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Shinji Higuchi

Japanese film director (born 1965)

Summary

Japanese film director (born 1965)

FieldValue
nameShinji Higuchi
imageShin Godzilla - Shinji Higuchi (director) (30428611130) (2).jpg
altHiguchi stands next to a poster of his 2016 film Shin Godzilla. He wears a T-Shirt emblazoned with the text "Greetings from Monster Island", featuring an illustration of Megalon, Gigan, Godzilla, and Jet Jaguar posing in the 1973 film Godzilla vs. Megalon.
captionHiguchi in 2016
native_name樋口 真嗣
native_name_langJapanese
birth_date
birth_placeShinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
nationalityJapanese
occupation
years_active1984–present
notable_works

Shinji Higuchi is a Japanese filmmaker. Known for his tokusatsu blockbusters, Higuchi is considered one of Japan's leading filmmakers of the 21st century.

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. 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, and has received generally positive reviews from critics internationally.

Biography

Early life

Higuchi was born on September 22, 1965, 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.

In 2019, Higuchi told French interviewers about his education: "At the end of high school, when I had to pass the entrance examinations to universities, I failed everything. But since I was in a very popular high school, the school leaders refused to let me leave empty-handed! [laughs] So they said to me: 'you have to pass an exam, any!' I ended up passing my entrance examination for the Japanese Post Office, as a civil servant. I was sorted, locked up in a warehouse."

Early career

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

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. He later voice-acted a musician modeled after himself in two episodes of Karekano.

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.

Personal affairs

Higuchi supports Japan's whaling and consumptions of whale meat in general, and has appeared in a 2023 pro-whaling documentary film by Keiko Yagi, the director of the 2015 film Behind The Cove. Yagi and Higuchi remarked that "Godzilla is closely connected to whales and environmental issues in naming of the character and other aspects", and expressed their supports for whaling and skeptical views towards veganism.

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorSFX directorStoryboard artistMiscellaneousNotesRef(s)
1984The Return of GodzillaAssistant modeler
1985Yamata no Orochi no Gyakushū
1987Royal Space Force: The Wings of HonnêamiseAssistant director
1988Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
Gunbuster
1990Nadia: The Secret of Blue WaterDirector of episodes 23–39
1991The CatOne scene only; uncredited
Mikadroid
1992The Day the Sun Fissured: The Great Tokyo Earthquake
1994Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still
1995Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
Neon Genesis EvangelionScreenwriter
1996Space Ship Remnant 6
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion
1997The End of Evangelion
1998Love & Pop
1999Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris
Betterman
2000Sakuya: Slayer of Demons
2001Pistol Opera
The Princess Blade
2003Pokémon: Jirachi—Wish Maker
Dino Crisis 3
Dragon HeadVisual effects designer
2005Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean
2006Sinking of Japan
Onimusha
2007Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone
2008Hidden Fortress: The Last Princess
2009Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
2010Monster Magnitude: 9Screenwriter
2012Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo
The Floating Castle
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
2013Kill la Kill
2014Garm Wars: The Last Druid
2015Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan: End of the World
2016Shin Godzilladate=June 13, 2016title=Godzilla Resurgence Press Notesurl=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2016/06/13/godzilla-resurgence-exclusive-high-res-photos-from-toho/url-status=deadarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101042344/https://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2016/06/13/godzilla-resurgence-exclusive-high-res-photos-from-toho/archive-date=January 1, 2021access-date=September 21, 2022work=SciFi Japan}}
2018Dragon Pilot: Hisone and MasotanOriginal story
2020The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8Original story
2021Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
2022Ribbon
Shin UltramanCamera operator
Kamen Rider Black SunVisual concept designer
2023Baian the Assassin, M.D.Trailer creator
Baian the Assassin, M.D. 2Trailer creator
KyrieActor
2024Brush of the GodActor
2025Bullet Train ExplosionTitle sequence creator

Accolades

Award ceremonyYearWork(s)CategoryResultNote(s)Ref.
Japan Academy Film Prize1996Gamera: Guardian of the UniverseSpecial Technology
2013The Floating CastleDirector of the YearWith Isshin Inudo
2017Shin GodzillaDirector of the YearWith Hideaki Anno
Line News Awards2022Cultural Personurl=https://news.line.me/lp/awards/2022/title=LINE NEWS AWARDS 2022work=LINE NEWSaccess-date=December 14, 2022}}
46th Japan Academy Film Prize2023Shin UltramanDirector of the Yearlast=Komatsufirst=Mikikazudate=January 22, 2023title=The 46th Japan Academy Film Prize Announces Five Winners of Animation of the Yearurl=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2023/01/22/the-46th-japan-academy-film-prize-announces-five-winners-of-animation-of-the-yearurl-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123214814/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2023/01/22/the-46th-japan-academy-film-prize-announces-five-winners-of-animation-of-the-yeararchive-date=January 23, 2023access-date=March 12, 2023publisher=Crunchyrolllanguage=en-us}}

Notes

References

References

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  3. (2022-05-13). "【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？".
  4. Natasha Inc. "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".
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  8. Haraguchi, Tomoo. (March 12, 2021). "Dream Fragment: Toho Special Effects Movies". [[Hobby Japan]].
  9. (July 3, 2019). "Le ravageur de mondes, entretien avec Shinji Higuchi". Ynnis Editions.
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  12. "untitled". gainax.co.jp.
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  14. Junko Sakuma. (2009-06-30). ["クジラが魚食べて漁獲減」説を政府が撤回 - 国際捕鯨委員会で森下・政府代表代理が「修正」発言]"](http://www.news.janjan.jp/living/0906/0906290018/1.php).
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  16. [[Hajime Tsuburaya]], July 7, 2001, "Birth of Godzilla by Tadao Saito", ''The films of Eiji Tsuburaya (復刻版 円谷英二 日本映画界に残した遺産)'', pp.70-71, Shogakukan
  17. Toho, May 1, 1985, "Interview on Takeo Murata", ''Toho SF Tokusatsu Film Series Vol.3 - Godzilla/Godzilla Raids Again/Varan the Unbelievable'' (ゴジラ/ゴジラの逆襲/大怪獣バラン: 東宝SF特撮映画シリ-ズ 3), pp. 216–223
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  19. "An Introduction to Godzilla – 2".
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  21. Michihiro Amano. (2019-06-04). "第82回 『三大怪獣 地球最大の決戦』".
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  23. "October 29".
  24. Lauren Rudser. (2010-12-02). "Sea Shepherd Introduces 'Godzilla'".
  25. (2023-07-07). "食・科学からクジラに迫るドキュメンタリー「鯨のレストラン」公開、樋口真嗣も出演".
  26. [[:ja:八木景子. (2023-09-16). "「ゴジラ」が「クジラ」と「環境問題」に密接な関係あることがわかるドキュメンタリー映画『鯨のレストラン』！".
  27. "王立宇宙軍 オネアミスの翼 : 作品情報".
  28. Natasha Inc. "「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".
  29. "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".
  30. Osmond, Andrew. (August 18, 2023). "Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water". [[Anime Limited]].
  31. (30 June 1995). "Gamera the Guardian of the Universe Complete Record". Tokuma Shoten.
  32. Horai, Sanae. (2012). "Autodesk×Digicon6 コラボ企画 Top Creator's Eye ～CG業界のフロンティア達の視点～ 『のぼうの城』樋口 真嗣 監督 インタビュー". Area Japan.
  33. "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.
  34. "ローレライ - 映画・映像｜東宝WEB SITE".
  35. "宇宙貨物船レムナント6 : 作品情報".
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  37. "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".
  38. "ラブ＆ポップ：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画".
  39. "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".
  40. "さくや 妖怪伝：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画".
  41. "ピストルオペラ：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画".
  42. "修羅雪姫：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画".
  43. "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".
  44. "ドラゴンヘッド：映画作品情報・あらすじ・評価｜MOVIE WALKER PRESS 映画".
  45. "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".
  46. "ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：破 : 作品情報".
  47. "巨神兵東京に現わる 劇場版 : 作品情報".
  48. "のぼうの城 : 作品情報".
  49. "ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：Q : 作品情報".
  50. (April 28, 2016). "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.
  51. "進撃の巨人 ATTACK ON TITAN : 作品情報".
  52. "進撃の巨人 ATTACK ON TITAN エンド オブ ザ ワールド : 作品情報".
  53. (June 13, 2016). "Godzilla Resurgence Press Notes". SciFi Japan.
  54. (April 15, 2018). "【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』".
  55. "8日で死んだ怪獣の12日の物語 劇場版 : 作品情報".
  56. (2021). "Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time Pamphlet".
  57. "Ribbon : 作品情報".
  58. "Shin Ultraman (live-action movie) - Anime News Network".
  59. (July 24, 2024). "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".
  60. "仕掛人・藤枝梅安 : 作品情報".
  61. "仕掛人・藤枝梅安2 : 作品情報".
  62. "キリエのうた". eiga.com.
  63. "カミノフデ 怪獣たちのいる島". eiga.com.
  64. (February 29, 2024). "草なぎ剛×樋口真嗣監督でパニック映画『新幹線大爆破』をリブート！ Netflixで映画化決定". Crank-in!.
  65. "19th Japan Academy Film Prize". [[Japan Academy Film Prize]].
  66. "36th Japan Academy Film Prize". [[Japan Academy Film Prize]].
  67. Blair, Gavin J.. (March 3, 2017). "'Godzilla Resurgence' Wins Big at 40th Japan Academy Prize Awards". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
  68. "LINE NEWS AWARDS 2022". LINE NEWS.
  69. Komatsu, Mikikazu. (January 22, 2023). "The 46th Japan Academy Film Prize Announces Five Winners of Animation of the Year". [[Crunchyroll]].
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