Tomoyuki Tanaka

Born: 1910-04-26 in Osaka, Honshu, Japan

Died: 1997-04-02

Known For: Production

Biography

Born in Osaka Prefecture, Tomoyuki Tanaka was head man at Toho Studios and one of its most prolific producers. Throughout his career he would produce the films of notable filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa, Senkichi Taniguchi, Kon Ichikawa, and Mikio Naruse. However, he is probably best remembered as the creator of Godzilla. After graduating from the Economic Department at Kansai University, Tanaka joined Toho in 1940. In 1954 Tanaka would spearhead the original Godzilla film with director Ishiro Honda. After Godzilla's monumental success, Tanaka was instructed to "make another one". Tanaka would produce every Toho monster film up until Godzilla vs Destoroyah. Tanaka was also a heavy supporter of Toshiro Mifune, producing his films with Kurosawa as well as Mifune's own production company and sole directorial effort in Legacy of the 500,000. Tanaka would champion Godzilla's return in 1984 and be heavily involved in the series until his death in 1997. In his near 60 year career Tanaka would go on to produce over 200 films.

Filmography

1998

Godzilla ... (In Memory Of)

1997

Rebirth of Mothra II ... (Producer)

1996

Rebirth of Mothra ... (Original Story)

1995

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah ... (Executive Producer)

1994

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla ... (Executive Producer)

1993

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II ... (Executive Producer)

1992

Godzilla vs. Mothra ... (Executive Producer)

1991

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah ... (Executive Producer)

1989

Godzilla vs. Biollante ... (Executive Producer)
Gunhed ... (Executive Producer)

1987

Princess from the Moon ... (Executive Producer)
Actress ... (Producer)

1986

Toho Unused Special Effects Complete Collection as Self

1985

Godzilla 1985 ... (Executive Producer)
Making of The Return of Godzilla ... (Production Supervisor)

1984

The Return of Godzilla ... (Story)
Zero ... (Producer)
Sayonara Jupiter ... (Executive Producer)
Ohan ... (Executive Producer)

1983

The Makioka Sisters ... (Executive Producer)

1982

The Longest Tunnel ... (Producer)

1981

The Imperial Navy ... (Executive Producer)
The Last Days of Planet Earth ... (Executive Producer)

1980

Kagemusha ... (Executive Producer)
Magnitude 7.9 ... (Executive Producer)

1977

House ... (Producer)
Godzilla ... (Producer)
Bloodthirsty Hawk ... (Executive Producer)
Mount Hakkoda ... (Producer)
The War in Space ... (Executive Producer)
High Seas Hijack ... (Executive Producer)

1976

Human Revolution II ... (Executive Producer)
Zero Fighter ... (Executive Producer)

1975

Terror of Mechagodzilla ... (Executive Producer)
Tidal Wave ... (Executive Producer)
Conflagration ... (Executive Producer)

1974

Submersion of Japan ... (Producer)
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla ... (Executive Producer)
ESPY ... (Executive Producer)
Prophecies of Nostradamus ... (Executive Producer)

1973

Zone Fighter ... (Producer)
Godzilla vs. Megalon ... (Producer)
Submersion of Japan as Government official (uncredited)
Horror of the Wolf ... (Executive Producer)
The Human Revolution ... (Producer)

1972

Godzilla vs. Gigan ... (Producer)

1971

Godzilla vs. Hedorah ... (Executive Producer)

1970

Space Amoeba ... (Executive Producer)
The Vampire Doll ... (Executive Producer)
Terror in the Streets ... (Executive Producer)

1969

All Monsters Attack ... (Executive Producer)
Latitude Zero ... (Executive Producer)
Battle of the Japan Sea ... (Production Director)
Samurai Banners ... (Producer)
Portrait of Hell ... (Producer)

1968

Destroy All Monsters ... (Producer)
Admiral Yamamoto ... (Producer)
Kill! ... (Producer)
Judge and Jeopardy ... (Producer)
Golden Eyes ... (Executive Producer)
風来忍法帖　八方破れ ... (Executive Producer)

1967

Son of Godzilla ... (Executive Producer)
Samurai Rebellion ... (Producer)
King Kong Escapes ... (Executive Producer)
Japan's Longest Day ... (Producer)
The Age of Assassins ... (Executive Producer)
The Killing Bottle ... (Executive Producer)

1966

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep ... (Executive Producer)
The War of the Gargantuas ... (Executive Producer)
What's Up, Tiger Lily? ... (Producer)
The Mad Atlantic ... (Producer)
Zero Fighter ... (Producer)
Adventure in Kigan Castle ... (Executive Producer)

1965

Red Beard ... (Producer)
Invasion of Astro-Monster ... (Executive Producer)
Frankenstein Conquers the World ... (Executive Producer)
Samurai Assassin ... (Producer)
The Retreat from Kiska ... (Producer)
Sanshiro Sugata ... (Producer)
Key of Keys ... (Executive Producer)
Fort Graveyard ... (Producer)
Ironfinger ... (Executive Producer)
風来忍法帖 ... (Executive Producer)

1964

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster ... (Executive Producer)
Mothra vs. Godzilla ... (Executive Producer)
Dogora ... (Executive Producer)
Jakoman and Tetsu ... (Producer)
Whirlwind ... (Producer)
Ant Hell War ... (Producer)
Oh, Bomb! ... (Producer)
Trap of Suicide Kilometer ... (Executive Producer)
Blood and Diamonds ... (Executive Producer)
Tiger Flight ... (Producer)
A Keg of Powder ... (Executive Producer)

1963

High and Low ... (Producer)
King Kong vs. Godzilla ... (Producer)
Matango ... (Executive Producer)
Atragon ... (Producer)
Attack Squadron ... (Producer)
Interpol Code 8 ... (Executive Producer)
Samurai Pirate ... (Executive Producer)
Outpost of Hell ... (Producer)
Operation Mad Dog ... (Producer)
Warring Clans ... (Producer)
Young Swordsman ... (Executive Producer)
Legacy of the 500,000 ... (Producer)
Siege of Fort Bismarck ... (Producer)
The Sun is Calling You ... (Producer)
A Photo journalist's Story: Risk Your Life for the Moment ... (Producer)

1962

King Kong vs. Godzilla ... (Producer)
Sanjuro ... (Producer)
Gorath ... (Producer)
Chûshingura ... (Producer)
Varan the Unbelievable ... (Producer)
The Weed of Crime ... (Executive Producer)
Operation Sewer Rats ... (Producer)
Counterstroke ... (Executive Producer)
Operation Enemy Fort ... (Executive Producer)

1961

Yojimbo ... (Executive Producer)
Mothra ... (Producer)
The Last War ... (Executive Producer)
Big Shots Die at Dawn ... (Executive Producer)
Blueprint of Murder ... (Executive Producer)
The Merciless Trap ... (Producer)
Eternity of Love ... (Producer)
Blood on the Sea ... (Executive Producer)
A Man in Red ... (Executive Producer)
The Witness Killed ... (Executive Producer)

1960

The Human Vapor ... (Executive Producer)
The Bad Sleep Well ... (Producer)
The Storm of the Pacific ... (Producer)
The Last Gunfight ... (Executive Producer)
Westward Desperado ... (Executive Producer)
The Secret of the Telegian ... (Producer)
Man Against Man ... (Executive Producer)
Reporters from the Sky ... (Producer)

1959

Battle in Outer Space ... (Producer)
The Three Treasures ... (Producer)
Gigantis, the Fire Monster ... (Producer)
Desperado Outpost ... (Executive Producer)
The Big Boss ... (Executive Producer)
A Whistle in My Heart ... (Executive Producer)
The Adventures of Sun Wu Kung ... (Executive Producer)
Samurai Saga ... (Producer)
The Terrible Game ... (Producer)

1958

The H-Man ... (Producer)
The Rickshaw Man ... (Producer)
Varan ... (Producer)
The Spell of the Hidden Gold ... (Producer)
Who Is the Informer? ... (Production Director)
Little Peach ... (Producer)
Female Detective Story: S.O.S Woman ... (Producer)

1957

The Mysterians ... (Producer)
The Lower Depths ... (Producer)
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman ... (Producer)
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean ... (Producer)
Yagyu Secret Scrolls ... (Producer)
Untamed Woman ... (Producer)
A Man in the Storm ... (Producer)
Rodan! The Flying Monster ... (Associate Producer)
Tokyo 1960 ... (Producer)
The Lonely Swordsman (Part 2) ... (Producer)
Reign of Terror ... (Producer)
The Last Escape ... (Producer)
The Decoy ... (Producer)

1956

Rodan ... (Producer)
Godzilla, King of the Monsters! ... (Story)
The Legend of the White Serpent ... (Executive Producer)
Scoundrel ... (Producer)
The Wicked Boy ... (Producer)
Rainy Night Duel ... (Producer)
The Maiden Courtesan ... (Executive Producer)
The Lonely Swordsman (Part 1) ... (Producer)
Love on Rainbow Island ... (Producer)

1955

Godzilla Raids Again ... (Producer)
Beast Man Snow Man ... (Producer)
Mother and Son ... (Executive Producer)
Tomorrow I'll Be a Fire-Tree ... (Producer)
Love Never Fails ... (Producer)
To Love and Forgive ... (Producer)
No Response from Car 33 ... (Producer)
Ticket to Hell ... (Producer)
Lovetide ... (Executive Producer)

1954

Godzilla ... (Producer)
Farewell Rabaul ... (Producer)
The Surf ... (Producer)
Forever Be Mine ... (Producer)
Itsuko to sono haha ... (Producer)

1953

The Last Embrace ... (Producer)
My Wonderful Yellow Car ... (Producer)
The Red Light Military Base ... (Producer)
Their Father's Wife ... (Producer)
Youth of Heiji Senigata ... (Producer)
Adolescence Part II ... (Producer)
Yasugorō shusse ... (Producer)

1952

Foghorn ... (Producer)
The Man Who Came to Port ... (Producer)
Sword for Hire ... (Producer)
Shanghai Rose ... (Producer)
Adolescence ... (Producer)
Swift Current ... (Producer)

1951

Who Will Judge Me? ... (Producer)
The White Orchid ... (Producer)
Swords and Brocade ... (Producer)
Beyond Love and Hate ... (Producer)
Sekidô matsuri ... (Producer)

1950

Tokyo Gate ... (Producer)
Escape at Dawn ... (Producer)
White Beast ... (Producer)
The Angry Street ... (Executive Producer)
Devil's Gold ... (Producer)
Heat and Mud ... (Producer)

1949

Jakoman and Tetsu ... (Producer)
Kirare no Senta ... (Producer)
Lady From Hell ... (Producer)

1948

My Love on the Other Side of the Mountain ... (Producer)

1947

Snow Trail ... (Producer)
Four Love Stories ... (Producer)
Chikagai nijuyojikan ... (Producer)

1946

Those Who Make Tomorrow ... (Executive Producer)
Yoki na onna ... (Producer)
As Long as I Live ... (Producer)
Eleven High School Girls ... (Producer)

1945

Three Women of the North ... (Executive Producer)
Duel at Yagyu Valley ... (Producer)