Shinji Higuchi
Shinji Higuchi | |
---|---|
樋口 真嗣 | |
![]() Higuchi in 2016 | |
Born | |
Nationality | Japanese |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1984–present |
Notable work |
Shinji Higuchi (Japanese: 樋口 真嗣, Hepburn: Higuchi Shinji, born September 22, 1965) is a Japanese filmmaker. Known for his tokusatsu blockbusters, Higuchi is considered one of Japan's leading filmmakers of the 21st century.[1][2][3]
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
[edit]![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2022) |
Early life
[edit]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]
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."[9]
Early career
[edit]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.[10]
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.[11] He later voice-acted a musician modeled after himself in two episodes of Karekano.[12]
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.[13]
Personal affairs
[edit]Higuchi supports Japan's whaling and consumptions of whale meats in general, and have appeared in the 2023 pro-whaling documentary film by Keiko Yagi, the director of the 2015 film Behind The Cove.[14] The 2023 documentary featured the pro-whaling claim to highlight the necessity of whaling to control the marine ecosystem to prevent declines of fish stocks by whales, which largely affected public opinion regards the issues in Japan. The Fisheries Agency of Japan withdrew the claim in 2009 at the annual meeting of International Whaling Commission, but didn't correct it domestically afterwards.[14][15] Yagi and Higuchi remarked that "Godzilla is closely connected to whales and environmental issues in naming of the character and other aspects",[a] and expressed their supports for whaling and skeptical views towards veganism.[14][26]
Filmography
[edit]Year | Title | Director | SFX director | Storyboard artist | Miscellaneous | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | The Return of Godzilla | No | No | No | Yes | Assistant modeler | [7] |
1985 | Yamata no Orochi no Gyakushū | No | Yes | No | No | [10] | |
1987 | Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise | No | No | No | Yes | Assistant director | [27] |
1988 | Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis | No | No | Yes | No | [28] | |
Gunbuster | No | No | Yes | No | [29] | ||
1991 | The Cat | No | Yes | No | No | With Kazuo Sagawa; uncredited | |
Mikadroid | No | Yes | No | No | [30] | ||
1992 | The Day the Sun Fissured: The Great Tokyo Earthquake | Yes | No | No | No | [10] | |
1994 | Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still | No | No | Yes | No | ||
1995 | Gamera: Guardian of the Universe | No | Yes | No | No | [10] | |
Neon Genesis Evangelion | No | No | Yes | Yes | Screenwriter | [31] | |
1996 | Space Ship Remnant 6 | No | Yes | No | No | [32] | |
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion | No | Yes | No | No | [33] | ||
1997 | The End of Evangelion | No | Yes | No | No | [34] | |
1998 | Love & Pop | No | Yes | No | No | [35] | |
1999 | Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris | No | Yes | No | No | [36] | |
Betterman | No | No | Yes | No | |||
2000 | Sakuya: Slayer of Demons | No | Yes | No | No | [37] | |
2001 | Pistol Opera | No | Yes | No | No | [38] | |
The Princess Blade | No | Yes | No | No | [39] | ||
2003 | Pokémon: Jirachi—Wish Maker | No | No | Yes | No | [40] | |
Dino Crisis 3 | No | No | Yes | No | |||
Dragon Head | No | No | No | Yes | Visual effects designer | [41] | |
2005 | Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean | Yes | Yes | No | No | [10] | |
2006 | Sinking of Japan | Yes | No | No | No | [10] | |
Onimusha | No | No | Yes | No | |||
2007 | Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone | No | No | Yes | No | [42] | |
2008 | Hidden Fortress: The Last Princess | No | No | Yes | No | [7] | |
2009 | Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance | No | No | Yes | No | [43] | |
2010 | Monster Magnitude: 9 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Screenwriter | |
2012 | Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo | Yes | No | No | No | [44] | |
The Floating Castle | Yes | No | No | No | [45] | ||
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo | No | No | Yes | No | [46] | ||
2013 | Kill la Kill | No | No | Yes | No | ||
2014 | Garm Wars: The Last Druid | No | No | Yes | No | [47] | |
2015 | Attack on Titan | Yes | No | No | No | [48] | |
Attack on Titan: End of the World | Yes | No | No | No | [49] | ||
2016 | Shin Godzilla | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | [50] | |
2018 | Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan | Yes | No | No | No | [51] | |
2020 | The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8 | No | No | No | Yes | Original story | [52] |
2021 | Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time | No | No | Yes | No | [53] | |
2022 | Ribbon | No | Yes | No | No | [54] | |
Shin Ultraman | Yes | No | No | No | [55] | ||
Kamen Rider Black Sun | No | No | No | Yes | Visual concept designer | [56] | |
2023 | Baian the Assassin, M.D. | No | No | No | Yes | Trailer creator | [57] |
Baian the Assassin, M.D. 2 | No | No | No | Yes | Trailer creator | [58] | |
Kyrie | No | No | No | Yes | Actor | [59] | |
2024 | Brush of the God | No | No | No | Yes | Actor | [60] |
TBA | The Bullet Train | Yes | [61] |
Accolades
[edit]Award ceremony | Year | Work(s) | Category | Result | Note(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Japan Academy Film Prize | 1996 | Gamera: Guardian of the Universe | Special Technology | Won | [62] | |
2013 | The Floating Castle | Director of the Year | Nominated | With Isshin Inudo | [63] | |
2017 | Shin Godzilla | Director of the Year | Won | With Hideaki Anno | [64] | |
Line News Awards | 2022 | Cultural Person | Won | [65] | ||
46th Japan Academy Film Prize | 2023 | Shin Ultraman | Director of the Year | Nominated | [66] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Production of the 1954 film involved several whale-related aspects; Godzilla's name was based on the nickname of the man who loved whale meats,[16] and early ideas of the monster were a giant octopus to attack a whaling vessel in Indian Ocean, or a gigantic whale monster attacks Tokyo.[17][18] Godzilla favors to prey on whales,[19][20][21] and Godzilla and Godzilla Junior were depicted either to prey on or slaughter whales in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster[22][23] and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah[24] respectively. Additionally, MV Brigitte Bardot owned by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was at one point named MV Godzilla with a paint of Godzilla on it, and the vessel was used for anti-whaling activities against Japan by the NPO.[25]
References
[edit]- ^ "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 30, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "【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 30, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "【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 30, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ 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.
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Fantasia Festival | Shin Ultraman". Fantasia Festival. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "Shin Ultraman". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "隠し砦の三悪人 THE LAST PRINCESS - 映画・映像". Toho. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ Haraguchi, Tomoo (March 12, 2021). Dream Fragment: Toho Special Effects Movies (in Japanese). Hobby Japan. pp. 106–108. ISBN 978-4-7986-2447-1.
- ^ Dupuy, Julien; Mauro, Fabien (July 3, 2019). "Le ravageur de mondes, entretien avec Shinji Higuchi" [The Ravager of Worlds, interview with Shinji Higuchi]. Otomo (in French). No. 4. Paris: Ynnis Editions. ISBN 978-23-76970-64-4.
- ^ a b c d e f "日本沈没 - 映画・映像". Toho. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ "Character Name Origins: NGE". Archived from the original on August 19, 2007.
- ^ "untitled". gainax.co.jp. Archived from the original on February 11, 2005. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c "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". Natalie. July 7, 2023.
- ^ Junko Sakuma (June 30, 2009). "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]". JANJAN. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "The Story of Godzilla's Birth – Pt 8". MyKaiju.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ "An Introduction to Godzilla". MyKaiju.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "An Introduction to Godzilla – 2". MyKaiju.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "New Godzilla Secrets". MyKaiju.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Michihiro Amano (June 4, 2019). "第82回 『三大怪獣 地球最大の決戦』". Book Stand. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Ghidorah The Three-Headed Monster Final Draft 3". MyKaiju.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "October 29". Imgur. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Lauren Rudser (December 2, 2010). "Sea Shepherd Introduces 'Godzilla'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Keiko Yagi [in Japanese] (September 16, 2023). "「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』!". Youtube. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
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has generic name (help) - ^ "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.
- ^ "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
- ^ "ローレライ - 映画・映像|東宝WEB SITE". www.toho.co.jp. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ "宇宙貨物船レムナント6 : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
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- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
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- ^ "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.
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- ^ "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.
- ^ "進撃の巨人 ATTACK ON TITAN : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Godzilla Resurgence Press Notes". SciFi Japan. June 13, 2016. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
- ^ "【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, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Hikawa, Ryūsuke; Kimata, Fuyu (2021). Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time Pamphlet (in Japanese). p. 74. ASIN B08Y8NVC8W.
- ^ "Ribbon : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ "Shin Ultraman (live-action movie) - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ "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".
- ^ "仕掛人・藤枝梅安 : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "仕掛人・藤枝梅安2 : 作品情報". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "キリエのうた". eiga.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "カミノフデ 怪獣たちのいる島". eiga.com. Retrieved February 28, 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!. February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "19th Japan Academy Film Prize". Japan Academy Film Prize. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ "36th Japan Academy Film Prize". Japan Academy Film Prize. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ Blair, Gavin J. (March 3, 2017). "'Godzilla Resurgence' Wins Big at 40th Japan Academy Prize Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ "LINE NEWS AWARDS 2022". LINE NEWS. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
- ^ 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.
External links
[edit]- Shinji Higuchi at IMDb
- 樋口真嗣 (Shinji Higuchi) at the Japanese Movie Database (in Japanese)
- Shinji Higuchi on Twitter