Yuichi Kikuchi is a Japanese director, known for directing Ultraman Series episodes during the Heisei era.
Career[]
After graduating from the Tokyo College of Photography, Kikuchi worked as a freelance assistant director, contributing to the production of numerous films. In 1996, he joined Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman Zearth, participating in its special effects production, marking the beginning of his involvement as an assistant director in various tokusatsu projects. He later worked as a special effects director, debuting with Ultraman Nexus in 2004.[1]
Since 2019, Kikuchi's career has primarily focused on stage productions and mainstream film projects.
Works[]
- Ultraman Zearth (1996) - Second assistant director
- Moon Spiral (1996) - Assistant director
- Ultraman Tiga (1996-1997) - Assistant special effects director
- Ultraman Dyna (1997-1998) - Assistant special effects director
- Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna: Warriors of the Star of Light (1998) - Second assistant director
- Ultraman Gaia (1998-1999) - Assistant special effects director
- Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey (2000) - Second assistant director
- Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact (2001) - Visual effects coordinator
- Ultraman Cosmos 2: The Blue Planet (2002) - Second assistant director
- Ultraman Nexus (2004-2005) - Special effects director, 19 episodes
- Episode 1 "Night Assault - Night Raid -"
- Episode 2 "Strange Creature - Space Beast -"
- Episode 3 "Giant - Ultraman -"
- Episode 4 "Subspace - Meta Field -"
- Episode 9 "Warning"
- Episode 10 "Rush - Strike Formation -"
- Episode 13 "Clairvoyant - Illustrator -"
- Episode 14 "Demon - Mephisto -"
- Episode 19 "Critical Attack - Cross Phase Trap -"
- Episode 20 "Pursuit - Chrome Chester δ -"
- Episode 21 "Suffering - Sacrifice -"
- Episode 22 "Repose - Cure -"
- Episode 29 "Ghostly Voice - Calling -"
- Episode 32 "Shadow - Unknown Hand -"
- Episode 33 "Oblivion - A.D. 2004 -"
- Episode 34 "Blockade - A.D. 2009 -"
- Episode 35 "Revolt"
- Episode 36 "Decisive Battle - Farewell -"
- Episode 37 "Bond - Nexus -"
- ULTRAMAN (2004) - Special effects director
- Ultraman Max (2005-2006) - Special effects director,[2] 8 episodes
- Episode 7 "The Star Destroyer"
- Episode 8 "DASH Annihilated!?"
- Episode 17 "Ice Beauty"
- Episode 18 "Bright World"
- Episode 22 "Butterfly Dream"
- Episode 24 "The Unmarked Town"[3]
- Episode 33 "Welcome! To the Earth: Part 1: The Science of the Planet Baltan"
- Episode 34 "Welcome! To the Earth: Part 2: Farewell! Alien Baltan"
- Ultraman Mebius (2006-2007) - Special effects director, 10 episodes
- Episode 7 "Fanton's Lost Item"
- Episode 8 "Terrible Predator"
- Episode 9 "Armor of Vengeance"
- Episode 10 "Pride of GUYS"
- Episode 33 "Lady of the Blue Fire"
- Episode 34 "The Man Who Lost His Hometown"
- Episode 43 "Threatening Mebius Killer"
- Episode 44 "Ace's Wish"
- Episode 47 "Mefilas's Game"
- Episode 48 "Advent of the Emperor -Final Trilogy I-"
- Ultraman Mebius Side Story: Hikari Saga (2006) - Director
- Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle (2007-2008) - Director,[4] 5 episodes
- Episode 1 "The Lawless Monster Planet"
- Episode 2 "The Fifth Crewman"
- Episode 11 "Ultraman"
- Episode 12 "Reiblood"
- Episode 13 "Planet Escape"
- Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey (2008-2009) - Director and special effects director,[5] 7 episodes
- Episode 1 "Reionics Hunter" (director)
- Episode 2 "Reionics Battle" (director)
- Episode 3 "Great Frenzy! Reionic Burst" (special effects director)
- Episode 4 "Disturbing Reunion" (special effects director)
- Episode 5 "At the End of the Runway" (special effects director)
- Episode 12 "Grande's Challenge" (director)
- Episode 13 "Planet Destruction" (director)
Other Works[]
- Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (1999)
- Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)
- Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)
- Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)
References[]