Kiyotaka Taguchi

Kiyotaka Taguchi
Born	May 7, 1980 (age 44) Muroran, Hokkaido District, Japan
Occupation	Director Special Effect Director
Years Active	2000-present
External Links

Kiyotaka Taguchi is a Japanese director in the Ultraman Series. He is known as the main director of Ultraman X, Ultraman Orb, Ultraman Z, and Ultraman Blazar.

Biography

After graduating from Muroran-e High School in Hokkaido, Taguchi went to Nikkatsu Art Academy in Tokyo to enroll. He began to participate in film production as an intern, and has been active in the film and television industry since 2000.

In 2009, he served as the director of Long-haired Monster Guevara in the program group planning. Since 2011, Taguchi has participated in Tsuburaya's production works and continues to this day.

Directed Works

Ultraman Series

• Ultra Zone (2011)

• Neo Ultra Q (2013)
  • Laundry Day
  • The Extremely Smelly Island
  • The Tokyo Protocol

• Ultraman Ginga S (2014)
  • Past that was Forgotten
  • Activate! Magnewave Strategy
  • Fight to the Death of the Morning Glow
  • Gan-Q's Tears
  • In Order to Meet You

• Ultraman X (2015) - Main Director
  • A Voice From the Starry Sky
  • A Collection of Possibilities
  • A Song That Calls the Night
  • A Soldier's Back
  • Feature Report! 24 Hours Inside Xio
  • A Beautiful End
  • The Rainbow Land

• Ultraman Orb (2016) - Main Director
  • The Sunset Wanderer
  • The Lord of Earth
  • Monstrous Waters
  • Trouble! Mama's Here!
  • The Dark King's Blessing
  • The Giga Lord Monster Strikes Back
  • The Wandering Sun

• Ultraman Geed (2017)
  • The Geed Identity
  • My Name

• Ultraman R/B (2018)
  • The Winning Ball of Light
  • Farewell, Icarus

• Ultraman Taiga (2019)
  • Requiem of the Wolves
  • The Future You Decide
  • The Flying Saucer Is Not Coming

• Ultraman Z (2020) - Main Director
  • Chant My Name!
  • A Warrior's Principle
  • Live Coverage! The Monster Transport Operation
  • Four-Dimensional Capriccio
  • A Warrior's Duty
  • The Game to Extinction
  • Warriors Shining Beyond

• Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga (2021-2022)
  • Inter Universe
  • The Propagating Invasion
  • Smile Operation No.1
  • What Makes a Savior

• Ultraman Decker (2022-2023)
  • Lord Ragon
  • The Price of Prosperity

• Ultraman Blazar (2023-2024) - Main Director
  • First Wave
  • The Man who Created SKaRD
  • The Name is Earth Garon
  • Moonlit Memories
  • Betwixt Morn and Dusk
  • The Approaching Third Wave
  • The Ones Who Embrace the Earth

Film Series

• Ultraman X The Movie: Here He Comes! Our Ultraman - Main Director
• Ultraman Orb The Movie: Let Me Borrow the Power of Bonds! - Main Director
• Ultraman Blazar The Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown - Main Director

Spin-Offs Series

• Ultraman: A New Power of Singapore (2021) - Main Director
• SKaRD Break Room (2024) - Main Director

Music video

• Life of Planet (2017)

Participate Works

• Ultraman Cosmos

Others

• Kamen Rider Hibiki (2005) - VFX Artist
• Kamen Rider KABUTO (2006) - VFX Artist
• Kamen Rider Den-O (2008) - VFX Artist
• Kamen Rider Kiva (2008) - VFX Artist
• Long-haired Monster Guevara (2009)
• Operation: Mystery - Mystery File (2013)
  • The Blood Sphere
• The Next Generation: Patlabor (2014)
• LOVE&PEACE (2015) - Special effects director
• Female Weapon 701 (2017)
• Mashin Sentai Kiramager (2019)
• SSSS.DYNAZENON (2021) - Monster design
• Kamen Rider Black Sun (2022) - Special effects director
• Kamen Rider Gotchard (2024) - Episodes 28, 29, 42, and 43 director

Roles

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2015	Ultraman X	Self-Defense Forces call-up contact / Three-sided photo shooter	Voice Episode 15 "A Soldier's Back" Episode 16 "Feature Report! 24 Hours Inside Xio"
2017	Ultraman Orb The Movie: Let Me Borrow the Power of Bonds!	Man attacked by Darebolic
2020	Ultraman Z	Citizen	Episode 19 "The Last Hero"
2021	Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga	Alien Barossa	Voice Episode 7 "Inter Universe"
2023	Ultraman Blazar	Man visiting laundromat	Episode 6 "The Invading Aurora" Episode 24 "The Approaching Third Wave"

Other Roles

• Kamen Rider Gotchard (2024) - Berosol, Giant Yokai

Gallery

Taguchi as a Citizen in Ultraman Orb The Movie: Let Me Borrow the Power of Bonds!

Taguchi as a Citizen in Ultraman Z

Taguchi as a Citizen in Ultraman Blazar

Miscellaneous

Taguchi and STORAGE

Taguchi and SKaRD

Trivia

• Taguchi's directing style and his preference of special effect is an inspiration from various Kaiju movies, including those of Godzilla franchise. This is a contrast to Koichi Sakamoto, who focuses on the actors' action and coordination, while citing action films as a source of inspiration. Nonetheless, both are also friends in real life and are known for taking inspirations on each other's works.
• His favorite Ultraman series is the original Ultraman, and his favorite Kaiju is Jamila.