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{{Infobox Company | |||
|type1 =White | |||
|type2 =Red | |||
|name =Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. | |||
|image =Tpc11.jpg | |||
|caption =Tsuburaya Productions' current logo | |||
|type =Film/television studio | |||
|status =Active | |||
|leader ={{bl|Takayuki Tsukagoshi|Masayuki Nagatake}} | |||
|founder =[[Eiji Tsuburaya]] | |||
|founded =April 12, [[1963]] | |||
|defunct = | |||
|hq =16-17 Nanpeidai, Shibuya<br>[[Tokyo]], [[Japan]] 150-0044 | |||
|aka =Tsuburaya Special Effects Productions (1963-1968) | |||
|parent ={{bl|Tsuburaya Fields Holdings (51%)|Bandai Namco Holdings (49%)}} | |||
|subsidiary = | |||
|preceded = | |||
|succeeded = | |||
|website =https://m-78.jp/ | |||
}} | |||
'''Tsuburaya Productions''' {{Nihongo|円谷プロダクション|Tsuburaya Purodakushon}} is a production company and special effects studio founded by [[tokusatsu]] pioneer [[Eiji Tsuburaya]] in [[1963]]. It is most famous for creating the giant hero [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (character)|Ultraman]] in [[1966]]. | '''Tsuburaya Productions''' {{Nihongo|円谷プロダクション|Tsuburaya Purodakushon}} is a production company and special effects studio founded by [[tokusatsu]] pioneer [[Eiji Tsuburaya]] in [[1963]]. It is most famous for creating the giant hero [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (character)|Ultraman]] in [[1966]]. | ||
{{TOC}} | {{TOC}} | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Toho's renowned director of special effects, [[Eiji Tsuburaya]], founded Tsuburaya Productions in 1963 as a means to achieve greater creative freedom. Drawing from both Tsuburaya's staff at Toho and other artists from across Japan, the company's first assignment was the 1963 Ishihara/[[ | Toho's renowned director of special effects, [[Eiji Tsuburaya]], founded Tsuburaya Productions in 1963 as a means to achieve greater creative freedom. Drawing from both Tsuburaya's staff at Toho and other artists from across Japan, the company's first assignment was the 1963 Ishihara/[[Nikkatsu]] film ''Alone Across the Pacific''. Its first in-house project was ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultra Q|Ultra Q]]'', a black-and-white science fiction TV series about a reporter and two pilots who investigate mysterious events, in 1966. Boasting special effects comparable to Toho and Daiei's kaiju films, it was a tremendous success, and guaranteed a follow-up. Later that year, Tsuburaya debuted the color TV series ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (series)|Ultraman]]'', starring one of the first ''kyodai'' (giant) heroes, to even greater ratings. ''Ultraman''{{'}}s formula of an alien warrior merging with a human host to defend the planet against kaiju and aliens would become the foundation for Tsuburaya's signature ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Series|Ultra Series]]'', which continues to this day. | ||
Following Eiji Tsuburaya's death in 1970, his eldest son Hajime assumed control of the company. Tsuburaya Productions would remain a family business until 2007, when it was sold to TYO Inc. Today, | Following Eiji Tsuburaya's death in 1970, his eldest son [[Hajime Tsuburaya|Hajime]] assumed control of the company. Tsuburaya Productions would remain a family business until 2007, when it was sold to TYO Inc. Today, 51% of the company is controlled by Tsuburaya Fields Holdings (the parent company of the Fields Corporation), with the other 49% controlled by Bandai Namco Holdings (the parent company of [[Bandai]], Bandai Namco, etc.). Bandai's ''Ultraman'' products have been prominently featured in every ''Ultra Series'' installment since 2013's ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Ginga (series)|Ultraman Ginga]]''. | ||
==Selected television and web series== | ==Selected television and web series== | ||
===1960s=== | ===1960s=== | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultra Q|Ultra Q]]'' (1966) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultra Q|Ultra Q]]'' (1966) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (series)|Ultraman]]'' (1966-67) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (series)|Ultraman]]'' (1966-67) | ||
*''[[ | *''[[Monster Booska]]'' (1966-67) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraseven (series)|Ultraseven]]'' (1967-68) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraseven (series)|Ultraseven]]'' (1967-68) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Mighty Jack (series)|Mighty Jack]]'' (1968) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Mighty Jack (series)|Mighty Jack]]'' (1968) | ||
| Line 24: | Line 43: | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Emergency Directive 10-4·10-10|Emergency 10-4, 10-10]]'' (1972) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Emergency Directive 10-4·10-10|Emergency 10-4, 10-10]]'' (1972) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Triple Fighter (series)|Triple Fighter]]'' (1972) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Triple Fighter (series)|Triple Fighter]]'' (1972) | ||
*''[[ | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Kyofu Gekijo Unbalance|The Unbalance Zone]]'' (1973) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Jumborg Ace (series)|Jumborg Ace]]'' (1973) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Jumborg Ace (series)|Jumborg Ace]]'' (1973) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Fireman (series)|Magma Man]]'' (1973) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Fireman (series)|Magma Man]]'' (1973) | ||
| Line 55: | Line 74: | ||
*''Ultraman M730 Ultra Monster Data Bank'' (1995-96) | *''Ultraman M730 Ultra Monster Data Bank'' (1995-96) | ||
*''Ultraman Land M730'' (1996-97) | *''Ultraman Land M730'' (1996-97) | ||
*''Moon Spiral'' (1996) | |||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Tiga (series)|Ultraman Tiga]]'' (1996-97) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Tiga (series)|Ultraman Tiga]]'' (1996-97) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Dyna (series)|Ultraman Dyna]]'' (1997-98) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Dyna (series)|Ultraman Dyna]]'' (1997-98) | ||
*''Cyberbeauties Telomere'' (1998) | *''Cyberbeauties Telomere'' (1998) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Gaia (series)|Ultraman Gaia]]'' (1998-99) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Gaia (series)|Ultraman Gaia]]'' (1998-99) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Booska! Booska!!|Booska! Booska!!]]'' (1999-2000) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Booska! Booska!!|Booska! Booska!!]]'' (1999-2000) | ||
| Line 70: | Line 89: | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy| Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy]]'' (2004) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy| Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy]]'' (2004) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Nexus (series)|Ultraman Nexus]]'' (2004-05) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Nexus (series)|Ultraman Nexus]]'' (2004-05) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Max (series)| Ultraman Max]]'' (2005) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Max (series)| Ultraman Max]]'' (2005-06) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Mebius (series)|Ultraman Mebius]]'' (2006) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Mebius (series)|Ultraman Mebius]]'' (2006-07) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Bio Planet WoO|Bio Planet WoO]]'' (2006) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Bio Planet WoO|Bio Planet WoO]]'' (2006) | ||
*''Operation: Mystery - Second File'' (2007) | *''Operation: Mystery - Second File'' (2007) | ||
| Line 101: | Line 120: | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:SSSS.GRIDMAN|SSSS.GRIDMAN]]'' (2018) [with [[wikipedia:Studio Trigger|Studio Trigger]]] | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:SSSS.GRIDMAN|SSSS.GRIDMAN]]'' (2018) [with [[wikipedia:Studio Trigger|Studio Trigger]]] | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman New Generation Chronicle|Ultraman New Generation Chronicle]]'' (2019) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman New Generation Chronicle|Ultraman New Generation Chronicle]]'' (2019) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:ULTRAMAN (2019 anime)|ULTRAMAN]]'' (2019-) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:ULTRAMAN (2019 anime)|ULTRAMAN]]'' (2019-23) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Taiga (series)|Ultraman Taiga]]'' (2019) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Taiga (series)|Ultraman Taiga]]'' (2019) | ||
===2020s=== | ===2020s=== | ||
| Line 112: | Line 131: | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Chronicle D|Ultraman Chronicle D]]'' (2022-) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Chronicle D|Ultraman Chronicle D]]'' (2022-) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad|Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad]]'' (2022-) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad|Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad]]'' (2022-) | ||
*''Ultraman Decker'' (2022-) | *''[[Shin Ultra Fight]]'' (2022) [with [[Toho]] and khara] | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Decker (series)|Ultraman Decker]]'' (2022-2023) | |||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Blazar (series)|Ultraman Blazar]]'' (2023-) | |||
==Selected films== | ==Selected films== | ||
| Line 128: | Line 149: | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army|Six Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army]]'' (1974) [Chaiyo co-production] | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army|Six Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army]]'' (1974) [Chaiyo co-production] | ||
*''[[The Last Dinosaur]]'' (1977) [Rankin/Bass co-production] | *''[[The Last Dinosaur]]'' (1977) [Rankin/Bass co-production] | ||
*''The Bermuda Depths'' (1978) [Rankin/Bass co-production] | *''[[wikipedia:The_Bermuda_Depths|The Bermuda Depths]]'' (1978) [Rankin/Bass co-production] | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (1979 film)|Director Akio Jissoji's Ultraman]]'' (1979) [compilation film] | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (1979 film)|Director Akio Jissoji's Ultraman]]'' (1979) [compilation film] | ||
*''Ultraman: Great Monster Battle'' (1979) [compilation film] | *''Ultraman: Great Monster Battle'' (1979) [compilation film] | ||
===1980s=== | ===1980s=== | ||
*''[[wikipedia:The_Ivory_Ape|The Ivory Ape]]'' (1980) [Rankin/Bass co-production] | |||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman ZOFFY: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army|Ultraman Zoffy]]'' (1984) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman ZOFFY: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army|Ultraman Zoffy]]'' (1984) | ||
*''Ultraman Kids: The Movie'' (1984) | *''Ultraman Kids: The Movie'' (1984) | ||
| Line 138: | Line 161: | ||
*''Anime Chan'' (1984) | *''Anime Chan'' (1984) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman: The Adventure Begins|Ultraman: The Adventure Begins]]'' (1987) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman: The Adventure Begins|Ultraman: The Adventure Begins]]'' (1987) | ||
===1990s=== | ===1990s=== | ||
*''Ultraman: The Alien Invasion'' (1990) [compilation film] | *''Ultraman: The Alien Invasion'' (1990) [compilation film] | ||
*''Ultraman: The Battle for Earth'' (1990) [compilation film] | *''Ultraman: The Battle for Earth'' (1990) [compilation film] | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Revive! Ultraman|Ultraman Forever]]'' (1996) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Revive! Ultraman|Ultraman Forever]]'' (1996) | ||
*''Ultraman Company'' (1996) | *''Ultraman Company'' (1996) | ||
| Line 152: | Line 174: | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Dyna, & Ultraman Gaia: The Decisive Battle in Hyperspace|Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace]]'' (1999) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Dyna, & Ultraman Gaia: The Decisive Battle in Hyperspace|Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace]]'' (1999) | ||
*''Ultraman: M-78 Theater'' (1999) | *''Ultraman: M-78 Theater'' (1999) | ||
===2000s=== | ===2000s=== | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey|Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey]]'' (2000) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey|Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey]]'' (2000) | ||
| Line 166: | Line 187: | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Mebius & the Ultra Brothers|Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers]]'' (2006) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Mebius & the Ultra Brothers|Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers]]'' (2006) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers|Superior 8 Ultraman Brothers]]'' (2008) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers|Superior 8 Ultraman Brothers]]'' (2008) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie|Mega Monster Battle Ultra Galaxy | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie|Mega Monster Battle Ultra Galaxy The Movie]]'' (2009) | ||
===2010s=== | ===2010s=== | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Zero The Movie: Super Deciding Fight! The Belial Galactic Empire|Ultraman Zero | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Zero The Movie: Super Deciding Fight! The Belial Galactic Empire|Ultraman Zero The Movie: The Revenge of Belial]]'' (2010) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Zero Gaiden: Killer the Beatstar|Ultraman Zero Side Story: Killer the Beatstar]]'' (2011) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Zero Gaiden: Killer the Beatstar|Ultraman Zero Side Story: Killer the Beatstar]]'' (2011) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Saga (film)|Ultraman Saga]]'' (2012) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Saga (film)|Ultraman Saga]]'' (2012) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Ginga Theater Special|Ultraman Ginga Special]]'' (2013) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Ginga Theater Special|Ultraman Ginga Special]]'' (2013) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Ginga Theater Special: Ultra Monster ☆ Hero Battle Royale!|Ultraman Ginga Special: Ultra Monsters vs. Ultra Heroes]]'' (2014) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Ginga Theater Special: Ultra Monster ☆ Hero Battle Royale!|Ultraman Ginga Special: Ultra Monsters vs. Ultra Heroes]]'' (2014) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Ginga S The Movie: Showdown! The 10 Ultra Warriors!|Ultraman Ginga S | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Ginga S The Movie: Showdown! The 10 Ultra Warriors!|Ultraman Ginga S The Movie]]'' (2015) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman X The Movie: Here He Comes! Our Ultraman|Ultraman X | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman X The Movie: Here He Comes! Our Ultraman|Ultraman X The Movie]]'' (2016) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Orb The Movie: Let Me Borrow the Power of Bonds!|Ultraman Orb | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Orb The Movie: Let Me Borrow the Power of Bonds!|Ultraman Orb The Movie]]'' (2017) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Geed The Movie: Connect Them! The Wishes!!|Ultraman Geed | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Geed The Movie: Connect Them! The Wishes!!|Ultraman Geed The Movie: Connect the Wishes!]]'' (2018) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman R/B The Movie: Select! The Crystal of Bond|Ultraman R/B | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman R/B The Movie: Select! The Crystal of Bond|Ultraman R/B The Movie ～ Select! The Crystal of Bond]]'' (2019) | ||
===2020s=== | ===2020s=== | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Taiga The Movie: New Generation Climax|Ultraman Taiga | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Taiga The Movie: New Generation Climax|Ultraman Taiga The Movie: New Generation Climax]]'' (2020) | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:KAIJU DECODE|Kaiju Decode]]'' (2021) [with [[Toei|Toei Animation]]] | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:KAIJU DECODE|Kaiju Decode]]'' (2021) [with [[Toei|Toei Animation]]] | ||
*''Kaiju Decode: First Contact'' (2021) [with Toei Animation] | *''Kaiju Decode: First Contact'' (2021) [with Toei Animation] | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z|Ultraman Trigger Episode Z]]'' (2022) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z|Ultraman Trigger Episode Z]]'' (2022) | ||
*''[[Shin Ultraman]]'' (2022) [with [[Toho]] and khara] | *''[[Shin Ultraman]]'' (2022) [with [[Toho]] and khara]<!-- | ||
*''GRIDMAN | *''GRIDMAN UNIVERSE'' (2023)--> | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Decker Finale: Journey to Beyond|Ultraman Decker Finale: Journey to Beyond]]'' (2023) | |||
==Selected TV specials== | ==Selected TV specials== | ||
===1960s=== | |||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:The Birth of Ultraman|The Birth of Ultraman]]'' (1966) | |||
===1990s=== | ===1990s=== | ||
*''The World of Ultra Q'' (1990) | *''The World of Ultra Q'' (1990) | ||
| Line 198: | Line 223: | ||
*''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Heisei Ultraseven/Episodes#Ultraseven 35th Anniversary: EVOLUTION (2002)|Ultra Seven Evolution]]'' (2002) | *''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Heisei Ultraseven/Episodes#Ultraseven 35th Anniversary: EVOLUTION (2002)|Ultra Seven Evolution]]'' (2002) | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*Eiji Tsuburaya's ties with Toho allowed props, suits, sound effects, and even footage from the studio's kaiju films to appear in ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultra Q|Ultra Q]]'' and ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (series)|Ultraman]]''. [[ | *Eiji Tsuburaya's ties with Toho allowed props, suits, sound effects, and even footage from the studio's kaiju films to appear in ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultra Q|Ultra Q]]'' and ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (series)|Ultraman]]''. [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] became [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Gomess|Gomess]] and [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Jirahs|Jirahs]], [[Baragon]] became [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Pagos|Pagos]], [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Neronga|Neronga]], [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Magular|Magular]], and [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Gabora|Gabora]], [[Maguma]] became [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Todola|Todola]], the [[Giant Octopus]] became [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Sudar|Sudar]], [[King Kong (King Kong vs. Godzilla)|King Kong]] became [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Goro|Goro]], and [[Manda]] became the [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Dragon|Kai Dragon]]; the [[United Nations VTOL]] props used in ''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]'' were modified to become the SSSP's [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Jet VTOL|Jet VTOL]] and Space VTOL fleet. | ||
*Toho employees who worked on the early Ultra Series installments included [[Ishiro Honda]] (director of several ''Return of Ultraman'' episodes), [[Shinichi Sekizawa]] (writer of the pilot episode of ''Ultraman''), [[Haruo Nakajima]] (suit actor for numerous monsters in ''Ultra Q'', ''Ultraman'' and ''Ultraseven''), [[Kenji Sahara]] (Jun Manjome in ''Ultra Q''), and [[Akihiko Hirata]] (Chief Hanazawa in ''Ultra Q'', Professor Iwamoto in ''Ultraman'', and Staff Officer Yanagawa in ''Ultraseven''). | *Toho employees who worked on the early Ultra Series installments included [[Ishiro Honda]] (director of several ''Return of Ultraman'' episodes), [[Shinichi Sekizawa]] (writer of the pilot episode of ''Ultraman''), [[Haruo Nakajima]] (suit actor for numerous monsters in ''Ultra Q'', ''Ultraman'' and ''Ultraseven''), [[Kenji Sahara]] (Jun Manjome in ''Ultra Q''), and [[Akihiko Hirata]] (Chief Hanazawa in ''Ultra Q'', Professor Iwamoto in ''Ultraman'', and Staff Officer Yanagawa in ''Ultraseven''). | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 14:34, 7 June 2023
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Tsuburaya Productions (円谷プロダクション Tsuburaya Purodakushon) is a production company and special effects studio founded by tokusatsu pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya in 1963. It is most famous for creating the giant hero Ultraman in 1966.
History
Toho's renowned director of special effects, Eiji Tsuburaya, founded Tsuburaya Productions in 1963 as a means to achieve greater creative freedom. Drawing from both Tsuburaya's staff at Toho and other artists from across Japan, the company's first assignment was the 1963 Ishihara/Nikkatsu film Alone Across the Pacific. Its first in-house project was Ultra Q, a black-and-white science fiction TV series about a reporter and two pilots who investigate mysterious events, in 1966. Boasting special effects comparable to Toho and Daiei's kaiju films, it was a tremendous success, and guaranteed a follow-up. Later that year, Tsuburaya debuted the color TV series Ultraman, starring one of the first kyodai (giant) heroes, to even greater ratings. Ultraman's formula of an alien warrior merging with a human host to defend the planet against kaiju and aliens would become the foundation for Tsuburaya's signature Ultra Series, which continues to this day.
Following Eiji Tsuburaya's death in 1970, his eldest son Hajime assumed control of the company. Tsuburaya Productions would remain a family business until 2007, when it was sold to TYO Inc. Today, 51% of the company is controlled by Tsuburaya Fields Holdings (the parent company of the Fields Corporation), with the other 49% controlled by Bandai Namco Holdings (the parent company of Bandai, Bandai Namco, etc.). Bandai's Ultraman products have been prominently featured in every Ultra Series installment since 2013's Ultraman Ginga.
Selected television and web series
1960s
- Ultra Q (1966)
- Ultraman (1966-67)
- Monster Booska (1966-67)
- Ultraseven (1967-68)
- Mighty Jack (1968)
- Operation: Mystery (1968-69)
- Fight! Mighty Jack (1968)
1970s
- Chibira (1970-71)
- Ultra Fight (1970-71)
- Return of Ultraman (1971-72)
- Mirror Man (1971-72)
- Redman (1972)
- Ultraman Ace (1972-73)
- Emergency 10-4, 10-10 (1972)
- Triple Fighter (1972)
- The Unbalance Zone (1973)
- Jumborg Ace (1973)
- Magma Man (1973)
- Ultraman Taro (1973-74)
- Mirror Fight (1974)
- Ultraman Leo (1974-75)
- Army of the Apes (1974-75)
- Born Free (1976-77)
- Aztekizer (1976-77)
- Aizenborg (1977-78)
- Space Wolf (1978)
- Koseidon (1978-79)
- The Ultraman (1979-80)
1980s
- Ultraman 80 (1980-81)
- Andromelos (1983)
- Ultraman Kids (1986)
- Ultra Monster Encyclopedia (1988-90)
1990s
- Ultraman M715 (1990-91)
- Ultraman: Towards the Future (1990-91)
- Ultraman M715 Ultra Hero Finishing Attack Study (1991-92)
- Ultraman Kids II (1991-92)
- Ultraman M730 Ultra Monster Encyclopedia (1992-93)
- Ultraman M730 Ultra Monster Battle Game (1993-94)
- Gridman (1993-94)
- Ultra Super Fight (1994)
- Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero (1995)
- Ultraman M730 Shuwatch! English (1994-95)
- Ultraman M730 Ultra Monster Data Bank (1995-96)
- Ultraman Land M730 (1996-97)
- Moon Spiral (1996)
- Ultraman Tiga (1996-97)
- Ultraman Dyna (1997-98)
- Cyberbeauties Telomere (1998)
- Ultraman Gaia (1998-99)
- Booska! Booska!! (1999-2000)
- Barasa de Booska! (1999)
- Ultraman Nice (1999-2000)
2000s
- Ultraman Neos (2000-01)
- Ultraman Cosmos (2001-02)
- Ultra Intelligence Agency (2002-11)
- Ultraman Boy's Ultra Coliseum (2003)
- Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy (2004)
- Ultraman Nexus (2004-05)
- Ultraman Max (2005-06)
- Ultraman Mebius (2006-07)
- Bio Planet WoO (2006)
- Operation: Mystery - Second File (2007)
- Ultraseven X (2007)
- Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle (2007-08)
- Kanegon Kanegon (2008-09)
- Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey (2008-09)
2010s
- Ultraman Retsuden (2011-16)
- Ultra Zone (2011-12)
- Ultra Zero Fight (2012)
- Neo Ultra Q (2013)
- New Ultraman Retsuden (2013-16)
- Ultraman Ginga (2013)
- Giant Monster Rush: Ultra Frontier (2013-14)
- Kaiki Daisakusen: Mystery File (2013)
- Ultraman Ginga S (2014)
- Ultra Fight Victory (2015)
- Kaiju Sakaba Kanpai! (2015)
- Ultraman X (2015)
- Ultraman Orb (2016)
- Kaiju Girls (2016-18)
- Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga (2016-17)
- Ultraman Zero: The Chronicle (2017)
- Ultra Fight Orb (2017)
- Ultraman Geed (2017)
- Ultraman Orb: The Chronicle (2018)
- Ultraman R/B (2018)
- SSSS.GRIDMAN (2018) [with Studio Trigger]
- Ultraman New Generation Chronicle (2019)
- ULTRAMAN (2019-23)
- Ultraman Taiga (2019)
2020s
- Ultraman Chronicle Zero & Geed (2020)
- Ultraman Z (2020)
- Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Absolute Conspiracy (2020-2021)
- Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey (2021)
- SSSS.DYNAZENON (2021) [with Studio Trigger]
- Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga (2021-2022)
- Ultraman Chronicle D (2022-)
- Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad (2022-)
- Shin Ultra Fight (2022) [with Toho and khara]
- Ultraman Decker (2022-2023)
- Ultraman Blazar (2023-)
Selected films
1960s
- Ultraman (1967) [compilation film]
- Ultraman, Ultra Seven: Giant Monster Extreme Battle (1969) [compilation film]
1970s
- Return of Ultraman (1971) [compilation film]
- Return of Ultraman: Terror of the Tornado Monster (1971) [compilation film]
- Mirror Man (1972) [compilation film]
- Return of Ultraman: Jiro Rides a Monster (1972) [compilation film]
- Mirror Man: Dinosaur Aroza Reanimated (1972) [compilation film]
- Daigoro vs. Goliath (1972) [Toho co-production]
- Jumborg Ace and Giant (1974) [Chaiyo co-production]
- Six Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army (1974) [Chaiyo co-production]
- The Last Dinosaur (1977) [Rankin/Bass co-production]
- The Bermuda Depths (1978) [Rankin/Bass co-production]
- Director Akio Jissoji's Ultraman (1979) [compilation film]
- Ultraman: Great Monster Battle (1979) [compilation film]
1980s
- The Ivory Ape (1980) [Rankin/Bass co-production]
- Ultraman Zoffy (1984)
- Ultraman Kids: The Movie (1984)
- Popular Monster's Parade (1984)
- Ultraman Story (1984)
- Anime Chan (1984)
- Ultraman: The Adventure Begins (1987)
1990s
- Ultraman: The Alien Invasion (1990) [compilation film]
- Ultraman: The Battle for Earth (1990) [compilation film]
- Ultraman Forever (1996)
- Ultraman Company (1996)
- Ultraman Zearth (1996)
- Ultraman Zearth 2 (1997)
- Ultra Meow (1997)
- Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Dyna (1998)
- Ultra Meow 2 (1998)
- Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace (1999)
- Ultraman: M-78 Theater (1999)
2000s
- Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey (2000)
- Ultraman Tiga: Revival of the Ancient Giant (2001)
- Ultraman Dyna: The Return of Hanejiro (2001)
- Ultraman Gaia: Once Again Gaia (2001)
- Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact (2001)
- Ultraman Cosmos 2: The Blue Planet (2002)
- New Century Ultraman Legend (2002)
- Ultraman Cosmos vs. Ultraman Justice: The Final Battle (2003)
- New Century Ultraman Legend 2: The King's Jubilee (2003)
- Ultraman: The Next (2004)
- Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers (2006)
- Superior 8 Ultraman Brothers (2008)
- Mega Monster Battle Ultra Galaxy The Movie (2009)
2010s
- Ultraman Zero The Movie: The Revenge of Belial (2010)
- Ultraman Zero Side Story: Killer the Beatstar (2011)
- Ultraman Saga (2012)
- Ultraman Ginga Special (2013)
- Ultraman Ginga Special: Ultra Monsters vs. Ultra Heroes (2014)
- Ultraman Ginga S The Movie (2015)
- Ultraman X The Movie (2016)
- Ultraman Orb The Movie (2017)
- Ultraman Geed The Movie: Connect the Wishes! (2018)
- Ultraman R/B The Movie ～ Select! The Crystal of Bond (2019)
2020s
- Ultraman Taiga The Movie: New Generation Climax (2020)
- Kaiju Decode (2021) [with Toei Animation]
- Kaiju Decode: First Contact (2021) [with Toei Animation]
- Ultraman Trigger Episode Z (2022)
- Shin Ultraman (2022) [with Toho and khara]
- Ultraman Decker Finale: Journey to Beyond (2023)
Selected TV specials
1960s
- The Birth of Ultraman (1966)
1990s
- The World of Ultra Q (1990)
- Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider (1993)
- Ultra Seven: Operation Solar Energy (1994)
- Ultra Seven: Planet of the Earthlings (1994)
Selected direct-to-video specials
1990s
- Ultraman Graffiti (1990)
- Ultra Seven (1998)
- Ultra Seven 99 (1999)
- Ultra Seven Evolution (2002)
Trivia
- Eiji Tsuburaya's ties with Toho allowed props, suits, sound effects, and even footage from the studio's kaiju films to appear in Ultra Q and Ultraman. Godzilla became Gomess and Jirahs, Baragon became Pagos, Neronga, Magular, and Gabora, Maguma became Todola, the Giant Octopus became Sudar, King Kong became Goro, and Manda became the Kai Dragon; the United Nations VTOL props used in Gorath were modified to become the SSSP's Jet VTOL and Space VTOL fleet.
- Toho employees who worked on the early Ultra Series installments included Ishiro Honda (director of several Return of Ultraman episodes), Shinichi Sekizawa (writer of the pilot episode of Ultraman), Haruo Nakajima (suit actor for numerous monsters in Ultra Q, Ultraman and Ultraseven), Kenji Sahara (Jun Manjome in Ultra Q), and Akihiko Hirata (Chief Hanazawa in Ultra Q, Professor Iwamoto in Ultraman, and Staff Officer Yanagawa in Ultraseven).
External links
- Official website
- Official website (in English)
- Official YouTube channel
- Official Facebook page
- Official Twitter page
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