Tokusatsu

Tokusatsu (??) (sometimes just called "Toku") is the Japanese term for special effects and often used to classify Japanese live-action sci-fi/fantasy/horror movie/TV productions.

The Legacy of Eiji Tsuburaya

Eiji Tsuburaya (1901-1970) is perhaps the most famous tokusatsu kantoku in Japan, and is responsible for bringing the famous characters Godzilla and Ultraman to life. While he wasn't the first FX artist, he fought to make special effects in Japanese cinema truly special. When doing movies and TV shows involving giants (be it monsters, superheroes, aliens, etc.), Eiji's techniques usually involve expert miniature work, and the monster is usually either a stuntman in a full monster costume (a process later dubbed "Suitmation") or a marionette-like prop (Mothra, Dogora, etc.). Even with the support of digital effects since the 1990s, Eiji's tokusatsu method has been lovingly carried over to this very day, and has become a tradition like kabuki theater.

Related Topics:
Eiji Tsuburaya - Godzilla - Ultraman - Mothra - Dogora

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some of Eiji's proteges include Teruyoshi Nakano, Sadamasa Arikawa, Nobuo Yajima (who also directed the FX for the majority of superhero shows by Toei), Koichi Takano, Koichi Kawakita and others. They have worked at Toho, Eiji's company Tsuburaya Productions, P Productions and other companies. Yonesaburō Tsukiji, Kazufumi Fujii (who directed the FX for the classic Gamera movies) and Yoshiyuki Kuroda (who directed the FX for the Daimajin trilogy) used the same techniques over at the Daiei Motion Picture Company (now owned by Kadokawa Shoten).

Related Topics:
Teruyoshi Nakano - Sadamasa Arikawa - Nobuo Yajima - Toei - Koichi Takano - Koichi Kawakita - Toho - Tsuburaya Productions - P Productions - Yonesaburō Tsukiji - Kazufumi Fujii - Gamera - Yoshiyuki Kuroda - Daimajin - Daiei Motion Picture Company - Kadokawa Shoten

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A new generation of FX masters include Shinji Higuchi, Eiichi Asada (who have both worked on newer Godzilla and Gamera movies), and Hiroshi Butsuda (who still works on the bulk of Toei's newer superhero shows).

Related Topics:
Shinji Higuchi - Eiichi Asada - Hiroshi Butsuda

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~