Eiji Tsuburaya
Producer
July 7, 1901 — January 25, 1970 (68 years)
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.
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 2026 | Ultraman Teo · as Original Concept |
| 2022 | Shin Ultraman · as Original Story |
| 2020 | Monster SeaFood Wars · as Original StoryOn Plex |
| 2019 | Ultraman (2019) · as Creator |
| 2019 | Dragon Force: Rise of Ultraman · as Original Concept |
| 2017 | Dragon Force: So Long, Ultraman · as Original Concept |
| 2010 | Death Battle! · as Godzilla Created By |
| 1993 | Ultraman - The Alien Invasion · as Original Story |
| 1977 | Godzilla · as Visual Effects Director |
| 1977 | Godzilla · as Story |
| 1970 | Space Amoeba · as Special Effects Supervisor |
| 1969 | All Monsters Attack · as Editorial Consultant |
| 1969 | All Monsters Attack · as Special Effects Supervisor |
| 1969 | Dai bakuhatsu · as Visual Effects |
| 1968 | Operation: Mystery! · as Series Producer |
| 1968 | Destroy All Monsters · as Special Effects Supervisor |
| 1967 | Son of Godzilla · as Special Effects Supervisor |
| 1967 | Ultraseven · as Production SupervisorOn Plex |
| 1967 | Ultraman · as Production Supervisor |
| 1967 | King Kong Escapes · as Visual Effects |
| 1966 | Ebirah, Horror of the Deep · as Special Effects Supervisor |
| 1966 | The War of the Gargantuas · as Visual Effects |
| 1966 | Ultraman · as Creator |
| 1965 | Ultra Q · as CreatorOn Plex |
| 1965 | Invasion of Astro-Monster · as Visual Effects |
| 1965 | Frankenstein vs. Baragon · as Visual Effects Director |
| 1964 | Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster · as Visual Effects Director |
| 1964 | Dogora · as Visual Effects |
| 1964 | Mothra vs. Godzilla · as Visual Effects Director |
| 1964 | Shikonmado - Dai tatsumaki · as Special Effects Supervisor |
| 1963 | Attack of the Mushroom People · as Visual EffectsOn Plex |
| 1963 | King Kong vs. Godzilla · as Visual Effects |
| 1963 | Chintao yôsai bakugeki meirei · as Visual Effects |
| 1962 | Varan the Unbelievable · as Visual Effects |
| 1962 | King Kong vs. Godzilla · as Visual Effects Director |
| 1962 | Gorath · as Visual Effects Director |
| 1961 | The Last War · as Visual Effects |
| 1961 | Mothra · as Visual Effects |
| 1961 | Daredevil in the Castle · as Special Effects Supervisor |
| 1960 | The Human Vapor · as Visual Effects Director |
| 1960 | I Bombed Pearl Harbor · as Visual Effects |
| 1960 | The Secret of the Telegian · as Visual Effects |
| 1959 | Battle in Outer Space · as Visual Effects DirectorOn Plex |
| 1959 | The Three Treasures · as Visual Effects |
| 1959 | Submarine E-57 Never Surrenders · as Special Effects Supervisor |
| 1959 | Gigantis: The Fire Monster · as Visual Effects |
| 1958 | The Hidden Fortress · as Visual EffectsOn Plex |
| 1958 | Panda and the Magic Serpent · as Visual Effects |
| 1958 | Varan · as Visual Effects |
| 1958 | The H-Man · as Visual EffectsOn Plex |
| 1958 | Half Human · as Visual Effects |
| 1957 | The Mysterians · as Visual Effects |
| 1957 | Godzilla · as Visual Effects |
| 1957 | Godzilla · as Story |
| 1957 | Throne of Blood · as Visual EffectsOn Plex |
| 1956 | Rodan · as Visual Effects |
| 1956 | Madame White Snake · as Visual Effects |
| 1956 | Godzilla: King of the Monsters! · as Visual Effects Director |
| 1956 | Godzilla: King of the Monsters! · as Story |
| 1955 | Marital Relations · as Visual Effects |
| 1955 | Half Human · as Visual Effects Director |
| 1955 | Godzilla Raids Again · as Visual Effects Director |
| 1954 | The Invisible Avenger · as Director Of Photography |
| 1954 | The Invisible Avenger · as Visual Effects |
| 1954 | Godzilla · as Visual Effects Director |
| 1954 | Godzilla · as Story |
| 1954 | Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto · as Visual Effects |
| 1953 | The Eagle of the Pacific · as Visual Effects |
| 1953 | Youth of Heiji Senigata · as Visual Effects |
| 1951 | The Lady of Musashino · as Visual EffectsOn Plex |
| 1949 | The Invisible Man Appears · as Visual Effects |
| 1944 | Katô Hayabusa sentôtai · as Visual Effects |
| 1942 | The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malay · as Visual Effects |
| 1942 | Tsubasa no gaika · as Visual Effects |
| 1940 | Kôki nisenroppyaku nen kinen eiga: Moyuru Ôzora · as Visual Effects |
| 1928 | Kaitô Samimaro · as Cinematographer |