Kiyotaka Taguchi

Kiyotaka Taguchi
Born	May 7, 1980 (age 45) Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan
Occupation	Director, special effects director, writer, editor
Years Active	2000 - present
External Links

Kiyotaka Taguchi is a Japanese director, known for being the main director of Ultraman X, Ultraman Orb, Ultraman Z, and Ultraman Blazar.

Career

After graduating from Hokkaido Muroran Sakae High School, Taguchi moved to Tokyo to enroll in Nikkatsu Art Academy. He has been active in the film and television industry since 2000, beginning working in film production as an intern. He made his directorial debut with Geharha: The Dark and Long Haired Monster in 2009.

After being a second assistant director for Ultraman Cosmos in 2001, Taguchi has frequently directed for Tsuburaya Productions' works since 2012.

Works

• Ultraman Cosmos (2001-2002) - Second assistant director
• Mirrorman REFLEX (2006) - Effect animation
• Ultra Zone (2012) - Director and writer, all 8 drama sketches
  • Episode 6 sketch "THE LOVE" (director)
  • Episodes 8-9 sketch "Invitation from the Stars" (director)
  • Episodes 10-11 sketch "The Secrets of Suflan Island" (director and writer)
  • Episodes 12-13 sketch "Hoe Is Always by My Side" (director)
  • Episodes 14-15 sketch "Tokyo Jurassic" (director)
  • Episodes 16-17 sketch "Mefilas's Dining Table" (director)
  • Episodes 18-19 sketch "Final Attack Order" (director and writer)
  • Episodes 21-22 sketch "The Day the Demon Descended" (director and writer)
• Neo Ultra Q (2013) - Director, 3 episodes
  • Episode 2 "Laundry Day"
  • Episode 6 "The Extremely Smelly Island"
  • Episode 9 "The Tokyo Protocol"
• Operation: Mystery - Mystery File (2013) - Director, 1 episode
  • Episode 1 "The Blood Sphere"
• Ultraman Ginga S (2014) - Director, 5 episodes
  • Episode 6 "Past that was Forgotten"
  • Episode 7 "Activate! Magnewave Strategy"
  • Episode 8 "Fight to the Death in the Morning Glow"
  • Episode 11 "Gan-Q's Tears"
  • Episode 12 "In Order to Meet You"
• Ultraman X (2015) - Main director, directed 7 episodes
  • Episode 1 "A Voice From the Starry Sky"
  • Episode 2 "A Collection of Possibilities"
  • Episode 3 "A Song That Calls the Night"
  • Episode 15 "A Soldier's Back"
  • Episode 16 "Feature Report! 24 Hours Inside Xio"
  • Episode 21 "A Beautiful End"
  • Episode 22 "The Rainbow Land"
• Science of Sound Special Players' Ultraman Leo cover music video (2015) - Director, special effects director and visual effects
• Ultraman X The Movie: Here He Comes! Our Ultraman (2016) - Director
• Ultraman Orb (2016) - Main director, directed 7 episodes
  • Episode 1 "The Sunset Wanderer"
  • Episode 2 "The Lord of Earth"
  • Episode 3 "Monstrous Waters"
  • Episode 11 "Trouble! Mama's Here!"
  • Episode 12 "The Dark King's Blessing"
  • Episode 24 "The Giga Lord Monster Strikes Back"
  • Episode 25 "The Wandering Sun"
• Ultraman Orb The Movie: Let Me Borrow the Power of Bonds! (2017) - Director
• Life of Planet music video (2017) - Special effects director
• Science of Sound Special Players' Ultraseven no Uta cover music video (2017) - Supervisor
• Ultraman Geed (2017) - Director, 2 episodes
  • Episode 11 "The Geed Identity"
  • Episode 12 "My Name"
• Return of Izenborg (2017) - Director
• Ultraman R/B (2018) - Director, 2 episodes
  • Episode 4 "The Winning Ball of Light"
  • Episode 5 "Farewell, Icarus"
• Ultraman Taiga (2019) - Director, 3 episodes
  • Episode 4 "Requiem of the Wolves"
  • Episode 5 "The Future You Decide"
  • Episode 6 "The Flying Saucer Is Not Coming"
• Ultraman Z (2020) - Main director and series compositor, directed 7 episodes
  • Episode 1 "Chant My Name!"
  • Episode 2 "A Warrior's Principle"
  • Episode 3 "Live Coverage! The Monster Transport Operation"
  • Episode 14 "Four-Dimensional Capriccio"
  • Episode 15 "A Warrior's Duty"
  • Episode 24 "The Game to Extinction"
  • Episode 25 "Warriors Shining Beyond"
• Sevenger Fight (2021) - Director, editor, visual effects
• SSSS.DYNAZENON (2021) - Designer of Neophobia
• Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga (2021) - Director, 4 episodes
  • Episode 7 "Inter Universe"
  • Episode 8 "The Propagating Invasion"
  • Episode 18 "Smile Operation No.1"
  • Episode 19 "What Makes a Savior"
• Ultraman: A New Power of Singapore (2021) - Director
• Ultraman Decker (2022) - Director, 2 episodes
  • Episode 20 "Lord Ragon"
  • Episode 21 "The Price of Prosperity"
• Ultraman Blazar (2023) - Main director and series compositor, directed 7 episodes
  • Episode 1 "First Wave"
  • Episode 2 "The Man who Created SKaRD"
  • Episode 3 "The Name is Earth Garon"
  • Episode 14 "Moonlit Memories"
  • Episode 15 "Betwixt Morn and Dusk"
  • Episode 24 "The Approaching Third Wave"
  • Episode 25 "The Ones Who Embrace the Earth"
• Ultraman Blazar The Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown (2024) - Director
• Ultraman Blazar The Movie Special Voice Drama (2024) - Director and editor
• SKaRD Break Room (2024) - Director and editor

Literature

• Ultraman Orb Chronicle (2017) - Writer
• Fight! Sevenger (2021-2022) - Writer
• Life-Threatening Decision Height ―The Story of STORAGE's Founding― (2021) - Original draft and supervisor

Stage

• NEW GENERATION THE LIVE: Ultraman Blazar ～The Other Hero～ (2023) - Scenario cooperation
• NEW GENERATION THE LIVE: Ultraman Blazar "...To the Future" (2024) - Scenario cooperation

Other Works

• Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) - Assistant special effects director
• Kamen Rider Hibiki (2005-2006) - VFX artist
• Kamen Rider Kabuto (2006-2007) - VFX artist
• Kamen Rider Den-O (2007-2008) - VFX artist
• Kamen Rider Kiva (2008-2009) - VFX artist
• Geharha: The Dark and Long Haired Monster (2009) - Director and compositing
• The Next Generation: Patlabor (2014) - Director
• LOVE&PEACE (2015) - Special effects director
• Female Weapon 701 (2017) - Director
• Mashin Sentai Kiramager (2019) - Director
• Kamen Rider Black Sun (2022) - Special effects director
• Kamen Rider Gotchard (2024) - Director, episodes 28, 29, 42-43

Roles

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2012	Ultra Zone	Man Getting Massage	"Kaiju Massage" sketch (ep. 16) Uncredited
2015	Ultraman X	Self-Defense Forces Phone Caller	Voice Episode 15 "A Soldier's Back" Uncredited
		Dada's Mugshot Photographer	Voice Episode 16 "Feature Report! 24 Hours Inside Xio" Uncredited
2016	Kaiju Sakaba Kanpai!	Demaaga	Voice Episode 24
2017	Ultraman Orb The Movie: Let Me Borrow the Power of Bonds!	Man attacked by Darebolic	Uncredited
2020	Ultraman Z	Citizen	Episode 19 "The Last Hero" Uncredited
2021	Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga	Alien Barossa IV	Voice Episode 7 "Inter Universe"
2023	Ultraman Blazar	Man visiting laundromat	Episode 6 "The Invading Aurora" Episode 24 "The Approaching Third Wave" Uncredited

Other Roles

• Kamen Rider Gotchard (2024) - Voices of 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 the SKaRD

Trivia

• Taguchi's directing style and his preference of special effects is inspired 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 friends in real life and are known for taking inspirations from each other's works.
• His favorite Ultraman series is the original Ultraman, and his favorite Kaiju is Jamila.
• In Science of Sound Special Players' cover of "ULTRA SEVEN", Taguchi is the voice of the "forth gate open" announcer, as a homage to director Kazuho Mitsuta having voiced the original in Ultraseven.