History Creator / EijiTsuburaya

[[caption-width-right:242:The Master of Monsters with one of his greatest creations.]]

->''"My heart and mind are as they were when I was a child. Then I loved to play with toys and to read stories of magic. I still do. My wish is only to make life happier and more beautiful for those who will go and see my films of fantasy"''

[[caption-width-right:242:The Master of Monsters with one of his greatest creations]]

During his 50-year career, he worked on approximately 250 films in total. Let's just cut down on films he's worked on that you'll recognize

!Films and series he's worked on:

!Tropes applying to Eiji Tsuburaya and his work

After the war, he formed his own independent effects company until returning to Toho in 1951. In 1954 he was one of the team who made ''Film/Godzilla1954'', and he was head of the special effects team for all the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' movies up through ''Film/AllMonstersAttack'', as well as many other fantasy, science-fiction, and war films of the period. However, due to work on at his own studio mentioned below, he only supervised visual effects for ''Film/EbirahHorrorOfTheDeep'', ''Film/SonOfGodzilla, and ''Film/DestroyAllMonsters'', and received credit in ''Film/AllMonstersAttack'' out of respect for him despite no involvement due to serious illness.

After the war, he formed his own independent effects company until returning to Toho in 1951. In 1954 he was one of the team who made ''Film/Godzilla1954'', and he was head of the special effects team for all the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' movies up through ''Film/AllMonstersAttack'', as well as many other fantasy, science-fiction, and war films of the period. However, due to work on at his own studio mentioned below, he only supervised visual effects for ''Film/EbirahHorrorOfTheDeep'' through ''Film/DestroyAllMonsters'', and received credit in ''Film/AllMonstersAttack'' out of respect for him despite no involvement due to serious illness.

* ''Half Human''

** He had a fondness for comedic monster scenes to give his kaiju character and make audiences laugh. The infamous VictoryDance from ''Film/InvasionOfAstroMonster'' is an excellent example. Apparently, Creator/IshiroHonda and Creator/HaruoNakajima sternly objected to its inclusion, but Tsuburaya's insistence won out.

* ThePerfectionist: Eiji was a stickler for perfection in his work. He would think nothing twice about having his crew completely rebuild a painstakingly constructed miniature that had taken months to make if a single shot when wrong.

* ''Gorath''

After the war, he formed his own independent effects company until returning to Toho in 1951. In 1954 he was one of the team who made ''Film/{{Gojira}}'', and he was head of the special effects team for all the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' movies up through ''Film/AllMonstersAttack'', as well as many other fantasy, science-fiction, and war films of the period. However, due to work on at his own studio mentioned below, he only supervised visual effects for ''Film/EbirahHorrorOfTheDeep'' through ''Film/DestroyAllMonsters'', and received credit in ''Film/AllMonstersAttack'' out of respect for him despite no involvement due to serious illness.

** ''Film/{{Gojira}}''

* ''Series/MightyJack'' (which he considered his MagnumOpus)

-->-- '''Eiji Tsuburaya''', ''Caper Magazine'' (1965)

[[quoteright:242:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tsuburaya_and_ultraman_9.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:242:Tsuburaya speaks on stage to Ultraman]]

Eiji Tsuburaya (円谷 英二) was an influential special effects director considered by many to be "God of {{Toku}}satsu". Born July 7, 1901 (as Eiichi Tsumuraya) and died January 11, 1970, Tsuburaya is famed in UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} for having effectively created the nation's special effects industry, as well as his involvement in the creation of two of its most iconic pop culture characters -- Franchise/{{Godzilla}} and Series/{{Ultraman}}.

During his childhood, Tsuburaya was fascinated with aviation, which was a hobby he'd have all his life. In 1919, he took up his first job as a cameraman for Nikkatsu. In 1938 he became special effects director at Creator/{{Toho}} Studios. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, he worked on several propaganda films, one of which, ''The War At Sea From Hawaii To Malay'', featured a recreation of the Pearl Harbor bombings so well done the American censors during occupation became frightened and thought it was real footage of Pearl Harbor, which got him accused of involvement in espionage and a brief exile from Toho.

After the war, he formed his own independent effects company until returning to Toho in 1951. In 1954 he was one of the team who made ''Film/{{Gojira}}'', and he was head of the special effects team for all the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' movies up through ''Film/AllMonstersAttack''[[note]]Due to work on ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'', he only supervised visual effects for ''Film/EbirahHorrorOfTheDeep'' through ''Film/DestroyAllMonsters'', and received credit in ''Film/AllMonstersAttack'' out of respect for him despite no involvement due to serious illness[[/note]], as well as many other fantasy, science-fiction, and war films of the period. He was also the creator of another classic tokusatsu series, ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'', produced at his own studio Creator/TsuburayaProductions (established 1963). Alongside the equally acclaimed ''Series/UltraQ'' and ''Series/UltraSeven'', ''Ultraman'' would spawn the ''Franchise/UltraSeries'' whose heroes would become as popular in Japan as Godzilla himself and the most beloved of his studio's works.

Raised a Buddhist, he became a [[UsefulNotes/JapaneseChristian Catholic]] after marriage as his wife was one, which influenced some of the imagery he used in his works (seen in such works as ''Film/{{Mothra}}'' and ''Series/UltraSeven'').

Eiji Tsuburaya (円谷 英二), considered by many to be "God of {{Toku}}satsu" was born July 7, 1901 (as Eiichi Tsumuraya) and died January 11, 1970.

Eiji Tsuburaya (円谷 英二), considered by many to be "God of Special Effects" was born July 7, 1901 and died January 11, 1970.

During his childhood, Tsuburaya was fascinated with aviation, which was a hobby he'd have all his life. In 1919, he took up his first job as a cameraman for Nikkatsu. In 1938 he became special effects director at Creator/{{Toho}} Studios. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, he directed several propaganda films, one of which, ''The War At Sea From Hawaii To Malay'', was so well done the American censors during occupation became frightened and thought it was real footage of Pearl Harbor.

After the war, he formed his own independent effects company until returning to Toho in 1951. In 1954 he was one of the team who made ''Film/{{Gojira}}'', and he was a part of the special effects team for all the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' movies up through ''Film/AllMonstersAttack''. He was also the creator of another classic {{tokusatsu}} series, ''Series/{{Ultraman}}''.

Raised a Buddhist, he became a [[UsefulNotes/JapaneseChristian Catholic]] in his later years, which influenced some of the imagery he used in his works.

* ''Half Human'' (1955)

** ''Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle''

* ''The Battle of the Japan Sea''

Raised a Buddhist, he became a [[JapaneseChristian Catholic]] in his later years, which influenced some of the imagery he used in his works.

'''Eiji Tsuburaya''' (円谷 英二), considered by many to be "God of Special Effects" was born July 7, 1901 and died January 11, 1970.

* ''[[Film/{{Gojira}} Godzilla]]''

* ''Film/KingKongEscapes''
* ''Film/LatitudeZero''
* The Battle of the Japan Sea

During his childhood, Tsuburaya was fascinated with aviation, which was a hobby he'd have all his life. In 1919, he took up his first job as a cameraman for Nikkatsu. In 1938 he became special effects director at Creator/{{Toho}} Studios. During WorldWarII, he directed several propaganda films, one of which, ''The War At Sea From Hawaii To Malay'', was so well done the American censors during occupation became frightened and thought it was real footage of Pearl Harbor.

* ''Varan the Unbelievable''
* ''Battle in Outer Space''

* ''Dogora''

** ''War of the Gargantuas''

* ''Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle''

* ''Franchise/UltraSeies''

* ''Series/{{Ultraman}}''

** ''Film/War of the Gargantuas''

** ''Film/DestroyAllMonsters''

* ''Film/TheMysterians'

* Gorath

Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965) - Special Effects Director
Ironfinger (1965) - Special Effects
War of the Gargantuas (1966) - Director Of Special Effects
Zero Faita Dai Kusen (1966) - Special Effects Director
Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (1966) - Visual Effects Supervisor [4]
King Kong Escapes (1967) - Director Of Special Effects
Son of Godzilla (1967) - Visual Effects Supervisor [5]

The Battle of the Japan Sea (1969) - Special Effects Director
All Monsters Attack
* ''Series/{{Ultraman}}
Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle

During his 50-year career, he worked on approximately 250 films in total. His Visual Effects works include:

* ''Atarashiki Tsuchi'' (1937)
* ''Kaigun Bakugeki-tai'' (1940)
* ''Enoken no songoku zenko-hen''
* ''Shiroi Hekiga'' (1942)
* ''Nankai No Hanataba'' (1942)
* ''Tsubasa No Gaika'' (1942)
* ''Hawai Mare oki kaisen'' (1942)
* ''Ahen senso'' (1943)
* ''Ai No Sekai: Yamaneko Tomi No Hanashi'' (1943)
* ''Ongaku Dai-Shingun'' (1943)
* ''Hyoroku Yume-Monogatari'' (1943)
* ''Otoko'' (1943)
* ''Ano hata o ute'' (1944)
* ''Kato hayabusa sento-tai'' (1944)
* ''Tokyo Gonin Otoko'' (1945) - Credited as Eiichi Tsuburaya
* ''Urashima Taro No Koei'' (1946)
* ''A Thousand and One Nights with Toho'' (1947)
* ''Hana Kurabe Tanuki Goten'' (1949)
* ''Invisible Man Appears'' (1949)
* ''The Lady of Musashino'' (1951)
* ''The Skin of the South'' (1952)
* ''Ashi Ni Sawatta Onna'' (1952)
* ''The Man Who Came to Port'' (1952)
* ''Anatahan'' (1953) (Credited As Tsuburaya)
* ''Seishun Zenigata Heiji'' (1953)
* ''The Eagle of the Pacific'' (1953)
* ''Aijin'' (1953)
* ''Sound of the Mountain'' (1954)
* ''Farewell Rabaul'' (1954)
* ''Samurai 1: Musashi Miyamoto'' (1954)
* ''[[Film/{{Gojira}} Godzilla]]'' (1954)

* ''Tomei Ningen'' (1954)
* ''Ginrin'' (1955)

* ''Meoto zenzai'' (1955)
* ''Legend of the White Snake'' (1956) - Special Effects Director

* ''Throne of Blood'' (1957)
* ''Film/TheMysterians'' (1957)
* ''Song for a Bride'' (1958)
* ''The H-Man'' (1958) - Director Of Special Effects
* ''Varan the Unbelievable'' (1958) -
* ''The Hidden Fortress'' (1958)
* ''Songoku: The Road To The West'' (1959)
* ''Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender'' (1959)
* ''The Birth of Japan'' (1959)
* ''Battle in Outer Space'' (1959)
* ''The Secret of the Telegian'' (1960)
* ''Storm Over the Pacific'' (1960)
* ''The Human Vapor'' (1960)
* ''Osaka Jo Monogatari'' (1961)
* ''Film/{{Mothra}}'' (1961)
* ''Blood On The Sea'' (1961)
* Gen To Fudomyo-O (1961) - Director Of Special Effects
* The Last War (1961) - Special Effects Director
* Gorath (1962) - Special Effects Director*
* Kurenai No Sora (1962) - Special Effects Director
* King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) - Director Of Special Effects
* Chushingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki (1962) - Special Effects Director
* Varan the Unbelievable (1962) - Director Of Special Effects
* Attack Squadron! (1963) - Special Effects Director
* Chintao Yosai Bakugeki Meir Ei (1963) - Special Effects Director
* Matango (1963) - Director Of Special Effects
* The Lost World Of Sinbad (1963) - Special Effects Director
* Atragon (1963) - Director Of Special Effects
* Shikonmado - Dai Tatsumaki (1964) - Special Effects Director
* Kyomo Ware Ozorami Ari (1964) - Special Effects Supervisor
Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) - Director Of Special Effects
Dogora, the Space Monster (1964) - Director Of Special Effects
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964) - Special Effects Director
None But the Brave (1965) - Special Effects Director: Toho Special Effects Group
War-Gods of the Deep (1965) - Director Of Special Effects: Footage Taken From The Toho Production Atragon
Taiheiyo Kiseki No Sakusen: Kisuka (1965) - Director Of Special Effects
Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965) - Director Of Special Effects
Crazy Adventure (1965) - Special Effects Director
Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965) - Director Of Special Effects: Footage Taken From The Toho Production Godzilla Vs. The Thing

Destroy All Monsters (1968) - Visual Effects Supervisor
Rengō Kantai Shirei Chōkan: Yamamoto Isoroku (1968) - Special Effects Director
Kureji No Daibakuhatsu (1969) - Special Effects Supervisor
Latitude Zero (1969) - Director Of Special Effects

** ''Film/Godzilla Raids Again''

* Atarashiki Tsuchi (1937)
* Kaigun Bakugeki-tai (1940)
* Enoken no songokū: songokū zenko-hen
* Shiroi Hekiga (1942)
* Nankai No Hanataba (1942)
* Tsubasa No Gaika (1942)
* Hawai Mare oki kaisen (1942)
* Ahen senso (1943)
* Ai No Sekai: Yamaneko Tomi No Hanashi (1943)
* Ongaku Dai-Shingun (1943)
* Hyoroku Yume-Monogatari (1943)
* Otoko (1943)
* Ano hata o ute (1944)
* Kato hayabusa sento-tai (1944)
* Tokyo Gonin Otoko (1945) - Credited as Eiichi Tsuburaya
* Urashima Taro No Koei (1946)
* A Thousand and One Nights with Toho (1947)
* Hana Kurabe Tanuki Goten (1949)
* Invisible Man Appears (1949)
* The Lady of Musashino (1951)
* The Skin of the South (1952)
* Ashi Ni Sawatta Onna (1952)
* The Man Who Came to Port (1952)
* Anatahan (1953) (Credited As Tsuburaya)
* Seishun Zenigata Heiji (1953)
* The Eagle of the Pacific (1953)
* Aijin (1953)
* Sound of the Mountain (1954)
* Farewell Rabaul (1954)
* Samurai 1: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)

* Tomei Ningen (1954)
* Ginrin (1955)
* Half Human (1955)
* Meoto zenzai (1955)
* Legend of the White Snake (1956) - Special Effects Director
''Film/{{Roda
Throne of Blood (1957) - Special Effects
The Mysterians (1957) - Director Of Special Effects
Song for a Bride (1958) - Special Effects
The H-Man (1958) - Director Of Special Effects
Varan the Unbelievable (1958) - Director Of Special Effects
The Hidden Fortress (1958)
Songoku: The Road To The West (1959) - Special Effects Director
Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender (1959) - Special Effects Director
The Birth of Japan (1959) - Director Of Special Effects
Battle in Outer Space (1959) - Special Effects
The Secret of the Telegian (1960) - Special Effects
Storm Over the Pacific (1960) - Special Effects Director
The Human Vapor (1960) - Director Of Special Effects
Osaka Jo Monogatari (1961) - Director Of Special Effects
Mothra (1961) - Director Of Special Effects
Blood On The Sea (1961) - Special Effects Director
Gen To Fudomyo-O (1961) - Director Of Special Effects
The Last War (1961) - Special Effects Director
Gorath (1962) - Special Effects Director
Kurenai No Sora (1962) - Special Effects Director
King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) - Director Of Special Effects
Chushingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki (1962) - Special Effects Director
Varan the Unbelievable (1962) - Director Of Special Effects
Attack Squadron! (1963) - Special Effects Director
Chintao Yosai Bakugeki Meir Ei (1963) - Special Effects Director
Matango (1963) - Director Of Special Effects
The Lost World Of Sinbad (1963) - Special Effects Director
Atragon (1963) - Director Of Special Effects
Shikonmado - Dai Tatsumaki (1964) - Special Effects Director
Kyomo Ware Ozorami Ari (1964) - Special Effects Supervisor

All Monsters Attack (

'''Eiji Tsuburaya''', considered by many to be "God of Special Effects" was born July 7, 1901 and died January 11, 1970. During his childhood, Tsuburaya was fascinated with aviation, which was a hobby he'd have all his life. In 1919, he took up his first job as a cameraman for Nikkatsu. In 1938 he became special effects director at Creator/{{Toho}} Studios. During WorldWarII, he directed several propaganda films, one of which, ''The War At Sea From Hawaii To Malay'', was so well done the American censors during occupation became frightened and thought it was real footage of Pearl Harbor. After the war, he formed his own independent effects company until returning to Toho in 1951. In 1954 he was one of the team who made ''Film/{{Gojira}}'', and he was a part of the special effects team for all the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' movies up through ''Film/AllMonstersAttack''. He was also the creator of another classic {{tokusatsu}} series, ''Series/{{Ultraman}}''. Raised a Buddhist, he became a [[JapaneseChristian Catholic]] in his later years, which influenced some of the imagery he used in his works.