Shinji Higuchi

Higuchi Shinji

  • Name: Higuchi Shinji
  • Native name: 樋口真嗣
  • Nationality: Japanese
  • Gender: Male
  • Born: September 22, 1965
  • Age: 58
Higuchi Shinji, born in Tokyo, is a Japanese director and former special effects director. Higuchi has done much to overhaul the visual effects landscape of Japanese films, starting with the critically acclaimed Gamera trilogy in the 90s. He encouraged the melding of CGI with traditional “suitmation” techniques for kaiju eiga, culminating in Gamera 3: The Revenge of Iris (1999), which at the time was considered by critics and fans alike as the best film in the genre. While his directorial efforts haven’t always garnered rave reviews, his SFX sensibilities (nowadays executed by his contemporary Katsuhiro Onoe) continue to strive for realism while retaining and elevating traditional SFX techniques.

Higuchi jumped into SFX straight out of high school, finding work in Toho’s SFX department during production on The Return of Godzilla (1984); he worked on modeling the Godzilla costume, and also helped suit actor Kenpachiro Satsuma in and out of the costume during shoots. That same year he met Hideaki Anno, and together they formed the animation studio Gainax. Higuchi served as assistant director on one of the studio’s early animated features, The Wings of Honneamise (1984). Gainax, of course, went on to produce the groundbreaking anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. Evangelion’s lead character, Shinji Ikari, took his name from director Anno’s close friend Higuchi. In the 90s Higuchi co-founded another animation studio, Gonzo, which would go on to produce series like Hellsing, Fullmetal Panic!, Last Exile, Gantz, Samurai 7, Afro Samurai, and Psycho-Pass among others. In 1995 Higuchi collaborated with director Shusuke Kaneko on Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe, the first installment of Kaneko’s Gamera trilogy; Higuchi received special recognition at the Japanese Academy Awards for his efforts. The film’s success cemented Higuchi’s reputation as a SFX artist and he has contributed to a number of films in that capacity.

In 2005 Higuchi released his directorial debut Lorelei, and quickly followed with a remake of the 70s disaster film The Sinking of Japan (2006). Higuchi’s subsequent films have struggled to impress the critics, and Higuchi himself took to social media to denounce critics of his Attack on Titan films (which, frankly, deserved all the bad press they got). His collaborations with other directors have proven more fruitful. He worked with veteran director Isshin Inudo on the historical drama The Floating Castle (2012), and he paired with Hideaki Anno to direct Shin Godzilla (2016), which stole Best Picture at the Japanese Academy Awards and nabbed both of them Best Director awards.

(Source: Godzilla Cineaste) Edit Biography
Screenwriter
Year Title Type Rating
2020 The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8
Movie
6.6
Director
Year Title Type Rating
TBA Shinkansen Daibakuha
Movie
0.0
2022 Shin Ultraman
Movie
7.7
2016 Shin Godzilla
Movie
7.7
2015 Attack on Titan: End of the World
Movie
6.0
2015 Attack on Titan
Movie
5.9
2012 The Floating Castle
Movie
7.6
2012 Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo
Movie
7.2
2010 MM9
Drama
7.0
2008 The Last Princess
Movie
7.0
2006 Sinking of Japan
Movie
7.3
2005 Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean
Movie
6.4
Visual Effect
Year Title Type Rating
2022 Kamen Rider Black Sun
Drama
7.8
SFX Director
Year Title Type Rating
2001 The Princess Blade
Movie
6.7
2000 Sakuya : Slayer of Demons
Movie
7.0
1999 Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris
Movie
8.1
1996 Gamera 2: Advent of Legion
Movie
7.9
1995 Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
Movie
7.6
1985 Yamata no Orochi no Gyakushu
Movie
8.2
Drama
Year Title # Role Rating
2022 Hirowareta Otoko
Japanese Drama, 2022, 10 eps
[Director] (Ep. 6) (Guest Role)
10
[Director] (Ep. 6)
Guest Role
7.8
2002 Shiritsu Tantei Hama Mike
Japanese Drama, 2002, 12 eps
No. 19 (Ep. 6) (Guest Role)
12
No. 19 (Ep. 6)
Guest Role
10.0
Movie
Year Title Role Rating
2023 Eiga no Asa Gohan
Japanese Movie, 2023,
(Guest Role)
Guest Role
0.0
2023 Kyrie
Japanese Movie, 2023,
Shiomi Takashi [Natsuhiko's father] (Support Role)
Shiomi Takashi [Natsuhiko's father]
Support Role
8.4
2020 The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8
Japanese Movie, 2020,
[Himself] (Main Role)
[Himself]
Main Role
6.6
2002 Returner
Japanese Movie, 2002,
[UFO Researcher] (Bit part)
[UFO Researcher]
Bit part
7.3
2002 Mike Yokohama: A Forest with No Name
Japanese Movie, 2002,
No. 19 (Support Role)
No. 19
Support Role
2.0
2001 All About Lily Chou Chou
Japanese Movie, 2001,
[Otaku] (Guest Role)
[Otaku]
Guest Role
7.8
TV Show
Year Title # Role Rating
2021 Hideaki Anno: The Final Challenge of Evangelion
Japanese TV Show, 2021, 2 eps
(Guest)
2
Guest
8.1
2008 Vs Arashi
Japanese TV Show, 2008, 561 eps
(Ep. 194) (Guest)
561
(Ep. 194)
Guest
8.5
Trending Articles
tvN Hit Drama "Signal" Renewed for Season 2 (Official)
News - Mar 14, 2024

Writer Kim Eun Hee is working on the script

Ryu Jun Yeol and Han So Hee embroiled in dating rumors
News - Mar 15, 2024

Ryu Jun Yeol and Han So Hee have been swept up in dating rumors after an alleged post on social media stated that the two are together in Hawaii.

Disney+ K-drama "A Shop For Killers" in discussion for a new season
News - Mar 12, 2024

Lee Dong Wook and Kim Hye Joon's hit Disney+ K-drama A Shop for Killers will possibly have a new season.

Years Through Eyes of Kdrama OSTs
Editorials - Mar 16, 2024

Music carries emotions. With this article, let's not only walk on the memory line but also reminisce about iconic soundtracks.

Netflix Officially Comments on Release of "Goodbye Earth", Starring Yoo Ah In, Ahn Eun Jin
News - Mar 9, 2024

Read what Netflix has to say about the K-drama's release

Time Travel: Back to 2005
Editorials - Mar 17, 2024

Time travel has become our new hobby, so this time let's deep dive and enter the year 2005!

Higuchi Shinji

Shinji Higuchi
0 Followers
4 Hearts

Details

  • First Name: Shinji
  • Family Name: Higuchi
  • Native name: 樋口真嗣
  • Nationality: Japanese
  • Gender: Male
  • Born: September 22, 1965
  • Age: 58

Weekly MyDramaList Support Goal

0%
Help Support MyDramaList

Top Contributors

9 edits
8 edits
1 edit

Popular Lists

Related lists from users