Shinji Higuchi

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Shinji Higuchi
樋口 真嗣
Shin Godzilla - Shinji Higuchi (director) (30428611130) (2).jpg
Higuchi in 2016
Born (1965-09-22) September 22, 1965 (age 57)
Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Occupations
  • Film director
  • special effects director
  • screenwriter
  • storyboard artist
Years active1984–present
Notable work

Shinji Higuchi (Japanese: 樋口 真嗣, Hepburn: Higuchi Shinji, born September 22, 1965) is a Japanese filmmaker and storyboard artist. He is one of the most successful Japanese filmmakers and the top tokusatsu film director. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Higuchi became known for his work on Gamera: Guardian of the Universe , for which he won the Special Technology Award at the 19th Japan Academy Film Prize. In 2005, he made his feature directorial debut on Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean . His second feature film, Sinking of Japan (2006), was second place at the Bunshun Kiichigo Awards. His 2015 live-action two-part film adaptation of Hajime Isayama's manga series, Attack on Titan , won the Excellence in Theatrical Live Action Film award at the 2016 VFX-JAPAN Awards. [4] In 2017, Higuchi and Hideaki Anno won the Director of the Year award at the 40th Japan Academy Film Prize, for their work on the 2016 kaiju film, Shin Godzilla. His 2022 film, Shin Ultraman , was a major success in Japan, [5] and has received generally positive reviews from critics internationally. [6]

Biography

Early life

Higuchi was born on September 22, 1965, [7] in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. When Higuchi was in junior high school, his aunt took him on a tour of Toho Studios, where she worked on commercials. Upon watching Toho's special effects crew at work, Higuchi became inspired and frequently visited the filming sets. [8]

Early career

Higuchi entered the Japanese film industry in 1984, working as an assistant modeler on The Return of Godzilla . [7] Two years later, he directed the special effects for Daicon's tokusatsu fan film Yamata no Orochi no Gyakushū . [9]

As a key Daicon/Gainax member, he played an important part in the creation of one of the most popular anime series, Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995). He was a writer and art director/storyboarder for the series. He was also the namesake for the show's protagonist, Shinji Ikari. [10] He later voice-acted a musician modeled after himself in two episodes of Karekano . [11]

Higuchi made his directorial debut in 1992 with the disaster film The Day the Sun Fissured: The Great Tokyo Earthquake which he produced for Tokyo Fire Department. [12]

Filmography

YearTitleDirector SFX director Storyboard artistMiscellaneousNotesRef(s)
1984 The Return of Godzilla NoNoNoYesAssistant modeler [7]
1985 Yamata no Orochi no Gyakushū NoYesNoNo [9]
1987 Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise NoNoNoYesAssistant director [13]
1988 Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis NoNoYesNo [14]
Gunbuster NoNoYesNo [15]
1991 Mikadroid: Robokill Beneath Discoclub Layla NoYesNoNo [16]
1992The Day the Sun Fissured: The Great Tokyo EarthquakeYesNoNoNo [9]
1994 Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still NoNoYesNo
1995 Gamera: Guardian of the Universe NoYesNoNo [9]
Neon Genesis Evangelion NoNoYesYesScreenwriter [17]
1996Space Ship Remnant 6NoYesNoNo [18]
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion NoYesNoNo [19]
1997 The End of Evangelion NoYesNoNo [20]
1998 Love & Pop NoYesNoNo [21]
1999 Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris NoYesNoNo [22]
Betterman NoNoYesNo
2000Sakuya: Slayer of DemonsNoYesNoNo [23]
2001 Pistol Opera NoYesNoNo [24]
The Princess Blade NoYesNoNo [25]
2003 Pokémon: Jirachi—Wish Maker NoNoYesNo [26]
Dino Crisis 3 NoNoYesNo
Dragon Head NoNoNoYesVisual effects designer [27]
2005 Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean YesYesNoNo [9]
2006 Sinking of Japan YesNoNoNo [9]
Onimusha NoNoYesNo
2007 Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone NoNoYesNo [28]
2008 Hidden Fortress: The Last Princess NoNoYesNo [7]
2009 Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance NoNoYesNo [29]
2010Monster Magnitude: 9YesNoNoYesScreenwriter
2012 Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo YesNoNoNo [30]
The Floating Castle YesNoNoNo [31]
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo NoNoYesNo [32]
2013 Kill la Kill NoNoYesNo
2014 Garm Wars: The Last Druid NoNoYesNo [33]
2015 Attack on Titan YesNoNoNo [34]
Attack on Titan: End of the World YesNoNoNo [35]
2016 Shin Godzilla YesYesYesNo [36]
2018 Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan YesNoNoNo [37]
2020The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8NoNoNoYesOriginal story [38]
2021 Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time NoNoYesNo [39]
2022RibbonNoYesNoNo [40]
Shin Ultraman YesNoNoNo [41]
Kamen Rider Black Sun NoNoNoYesVisual concept designer [42]
2023Instigator: Umeyasu FujiedaNoNoNoYesTrailer creator [43]
Instigator: Umeyasu Fujieda 2NoNoNoYesTrailer creator [44]


Accolades

Award ceremonyYearWork(s)CategoryResultNote(s)Ref.
Japan Academy Film Prize 1996 Gamera: Guardian of the Universe Special TechnologyWon [45]
2013 The Floating Castle Director of the Year NominatedWith Isshin Inudo [46]
2017 Shin Godzilla Director of the YearWonWith Hideaki Anno [47]
Line News Awards2022Cultural PersonWon [48]
46th Japan Academy Film Prize 2023 Shin Ultraman Director of the Year Nominated [49]

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References

  1. ↑ "庵野秀明企画・脚本『シン・ウルトラマン』が日本公開中。半世紀愛されるシリーズの新作" [Shin Ultraman planned and written by Hideaki Anno is now open in Japan. New work from a series beloved for half a century]. JFF+ (in Japanese). Japan Foundation. June 30, 2022. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ "【独占】樋口真嗣監督に聞く、庵野秀明氏とシン・ウルトラマンで目指す「断絶の解消」" [(Exclusive) Interview with Director Shinji Higuchi: 'Elimination of discontinuity' for Shin Ultraman with Hideaki Anno]. Business + IT (in Japanese). p. 1. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  3. ↑ "【樋口真嗣監督インタビュー】特撮映画の牽引者は、『シン・ウルトラマン』でなにを描くのか？" [(Interview with director Shinji Higuchi) What will the tokusatsu film leader draw in Shin Ultraman?]. Pen Online (in Japanese). May 13, 2022. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  4. ↑ Inc, Natasha. "CGとVFXの祭典、VFX-JAPANアワードで「バクマン。」が実写映画部門の頂点に". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved August 4, 2022.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ↑ "Fantasia Festival | Shin Ultraman". Fantasia Festival. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Shin Ultraman". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "隠し砦の三悪人 THE LAST PRINCESS - 映画・映像". Toho. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  8. ↑ Haraguchi, Tomoo (March 12, 2021). Dream Fragment: Toho Special Effects Movies (in Japanese). Hobby Japan. pp. 106–108. ISBN   978-4-7986-2447-1.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "日本沈没 - 映画・映像". Toho . Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Character Name Origins: NGE". Archived from the original on August 19, 2007.
  11. ↑ "untitled". gainax.co.jp. Archived from the original on February 11, 2005. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ "樋口真嗣（Shinji Higuchi）氏: 仲間に助けられてここまで来た それに尽きます". 樋口真嗣（Shinji Higuchi）氏: 仲間に助けられてここまで来た それに尽きます (in Japanese). Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  13. ↑ "王立宇宙軍 オネアミスの翼 : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  14. ↑ Inc, Natasha. "「帝都」シリーズ初BD化、樋口真嗣が新たにジャケットをデザイン". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  15. ↑ "トップをねらえ！ 劇場版：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画". MOVIE WALKER PRESS (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  16. ↑ "オリジナルビデオ ミカドロイド (1991)について 映画データベース", allcinema (in Japanese), retrieved August 3, 2022
  17. ↑ "ローレライ - 映画・映像｜東宝WEB SITE". www.toho.co.jp. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  18. ↑ "宇宙貨物船レムナント6 : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  19. ↑ "ガメラ２ レギオン襲来：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画". MOVIE WALKER PRESS (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  20. ↑ "THE END OF EVANGELION 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン劇場版 Air／まごころを､君に : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  21. ↑ "ラブ＆ポップ：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画". MOVIE WALKER PRESS (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  22. ↑ "ガメラ３ 邪神覚醒：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画". MOVIE WALKER PRESS (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  23. ↑ "さくや 妖怪伝：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画". MOVIE WALKER PRESS (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  24. ↑ "ピストルオペラ：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画". MOVIE WALKER PRESS (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  25. ↑ "修羅雪姫：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画". MOVIE WALKER PRESS (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  26. ↑ "劇場版ポケットモンスター アドバンスジェネレーション 七夜の願い星ジラーチ：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画". MOVIE WALKER PRESS (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  27. ↑ "ドラゴンヘッド：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画". MOVIE WALKER PRESS (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  28. ↑ "ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：序：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画". MOVIE WALKER PRESS (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  29. ↑ "ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：破 : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  30. ↑ "巨神兵東京に現わる 劇場版 : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  31. ↑ "のぼうの城 : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  32. ↑ "ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：Q : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  33. ↑ "押井守監督『ガルム・ウォーズ』メイキング映像解禁 過酷な自然環境でのアクション撮影". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon Inc. April 28, 2016. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  34. ↑ "進撃の巨人 ATTACK ON TITAN : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  35. ↑ "進撃の巨人 ATTACK ON TITAN エンド オブ ザ ワールド : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Godzilla Resurgence Press Notes". SciFi Japan. June 13, 2016. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  37. ↑ "【インタビュー】特撮映画の名手・樋口真嗣が描く"お仕事アニメ"の本気度。航空自衛隊とドラゴンと…異色だらけの話題作『ひそねとまそたん』". Entertainment Station (in Japanese). April 15, 2018. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  38. ↑ "8日で死んだ怪獣の12日の物語 劇場版 : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  39. ↑ Hikawa, Ryūsuke; Kimata, Fuyu (2021). Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time Pamphlet (in Japanese). p. 74. ASIN   B08Y8NVC8W.
  40. ↑ "Ribbon : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Shin Ultraman (live-action movie) - Anime News Network". Anime News Network . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  42. ↑ "白石和彌監督『仮面ライダーBlacksun』製作スタッフ発表 樋口真嗣氏や田口清隆氏が参加 11・21にキャラデザ解禁へ".
  43. ↑ "仕掛人・藤枝梅安 : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  44. ↑ "仕掛人・藤枝梅安2 : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  45. ↑ "19th Japan Academy Film Prize". Japan Academy Film Prize . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  46. ↑ "36th Japan Academy Film Prize". Japan Academy Film Prize . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  47. ↑ Blair, Gavin J. (March 3, 2017). "'Godzilla Resurgence' Wins Big at 40th Japan Academy Prize Awards". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  48. ↑ "LINE NEWS AWARDS 2022". LINE NEWS. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  49. ↑ Komatsu, Mikikazu (January 22, 2023). "The 46th Japan Academy Film Prize Announces Five Winners of Animation of the Year". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
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