years later, when they are both adults, the princess is magically transformed into a human and sets out to find her love. But the local wizard believes her to be a vampire, and banishes Xu-Xian from the village in order to save him. Xu-Xian's pet pandas Panda and Mimi set out to save him and bring him, in the process becoming leaders of an animal gang.

Release Date: 1958-09-03

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 34

5.8

The H-Man

Nuclear tests create a radioactive man who can turn people into slime.

Release Date: 1958-06-24

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 35

Song for a Bride

An Ishiro Honda film.

Release Date: 1958-02-11

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

6.4

The Mysterians

In Japan, scientifically advanced invaders from the war-destroyed planet Mysteroid cause an entire village to vanish, then send a giant robot out to storm the city by night, after which they request a small patch of land on Earth and the right to marry earthling women, claiming to be pacifists. Mankind must decide whether to capitulate or to resist.

Release Date: 1957-12-28

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 50

9.0

Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean

Obscure French version of the original Godzilla. The film combines elements of the original Toho version and the American King of the Monsters! in a unique assemblage exclusive to the Francophone market. Released by Les Films du Verseau.

Release Date: 1957-03-14

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 15

6.5

Rodan

Mining engineer Shigeru investigates the disappearance and death of his fellow coworkers when prehistoric nymphs are discovered emerging from the mines. After an attack on the local village, Shigeru heads deeper into the mines only to make a more horrifying discovery in the form a prehistoric flying creature. Soon a second monster appears as the two converge in Fukuoka.

Release Date: 1956-12-26

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 172

5.6

The Legend of the White Serpent

Lavish Japanese-Chinese coproduction based on an ancient Chinese legend about a man who falls in love with a snake goddess in human form.

Release Date: 1956-06-22

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Special Effects Supervisor

Vote Count: 7

6.6

Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

During an assignment, foreign correspondent Steve Martin spends a layover in Tokyo and is caught amid the rampage of an unstoppable prehistoric monster the Japanese call 'Godzilla'. The only hope for both Japan and the world lies on a secret weapon, which may prove more destructive than the monster itself.

Release Date: 1956-05-18

Department: Writing

Job: Story

Vote Count: 256

5.2

Marital Relations

The story of a couple, a spoiled son and a down-to-earth girl, in Osaka in the early Showa era. The film won the prestigious Blue Ribbon awards for best director, best actor (Morishige) and best actress (Awashima), and the Mainichi Concours award for best actor and best screenplay (Yasumi Toshio). It ranked second (after Naruse Mikio’s Ukigumo) on the Kinema Junpō top ten films for the year.

Release Date: 1955-09-13

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 6

4.6

Half Human

Three competing parties all race against time to track down an elusive creature known only as the Snowman.

Release Date: 1955-08-14

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 13

6.0

Godzilla Raids Again

Two fishing scout pilots make a horrifying discovery when they encounter a second Godzilla alongside a new monster named Anguirus. Without the weapon that killed the original, authorities attempt to lure Godzilla away from the mainland. But Anguirus soon arrives and the two monsters make their way towards Osaka as Japan braces for tragedy.

Release Date: 1955-04-24

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 286

7.6

Godzilla

Japan is thrown into a panic after several ships are sunk near Odo Island. An expedition to the island led by Dr. Kyohei Yamane soon discover something far more devastating than imagined in the form of a 50 meter tall monster whom the natives call Gojira. Now the monster begins a rampage that threatens to destroy not only Japan, but the rest of the world as well.

Release Date: 1954-11-03

Department: Writing

Job: Story

Vote Count: 990

7.2

Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto

Struggling to elevate himself from his low caste in 17th century Japan, Miyamoto trains to become a mighty samurai warrior.

Release Date: 1954-09-25

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 179

9.0

Farewell Rabaul

A squadron of Japanese fighter pilots realise that they are never going to win the war when they understand that Japanese military tactics have little regard for life. Seeking the companionship of any woman who will have them, they spend their days indulging in every fantasy in order to escape the overwhelming fear of death looming just over the horizon.

Release Date: 1954-02-10

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 3

7.4

Sound of the Mountain

An ingratiating bride develops warm ties to her father-in-law while her cold husband blithely slights her for another woman.

Release Date: 1954-01-15

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 59

The Lovers

Comedy about a 50-something movie director, his new bride, a classical dancer, and his adult son and daughter and their loves.

Release Date: 1953-11-10

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

6.7

Anatahan

From June 1944, twelve Japanese seamen are stranded for seven years on an abandoned and forgotten island called Anatahan.

Release Date: 1953-06-28

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 40

10.0

The Man Who Came to Port

An Ishiro Honda film.

Release Date: 1952-11-27

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 1

The Skin of the South

When a group of young geologists declares a mountainside marked for residential development unstable, they are met with scorn on two fronts. On one end, they must contend with the local villagers who balk at the prospect of relocation; on the other, they face the ambitions of the headstrong lumber baron, whose actions will only further destabilize the land. Their pleas for reason ignored, the scientists can do little but observe as nature runs its inevitable course.

Release Date: 1952-02-28

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

6.2

The Invisible Man Appears

Jewel thieves become interested in an invisibility formula invented by Professor Nakazato and want to use his invention to acquire a diamond necklace called the "Tears of Amour."

Release Date: 1949-09-26

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 15

Hanakurabe tanuki-den

Princess Oboro, the queen of the Tanuki palace and stubborn at heart, falls in love with coffeehouse worker Kurotaro at first sight.

Release Date: 1949-04-17

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

White-haired Demon

A man dies in an automobile accident and returns as a white-haired demon and seeks revenge on his wife and her lover

Release Date: 1949-04-11

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

A Thousand and One Nights with Toho

The debut film of Shin Toho Productions

Release Date: 1947-02-25

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Special Effects Supervisor

8.0

Lord for a Night

Lord for a Night is a 1946 Japanese film directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa.

Release Date: 1946-07-11

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 1

6.0

A Descendant of Urashima Taro

Reputedly based on Frank Capra’s 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, A Descendant of Tarô Urashima is about a repatriated soldier who becomes populist politician in the Japanese Happiness Party.

Release Date: 1946-03-28

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 1

Five Tokyo Men

Release Date: 1945-12-27

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

7.0

Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadron

A 1944 propaganda film that depicts the fictionalised career of IJAAF pilot Tateo Kato, who led the 64th Sentai during the early months of the Pacific War. The film has scenes featuring Ki-43 fighters escorting Ki-21 bombers to attack Rangoon, where they are attacked by P-40 Warhawk and Brewster Buffalo fighters.

Release Date: 1944-03-09

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 3

Hot Wind

Set in wartime at the Yawata Steel Works in Tobata, Yawata, and Kokura cities in Fukuoka Prefecture, the film depicts people taking on the evil blast furnaces that prevent increased production. The film was shot on location at the actual Yawata Steel Works for an extended period of time, and special effects were created using a miniature blast furnace that closely reproduces the actual one.

Release Date: 1943-10-07

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Military Song of the Morning Mist

At the beginning of the Meiji era, three brothers of a samurai family each stand up to the times.

Release Date: 1943-04-29

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

音楽大進軍

A 1943 film.

Release Date: 1943-03-18

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

5.0

Bouquet of the South Seas

Release Date: 1942-05-21

Department: Visual Effects

Job: VFX Director of Photography

Vote Count: 3

7.0

Ramayana

Ravana, while dancing with animals, kidnaps Sita from Rama, and returns to Lanka to hide as Lankapura burns.

Release Date: 1942-01-01

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 2

Kaguya Hime

Toho's production of the classic Japanese fairytale.

Release Date: 1935-11-11

Department: Camera

Job: Director of Photography

Chorus of a Million People

Chorus of a Million People

Release Date: 1935-01-13

Department: Camera

Job: Director of Photography

Reimei izen

In the age of priests and warriors which the film denounces, a woman revolts after she is sold as a prostitute.

Release Date: 1931-05-05

Department: Crew

Job: Cinematography

Yôma kitan

Japanese horror movie from 1929.

Release Date: 1929-01-01

Department: Crew

Job: Cinematography

Accross the Equator

Tsuburaya served both as director and cinematographer of this feature-length national policy documentary, supported by the naval ministry, which creates a sketch of life among cadets aboard a naval training vessel on a voyage around Indochina, Malaya, Hawaii and the South Pacific islands. The film clearly outlines the economic motives behind Japan’s southward expansion, but also presents the music and dance traditions of various regions, in what has been termed “folklore through sound”.

Department: Directing

Job: Director

Ultraman Arc
6.3

Ultraman Arc

A being of light hailing from a faraway galaxy unites with Yuma, the protagonist who owns tremendous “power of imagination,” and they form the gigantic new Ultra Hero: Ultraman Arc.

Release Date: 2024-07-06

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 3

Ultraman Blazar
8.7

Ultraman Blazar

Ultraman Blazar is a hero with a great sense of justice hailing from “M421,” an extragalactic astronomical object far from Earth. The main protagonist, Gento Hiruma, is the captain of the Special Kaiju Reaction Detachment (SKaRD), established by the Global Guardian Force (GGF) in a world where kaiju disasters are a common practice. When their strong desire for the power to save human lives resonates, the two unite.

Release Date: 2023-07-08

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 13

Ultraman New Generation Stars
7.3

Ultraman New Generation Stars

When memories of Ultra Heroes are erased by a mysterious entity, a device called Dimensionizer is sent from the future dimension Ultraman Decker is from. Trying to get memories of the Land of Light residents back, New Generation Heroes remember all their battles and hardships they've gone through.

Release Date: 2023-01-28

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 3

Ultraman Decker
7.5

Ultraman Decker

Seven years have passed since Ultraman Trigger protected the world from various threats. In the present, Kanata Asumi, who is a positive young man, peacefully lives together with his grandpa. One day, while delivering ordered food, he witnessed a catastrophe: Spheres from the outer space attack Earth and Mars. Motivated by saving the precious lives of the people, he merges with Ultraman Decker and joins GUTS-Select, in order to protect what's important.

Release Date: 2022-07-09

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 11

Shin Ultra Fight

Shin Ultra Fight

Release Date: 2022-05-14

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad
8.4

Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad

A sequel to Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Absolute Conspiracy.

Release Date: 2022-04-29

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 5

Ultraman Chronicle D
10.0

Ultraman Chronicle D

Join Marluru of GUTS-Select and Deban as they talk about exciting adventures of Ultraman Trigger, Ultraman Dyna and other Ultra Heroes! The dark forces await for residents of Land of Light. Will Ultraman win again them?

Release Date: 2022-01-29

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 2

Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga
7.2

Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga

Young Kengo Manaka lives on Mars. As he lives out his peaceful, day-to-day life, the monster Golba suddenly appears, throwing the town into chaos! Meanwhile, Kengo has a fateful meeting with a giant stone statue sleeping deep beneath the ground on Mars. When Kengo becomes one with an Ultra-Ancient light, his destiny is forcefully thrown into motion!

Release Date: 2021-07-10

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 16

Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey
8.5

Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey

Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey is a series produced by Tsuburaya Productions, featuring Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Z, with Ultraman Zero as the series navigator.

Release Date: 2021-01-09

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 4

Ultraman Z
8.8

Ultraman Z

The newest Ultra Hero is Ultraman Zett, the disciple of Ultraman Zero, who is now celebrating his tenth anniversary! An admirer of Zero, Zett worked hard to become a member of the “Inter Galactic Defense Force.” With a passion inherited from his teacher Zero, Zett is an Ultraman who always looks forward and forges ahead.

Release Date: 2020-06-20

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 13

5.2

Monster SeaFood Wars

Yuta, a young master at the Tsukiji Fish Market, accidentally drops his meal of mixed seafood into the Sumida River. Some time afterwards a gigantic mutated squid monster arises from the depths and begins to wreak havoc upon an awe-stricken Tokyo. Attempts by the Japan Self-Defense Forces to stop the creature prove futile. As it seems things couldn’t get any worse an enormous mutant octopus monster emerges from the deep and heads into a clash of the titans with the gargantuan squid! As a last ditch effort, the government forms the “Seafood Monster Attack Team (SMAT)” and an all-new plan of attack is immediately put into action. But just as the tide appears to be turning in humanity’s favor, a colossal crab monster appears, joining in the Monster Seafood Wars and plunging the world into culinary chaos…

Release Date: 2020-05-23

Department: Writing

Job: Original Story

Vote Count: 8

Ultraman Chronicle: ZERO & GEED
10.0

Ultraman Chronicle: ZERO & GEED

Ultraman Chronicle Zero & Geed is a biography series produced by Tsuburaya Productions created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Ultraman Zero. Featuring Riku Asakura, who navigates the viewers through compilation clips featuring Zero's appearances throughout past shows, in addition to Riku's exploits as Ultraman Geed.

Release Date: 2020-01-11

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 2

Ultraman Taiga
7.2

Ultraman Taiga

Aliens have been emigrating to Earth secretly, but only a handful knows about this truth. Living in such a society, the main character Hiroyuki Kudo begins working at a private security organization E.G.I.S. (Enterprise of Guard and Investigation Services). The organization takes care of cases related with aliens, and Hiroyuki works day and night to protect peace. However, there lies a huge secret in him, which he himself is not aware of. He carries Ultraman Taiga’s “particle of light”. The new story begins as Taiga’s powers revive from Hiroyuki’s body!

Release Date: 2019-07-06

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 10

Ultraman R/B
8.4

Ultraman R/B

The two main characters, Katsumi and Isami Minato, are brothers who live with their younger sister and father who runs a specialty store. One day, they found the R/B Gyro and R/B Crystals, which transforms Katsumi into Ultraman Rosso and Isami into Ultraman Blu.

Release Date: 2018-07-07

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 7

Ultraman Geed
9.0

Ultraman Geed

After escaping from the raid of giant monster Skull Gomora, Riku Asakura and his partner Pega stumbled upon a secret base lied 500 m underground. Given the Geed Riser and Ultra Capsules by operating system Rem, he transforms into Ultraman Geed and becomes a hero that his childhood inspired.

Release Date: 2017-07-08

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 6

Kaiju Club
8.0

Kaiju Club

It’s the mid-1970s at a time before the TV recording function became commonplace. The Kaijuu Club is a group of youths that loves fancy special effects series such as Ultraman and Ultra Seven. They put everything into researching monsters which appear in these series from every possible angle and hold editorial meetings to publish a fan magazine on the monsters. The members of the club would gather at their usual coffee shop and have enthusiastic and heated discussions without being daunted by the chilly stares of the people around them.

Release Date: 2017-06-06

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 3

Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga
7.9

Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga

The story chronicles upon the past of Gai Kurenai and Jugglus Juggler, the original series' main protagonist and antagonist, who were once heroes fighting on the side of light, facing Dr. Psychi and his army of Bezelbs.

Release Date: 2016-12-26

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 14

Ultraman Orb
8.1

Ultraman Orb

A young man becomes the giant hero Ultraman Orb, a warrior of light, to battle monsters and aliens threatening Earth using the powers of his many predecessor guardians.

Release Date: 2016-07-09

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 14

Ultraman X
8.3

Ultraman X

A solar flare has awakened Spark Dolls from the depths of the earth and the ocean! Fifteen years later, Daichi Ozora transforms into Ultraman X to battle threats from both aliens and monsters. He is also a member of Xio, a team created to battle the monstrous threats.

Release Date: 2015-07-14

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 9

New Ultraman Retsuden
8.4

New Ultraman Retsuden

Release Date: 2013-07-03

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 5

Neo Ultra Q
9.2

Neo Ultra Q

Ultra Q has returned, and continues investigations of monstrous appearances and strange ecological phenomenons.

Release Date: 2013-01-12

Department: Crew

Job: Creator

Episode Count: 12

Vote Count: 4

Bio Planet WoO
7.0

Bio Planet WoO

The story revolves around a living creature which came from a comet named WoO; in the series, WoO is befriended by a young girl named Ai; both are chased by a mysterious organization called SWORD who sees WoO as a threat to humanity. At the same time, giant monsters have invaded in search of WoO.

Release Date: 2006-04-09

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 1

Ultraman Nexus
8.8

Ultraman Nexus

The TLT is a covert international anti-monster unit established secretly to combat Space Beasts, mysterious monsters that are out to attack humans in the year 2009. One of the TLT's new recruits, Kazuki Komon, is attacked by one of them prior to reporting for duty. However, he is saved by a silver giant that he names "Ultraman". What no one knows is that the silver giant is an Ultraman — to be precise, Ultraman Nexus, ready to fight the Space Beasts to save the planet Earth.

Release Date: 2004-10-02

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 16

Ultraman Neos
9.2

Ultraman Neos

Ultraman Neos is a Japanese tokusatsu show, being the 17th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Ultraman Neos was initially intended as a TV series but the project was shelved. Years later, Tsuburaya turned the concept into a 12-episode direct-to-video series. In spite of the appearance of similar designs and a cameo by Zoffy, the series is set in an alternate universe.

Release Date: 2000-11-22

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 4

Ultraman Nice
8.7

Ultraman Nice

Ultraman Nice arrives from the planet TOY-1 in a series of infomercials (1-minute toy commercials) presented during the 1999 Japanese reruns of Ultraman Tiga. The 1-minute spots, advertising the wide variety of Bandai Ultraman toys and other merchandise, actually do have a storyline, along with some surprise guests. Throughout the series, Alien Zagon and his monsters attacked Earth for the Bandai figures. However, at each attack, Ultraman Nice managed to defeat them and, at the end of the series, the aliens were finally vanquished

Release Date: 1999-10-20

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 3

Ultraman Dyna
8.9

Ultraman Dyna

As humanity begins migrating beyond Earth, a new Ultraman named Dyna arrives and bonds with defense organization GUTS' newest recruit, Shin Asuka, to protect a colony on Mars.

Release Date: 1997-09-06

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 12

Ultraman Tiga
8.1

Ultraman Tiga

A high-tech squadron protects Earth from evil monsters and aliens with the help of a giant super-being named Ultraman Tiga.

Release Date: 1996-09-07

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 105

Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero
8.2

Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero

The members of WINR (pronounced "Winner") respond when members of the alien Baltan race attack Earth, but the Baltans are only fended off when a gigantic alien, Ultraman Powered, joins with WINR member Kenichi Kai and gives him the power to metamorphose into Ultraman in times of danger. At the end of the first episode Ultraman declares that the Baltans were not completely defeated and that he will remain on Earth to continue the fight. WINR and Ultraman destroy numerous other monsters, but WINR learns that the Baltans were arranging all the battles to learn Ultraman's strengths and weaknesses

Release Date: 1993-12-16

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 4

Ultraman: Towards the Future
8.2

Ultraman: Towards the Future

Jack Shindo and Stanley Haggard are members of the first manned expedition to Mars, and on the red planet find a giant slug-like monster, Goudes/Gudis. Shindo is pinned by a rockslide and Haggard tries to escape in their ship but is blown up by Gudis. Suddenly a giant warrior, Ultraman Great, arrives and fights Goudes, but when Ultraman is on the verge of victory Goudes changes into a virus and travels to Earth where it mutates other creatures into monsters and awakens existing ones. Needing a human host to survive on Earth, Ultraman joins with Jack, allowing him to become the mighty alien when all seems lost. He joins UMA in order to help them battle the monsters.

Release Date: 1990-09-25

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 4

Ultraman 80
8.0

Ultraman 80

Takeshi Yamato, a twenty-two-year-old young man lives a double life. During the daytime, he is a rookie but popular science teacher at a junior high school in Tokyo. But after school and on Sundays he works as a member of the elite UGM (Utility Government Members).

Release Date: 1980-04-02

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 7

The☆Ultraman
7.8

The☆Ultraman

Joneus (Joe), a new Ultraman from U-40, merges with young Science Garrison member Chôichirô Hikari to defend the Earth in this, the first-ever animated Ultra Series. The show was the first animated incarnation of Tsuburaya's iconic superhero Ultraman.

Release Date: 1979-04-04

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 5

Ultraman Leo
7.8

Ultraman Leo

Ultraman Leo is an Ultra foreign to the Land of Light, instead hailing from the fallen Planet L77 of the Leo constellation, where he and his brother Astra were royalty. After his planet was destroyed by Alien Magma and his twin Giras kaiju, Leo traveled to Earth, intending to make it a second home. While there, he blended into human society as Gen Ohtori, and became a gym instructor at a fitness club for children. But, when the Alien Magma that destroyed L77 came to conquer Earth, he was forced to take action. Leo met Ultraseven during his initial fight against Alien Magma, and became the first Ultra Crusader of Earth to not hail from the Land of Light. Unlike most of the previous Ultras to visit Earth, Leo's fighting style specializes in martial arts giving him far greater physical abilities than any other known Ultras. Despite his foreign origins, he, along with Astra, were readily accepted into the pantheon of the Ultra Brothers. During his tenure on Earth, Leo and Seven became very close, and it was for this reason that Seven would eventually entrust the training of his son Ultraman Zero to Leo and Astra.

Release Date: 1974-04-12

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 12

Ultraman Taro
8.4

Ultraman Taro

Kotaro Higashi trained to be a boxer, but after an icident with Astromons, he was killed. However, his body was brought to Nebula M-78 where Mother of Ultra saved his life by joining him with Ultraman Taro. Taro had spent many years training, honing his skills based on those of the other Ultra Brothers to become strong. The two returned to earth as a new kaiju era was beginning.

Release Date: 1973-04-06

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 8

Ultraman Ace
8.1

Ultraman Ace

Yapool, an ancient interdimensional race of beings tries to conquer the Planet Earth with his army of monsters, called Terrible-Monsters. The newest member of the Ultra Brothers, Ultraman Ace, arrives on Earth to aid humanity in the battle against Yapool. Touched by the sacrifices of Seiji Hokuto and Yuko Minami, he revives them and grants them the Ultra Rings, which allows them to transform into Ultraman Ace in times of need.

Release Date: 1972-04-07

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 12

Return of Ultraman
8.5

Return of Ultraman

In a fight between two giant monsters named Takkong and Zazahn, young race car driver Hideki Go is killed while trying to rescue a little boy and a dog from the falling rubble. His valiant sacrifice is noted by everyone, even his friends and the new defense force MAT, but an unseen being also takes notice. Looking over Go is the "New Ultraman", who is so touched by Go's actions that he decides to combine his life force with that of Hideki, thus bringing him back to life. Hideki Go then joins the MAT and fights alongside them and Ultraman against monsters and alien invaders.

Release Date: 1971-04-02

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 13

5.1

All Monsters Attack

Ichiro Miki is a child living in the industrial district of Kawasaki, where his parents' constant struggle to make ends meet often leaves the schoolboy alone. Constantly teased by a bully nicknamed Gabara, his only friends are toy consultant Shinpei and fellow classmate Sachiko. Ichiro turns to escapist dreams of Monster Island where he befriends the equally bullied Minilla.

Release Date: 1969-12-20

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Special Effects Supervisor

Vote Count: 192

Crazy Big Explosion

A Toho comedy film staring the Crazy Cats.

Release Date: 1969-04-27

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

6.8

Destroy All Monsters

At the turn of the century, all of the Earth's monsters have been rounded up and kept safely on Monsterland. Chaos erupts when a race of she-aliens known as the Kilaaks unleash the monsters across the world.

Release Date: 1968-08-01

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Special Effects Supervisor

Vote Count: 250

Mighty Jack
6.0

Mighty Jack

Mighty Jack was a tokusatsu SF/espionage/action TV series. Created by Japanese effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya, the show was produced by Tsuburaya Productions and was broadcast on Fuji TV from April 6, 1968 to June 29, 1968, with a total of 13 one-hour episodes. The music for the episodes was done by Isao Tomita and Kunio Miyauchi. Reportedly, Eiji Tsuburaya considered this series his masterwork because the focus was on the people rather than on the vehicles and special effects This focus on the people was similar to the works of Gerry Anderson, of which Eiji was a big fan. The Mighty Jack mecha/HQ featured in this series also has some similarities to Eiji's previous TV masterpiece, Ultra Seven. Even for the original series of 13 one hour-long episodes, the ratings were low. The follow-up series, Fight! Mighty Jack, fared better in the ratings, perhaps because of its inclusion of monsters and aliens rather than purely human evil-doers like Q.

Release Date: 1968-04-06

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 1

6.4

Son of Godzilla

Reporter Goro Maki stumbles upon scientists conducting weather experiments on Sollgel Island in the South Seas. He discovers the island is inhabited by giant mantis and a woman named Saeko who's been cast away since the death of her father. The pair soon find a helpless infant monster that Godzilla must adopt and learn to raise as one of his own.

Release Date: 1967-12-16

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 218

Ultraseven
7.7

Ultraseven

In the not-too-distant future, the Earth finds itself constantly under attack from extraterrestrial threats. The Terrestrial Defense Force establishes the Ultra Garrison, a team of six elite members who utilize high-tech vehicles and weaponry. Joining their fight is the mysterious Dan Moroboshi, secretly an alien from the Land of Light in Nebula M-78, who transforms into his true form in times of crisis, Ultraseven.

Release Date: 1967-10-01

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 108

6.2

King Kong Escapes

An adaptation of the Rankin/Bass cartoon, "The King Kong Show". King Kong is brought in by the evil Dr. Who to dig for Element X in a mine when the robot Mechani-Kong is unable to do the task. This leads to the machine and the real Kong engaging in a tremendous battle atop Tokyo Tower.

Release Date: 1967-07-22

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 104

6.4

The War of the Gargantuas

Gaira, a humanoid sea beast spawned from the discarded cells of Frankenstein's monster, attacks the shores of Tokyo. While the Japanese military prepares to take action, Gaira's Gargantua brother, Sanda, descends from the mountains to defend his kin. A battle between good and evil ensues, leaving brothers divided and a city in ruins.

Release Date: 1966-07-31

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 96

Ultraman
8.3

Ultraman

Hayata is a member of the Science Patrol, an organization tasked with investigating bizarre anomalies. He is mortally wounded when accidently encountering an alien being from Land of Light, who grants Hayata new life as the two are merged into one. Now, whenever a threat arises that is too great for the Science Patrol to handle, Hayata activates the beta capsule and becomes the hero known as Ultraman.

Release Date: 1966-07-17

Department: Production

Job: Production Supervisor

Episode Count: 39

Vote Count: 42

Zero Fighter

Release Date: 1966-07-13

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

6.0

The Birth of Ultraman

In this recorded stage debut of the original Ultraman, self-proclaimed world's number one kaiju tamer, Eiji Tsuburaya introduces Ultraman, the Science Special Search Party (SSSP), and various kaiju.

Release Date: 1966-07-10

Department: Crew

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 1

10.0

ウルトラマン前夜祭 ウルトラマン誕生

Video recording of a public event featuring Ultraman, held at the Suginami Public Hall in Tokyo on July 9, 1966, one week before Ultraman's first episode aired on tv. That makes it Ultraman's first apparence ever on tv.

Release Date: 1966-07-10

Vote Count: 1

The Father of Ultra Q

Akio Jissoji's documentary on the production of Ultra Q. Interview with series creator Eiji Tsuburaya.

Release Date: 1966-06-02

Ultra Q
8.2

Ultra Q

As supernatural events and monster attacks rock Japan, the military and government look to be overwhelmed. Three intrepid young investigators—two pilots and a reporter—take it upon themselves to study these unexplained phenomena in order to inform and protect the public. With allies and science aiding them on their journey, the trio must separate myth from history as they explore the greater mysteries of these occurrences: are they unrelated, or is this barrage somehow a portent of even worse things to come?

Release Date: 1966-01-02

Department: Production

Job: Production Supervisor

Episode Count: 28

Vote Count: 19

6.8

Dogora

A floating amorphous life-form descends from the atmosphere to consume carbon in the form of diamonds.

Release Date: 1964-08-11

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 40

Tiger Flight

A 1964 war film directed by Kengo Furusawa

Release Date: 1964-02-29

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

7.3

Chûshingura

After their lord is tricked into committing ritual suicide, forty-seven samurai warriors await the chance to avenge their master and reclaim their honor.

Release Date: 1962-11-03

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 41

5.5

Valley of the Dragons

In 1881 Algeria, an American soldier and a French aristocrat are about to have a duel over a woman when a comet hurtling past the Earth draws them into its gravitational pull. The men find themselves transported to the moon, where they discover a prehistoric civilization inhabited by reptiles and humans.

Release Date: 1961-10-31

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 15

Blood on the Sea

Four fishermen friends are caught up in a piracy plot.

Release Date: 1961-08-13

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

7.2

Mothra

Shipwreck survivors found on the presumably uninhabited Infant Island leads to a scientific expedition that discovers a surviving native population along with the Shobijin, tiny twin fairy priestesses of the island's mythical deity called Mothra. After the fairies are kidnapped by an exploitative businessman named Clark Nelson, Mothra sets out to rescue them.

Release Date: 1961-07-30

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 169

5.6

The Storm of the Pacific

Lt. Koji Kitami is a navigator-bombardier in Japan's Naval Air Force. He participates in the Japanese raid on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in 1941 and is welcomed with pride in his hometown on his return. As Japan racks up victory after victory in the Pacific War, Kitami is caught up in the emotion of the time and fights courageously for the standard of Japanese honor. But his assuredness of his government's righteousness is shaken after the Japanese navy is defeated in the debacle of Midway.

Release Date: 1960-04-26

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 8

6.1

The Secret of the Telegian

Men are being murdered by a psycho called "The Telegian," who uses a matter-transmitting device to locate his victims.

Release Date: 1960-04-10

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 8

Tokyo 1960

A Filipino re-edit of the original Godzilla. Appears to have been edited in a similar fashion to the American King of the Monsters!, with the use of Filipino actors. No footage of this version has ever surfaced.

Release Date: 1957-12-27

Department: Writing

Job: Story

The Paradise Island Story

Musical-comedy about nine soldiers deserted on an island in South Pacific.

Release Date: 1957-01-29

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

7.9

Throne of Blood

Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.

Release Date: 1957-01-15

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 876

6.4

Invisible Man

When an invisible man is run down by a car it’s up to an eager young reporter and a strange clown to bring a dangerous gang to justice.

Release Date: 1954-12-29

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 5

7.8

The Eagle of the Pacific

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, a brilliant tactician, is a loyal subject of the emperor, despite his grave misgivings about leading Japan's navy into war with the United States. He opposes the attack on Pearl Harbor, but, overruled, he leads his forces to the best of his ability.

Release Date: 1953-10-21

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 6

Youth of Heiji Senigata

Release Date: 1953-08-19

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

6.4

The Lady of Musashino

Set in post-war Japan, The Lady of Musashino tells the story of Michiko, a disillusioned young woman trapped in a loveless marriage. She confides in her younger cousin, Tsutomo, and the two become close, but decide not to consummate their affair. He instead becomes involved with the flirtatious Tomiko, who is also conducting an affair with Michiko's husband. When Michiko finds that her husband has abandoned her, she decides to take her fate into her own hands.

Release Date: 1951-09-14

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Vote Count: 15

World of Love

A sixteen-year-old who had been living on her own since her mother died, frequently gets in trouble with the police. She gets sent to an "institute" for young girls in the countryside. There the residents grow their own food, cook and clean for themselves, and are taught language, music, and sewing. While there the young girl slowly begins to form friendships and come out of her shell.

Release Date: 1943-04-14

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Hyoroku's Dream Tale

Release Date: 1943-04-01

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

The Opium War

The Opium War is a 1943 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Masahiro Makino. "Ahen senso" in Japan refers to the First Opium War. The story of the film concerns this war.

Release Date: 1943-01-14

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya

Japanese Navy air cadets train for the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the HMS Prince of Wales.

Release Date: 1942-12-03

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

6.3

Wings of Victory

Release Date: 1942-10-14

Department: Crew

Job: Special Effects

Vote Count: 3

Navy Bomb Squadron

Japanese propaganda film

Release Date: 1940-05-22

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

The Burning Sky

The film was produced during Second Sino-Japanese War, before the Pearl Harbor Attack in 1941. The film mainly concerns the training of newly-recruited pilots and their daily life, then their subsequent fighting experiences in China. Army supported the production, providing all the authentic airplanes, training and actual actions. They even provided the older biplanes disguised as Chinese fighter planes. Obinata plays the trainer-turned-combat-leader, who is passionate and cool at the same time. All his boys love him, of course. The film is not as intense, full of sugar-coated camaraderie, until young pilots are killed in action one by one. Last twenty minutes are fairly grim, as the message of self-sacrifice is heard loud and clear.

Release Date: 1940-05-10

Department: Visual Effects

Job: Visual Effects

Castle of Wind and Clouds

A samurai returns to his homeland after a three year absence and finds his fiance is now one of the prince's concubines.

Release Date: 1928-02-10

Department: Camera

Job: Director of Photography

7.4

A Page of Madness

A man takes a job at an asylum with hopes of freeing his imprisoned wife.

Release Date: 1926-09-24

Department: Camera

Job: Assistant Camera

Vote Count: 145

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