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.
Gallery
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.
Videos
 Tsuburaya Productions Commercial 1995-0 |
 Ultraman Winter Memories | |
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 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