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|caption          =Shinichi Wakasa holding the S.H. MonsterArts Gamera figure
|caption          =Shinichi Wakasa holding the S.H. MonsterArts Gamera figure
|occupation      =Sculptor, modeler, makeup artist
|occupation      =Sculptor, modeler, makeup artist
|birthday        =March 2, [[1960]]<ref name="Yosensha">[http://www.yosensha.co.jp/book/b313900.html ''Godzilla - King of Monstermaker'' - Yosensha]</ref>
|birthday        =March 2, [[1960]]
|birthplace      =[[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]
|birthplace      =[[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]{{sfn|Wakasa|2017|p=279}}
|first            =''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman 80 (series)|Ultraman 80]]'' (TV 1980-1981)
|first            =''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman 80 (series)|Ultraman 80]]'' (TV 1980-1981)
|notable          =''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'' (1993)
|notable          =''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'' (1993)
|imdb            =http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0906729/
|imdb            =http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0906729/
|wikipedia-jp    =https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8B%A5%E7%8B%AD%E6%96%B0%E4%B8%80
|wikipedia-jp    =https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/若狭新一
|twitter          =https://twitter.com/shinichiwakasa
}}
}}
{{Quote|If [[Godzilla]] is king of the monsters, then my friend '''Shinichi Wakasa''' is the king's hand.|[[Rick Baker]]<ref>[[File:Godzilla_-_King_of_Monstermaker.jpg|150px]]</ref>}}
{{Quote|If [[Godzilla]] is king of the monsters, then my friend '''Shinichi Wakasa''' is the king's hand.|[[Rick Baker]]<ref>{{harvnb|Wakasa|2017|loc=cover}}<br>[[File:Godzilla_-_King_of_Monstermaker.jpg|150px]]</ref>}}
'''Shinichi Wakasa''' {{Nihongo|若狭 新一|Wakasa Shin'ichi}} is a [[Japan]]ese model maker and special effects makeup artist. He worked as a special effects technician and suit sculptor for nearly every [[Toho]]-produced ''[[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]]'' film from [[1993]] to [[2004]], along with several other [[kaiju]] films produced by Toho and [[Kadokawa|Daiei]]. Wakasa is the founder of MONSTERS Inc., a modeling company which created the kaiju suits for the majority of the films on which he worked.
'''Shinichi Wakasa''' {{Nihongo|若狭 新一|Wakasa Shin'ichi}} is a [[Japan]]ese model maker and special effects makeup artist. He worked as a special effects technician and suit sculptor for nearly every [[Toho]]-produced ''[[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]]'' film from [[1993]] to [[2004]], along with several other [[kaiju]] films produced by Toho and [[Kadokawa|Daiei]]. Wakasa is the founder of MONSTERS Inc., a modeling company which created the kaiju suits for the majority of the films on which he worked.
{{TOC}}
{{TOC}}
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In [[1980]], at the age of 20, Wakasa founded MONSTERS Inc., his own professional special effects sculpting company. That same year, Wakasa worked on [[Tsuburaya Productions]]' series ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman 80 (series)|Ultraman 80]]'', where he was in charge of sculpting the monster suits. Wakasa's first major film work came in [[1991]], where he served as the chief makeup artist for [[Toho]]'s horror film ''[[wikipedia:My Soul is Slashed|My Soul is Slashed]]'', directed by [[Shusuke Kaneko]]. Wakasa would go on to serve as the chief suit maker for ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'', which arguably launched his career as one of [[Japan]]'s premiere [[tokusatsu]] artists. Wakasa performed the same role for the remaining two [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]] films of the [[Heisei era|Heisei series]], and reunited with Kaneko for ''[[Gamera 2: Attack of Legion]]'' in 1996. Wakasa continued to work as the chief suit maker for the ''[[Rebirth of Mothra]]'' trilogy from [[1996]] to [[1998]].
In [[1980]], at the age of 20, Wakasa founded MONSTERS Inc., his own professional special effects sculpting company. That same year, Wakasa worked on [[Tsuburaya Productions]]' series ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman 80 (series)|Ultraman 80]]'', where he was in charge of sculpting the monster suits. Wakasa's first major film work came in [[1991]], where he served as the chief makeup artist for [[Toho]]'s horror film ''[[wikipedia:My Soul is Slashed|My Soul is Slashed]]'', directed by [[Shusuke Kaneko]]. Wakasa would go on to serve as the chief suit maker for ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'', which arguably launched his career as one of [[Japan]]'s premiere [[tokusatsu]] artists. Wakasa performed the same role for the remaining two [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]] films of the [[Heisei era|Heisei series]], and reunited with Kaneko for ''[[Gamera 2: Attack of Legion]]'' in 1996. Wakasa continued to work as the chief suit maker for the ''[[Rebirth of Mothra]]'' trilogy from [[1996]] to [[1998]].


For ''[[Rebirth of Mothra 3]]'', Wakasa was credited as a "model producer," the first ever individual credited with this position. Wakasa continued to work as chief modeler for every film in the [[Millennium era|Millennium series]], with the exception of ''[[Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack|GMK]]''.<ref name="Yosensha"/> Wakasa had not worked on a kaiju film in nearly two decades until ''[[What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?]]'', released by [[Toei]] and [[Shochiku]] in [[2022]], though he occasionally worked as a makeup technician on other films. The same year, he helmed the production of a replica of the Showa Gigan suit which was crowdfunded through the "Gigan Suit Rising Project."
For ''[[Rebirth of Mothra 3]]'', Wakasa was credited as a "model producer," the first ever individual credited with this position. Wakasa continued to work as chief modeler for every film in the [[Millennium era|Millennium series]], with the exception of ''[[Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack|GMK]]''. Wakasa had not worked on a kaiju film in nearly two decades until ''[[What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?]]'', released by [[Toei]] and [[Shochiku]] in [[2022]], though he occasionally worked as a makeup technician on other films. The same year, he helmed the production of a replica of the Showa Gigan suit which was crowdfunded through the "Gigan Suit Rising Project."


Wakasa has made multiple appearances at [[G-Fest]]. In 2017, his book ''[[Godzilla - King of Monstermaker]]'' was published by Yosensha.
Wakasa has made multiple appearances at [[G-Fest]]. In 2017, his book ''[[Godzilla - King of Monstermaker]]'' was published by Yosensha.
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*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman 80 (series)|Ultraman 80]]'' (TV 1980-1981) - Modeler [uncredited]
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman 80 (series)|Ultraman 80]]'' (TV 1980-1981) - Modeler [uncredited]
*''[[The Cat]]'' (1991) - Special propmaker [uncredited]
*''[[The Cat]]'' (1991) - Special propmaker [uncredited]
*''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'' (1993) - [[Mechagodzilla (Heisei)|Mechagodzilla]], [[Rodan (Heisei)|Rodan]] modeler [with Rikuo Mikami, Yukihiro Kanetsuna, Takuji Yokoyama, [[Shigeaki Ito]], [[Masayuki Kurahashi]]]
*''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'' (1993) - [[Mechagodzilla (Heisei)|Mechagodzilla]], [[Rodan (Heisei)|Rodan]] modeler
*''[[Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla]]'' (1994) - [[SpaceGodzilla]], [[Godzilla Junior|LittleGodzilla]] modeler [with Shigeaki Ito, Takuji Yokoyama, [[Akira Yamada]], [[Fumihiko Yagi]], [[Nobuhiro Ekubo]]]
*''[[Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla]]'' (1994) - [[SpaceGodzilla]], [[Godzilla Junior|LittleGodzilla]] modeler
*''[[Godzilla vs. Destoroyah]]'' (1995) - [[Destoroyah]] modeler [with Shigeaki Ito, Akira Yamada, Masakatsu Yagi, Takuji Yokoyama, Fumihiko Yagi, Nobuhiro Ekubo]
*''[[Godzilla vs. Destoroyah]]'' (1995) - [[Destoroyah]] modeler
*''[[Gamera 2: Attack of Legion]]'' (1996) - Soldier [[Legion]] modeler
*''[[Gamera 2: Attack of Legion]]'' (1996) - Soldier [[Legion]] modeler
*''[[Rebirth of Mothra]]'' (1996) - Modeler [with [[Tomoki Kobayashi]]]
*''[[Rebirth of Mothra]]'' (1996) - Modeler [with [[Tomoki Kobayashi]]]
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*''[[What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?]]'' (2022) - Monster modeler<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.shochiku.co.jp/daikaijyu-movie/news/210702/|title=巨大怪獣の死体を前に立ち尽くす2人、ティザービジュアル&超特報解禁!|date=2 July 2021|work=What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref>
*''[[What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?]]'' (2022) - Monster modeler<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.shochiku.co.jp/daikaijyu-movie/news/210702/|title=巨大怪獣の死体を前に立ち尽くす2人、ティザービジュアル&超特報解禁!|date=2 July 2021|work=What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref>
*''[[Fest Godzilla 3: Gigan Attacks]]'' (2022) - Modeler
*''[[Fest Godzilla 3: Gigan Attacks]]'' (2022) - Modeler
*''[[Fest Godzilla 4: Operation Jet Jaguar]]'' (2023) - Modeler<ref name="Fest23">{{cite web|url=https://godzilla.store/gfes/2023/|title=ゴジラ・フェス 2023|trans-title=Godzilla Fest 2023|work=Godzilla Store|accessdate=29 October 2023}}</ref>
*''[[Brush of the God]]'' (2024) - Special modeler
===Interviewee===
===Interviewee===
*''[[Bringing Godzilla Down to Size]]'' (2008)
*''[[Bringing Godzilla Down to Size]]'' (2008)
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*[[Kibo]] (''[[What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?]]'')
*[[Kibo]] (''[[What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?]]'')
*[[FinalGoji|Godzilla]], [[Gigan]] (''[[Fest Godzilla 3: Gigan Attacks]]'')
*[[FinalGoji|Godzilla]], [[Gigan]] (''[[Fest Godzilla 3: Gigan Attacks]]'')
*[[Jet Jaguar]] (''[[Fest Godzilla 4: Operation Jet Jaguar]]''){{R|Fest23}}
==Monsters designed==
==Monsters designed==
*[[FinalGoji|Godzilla]] (''[[Godzilla Final Wars]]'')
*[[FinalGoji|Godzilla]] (''[[Godzilla Final Wars]]'')
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Real People}}
===Bibliography===
*{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla - King of Monstermaker]]|last=Wakasa|first=Shinichi|date=21 October 2017|publisher=Yosensha|isbn=978-4-8003-1343-0}}
{{Real People|tab=Art}}
{{Comments}}
{{Comments}}
{{Era|REL}}
{{Era|REL}}
[[Category:Real people]]
[[Category:Real people]]
[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:Artists]]

Latest revision as of 14:30, 30 October 2023

Shinichi Wakasa
Shinichi Wakasa holding the S.H. MonsterArts Gamera figure
Born March 2, 1960
Tokyo, Japan[1]
Occupation Sculptor, modeler, makeup artist
First work Ultraman 80 (TV 1980-1981)
Notable work Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)
Imdb.pngWp JA.pngTwitter.png
If Godzilla is king of the monsters, then my friend Shinichi Wakasa is the king's hand.
„ 

Rick Baker[2]

Shinichi Wakasa (若狭 新一,   Wakasa Shin'ichi) is a Japanese model maker and special effects makeup artist. He worked as a special effects technician and suit sculptor for nearly every Toho-produced Godzilla film from 1993 to 2004, along with several other kaiju films produced by Toho and Daiei. Wakasa is the founder of MONSTERS Inc., a modeling company which created the kaiju suits for the majority of the films on which he worked.

Career

In 1980, at the age of 20, Wakasa founded MONSTERS Inc., his own professional special effects sculpting company. That same year, Wakasa worked on Tsuburaya Productions' series Ultraman 80, where he was in charge of sculpting the monster suits. Wakasa's first major film work came in 1991, where he served as the chief makeup artist for Toho's horror film My Soul is Slashed, directed by Shusuke Kaneko. Wakasa would go on to serve as the chief suit maker for Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, which arguably launched his career as one of Japan's premiere tokusatsu artists. Wakasa performed the same role for the remaining two Godzilla films of the Heisei series, and reunited with Kaneko for Gamera 2: Attack of Legion in 1996. Wakasa continued to work as the chief suit maker for the Rebirth of Mothra trilogy from 1996 to 1998.

For Rebirth of Mothra 3, Wakasa was credited as a "model producer," the first ever individual credited with this position. Wakasa continued to work as chief modeler for every film in the Millennium series, with the exception of GMK. Wakasa had not worked on a kaiju film in nearly two decades until What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?, released by Toei and Shochiku in 2022, though he occasionally worked as a makeup technician on other films. The same year, he helmed the production of a replica of the Showa Gigan suit which was crowdfunded through the "Gigan Suit Rising Project."

Wakasa has made multiple appearances at G-Fest. In 2017, his book Godzilla - King of Monstermaker was published by Yosensha.

Selected filmography

Interviewee

Bibliography

Modeled monsters

Monsters designed

External links

Notes

  1. Though Wakasa is credited as the short's modeler, he was not present during its filming.[3]

References

This is a list of references for Shinichi Wakasa. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]

  1. Wakasa 2017, p. 279.
  2. Wakasa 2017, cover
    Godzilla - King of Monstermaker.jpg
  3. Wakasa, Shinichi (24 October 2022). "撮影に立ち会っていないので、わかりません。". Twitter. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023.
  4. "巨大怪獣の死体を前に立ち尽くす2人、ティザービジュアル&超特報解禁!". What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?. 2 July 2021.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "ゴジラ・フェス 2023" [Godzilla Fest 2023]. Godzilla Store. Retrieved 29 October 2023.

Bibliography

Comments

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