Ishiro Honda: Difference between revisions

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{{Quote|Monsters are tragic beings. They are born too tall, too strong, too heavy. They are not evil by choice. That is their tragedy. They do not attack people because they want to, but because of their size and strength, mankind has no other choice but to defend himself. After several stories such as this, people end up having a kind of affection for the monsters. They end up caring about them.|Ishiro Honda, speaking of his film, ''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]''}}
{{Quote|Monsters are tragic beings. They are born too tall, too strong, too heavy. They are not evil by choice. That is their tragedy. They do not attack people because they want to, but because of their size and strength, mankind has no other choice but to defend himself. After several stories such as this, people end up having a kind of affection for the monsters. They end up caring about them.|Ishiro Honda, speaking of his film, ''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]''}}


'''Ishirō Honda''' {{Nihongo|本多猪四郎|Honda Ishirō}} was a [[Japan]]ese film director and screenwriter. He is most famous for directing eight [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]] movies, including the [[Godzilla (1954 film)|original 1954 film]], as well as other [[kaiju]] films such as ''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]'' and ''[[The Mysterians]]''.
'''Ishirō Honda''' {{Nihongo|本多猪四郎|Honda Ishirō}} was a [[Japan]]ese film director and screenwriter. He is most famous for directing eight [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]] movies, including the [[Godzilla (1954 film)|original 1954 film]], as well as other [[Toho]] [[kaiju]] films such as ''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]'' and ''[[The Mysterians]]''. He was often miscredited in foreign releases of his films as '''Inoshiro Honda''', a misreading of the kanji in his Japanese name.
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==Life==
==Biography==
Honda is probably best known for his tokusatsu films including several entries in the [[Godzilla (franchise)|''Godzilla'' series]]. He directed the [[Godzilla (1954 film)|original ''Godzilla'']] film along with ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]'', ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', ''[[All Monsters Attack]]'' and many others until 1975. He also directed tokusatsu films such as ''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]'' and ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]''. His last feature film was ''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]''.
Ishiro Honda is probably best known for the many science fiction films which he directed for [[Toho]], including eight entries in the [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla series]]. He directed the [[Godzilla (1954 film)|original ''Godzilla'']] along with ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]'', ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', ''[[All Monsters Attack]]'' and many others throughout the 1950's and 1960's. He also directed other [[tokusatsu]] films for Toho such as ''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]'' and ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' during this time. Aside from the original ''Godzilla'', the 1963 cult horror film ''[[Matango (film)|Matango]]'' is widely considered Honda's greatest work. Honda was a frequent collaborator of legendary director of special effects [[Eiji Tsuburaya]], who directed the effects for all of Honda's kaiju films until he passed away in 1969. Due to Tsuburaya's failing health during filming for ''All Monsters Attack'', Honda directed the film's special effects sequences himself with assistance from [[Teruyoshi Nakano]], with Tsuburaya still receiving honorary credit as the film's special effects supervisor.


The following years were spent directing various sci-fi TV shows. The superhero shows ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Return of Ultraman|The Return of Ultraman]]'', ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Mirrorman (series)|Mirrorman]]'' and ''[[Zone Fighter (Series)|Zone Fighter]]'' were also his. In addition, he directed the cult film, ''[[Matango (film)|Matango]]''.
After directing the kaiju film ''[[Space Amoeba]]'' in 1970, Honda spent the following years directing episodes of various sci-fi TV shows. Episodes of the superhero shows ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Return of Ultraman|The Return of Ultraman]]'', ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Mirrorman (series)|Mirrorman]]'' and ''[[Zone Fighter (Series)|Zone Fighter]]'' were directed by Honda. Honda also served as the editor for the reissues of films that were screened during the Toho Champion Festival in the early 1970's. His final feature film came with 1975's ''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]'', which would also prove to be the final entry in the original [[Showa era|Showa series]] of Godzilla films.


At the end of his career he returned to working as an assistant director for his old friend, legendary director [[wikipedia:Akira Kurosawa|Akira Kurosawa]]. Allegedly one segment of the Kurosawa film, [[wikipedia:Dreams (1990 film)|''Dreams'']], was actually directed by Honda following Kurosawa's detailed storyboards.
At the end of his career, Honda returned to working as an assistant director for his old friend, legendary director [[wikipedia:Akira Kurosawa|Akira Kurosawa]]. Allegedly one segment of the Kurosawa film, [[wikipedia:Dreams (1990 film)|''Dreams'']], was actually directed by Honda following Kurosawa's detailed storyboards.
==Selected Filmography==
==Selected Filmography==
*''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' (1954) - Director / writer [with [[Takeo Murata]]]
*''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' (1954) - Director / writer [with [[Takeo Murata]]]
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*''[[King Kong Escapes]]'' (1967) - Director
*''[[King Kong Escapes]]'' (1967) - Director
*''[[Son of Godzilla]]'' (1967) - Editor [1973 Champion Festival reissue]
*''[[Son of Godzilla]]'' (1967) - Editor [1973 Champion Festival reissue]
*''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'' (1968) - Director / writer [with [[Takeshi Kimura]]] / editor [1972 Champion Festival reissue]
*''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'' (1968) - Director / writer [with Takeshi Kimura] / editor [1972 Champion Festival reissue]
*''[[Latitude Zero]]'' (1969) - Director
*''[[Latitude Zero]]'' (1969) - Director
*''[[All Monsters Attack]]'' (1969) - Director / Director of Special Effects [uncredited]
*''[[All Monsters Attack]]'' (1969) - Director / Director of Special Effects [uncredited]
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*''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]'' (1975) - Director
*''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]'' (1975) - Director
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Ishiro Honda visited the set of several [[Heisei era|Heisei]] [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]] films before his death in 1993, and despite rumors that he was slated to direct ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'', Honda expressed no interest in returning to the series, content with his work on Akira Kurosawa's films.<ref name="Kalat">{{cite book|title=A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series |author=David Kalat |date=1997 |publisher=McFarland |page=216}}</ref>
*Ishiro Honda visited the set of several [[Heisei era|Heisei]] [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]] films before his death in 1993, and despite [[Godzilla misconceptions#Was Ishiro Honda going to direct Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II?|rumors that he was slated to direct]] ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'', Honda expressed no interest in returning to the series, content with his work on Akira Kurosawa's films.<ref name="Kalat">{{cite book|title=A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series|author=David Kalat |date=1997|publisher=McFarland|page=216}}</ref>
*Ishiro Honda said in an interview conducted only months before his death that his favorite film he worked on was ''[[The Mysterians]]''.<ref>[http://www.davmil.org/www.kaijuconversations.com/honda.htm Ishiro Honda Interview]</ref>
*Honda stated in an interview conducted only months before his death that his favorite film he worked on was ''[[The Mysterians]]''.<ref>[http://www.davmil.org/www.kaijuconversations.com/honda.htm Ishiro Honda Interview]</ref>
*A fictionalized version of Honda appears in the fifth episode of the fourth season of the TV series ''[[wikipedia:Legends of Tomorrow|Legends of Tomorrow]]'', played by Eijiro Ozaki.
*A fictionalized version of Honda appears in the fifth episode of the fourth season of the TV series ''[[wikipedia:Legends of Tomorrow|Legends of Tomorrow]]'', played by Eijiro Ozaki.
==External Links==
==External Links==

Revision as of 05:33, 19 March 2019

Ishiro Honda
Ishiro Honda directing Eagle of the Pacific
Born May 7, 1911
Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Died February 28, 1993
Occupation Director, writer, editor
First work Chocolate and Soldiers (1938)
Notable work Godzilla (1954)
Imdb.pngWp.png
Monsters are tragic beings. They are born too tall, too strong, too heavy. They are not evil by choice. That is their tragedy. They do not attack people because they want to, but because of their size and strength, mankind has no other choice but to defend himself. After several stories such as this, people end up having a kind of affection for the monsters. They end up caring about them.
„ 

— Ishiro Honda, speaking of his film, Rodan

Ishirō Honda (本多猪四郎,   Honda Ishirō) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is most famous for directing eight Godzilla movies, including the original 1954 film, as well as other Toho kaiju films such as Rodan and The Mysterians. He was often miscredited in foreign releases of his films as Inoshiro Honda, a misreading of the kanji in his Japanese name.

Biography

Ishiro Honda is probably best known for the many science fiction films which he directed for Toho, including eight entries in the Godzilla series. He directed the original Godzilla along with King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, All Monsters Attack and many others throughout the 1950's and 1960's. He also directed other tokusatsu films for Toho such as Rodan and Mothra during this time. Aside from the original Godzilla, the 1963 cult horror film Matango is widely considered Honda's greatest work. Honda was a frequent collaborator of legendary director of special effects Eiji Tsuburaya, who directed the effects for all of Honda's kaiju films until he passed away in 1969. Due to Tsuburaya's failing health during filming for All Monsters Attack, Honda directed the film's special effects sequences himself with assistance from Teruyoshi Nakano, with Tsuburaya still receiving honorary credit as the film's special effects supervisor.

After directing the kaiju film Space Amoeba in 1970, Honda spent the following years directing episodes of various sci-fi TV shows. Episodes of the superhero shows The Return of Ultraman, Mirrorman and Zone Fighter were directed by Honda. Honda also served as the editor for the reissues of films that were screened during the Toho Champion Festival in the early 1970's. His final feature film came with 1975's Terror of Mechagodzilla, which would also prove to be the final entry in the original Showa series of Godzilla films.

At the end of his career, Honda returned to working as an assistant director for his old friend, legendary director Akira Kurosawa. Allegedly one segment of the Kurosawa film, Dreams, was actually directed by Honda following Kurosawa's detailed storyboards.

Selected Filmography

Trivia

External Links

References

This is a list of references for Ishiro Honda. 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. David Kalat (1997). A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series. McFarland. p. 216.
  2. Ishiro Honda Interview

Real World