Changes: Tsuburaya Productions

Revision as of 07:20, 22 April 2016

Tsuburaya Productions (円谷プロダクションTsuburaya Purodakushon[1]) is a Japanese special effects studio founded in 1963 by special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya and was run by his family, until October 2007, when the family sold the company to advertising agency TYO Inc. The studio is best known for producing the original Ultraman TV series, as well as the Ultra Series. Since 2007, the Head Office has been located in Hachimanyama, Setagaya Tokyo.

History

First established in 1963, it was responsible for the creation of such classic shows as Ultraman (and its many sequels), Kaiju Booska and many other spectacular Tokusatsu family/children's shows.

The company's current logo was originally the arrow-like logo from their 1968 TV series, Mighty Jack, designed by that show's art director, Tohru "Tohl" Narita.

The company, when first formed in 1963, was called Tsuburaya Special Effects Productions (円谷特技プロダクション, Tsuburaya Tokugi Purodakushon). In 1968, Toho Company Ltd. forced the company to change the name to just "Tsuburaya Productions," not only because they thought Eiji acted as though only he can do special effects, but they also felt that his own TV shows were becoming a strong competition to the movies he was doing for them. Although Eiji had strong political power at Toho, he and the company were at odds with each other until his death in 1970.

Their more recent work includes the "Ultra N-Project" (Ultraman the Next and Ultraman Nexus) and Bio Planet WoO, based loosely on an unused concept which was planned before the production of Ultra Q, but never filmed.

World Record

In 2001 Tsuburaya's Ultra Series was awarded by the Guinness Book of World Records for the most amount of television spin offs. In 2013, the record has continued to be upheld for a total of 12 years. In the 2014 edition of the book, the Ultra Series was still listed as having the world record for the most spin-offs. The certification counts the 27 spin off series which were made at that time. This excludes remakes like Heisei Ultra Seven, one off specials (movies), summaries and home releases. Although technically many of the shows were not originally meant to be sequels, they were retconned to be in a single multiverse.

Spin off Series Listed in the Record

Ultraseven (1967)
Ultra Fight (1970)
Return of Ultraman (1971)
Ultraman Ace(series) (1972)
Redman (1972)
Ultraman Taro (1973)
Ultraman Leo (1974)
The ★ Ultraman (1979)
Ultraman 80 (1980)
Andro Melos (1983)
Ultraman Kids proverb story (1986)
Ultraman Kids mother asked the 30 million light years (1991)
Ultraman Tiga (1996)
Ultraman Dyna (1997)
Ultraman Gaia (1998)
Ultraman Cosmos (2001)
Ultraman Boy's Ultra Coliseum (2003)
Ultraman Nexus (2004)
Ultraman Max (2005)
Ultraman Mebius (2006)
ULTRASEVEN X (2007)
Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle (2007)
Kanegon KANEGON (2008 years)
Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey (2008 years)
Ultraman Retsuden (2011)
Ultra Zone (2011)
Ultraman Ginga (2013)

Buyout from TYO

In October 2007, due to rising production costs, the Tsuburaya family sold the company to Japanese advertising agency TYO Inc., which now has an 80% stake in the company, with Tsuburaya itself owning 68%. Bandai, the main licensor of merchandise for the Ultra Series, acquired a 33% stake. As a result, the old Kinuta Office used by Tsuburaya as its Head Office has been razed, and the company has moved to newer facilities. Many fans felt this to be the end of an era. Kazuo Tsuburaya, Eiji's grandson, is staying with the company on its board of directors.

Gallery

Photos

Videos

File:"Last Christmas" Tsuburaya Productions Christmas Commercial	Tsuburaya Productions Commercial 1995-0	Ultraman Winter Memories
祝50周年！円谷プロ50年の歩み TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS 50th ANNIVERSARY special video

References

^ ^a ^b The Official Tsuburaya Productions English Webpage company profile
^ If only 'Ultraman' was here to stop the wrecking ball Asahi Shimbun February 7, 2008 (English website)　
^ 円谷プロの“聖地”にお別れ MSNSankei news February 6, 2008 (Japanese website)
^ Japanese book: The Man Called the "God of Special Effects"　特撮の神様と呼ばれた男 ISBN 4-901006-21-5
^ Japanese book: Eiji Tsuburaya: The Inheritance Left in the Japanese Film World　円谷英二日本映画界に残した遺産 ISBN 4-09-681421-0
^ Sci-Fi Japan: Tsuburaya Productions Sold

External links

The Official Tsuburaya Productions Webpage (English)
The Official Tsuburaya Productions Webpage (Japanese)
Eiji Tsuburaya Official Site

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 |Website = [[http://m-78.jp/| Tsuburaya Productions]]}}
-'''Tsuburaya Productions''' (円谷プロダクション''Tsuburaya Purodakushon''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Installing_Japanese_character_sets]) is a Japanese special effects studio founded in 1963 by special effects wizard [[Eiji Tsuburaya]]<span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19px;"> and was run by his family, until October 2007, when the family sold the company to advertising agency TYO Inc. The studio is best known for producing the original </span>''[[Ultraman (series)|Ultraman]]''<span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19px;"> TV series, as well as the </span>[[Ultra Series]]<span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19px;">. Since 2007, the Head Office has been located in </span>Hachimanyama<span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19px;">, </span>Setagaya<span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19px;">, </span>Tokyo<span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19px;">.</span>
+'''Tsuburaya Productions''' (円谷プロダクション''Tsuburaya Purodakushon''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Installing_Japanese_character_sets]) is a Japanese special effects studio founded in 1963 by special effects wizard [[Eiji Tsuburaya]]  and was run by his family, until October 2007, when the family sold the company to advertising agency TYO Inc. The studio is best known for producing the original ''[[Ultraman (series)|Ultraman]]'' TV series, as well as the [[Ultra Series]]. Since 2007, the Head Office has been located in Hachimanyama, Setagaya Tokyo.
+==History==
-==<span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19px;">History</span>==
+[[File:Ultrmn Tsbrya prdct.JPG|thumb]]
-<p style="line-height:19px;font-family:sans-serif;">[[File:Ultrmn Tsbrya prdct.JPG|thumb]]First established in 1963, it was responsible for the creation of such classic shows as ''Ultraman'' (and its many sequels), ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiju_Booska Kaiju Booska]'' and many other spectacular tokusatsu family/children's shows.</p>
+First established in 1963, it was responsible for the creation of such classic shows as ''Ultraman'' (and its many sequels), ''[[Kaiju Booska]]'' and many other spectacular [[Tokusatsu]] family/children's shows.
-<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19px;font-family:sans-serif;">The company's current logo was originally the arrow-like logo from their 1968 TV series, ''[[Mighty Jack (series)|Mighty Jack]]'', designed by that show's art director, Tohru "Tohl" Narita.</p>
+The company's current logo was originally the arrow-like logo from their 1968 TV series, ''[[Mighty Jack (series)|Mighty Jack]]'', designed by that show's art director, Tohru "Tohl" Narita.
-<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19px;font-family:sans-serif;">The company, when first formed in 1963, was called '''Tsuburaya Special Effects Productions '''(円谷特技プロダクション''Tsuburaya Tokugi Purodakushon''<sup style="line-height:1em;"><span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color:rgb(0,0,238);font-weight:bold;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;padding-right:0.1em;padding-left:0.1em;">?</span></sup>). In 1968, Toho Company Ltd. forced the company to change the name to just "Tsuburaya Productions," not only because they thought Eiji acted as though only he can do special effects, but they also felt that his own TV shows were becoming a strong competition to the movies he was doing for them. Although Eiji had strong political power at Toho, he and the company were at odds with each other until his death in 1970.</p>
+The company, when first formed in 1963, was called {{nihongo|Tsuburaya Special Effects Productions |円谷特技プロダクション|Tsuburaya Tokugi Purodakushon}}. In 1968, Toho Company Ltd. forced the company to change the name to just "Tsuburaya Productions," not only because they thought Eiji acted as though only he can do special effects, but they also felt that his own TV shows were becoming a strong competition to the movies he was doing for them. Although Eiji had strong political power at Toho, he and the company were at odds with each other until his death in 1970.
-<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19px;font-family:sans-serif;">Their more recent work includes the "Ultra N-Project" (''[[Ultraman (2004 film)|Ultraman the Next]]'' and ''[[Ultraman Nexus (series)|Ultraman Nexus]]'') and ''[[Bio Planet WoO]]'', based loosely on an unused concept which was planned before the production of ''[[Ultra_Q|Ultra Q]]'', but never filmed.</p>
+Their more recent work includes the "Ultra N-Project" (''[[Ultraman (2004 film)|Ultraman the Next]]'' and ''[[Ultraman Nexus (series)|Ultraman Nexus]]'') and ''[[Bio Planet WoO]]'', based loosely on an unused concept which was planned before the production of ''[[Ultra_Q|Ultra Q]]'', but never filmed.
+==World Record==
-<h2 style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19px;font-family:sans-serif;">Gallery</h2>
+In 2001 Tsuburaya's Ultra Series was awarded by the Guinness Book of World Records for the most amount of television spin offs. In 2013, the record has continued to be upheld for a total of 12 years. In the 2014 edition of the book, the Ultra Series was still listed as having the world record for the most spin-offs. The certification counts the 27 spin off series which were made at that time. This excludes remakes like [[Heisei Ultra Seven]], one off specials (movies), summaries and home releases. Although technically many of the shows were not originally meant to be sequels, they were retconned to be in a single multiverse.
+===Spin off Series Listed in the Record===
+# [[Ultraseven (series)|Ultraseven]] (1967)
+# [[Ultra Fight]] (1970)
+# [[Return of Ultraman]] (1971)
+# [[Ultraman Ace (series)|Ultraman Ace]](series) (1972)
+# [[Redman (series)|Redman]] (1972)
+# [[Ultraman Taro (series)|Ultraman Taro]] (1973)
+# [[Ultraman Leo (series)|Ultraman Leo]] (1974)
+# [[The ★ Ultraman]] (1979)
+# [[Ultraman 80 (series)|Ultraman 80]] (1980)
+# [[Andro Melos (series)|Andro Melos]] (1983)
+# Ultraman Kids proverb story (1986)
+# Ultraman Kids mother asked the 30 million light years (1991)
+# [[Ultraman Tiga (series)|Ultraman Tiga]] (1996)
+# [[Ultraman Dyna (series)|Ultraman Dyna]] (1997)
+# [[Ultraman Gaia (series)|Ultraman Gaia]] (1998)
+# [[Ultraman Cosmos (series)|Ultraman Cosmos]] (2001)
+# [[Ultraman Boy's Ultra Coliseum]] (2003)
+# [[Ultraman Nexus (series)|Ultraman Nexus]] (2004)
+# [[Ultraman Max (series)|Ultraman Max]] (2005)
+# [[Ultraman Mebius (series)|Ultraman Mebius]] (2006)
+# [[ULTRASEVEN X]] (2007)
+# [[Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle]] (2007)
+# [[Kanegon KANEGON]] (2008 years)
+# [[Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey]] (2008 years)
+# [[Ultraman Retsuden]] (2011)
+# [[Ultra Zone]] (2011)
+# [[Ultraman Ginga (series)|Ultraman Ginga]] (2013)
+==Buyout from TYO==
+In October 2007, due to rising production costs, the Tsuburaya family sold the company to Japanese advertising agency TYO Inc., which now has an 80% stake in the company, with Tsuburaya itself owning 68%. Bandai, the main licensor of merchandise for the Ultra Series, acquired a 33% stake. As a result, the old Kinuta Office used by Tsuburaya as its Head Office has been razed, and the company has moved to newer facilities. Many fans felt this to be the end of an era. Kazuo Tsuburaya, Eiji's grandson, is staying with the company on its board of directors.
+==Gallery==
+===Photos===
 <gallery>
 Tsuburaya World.jpg|A photo of all the early Tsuburaya series.
 posterallstars.jpg|Tsuburaya heroes
 </gallery>
+===Videos===
-==Buyout from TYO==
-In October 2007, due to rising production costs, the Tsuburaya family sold the company to Japanese advertising agency TYO Inc., which now has an 80% stake in the company, with Tsuburaya itself owning 68%. Bandai, the main licensor of merchandise for the Ultra Series, acquired a 33% stake. As a result, the old Kinuta Office used by Tsuburaya as its Head Office has been razed, and the company has moved to newer facilities. Many fans felt this to be the end of an era.
-<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;">Kazuo Tsuburaya, Eiji's grandson, is staying with the company on its board of directors.</p>
-<h2 style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;">Videos</h2>
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