Eiji Tsuburaya

Eiji Tsuburaya

Personal Info

  • Name:

    Eiji Tsuburaya

  • Birthday:

    1901-07-07

  • Place of Birth: 日本,京都府
  • Gender:

    Male

  • Know For:

    Visual Effects

  • Popularity: 0.4726
  • Also Known As

    特撮の神様

    쓰부라야 에이지

    圓谷英二

    円谷英一

    Tsuburaya Eiji

    Eiichi Tsumuraya

    Tsumuraya Eiichi

    圓谷 英一

    Eigi Tsuburaya

    Eiji Tsuvaraya

Eiji Tsuburaya

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.

Top Movie Cast

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true

1966-07-10

10.0
The Father of Ultra Q
The Father of Ultra Qtrue

1966-06-02

0.0

Top Movie Crew

Marital Relations
Marital Relationstrue

Visual Effects

1955-09-13

5.2
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamototrue

Visual Effects

1954-09-25

7.2
Rodan
Rodantrue

Visual Effects

1956-12-26

6.5
The Tale of the White Serpent
The Tale of the White Serpenttrue

Visual Effects

1958-09-03

6.1
Varan
Varantrue

Visual Effects

1958-10-14

5.7
Varan the Unbelievable
Varan the Unbelievabletrue

Visual Effects

1962-12-07

4.2
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowmantrue

Visual Effects

1958-12-01

3.0
The H-Man
The H-Mantrue

Visual Effects

1958-06-24

5.9
The Hidden Fortress
The Hidden Fortresstrue

Visual Effects

1958-12-28

8.0
Atragon
Atragontrue

Crew

1963-12-22

6.5
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monstertrue

Crew

1964-12-20

7.0
Latitude Zero
Latitude Zerotrue

Production

1969-07-26

5.8
The Last War
The Last Wartrue

Crew

1961-10-08

6.2
White-haired Demon
White-haired Demontrue

Crew

1949-04-11

0.0
Hanakurabe tanuki-den
Hanakurabe tanuki-dentrue

Crew

1949-04-17

0.0
The Invisible Man Appears
The Invisible Man Appearstrue

Visual Effects

1949-09-26

6.2
Dragon Force: So Long Ultraman
Dragon Force: So Long Ultramantrue

Writing

2017-10-01

2.0
Dragon Force: Rise of Ultraman
Dragon Force: Rise of Ultramantrue

Writing

2019-01-18

3.7
Reimei izen
Reimei izentrue

Crew

1931-05-05

0.0
The Human Vapor
The Human Vaportrue

Crew

1960-12-11

6.6
Bouquet of the South Seas
Bouquet of the South Seastrue

Visual Effects

1942-05-21

5.0
Five Tokyo Men
Five Tokyo Mentrue

Crew

1945-12-27

0.0
Lord for a Night
Lord for a Nighttrue

Crew

1946-07-11

8.0
Half Human
Half Humantrue

Crew

1955-08-14

4.5
Mothra vs. Godzilla
Mothra vs. Godzillatrue

Crew

1964-04-29

7.1
Invasion of Astro-Monster
Invasion of Astro-Monstertrue

Crew

1965-12-19

6.8
Daigoro vs. Goliath
Daigoro vs. Goliathtrue

Production

1972-12-17

4.8
Hot Wind
Hot Windtrue

Crew

1943-10-07

0.0
Gorath
Gorathtrue

Crew

1962-03-21

6.6
A Thousand and One Nights with Toho
A Thousand and One Nights with Tohotrue

Visual Effects

1947-02-25

0.0
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
Ebirah, Horror of the Deeptrue

Crew

1966-12-17

6.3
Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadron
Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadrontrue

Crew

1944-03-09

7.0
Sound of the Mountain
Sound of the Mountaintrue

Crew

1954-01-15

7.4
Godzilla
Godzillatrue

Writing

1954-11-03

7.6
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!true

Writing

1956-05-18

6.6
The Mysterians
The Mysterianstrue

Crew

1957-12-28

6.4
Frankenstein Conquers the World
Frankenstein Conquers the Worldtrue

Crew

1965-08-08

6.7
The Legend of the White Serpent
The Legend of the White Serpenttrue

Visual Effects

1956-06-22

5.6
Matango
Matangotrue

Visual Effects

1963-08-11

6.9
The Lovers
The Loverstrue

Crew

1953-11-10

0.0
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Oceantrue

Visual Effects

1957-03-14

8.6
Gorath
Gorathtrue

Visual Effects

1962-03-21

6.6
Ultraman - The Alien Invasion
Ultraman - The Alien Invasiontrue

Writing

1993-02-01

5.0
Shin Ultraman
Shin Ultramantrue

Writing

2022-05-13

7.4
Chorus of a Million People
Chorus of a Million Peopletrue

Camera

1935-01-13

0.0
Farewell Rabaul
Farewell Rabaultrue

Crew

1954-02-10

8.5
Matango
Matangotrue

Crew

1963-08-11

6.9
Frankenstein Conquers the World
Frankenstein Conquers the Worldtrue

Visual Effects

1965-08-08

6.7
Gorath
Gorathtrue

Visual Effects

1962-03-21

6.6
Battle in Outer Space
Battle in Outer Spacetrue

Crew

1959-12-26

5.8
Battle in Outer Space
Battle in Outer Spacetrue

Visual Effects

1959-12-26

5.8
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Oceantrue

Visual Effects

1957-03-14

8.6
Godzilla
Godzillatrue

Visual Effects

1954-11-03

7.6
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!true

Visual Effects

1956-05-18

6.6
Godzilla
Godzillatrue

Visual Effects

1977-01-01

6.9
Akio Jissoji's Ultraman
Akio Jissoji's Ultramantrue

Production

1979-03-17

8.2
The Adventures of Sun Wu Kung
The Adventures of Sun Wu Kungtrue

Visual Effects

1959-04-19

0.0
Daredevil in the Castle
Daredevil in the Castletrue

Visual Effects

1961-01-03

7.4
The Crazy Adventure
The Crazy Adventuretrue

Crew

1965-10-31

0.0
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!true

Crew

1956-05-18

6.6
Whirlwind
Whirlwindtrue

Visual Effects

1964-07-26

6.8
The Skin of the South
The Skin of the Southtrue

Crew

1952-02-28

0.0
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Oceantrue

Writing

1957-03-14

8.6
The Three Treasures
The Three Treasurestrue

Crew

1959-11-01

5.4
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Oceantrue

Crew

1957-03-14

8.6
Godzilla
Godzillatrue

Crew

1977-01-01

6.9
Ramayana
Ramayanatrue

Writing

1942-01-01

7.0
Gigantis, the Fire Monster
Gigantis, the Fire Monstertrue

Visual Effects

1959-05-21

6.3
Gigantis, the Fire Monster
Gigantis, the Fire Monstertrue

Crew

1959-05-21

6.3
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
Ebirah, Horror of the Deeptrue

Visual Effects

1966-12-17

6.3
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
Ebirah, Horror of the Deeptrue

Visual Effects

1966-12-17

6.3
Varan
Varantrue

Crew

1958-10-14

5.7
Varan the Unbelievable
Varan the Unbelievabletrue

Crew

1962-12-07

4.2
King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong vs. Godzillatrue

Crew

1963-06-26

6.6
King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong vs. Godzillatrue

Crew

1962-08-11

6.9
King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong vs. Godzillatrue

Visual Effects

1963-06-26

6.6
Anatahan
Anatahantrue

Crew

1953-06-28

6.7
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowmantrue

Crew

1958-12-01

3.0
Godzilla Raids Again
Godzilla Raids Againtrue

Crew

1955-04-24

6.0
Godzilla Raids Again
Godzilla Raids Againtrue

Visual Effects

1955-04-24

6.0
Mothra vs. Godzilla
Mothra vs. Godzillatrue

Visual Effects

1964-04-29

7.1
King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong vs. Godzillatrue

Visual Effects

1962-08-11

6.9
Varan
Varantrue

Visual Effects

1958-10-14

5.7
King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong vs. Godzillatrue

Visual Effects

1963-06-26

6.6
Rodan
Rodantrue

Visual Effects

1956-12-26

6.5
Rodan
Rodantrue

Crew

1956-12-26

6.5
Gigantis, the Fire Monster
Gigantis, the Fire Monstertrue

Visual Effects

1959-05-21

6.3
The Retreat from Kiska
The Retreat from Kiskatrue

Crew

1965-07-04

8.3
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monstertrue

Visual Effects

1964-12-20

7.0
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monstertrue

Visual Effects

1964-12-20

7.0
A Descendant of Urashima Taro
A Descendant of Urashima Tarotrue

Crew

1946-03-28

6.0
Space Amoeba
Space Amoebatrue

Visual Effects

1970-08-01

6.4
Space Amoeba
Space Amoebatrue

Crew

1970-08-01

6.4
Half Human
Half Humantrue

Visual Effects

1955-08-14

4.5
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowmantrue

Visual Effects

1958-12-01

3.0
Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender
Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrendertrue

Visual Effects

1959-07-04

8.5
Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider
Ultraman vs. Kamen Ridertrue

Writing

1993-07-21

8.5
A Page of Madness
A Page of Madnesstrue

Camera

1926-09-24

7.4
Kaguya Hime
Kaguya Himetrue

Camera

1935-11-11

0.0
音楽大進軍
音楽大進軍true

Crew

1943-03-18

0.0
The Man Who Came to Port
The Man Who Came to Porttrue

Crew

1952-11-27

10.0
Song for a Bride
Song for a Bridetrue

Crew

1958-02-11

0.0
Chûshingura
Chûshinguratrue

Crew

1962-11-03

7.3
Blood on the Sea
Blood on the Seatrue

Crew

1961-08-13

0.0
Castle of Wind and Clouds
Castle of Wind and Cloudstrue

Camera

1928-02-10

0.0
Monster SeaFood Wars
Monster SeaFood Warstrue

Writing

2020-05-23

5.2
Tiger Flight
Tiger Flighttrue

Crew

1964-02-29

0.0
Destroy All Monsters
Destroy All Monsterstrue

Visual Effects

1968-08-01

6.9
Zero Fighter
Zero Fightertrue

Crew

1966-07-13

0.0
The Burning Sky
The Burning Skytrue

Visual Effects

1940-05-10

0.0
Crazy Big Explosion
Crazy Big Explosiontrue

Crew

1969-04-27

0.0
Godzilla
Godzillatrue

Visual Effects

1954-11-03

7.6
King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong vs. Godzillatrue

Visual Effects

1962-08-11

6.9
Son of Godzilla
Son of Godzillatrue

Visual Effects

1967-12-16

6.5
The Paradise Island Story
The Paradise Island Storytrue

Visual Effects

1957-01-29

0.0
Throne of Blood
Throne of Bloodtrue

Visual Effects

1957-01-15

7.9
Song for a Bride
Song for a Bridetrue

Visual Effects

1958-02-11

0.0
King Kong Escapes
King Kong Escapestrue

Visual Effects

1967-07-22

6.2
Crazy Big Explosion
Crazy Big Explosiontrue

Visual Effects

1969-04-27

0.0
Godzilla
Godzillatrue

Crew

1954-11-03

7.6
Godzilla Raids Again
Godzilla Raids Againtrue

Visual Effects

1955-04-24

6.0
Invisible Man
Invisible Mantrue

Visual Effects

1954-12-29

6.7
Half Human
Half Humantrue

Visual Effects

1955-08-14

4.5
The Three Treasures
The Three Treasurestrue

Visual Effects

1959-11-01

5.4
The Mysterians
The Mysterianstrue

Visual Effects

1957-12-28

6.4
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!true

Visual Effects

1956-05-18

6.6
Mothra
Mothratrue

Visual Effects

1961-07-30

7.2
The War of the Gargantuas
The War of the Gargantuastrue

Visual Effects

1966-07-31

6.4
Mothra vs. Godzilla
Mothra vs. Godzillatrue

Visual Effects

1964-04-29

7.1
Matango
Matangotrue

Visual Effects

1963-08-11

6.9
Youth of Heiji Senigata
Youth of Heiji Senigatatrue

Visual Effects

1953-08-19

0.0
The Lady of Musashino
The Lady of Musashinotrue

Visual Effects

1951-09-14

6.4
Valley of the Dragons
Valley of the Dragonstrue

Crew

1961-10-31

5.5
The Birth of Ultraman
The Birth of Ultramantrue

Crew

1966-07-10

6.0
Invasion of Astro-Monster
Invasion of Astro-Monstertrue

Visual Effects

1965-12-19

6.8
Invasion of Astro-Monster
Invasion of Astro-Monstertrue

Visual Effects

1965-12-19

6.8
The Human Vapor
The Human Vaportrue

Visual Effects

1960-12-11

6.6
The Human Vapor
The Human Vaportrue

Visual Effects

1960-12-11

6.6
Hyoroku's Dream Tale
Hyoroku's Dream Taletrue

Crew

1943-04-01

0.0
Ramayana
Ramayanatrue

Crew

1942-01-01

7.0
World of Love
World of Lovetrue

Crew

1943-04-14

0.0
The Secret of the Telegian
The Secret of the Telegiantrue

Visual Effects

1960-04-10

6.1
Battle in Outer Space
Battle in Outer Spacetrue

Visual Effects

1959-12-26

5.8
Tokyo 1960
Tokyo 1960true

Writing

1957-12-27

0.0
Tokyo 1960
Tokyo 1960true

Crew

1957-12-27

0.0
Tokyo 1960
Tokyo 1960true

Visual Effects

1957-12-27

0.0
Tokyo 1960
Tokyo 1960true

Visual Effects

1957-12-27

0.0
Invisible Man
Invisible Mantrue

Camera

1954-12-29

6.7
Invisible Man
Invisible Mantrue

Crew

1954-12-29

6.7
Invisible Man
Invisible Mantrue

Visual Effects

1954-12-29

6.7
All Monsters Attack
All Monsters Attacktrue

Visual Effects

1969-12-20

5.1
All Monsters Attack
All Monsters Attacktrue

Crew

1969-12-20

5.1
Mothra
Mothratrue

Visual Effects

1961-07-30

7.2
Mothra
Mothratrue

Crew

1961-07-30

7.2
King Kong Escapes
King Kong Escapestrue

Crew

1967-07-22

6.2
King Kong Escapes
King Kong Escapestrue

Visual Effects

1967-07-22

6.2
The Mysterians
The Mysterianstrue

Visual Effects

1957-12-28

6.4
Godzilla
Godzillatrue

Writing

1977-01-01

6.9
Godzilla
Godzillatrue

Visual Effects

1977-01-01

6.9
Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature
Ultraman: Monster Movie Featuretrue

Production

1967-07-22

7.0
Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature
Ultraman: Monster Movie Featuretrue

Crew

1967-07-22

7.0
All Monsters Attack
All Monsters Attacktrue

Editing

1969-12-20

5.1
Dogora
Dogoratrue

Crew

1964-08-11

6.9
Dogora
Dogoratrue

Visual Effects

1964-08-11

6.9
Dogora
Dogoratrue

Visual Effects

1964-08-11

6.9
The Eagle of the Pacific
The Eagle of the Pacifictrue

Crew

1953-10-21

7.7
The Eagle of the Pacific
The Eagle of the Pacifictrue

Visual Effects

1953-10-21

7.7
The Eagle of the Pacific
The Eagle of the Pacifictrue

Visual Effects

1953-10-21

7.7
The Storm of the Pacific
The Storm of the Pacifictrue

Crew

1960-04-26

5.6
The Storm of the Pacific
The Storm of the Pacifictrue

Visual Effects

1960-04-26

5.6
The Storm of the Pacific
The Storm of the Pacifictrue

Visual Effects

1960-04-26

5.6
The Secret of the Telegian
The Secret of the Telegiantrue

Visual Effects

1960-04-10

6.1
The Secret of the Telegian
The Secret of the Telegiantrue

Crew

1960-04-10

6.1
The Invisible Man Appears
The Invisible Man Appearstrue

Crew

1949-09-26

6.2
The Invisible Man Appears
The Invisible Man Appearstrue

Visual Effects

1949-09-26

6.2
The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya
The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malayatrue

Crew

1942-12-03

0.0
The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya
The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malayatrue

Visual Effects

1942-12-03

0.0
The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya
The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malayatrue

Visual Effects

1942-12-03

0.0
Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadron
Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadrontrue

Visual Effects

1944-03-09

7.0
Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadron
Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadrontrue

Visual Effects

1944-03-09

7.0
Wings of Victory
Wings of Victorytrue

Crew

1942-10-14

6.3
Wings of Victory
Wings of Victorytrue

Visual Effects

1942-10-14

6.3
Wings of Victory
Wings of Victorytrue

Visual Effects

1942-10-14

6.3
The Burning Sky
The Burning Skytrue

Crew

1940-05-10

0.0
The Burning Sky
The Burning Skytrue

Visual Effects

1940-05-10

0.0
The War of the Gargantuas
The War of the Gargantuastrue

Visual Effects

1966-07-31

6.4
The War of the Gargantuas
The War of the Gargantuastrue

Crew

1966-07-31

6.4
Rodan! The Flying Monster!
Rodan! The Flying Monster!true

Crew

1957-11-07

7.0
Rodan! The Flying Monster!
Rodan! The Flying Monster!true

Visual Effects

1957-11-07

7.0
Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature
Ultraman: Monster Movie Featuretrue

Production

1967-07-22

7.0
Siege of Fort Bismarck
Siege of Fort Bismarcktrue

Crew

1963-05-29

0.0
Siege of Fort Bismarck
Siege of Fort Bismarcktrue

Visual Effects

1963-05-29

0.0
Siege of Fort Bismarck
Siege of Fort Bismarcktrue

Visual Effects

1963-05-29

0.0

Profile Images