Eiji Tsuburaya

Eiji Tsuburaya

Known for: Visual Effects
Biography: 1901-07-07
Deathday: 1970-01-25 (68 years old)

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Biography

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.

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Filmography

all 140

Movies 106

TV Shows 34

Creator 31

Writer 8

Director 5

Producer 2

self 1

Screenplay 1

Creator
Ultraman Blazar

Ultraman Blazar (2023)

TV
Creator
Ultraman New Generation Stars

Ultraman New Generation Stars (2023)

TV
Creator
Ultraman Decker

Ultraman Decker (2022)

TV
Writer
Shin Ultraman

Shin Ultraman (2022)

Movie
8
Creator
Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad

Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad (2022)

TV
Creator
Ultraman Chronicle D

Ultraman Chronicle D (2022)

TV
Creator
Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga

Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga (2021)

TV
Creator
Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey

Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey (2021)

TV
Creator
Ultraman Z

Ultraman Z (2020)

TV
Writer
Monster SeaFood Wars

Monster SeaFood Wars (2020)

Movie
Creator
Ultraman Chronicle: ZERO & GEED

Ultraman Chronicle: ZERO & GEED (2020)

TV
Characters
Look Within

Look Within (2019)

Movie
Creator
Ultraman Taiga

Ultraman Taiga (2019)

TV
Writer
Ultraman

Ultraman (2019)

TV
Original Concept
Dragon Force: Rise of Ultraman

Dragon Force: Rise of Ultraman (2019)

Movie
Creator
Ultraman R/B

Ultraman R/B (2018)

TV
Original Concept
Dragon Force: So Long Ultraman

Dragon Force: So Long Ultraman (2017)

Movie
Creator
Ultraman Geed

Ultraman Geed (2017)

TV
Creator
Kaiju Club

Kaiju Club (2017)

TV
Characters
Within Reach

Within Reach (2017)

Movie
Creator
Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga

Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga (2016)

TV
Creator
Ultraman Orb

Ultraman Orb (2016)

TV
Creator
Ultraman X

Ultraman X (2015)

TV
Creator
New Ultraman Retsuden

New Ultraman Retsuden (2013)

TV
Creator
Neo Ultra Q

Neo Ultra Q (2013)

TV
Creator
Ultraman Nexus

Ultraman Nexus (2004)

TV
Creator
Ultraman Neos

Ultraman Neos (2000)

TV
Creator
Ultraman Tiga

Ultraman Tiga (1996)

TV
Creator
Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero

Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero (1993)

TV
Writer
Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider

Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider (1993)

Movie
Original Story
Ultraman - The Alien Invasion

Ultraman - The Alien Invasion (1993)

Movie
Creator
Ultraman: Towards the Future

Ultraman: Towards the Future (1990)

TV
Creator
Ultraman 80

Ultraman 80 (1980)

TV
Creator
The☆Ultraman

The☆Ultraman (1979)

TV
Executive Producer
Akio Jissoji's Ultraman

Akio Jissoji's Ultraman (1979)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects / Story
Godzilla

Godzilla (1977)

Movie
Creator
Ultraman Leo

Ultraman Leo (1974)

TV
Creator
Ultraman Taro

Ultraman Taro (1973)

TV
Producer
Daigoro vs. Goliath

Daigoro vs. Goliath (1972)

Movie
Creator
Ultraman Ace

Ultraman Ace (1972)

TV
Creator
Return of Ultraman

Return of Ultraman (1971)

TV
Special Effects
All Monsters Attack

All Monsters Attack (1969)

Movie
5.4
Production Manager
Latitude Zero

Latitude Zero (1969)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects
Crazy Big Explosion

Crazy Big Explosion (1969)

Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor
Ultraman, Ultraseven: Great Violent Monster Fight

Ultraman, Ultraseven: Great Violent Monster Fight (1969)

Movie
Special Effects Supervisor
Destroy All Monsters

Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Movie
5.38
Writer
Mighty Jack

Mighty Jack (1968)

TV
Visual Effects
Son of Godzilla

Son of Godzilla (1967)

Movie
5.16
Creator
Ultraseven

Ultraseven (1967)

TV
9
Director
Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature

Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature (1967)

Movie
Visual Effects
King Kong Escapes

King Kong Escapes (1967)

Movie
Special Effects
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)

Movie
5.43
Visual Effects / Special Effects Manager
The War of the Gargantuas

The War of the Gargantuas (1966)

Movie
Writer
Ultraman

Ultraman (1966)

TV
Special Effects
Zero Fighter

Zero Fighter (1966)

Movie
Writer
ウルトラマン前夜祭 ウルトラマン誕生

ウルトラマン前夜祭 ウルトラマン誕生 (1966)

Movie
Creator
The Birth of Ultraman

The Birth of Ultraman (1966)

Movie
Self
The Father of Ultra Q

The Father of Ultra Q (1966)

Movie
Writer
Ultra Q

Ultra Q (1966)

TV
Special Effects / Visual Effects / Visual Effects Director
Invasion of Astro-Monster

Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)

Movie
5.45
Special Effects
The Crazy Adventure

The Crazy Adventure (1965)

Movie
Special Effects
Frankenstein Conquers the World

Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)

Movie
3.67
Special Effects
The Retreat from Kiska

The Retreat from Kiska (1965)

Movie
Special Effects
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)

Movie
4.98
Special Effects Supervisor
Dogora

Dogora (1964)

Movie
Special Effects Supervisor
Whirlwind

Whirlwind (1964)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects
Mothra vs. Godzilla

Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Movie
5.49
Special Effects
Tiger Flight

Tiger Flight (1964)

Movie
Special Effects Coordinator
Atragon

Atragon (1963)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects / Special Effects Supervisor
Matango

Matango (1963)

Movie
2
Special Effects / Visual Effects
King Kong vs. Godzilla

King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963)

Movie
7.5
Special Effects
47 Ronin

47 Ronin (1962)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects
King Kong vs. Godzilla

King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)

Movie
5.35
Special Effects / Visual Effects Director
Gorath

Gorath (1962)

Movie
Special Effects
Valley of the Dragons

Valley of the Dragons (1961)

Movie
Special Effects Coordinator
The Last War

The Last War (1961)

Movie
Special Effects
Blood on the Sea

Blood on the Sea (1961)

Movie
Visual Effects
Mothra

Mothra (1961)

Movie
Special Effects Supervisor
Daredevil in the Castle

Daredevil in the Castle (1961)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects / Visual Effects Director
The Human Vapor

The Human Vapor (1960)

Movie
Visual Effects
The Secret of the Telegian

The Secret of the Telegian (1960)

Movie
Visual Effects
Battle in Outer Space

Battle in Outer Space (1959)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects
The Three Treasures

The Three Treasures (1959)

Movie
Special Effects Supervisor
Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender

Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender (1959)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects
Gigantis, the Fire Monster

Gigantis, the Fire Monster (1959)

Movie
Special Effects Supervisor
The Adventures of Sun Wu Kung

The Adventures of Sun Wu Kung (1959)

Movie
Visual Effects
The Hidden Fortress

The Hidden Fortress (1958)

Movie
4.75
Special Effects / Visual Effects
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman

Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman (1958)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects
Daikaijū Baran

Daikaijū Baran (1958)

Movie
6
Special Effects / Visual Effects
Varan

Varan (1958)

Movie
Visual Effects
The Tale of the White Serpent

The Tale of the White Serpent (1958)

Movie
Visual Effects
The H-Man

The H-Man (1958)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects
Song for a Bride

Song for a Bride (1958)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects
The Mysterians

The Mysterians (1957)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects / Story
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean

Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean (1957)

Movie
Visual Effects
The Paradise Island Story

The Paradise Island Story (1957)

Movie
Visual Effects
Throne of Blood

Throne of Blood (1957)

Movie
4
Visual Effects
Rodan

Rodan (1956)

Movie
Special Effects Supervisor
The Legend of the White Serpent

The Legend of the White Serpent (1956)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects / Story
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)

Movie
5.68
Visual Effects
Marital Relations

Marital Relations (1955)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects
Half Human

Half Human (1955)

Movie
Visual Effects
Godzilla Raids Again

Godzilla Raids Again (1955)

Movie
5.32
Cinematographer
Invisible Man

Invisible Man (1954)

Movie
Special Effects / Visual Effects / Story
Godzilla

Godzilla (1954)

Movie
5.66
Visual Effects
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto

Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)

Movie
4.83
Special Effects
Farewell Rabaul

Farewell Rabaul (1954)

Movie
Special Effects
Sound of the Mountain

Sound of the Mountain (1954)

Movie
Special Effects
The Lovers

The Lovers (1953)

Movie
Special Effects Supervisor
Eagle of the Pacific

Eagle of the Pacific (1953)

Movie
Visual Effects
Youth of Heiji Senigata

Youth of Heiji Senigata (1953)

Movie
Visual Effects
Anatahan

Anatahan (1953)

Movie
Special Effects
The Man Who Came to Port

The Man Who Came to Port (1952)

Movie
Special Effects
The Skin of the South

The Skin of the South (1952)

Movie
Visual Effects
The Lady of Musashino

The Lady of Musashino (1951)

Movie
Visual Effects / Special Effects Supervisor
The Invisible Man Appears

The Invisible Man Appears (1949)

Movie
Special Effects
Hanakurabe tanuki-den

Hanakurabe tanuki-den (1949)

Movie
Special Effects
White-haired Demon

White-haired Demon (1949)

Movie
Special Effects Supervisor
A Thousand and One Nights with Toho

A Thousand and One Nights with Toho (1947)

Movie
Special Effects
Lord for a Night

Lord for a Night (1946)

Movie
Special Effects
A Descendant of Urashima Taro

A Descendant of Urashima Taro (1946)

Movie
Special Effects
Five Tokyo Men

Five Tokyo Men (1945)

Movie
Special Effects
Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadron

Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadron (1944)

Movie
Special Effects
Hot Wind

Hot Wind (1943)

Movie
Special Effects
World of Love

World of Love (1943)

Movie
Special Effects
Hyoroku's Dream Tale

Hyoroku's Dream Tale (1943)

Movie
Special Effects
音楽大進軍

音楽大進軍 (1943)

Movie
Special Effects
The Opium War

The Opium War (1943)

Movie
Special Effects Supervisor
The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya

The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya (1942)

Movie
Special Effects Supervisor
Wings of Victory

Wings of Victory (1942)

Movie
VFX Director of Photography
Bouquet of the South Seas

Bouquet of the South Seas (1942)

Movie
Screenplay / Special Effects
Ramayana

Ramayana (1942)

Movie
Visual Effects
Navy Bomb Squadron

Navy Bomb Squadron (1940)

Movie
Visual Effects
The Burning Sky

The Burning Sky (1940)

Movie
Cinematographer
Kaguya Hime

Kaguya Hime (1935)

Movie
Cinematographer
Chorus of a Million People

Chorus of a Million People (1935)

Movie
Cinematographer
Gion Shigure

Gion Shigure (1933)

Movie
Cinematographer
Reimei izen

Reimei izen (1931)

Movie
Cinematographer
Castle of Wind and Clouds

Castle of Wind and Clouds (1928)

Movie
Assistant Camera
A Page of Madness

A Page of Madness (1926)

Movie

Ratings

Average 6.03
Based on 299 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1926
1954
1963
1956
2023
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Information

Known For
Visual Effects

Gender
Male

Birthday
1901-07-07

Deathday
1970-01-25 (68 years old)

Birth Name
圓谷 英一

Birth Place
Sukagawa, Japan

Religion
Catholicism

Children
Noboru Tsuburaya, Hajime Tsuburaya

Relatives
Yūko Tsuburaya

Citizenships
Japan

Also Known As
円谷英二, 特撮の神様, 쓰부라야 에이지, 圓谷英二, 円谷英一


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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