Search a film or person :
FacebookConnectionRegistration
Tomoyuki Tanaka is a Actor, Scriptwriter, Producer, Original Music Composer and Creator Japonais born on 26 april 1910 at Kashiwara (Japon)

Tomoyuki Tanaka

Tomoyuki Tanaka
If you like this person, let us know!
Nationality Japon
Birth 26 april 1910 at Kashiwara (Japon)
Death 2 april 1997 (at 86 years) at Tokyo (Japon)

Tomoyuki Tanaka (田中 友幸 Tanaka Tomoyuki) was a Japanese film producer, most famous for creating the Godzilla series. He was born in Kashiwara, Osaka, Japan on April 26, 1910, and died in Tokyo on April 2, 1997. Tanaka was married to the actress Chieko Nakakita (1926 – 2005). He died of a stroke at the age of 86.

Soon after graduating from Kansai University in 1940, Tanaka joined Toho Studios. After four years with the company, he began producing his own films, and his first effort, Three Women of the North, was released in 1945. In his 60-year career with Toho, Tanaka produced more than 200 films.

He is best known as the creator, with storyteller Shigeru Kayama, director Ishirō Honda and special-effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya, of Godzilla, the towering embodiment of post-World War II anxiety. Tanaka created Godzilla in 1954 in an effort to illustrate the terror Japanese felt after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In an interview in 1985 Tanaka summed up the symbolism of Godzilla:


In those days, Japanese had a real horror of radiation, and that horror is what made Godzilla so huge. From the beginning he has symbolized nature's revenge on mankind.
The classic Gojira (1954; released in the U.S. in 1956 as Godzilla, King of the Monsters!) would spawn a series of sequels, adding up to 28 films by 2004. Tanaka produced every Toho monster movie. He often worked with the other three members of the Godzilla team: Honda, Tsuburaya, and composer Akira Ifukube, to complete such works as The Mysterians (1957) and Matango (1963). Tanaka produced six films directed by the acclaimed Akira Kurosawa. Their film Kagemusha (1980) was nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar and took the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

The American Godzilla was dedicated to his memory.

Usually with

Ishirō Honda
Ishirō Honda
(34 films)
Haruo Nakajima
Haruo Nakajima
(35 films)
Akihiko Hirata
Akihiko Hirata
(31 films)
Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa
(11 films)
Takashi Shimura
Takashi Shimura
(29 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Tomoyuki Tanaka (95 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

Submersion of Japan, 2h23
Directed by Shirō Moritani
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Action
Themes La fin du monde, Films based on science fiction novels, Disaster films
Actors Keiju Kobayashi, Ayumi Ishida, Hiroshi Fujioka, Tetsurō Tanba, Lorne Greene, Shōgo Shimada
Roles Government official (uncredited)
Rating55% 2.771572.771572.771572.771572.77157
Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes shake Japan. Firestorms burn beautiful Japanese cities to the ground. A weather survey group discovers that the Japanese Archipelago is moving towards the Japanese Trench, which if left to continue on its collision course, would bring the whole island of Japan under the sea.

Scriptwriter

Rebirth of Mothra II, 1h38
Origin Japon
Genres Science fiction, Fantastic, Fantasy, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, La fin du monde, Kaiju films, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Transport films, Animaux préhistoriques, Films about insects, Les fées, Giant monster films, Disaster films
Actors Megumi Kobayashi, Sayaka Yamaguchi, Maho Nonami, Hikari Mitsushima, Fumie Hosokawa, Misako Konno
Rating52% 2.6081952.6081952.6081952.6081952.608195
Off the coast of Japan, the environment has been ravaged with poisonous starfish-like creatures called Barem. Meanwhile, the Elias sisters, Moll and Lora, survey the destruction and enlist the help of three children, who had just discovered and befriended a strange little creature dubbed "Ghogo" to help find the mysterious treasure of Ninai Kanai, an ancient lost civilization, to save the Earth from the declining environment.
Rebirth of Mothra, 1h44
Origin Japon
Genres Science fiction, Fantastic, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, La fin du monde, Kaiju films, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Transport films, Animaux préhistoriques, Films about insects, Films about dragons, Les fées, Giant monster films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Disaster films
Actors Megumi Kobayashi, Sayaka Yamaguchi, Hitomi Takahashi
Roles Original Story
Rating58% 2.9026152.9026152.9026152.9026152.902615
Millions of years ago, a titanic terror from another realm arrived to destroy the planet Earth. Named Desghidorah, this three-headed dragon was forced to deal with resistance in the form of a species of highly advanced, enormous moths. These monsters were the protectors of the Elias, a race of tiny, humanlike beings who inhabited the planet. After the ensuing battle, Desghidorah was defeated and sealed within the Earth, although a great deal of life on the planet Earth was lost. Three Elias sisters, Moll, Lora and Belvera, were all who were left of their once prosperous civilization. Though the benevolence of Moll and Lora was undeterred, Belvera became twisted and vengeful due to the mass extinction of her race. These tiny fairies, along with one final guardian named Mothra, lingered on for thousands of millenniums. To preserve her species, Mothra created an egg in 1996; however, she became physically exhausted from the ordeal. Shortly thereafter, a logging company uncovered the subterranean prison of the demonic space beast that had ravaged the Earth so long ago. When the seal that had bound the creature was removed from the area, one of the workers of the company took it home and gave it to his young daughter, Wakaba, as a souvenir. Seizing the advantage, Belvera controls Wakaba and uses her to torment her brother Taiki, reminding Belvera of her hatred towards her sisters.
Godzilla vs. Mothra, 1h42
Directed by Takao Okawara
Origin Japon
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, Dinosaur films, La fin du monde, Kaiju films, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Transport films, Animaux préhistoriques, Films about insects, Les fées, Giant monster films, Godzilla films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Disaster films
Actors Megumi Odaka, Satomi Kobayashi, Akiji Kobayashi, Akira Takarada, Susumu Kurobe, Yoshiko Tanaka
Roles Story
Rating61% 3.0602753.0602753.0602753.0602753.060275
In 1993, an asteroid lands in the ocean and awakens Godzilla. The next day, a young man named Takuya Fujita is detained after stealing an ancient artifact. Later, a representative of the Japanese Prime Minister arrives with Takuya's ex-wife, Masako Tezuka, and offers him to explore an island with Masako and Marutomo company secretary, Kenji Ando, and become a free man. Takuya initially turns down the offer, on the basis that he is to be released in another week. But after his ex-wife informs him that his sentence has been reconsidered, he accepts. After the trio arrives at the island, they find a cave behind a waterfall. Inside, they discover ancient paintings, including a picture of two giant insects fighting one another. While studying them, the sun shines through a hole in the wall, and the light points to a small opening in the cave, where they come upon a giant egg. The three hear a pair of voices, which belong to the Cosmos. They keep the earth's natural order in balance, and informs them the egg belongs to Mothra.
The Return of Godzilla, 1h43
Directed by Kōji Yakusho, Kōji Hashimoto
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Action, Horror
Themes Films about animals, Dinosaur films, La fin du monde, Kaiju films, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Transport films, Animaux préhistoriques, Giant monster films, Godzilla films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Disaster films
Actors Yasuko Sawaguchi, Ken Tanaka, Raymond Burr, Keiju Kobayashi, David Ury, Eitarō Ozawa
Roles Story
Rating67% 3.3937253.3937253.3937253.3937253.393725
After a volcanic eruption on Daikoku Island, the Yahata-Maru Japanese fishing vessel is caught in strong currents off its shores. As the boat drifts into shore, the island begins to erupt, and a giant monster lifts itself out of the volcano. A few days later, reporter Goro Maki is sailing in the area and finds the vessel intact but deserted. As he explores the vessel, he finds all the crew dead except for one young man called Hiroshi Okamura, who has been badly wounded. Suddenly a giant Shockirus sea louse attacks him but he is saved by Maki who kills it with a cleaver.
Godzilla 1985, 1h27
Directed by Kōji Hashimoto
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Action, Horror
Themes Films about animals, Dinosaur films, Kaiju films, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Transport films, Giant monster films, Godzilla films, Disaster films
Actors Raymond Burr, Ken Tanaka, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Keiju Kobayashi, Eitarō Ozawa, Hiroshi Koizumi
Roles Story
Rating61% 3.056543.056543.056543.056543.05654
The Japanese fishing vessel Yahata Maru is trying to find its way to shore in a horrible storm while near an uninhabited island, when a giant monster appears out of the island and attacks the boat. A day later, reporter Goro Maki finds the vessel intact, along with its sole survivor Hiroshi "Kenny" Okumura.
Mount Hakkoda, 2h49
Directed by Shirō Moritani
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Historical
Actors Ken Takakura, Kin'ya Kitaōji, Rentarō Mikuni, Hideji Ōtaki, Tetsurō Tanba, Shōgo Shimada
Rating67% 3.3755753.3755753.3755753.3755753.375575
En 1902, au Japon, une compagnie de soldats japonais, commandée par le colonel Nakabayashi, entreprend une traversée des Monts Hakkoda. Malgré l'apparition d'une importante tempête de neige, les officiers décident de continuer le voyage. La quasi-totalité des hommes périront de froid ou d'épuisement.
Mothra
Mothra (1961)
, 1h41
Directed by Ishirō Honda
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, La fin du monde, Kaiju films, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Transport films, Animaux préhistoriques, Natural horror films, Films about insects, Les fées, Giant monster films, Arme nucléaire, Disaster films
Actors Frankie Sakai, Ken Uehara, Kyōko Kagawa, Kenji Sahara, Hiroshi Koizumi, Takashi Shimura
Roles Lyricist
Rating65% 3.2569253.2569253.2569253.2569253.256925
An expedition to an irradiated island brings civilization in contact with a primitive native culture. When one sensationalist entrepreneur tries to exploit the islanders, their ancient deity arises in retaliation.
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, 1h20
Directed by Ishirō Honda
Origin Japon
Genres Science fiction, Horror
Themes Films about animals, Dinosaur films, La fin du monde, Kaiju films, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Transport films, Animaux préhistoriques, Giant monster films, Godzilla films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Disaster films, American disaster films
Actors Raymond Burr, Takashi Shimura, Kenji Sahara, Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata
Roles Story
Rating63% 3.153393.153393.153393.153393.15339
American reporter, Steve Martin (Raymond Burr), is brought to a hospital with dozens of maimed and wounded citizens. In flashback, Martin recalls stopping over in Tokyo, where a series of ship disasters catches his attention. When a survivor finally washes up on Odo Island, Martin flies there for the story with Tomo Iwanaga (Frank Iwanaga), a representative of the Japanese security forces and learns of the island inhabitants' belief in a sea monster god known to them as "Godzilla", which they believe is causing the disasters.
Godzilla
Godzilla (1954)
, 1h38
Directed by Ishirō Honda
Origin Japon
Genres Science fiction, Thriller, Horror
Themes Films about animals, Dinosaur films, La fin du monde, Kaiju films, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Films about religion, Transport films, Films set in the future, Animaux préhistoriques, Natural horror films, Giant monster films, Political films, Dystopian films, Godzilla films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Arme nucléaire, Disaster films
Actors Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura, Kenji Sahara, Raymond Burr
Roles Story
Rating75% 3.7507053.7507053.7507053.7507053.750705
When the Japanese freighter Eiko-maru is destroyed near Odo Island, the Bingo-maru is sent to investigate, only to meet the same fate with few survivors. A fishing boat from Odo is also destroyed, with one survivor. Fishing catches mysteriously drop to zero, blamed by an elder on the ancient sea creature known as "Godzilla". Reporters arrive on Odo Island to further investigate. A villager tells one of the reporters that "something large is going crazy down there" ruining the fishing. That evening, a ritual dance to appease Godzilla is held during which the reporter learns that the locals used to sacrifice young girls. That night, a large storm strikes the island, destroying the reporters' helicopter, and an unseen force destroys 17 homes, kills nine persons and 20 of the villagers' livestock.

Producer

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, 1h43
Directed by Takao Okawara
Origin Japon
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Horror
Themes Films about animals, Dinosaur films, La fin du monde, Kaiju films, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Films about religion, Transport films, Films set in the future, Animaux préhistoriques, Giant monster films, Political films, Dystopian films, Godzilla films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Disaster films
Actors Megumi Odaka, Momoko Kōchi, Yōko Ishino, Akira Nakao, Akihiko Hirata, Masahiro Takashima
Roles Executive Producer
Rating69% 3.461663.461663.461663.461663.46166
In 1996, after the death of SpaceGodzilla, Miki Saegusa travels to Birth Island to check on Godzilla and its adopted child, but finds the entire island destroyed. Godzilla appears in Hong Kong, covered in glowing lava-like rashes. It goes on a rampage, causing major collateral damage and killing thousands of civilians. A group of representatives from the Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF) hires college student Kenichi Yamane, the grandson of Dr. Kyohei Yamane, to work at the center in an attempt to unravel the mystery of Godzilla's condition. Yamane suspects that Godzilla's heart, which acts as a nuclear reactor, is going through a nuclear meltdown. He theorizes that, when Godzilla's temperature reaches 1,200 degrees Celsius, it will explode with a force approximately "1,000 times greater than all nuclear weapons put together, a burst of power unseen since time began.
Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, 1h48
Origin Japon
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Horror
Themes Films about animals, Dinosaur films, La fin du monde, Kaiju films, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Transport films, Animaux préhistoriques, Films about insects, Films about extraterrestrial life, Les fées, Giant monster films, Godzilla films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Robot films, Disaster films
Actors Megumi Odaka, Akira Emoto, Kenji Sahara, Akira Nakao
Roles Executive Producer
Rating58% 2.913812.913812.913812.913812.91381
Godzilla cells brought into space by Biollante and Mothra are exposed to intense radiation from a black hole. The celestial fission creates a highly aggressive extraterrestrial beast closely resembling Godzilla. This "SpaceGodzilla" quickly makes its way to Earth.
Orochi, the Eight-Headed Dragon, 1h44
Directed by Takao Okawara
Genres Fantasy, Adventure
Actors Yasuko Sawaguchi, Masahiro Takashima, Hiroshi Abe, Hiroshi Fujioka
Roles Producer
Rating63% 3.188233.188233.188233.188233.18823
The movie starts out with the birth of twin princes. Their father, the emperor of Yamato, feels a great loathing for his one child Ousu. Being convinced that this feeling is a premonition, the emperor orders the shaman Tsukinowa to kill the boy, yet his efforts are spoiled by Amano Shiratori, the White Bird of the Heavens. The emperor’s sister, seeing this as a clear sign of divine intervention, takes it upon herself to raise the child. Years later, when the boy has matured into a man, he is given pardon by his father and allowed to return to the castle. Unfortunately, not long after, his mother falls ill and dies mysteriously. This sends his brother into a rage and causing him to attack Ousu, who defends himself and kills his sibling in the process. His father, furious at these events, orders his son to leave the castle and not return until the barbarians living in the Kumaso domain are dealt with. The prince makes haste to complete this task, stopping off at a shrine on his way where, after a quick battle, he befriends Oto who joins him on his journey. They, along with companies Genbu and Seriyu, raid the castle, killing Kumaso Takeru and their god Kumasogami. Following this feat, the prince changes his name to Yamato Takeru, yet fails to win the acceptance of his father. His aunt, though, warns him of a great threat looming overheard, as the god Tsukuyomi is posed to return, endangering the Earth, as Yamato Takeru must prepare to halt this from occurring.
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, 1h48
Directed by Takao Okawara
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, Dinosaur films, La fin du monde, Kaiju films, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Transport films, Animaux préhistoriques, Giant monster films, Godzilla films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Robot films, Disaster films
Actors Megumi Odaka, Masahiro Takashima, Shelley Sweeney, Akira Nakao, Kenji Sahara, Shinobu Nakayama
Roles Executive Producer
Rating65% 3.260693.260693.260693.260693.26069
In 1992, the United Nations establishes the United Nations Godzilla Countermeasures Center (UNGCC) to stop Godzilla. The remains of Mecha-King Ghidorah are salvaged from the ocean and used to create two anti-Godzilla machines. The first is a flying gunship called Garuda. The second and more powerful machine, modeled after Godzilla itself, is called Mechagodzilla.
Godzilla vs. Mothra, 1h42
Directed by Takao Okawara
Origin Japon
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, Dinosaur films, La fin du monde, Kaiju films, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, La préhistoire, Transport films, Animaux préhistoriques, Films about insects, Les fées, Giant monster films, Godzilla films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Disaster films
Actors Megumi Odaka, Satomi Kobayashi, Akiji Kobayashi, Akira Takarada, Susumu Kurobe, Yoshiko Tanaka
Roles Executive Producer
Rating61% 3.0602753.0602753.0602753.0602753.060275
In 1993, an asteroid lands in the ocean and awakens Godzilla. The next day, a young man named Takuya Fujita is detained after stealing an ancient artifact. Later, a representative of the Japanese Prime Minister arrives with Takuya's ex-wife, Masako Tezuka, and offers him to explore an island with Masako and Marutomo company secretary, Kenji Ando, and become a free man. Takuya initially turns down the offer, on the basis that he is to be released in another week. But after his ex-wife informs him that his sentence has been reconsidered, he accepts. After the trio arrives at the island, they find a cave behind a waterfall. Inside, they discover ancient paintings, including a picture of two giant insects fighting one another. While studying them, the sun shines through a hole in the wall, and the light points to a small opening in the cave, where they come upon a giant egg. The three hear a pair of voices, which belong to the Cosmos. They keep the earth's natural order in balance, and informs them the egg belongs to Mothra.