Eiji Tsuburaya(1901-1970)
- Special Effects
- Writer
- Cinematographer
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 Japanase 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 studio's. 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 Japanaese propaganda films. He went freelance
after the war, and in 1954 he collaborated with director Ishirô Honda on the
monster epic Godzilla (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") The H-Man (1958) (aka "The H-Man") Densô ningen (1960) (aka "The Telegian"),
Mothra (1961) (aka "Mothra") King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963) (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.
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 Japanase 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 studio's. 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 Japanaese propaganda films. He went freelance
after the war, and in 1954 he collaborated with director Ishirô Honda on the
monster epic Godzilla (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") The H-Man (1958) (aka "The H-Man") Densô ningen (1960) (aka "The Telegian"),
Mothra (1961) (aka "Mothra") King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963) (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.