Shinji Higuchi

Directing

Shinji Higuchi

Born 1965-09-22 · Tokyo, Japan

Shinji Higuchi is a movie director, storyboard artist and SFX specialist. He is one of the top special effects wizards in Japan, often working in animation. Higuchi is one of the original founders of Gainax, along with Hideaki Anno, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto and Takami Akai. Higuchi gain recognition for his special effects work in Shusuke Kaneko's Gamera trilogy and is a frequent collaborator with Hideaki Anno on both anime and tokusatsu projects.

Acting credits

All About Lily Chou-Chou poster
7.5

Charts the troubled teenage years of students Yūichi Hasumi and Shūsuke Hoshino, exploring the shifting and complex power dynamics of their relationship against the backdrop of Yūichi's love for the dreamy and abstract music of pop star Lily Chou-Chou.

All About Lily Chou-Chou

2001

Death Kappa poster
4.6

When military experiments go haywire and trigger an atomic bomb, the consequences are of epic proportions. A monster arrives in the midst of the nuclear fallout, and Japan's defenses are helpless against it. Mankind's only savior is an irradiated water goblin from Japanese folklore called the "Death Kappa." The two rival monsters must go head-to-head in the ultimate battle between good and evil!

Death Kappa

2010

THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN poster
NR

The landmark Japanese Tokusatsu TV series Ultraman became a massive social phenomenon upon its debut in 1966, reaching a staggering peak viewership rating of 42.8%. Six decades later, Tsuburaya Productions continues to introduce new entries into the Ultraman series, expanding its unique universe to a global audience across generations. This documentary brings together leading voices from the fields of cinema, Tokusatsu, and design. Witness profound testimonies from an international assembly of creators, including: Guillermo del Toro, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Hideo Kojima, Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi, and Nicolas Winding Refn.

THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN

2026

Kyrie poster
7.5

Luca lost her family in the Great East Japan Earthquake causing her not to be able to speak. However, her singing voice shakes the hearts of those who listen to her. It is a hymn of compassion played by Luca and the people.

Kyrie

2023

Hideaki Anno: The Final Challenge of Evangelion poster
8.4

EVANGELION is coming to an end. NHK spent 4 years with exclusive access to director Hideaki Anno, documenting the creative process behind the final EVANGELION: 3.0+1.0 THRICE UPON A TIME. For the first time, the camera is allowed inside Anno's studio. The documentary attempts to capture why master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (STUDIO GHIBLI) describes him as one who sheds blood for his films.

Hideaki Anno: The Final Challenge of Evangelion

2021

Mike Yokohama: A Forest with No Name poster
5.5

A private detective takes on an assignment to return a girl, who is set to marry into a prestigious family, from a mysterious commune in the forest.

Mike Yokohama: A Forest with No Name

2003

Brush of the God poster
8.2

While attending the funeral of her special effects artist grandfather, Akari and her classmate Takuya, a tokusatsu fanatic, come across a film prop that sucks them into the world of fearsome giant monsters. To find their way home, they must unlock the secrets of this fantasy world.

Brush of the God

2024

Breakfast of the Movie poster
7.5

Documentary on the legendary bento shop "Popeye," known to everyone in the film industry.

Breakfast of the Movie

2023

The Intermission poster
7.0

A unique black comedy set in Ginza Cinepathos, a long-established movie theater that closes at the end of March 2013 while being familiar to movie fans with its retro appearance and unique lineup. Unique guests visiting the theater draw a human pattern during breaks.

The Intermission

2013

Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director poster
7.5

A documentary film that delves into the life and cinematic career of one of Japan's most prolific directors: Ishiro Honda. The film will spotlight Honda's filmography from both a historical and personal perspective, exploring his contributions to the Japanese film industry and his firsthand experiences of war, from which he barely survived. It will also delve into his profound feelings regarding the atomic bomb, a subject that became an obsession for him and was frequently reflected in his films. The documentary will analyze Honda's body of work through interviews with individuals who had the privilege of collaborating with him, as well as experts on Honda's films from both Japan and the Western world. Furthermore, the film will uncover Honda's friendship and professional relationship with director Akira Kurosawa.

Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director

2024

The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8 poster
5.6

An actor who has lost his job due to the coronavirus buys capsule monsters online and begins to raise them.

The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8

2020

The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga poster
8.7

Japan, 1954. A legend emerges from the ashes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, devastated by atomic bombs in 1945. The creature's name is Godzilla. The film that tells its story is the first of kaiju eiga, the giant monster movies.

The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga

2019

GAMERA 1999 poster
6.0

Hideaki Anno's documentary about the making of Shusuke Kaneko's Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris. From concept to film, the documentary is a video diary of the film's production.

GAMERA 1999

1999

Document Love & Pop poster
7.0

Two shorts about the making of Hideaki Anno's movie "Love & Pop", one from the perspective of a bumbling assistant, and one from the perspective of a AV director filming a documentary about Anno but narrated by a worker from a bread factory

Document Love & Pop

1998

Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters poster
6.5

Tachigui retells Japan's history from 1945 to 21st century through the feats of self-proclaimed dine and dash professionals - the Fast Food Grifters are the phantoms that rise and fall with the shifting diet-styles. They are the dissenting heroes who carved their names on the dark side of dietary culture with their glare. Now their legend revives, strong as ever...

Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters

2006

Taroman Historia poster
NR

Actor and Taro Okamoto fan Arata Iura narrates this mockumentary surrounding the 1972 tokusatsu series "TAROMAN", its impact on contemporary 1970s Japan, the ties to popular art with its motifs influenced by artist Taro Okamoto, and the lasting impact the series had on creators decades down the line. Also, performed for the first time is the theme song for "TAROMAN", "Explosion! TAROMAN".

Taroman Historia

2022

Kibakichi poster
5.9

A werewolf samurai walks the countryside, finding himself in the middle of a village of monsters who feed on human flesh.

Kibakichi

2004

The Making of Gamera: Guardian of the Universe poster
NR

The production of Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. Includes interviews with director Shusuke Kaneko, screenwriter Kazunori Ito and lead actress Ayako Fujitani. Also includes behind the scenes footage from special effects director Shinji Higuchi and interviews with suit actors Jun Suzuki and Yumi Kameyama.

The Making of Gamera: Guardian of the Universe

1995

Behind the camera

Shin Godzilla poster
7.2

When a massive, gilled monster emerges from the deep and tears through the city, the government scrambles to save its citizens. A rag-tag team of volunteers cuts through a web of red tape to uncover the monster's weakness and its mysterious ties to a foreign superpower. But time is not on their side - the greatest catastrophe to ever befall the world is about to evolve right before their very eyes.

Shin Godzilla

2016

Attack on Titan poster
6.1

100 years ago, titans suddenly appeared on Earth. Soon, human civilization veered on collapse due to the titans. Humans then built a giant wall to defend themselves. Within the giant walls, humans lived in peace, but, 100 years later, the giant wall is broken.

Attack on Titan

2015

Shin Ultraman poster
7.5

The Japanese government sets up a special task force to fight the giant creatures suddenly appearing across the country. Soon, the squad unexpectedly meets a giant silver humanoid who starts appearing every time a space monster attacks!

Shin Ultraman

2022

Attack on Titan II: End of the World poster
6.2

Eren Yeager leaves to restore a break in the wall destroyed by a Titan. He comes under attack by the Titans and is cornered. Shikishima comes to his aid. The titans never stops attacking. Eren is now injured and tries to protect Armin, but is swallowed by a titan. A Titan with black hair appears and begins to expel the other titans.

Attack on Titan II: End of the World

2015

The Floating Castle poster
7.4

In the year 1590, the mighty warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi is close to fulfilling his ambition of unifying all of Japan under his banner when he comes across unexpected resistance in the form of a floating fortress known as Oshi Castle. Narita Nagachika, a frivolous hedonistic fellow and unlikely candidate for the position of rebel general, finds himself in charge of defending the castle. His odds? An army of 500 men to combat Toyotomi Hideyoshi's army of 20,000.

The Floating Castle

2012

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth poster
7.4

Originally a collection of clips from the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series, Death was created as a precursor to the re-worked ending of the series. Rebirth was intended as that re-worked ending, but after production overruns Rebirth became only the first half of the first part of The End of Evangelion, with some minor differences.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth

1997

Bullet Train Explosion poster
6.8

When panic erupts on a Tokyo-bound bullet train that will explode if it slows below 100 kph, authorities race against time to save everyone on board.

Bullet Train Explosion

2025

EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)² poster
6.8

A highly experimental film presenting a story out of chronological order taking place 15 years after a near-apocalyptic catastrophe, about four traumatized 14 year olds who are tasked with piloting massive humanoid decisive weapons called Evangelion, the psychologically maladjusted adults who handle and command them, and the events and forces that affect them or which they take part in as they engage massive hostile invaders known as "Angels."

EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)²

1998

Thunderbirds 55/GOGO poster
NR

Shortly before the International Rescue Team begins full-scale operation, Lady Penelope, invited by Jeff Tracy, arrives at Tracy Island and discovers the amazing technology hidden on the island, as well as Thunderbirds 1 to 5. International Rescue soon receive a call from a yeti on Mount Everest pleading for rescue, with Penelope sent to investigate. All the while, a series of robberies plagues British Stately Homes.

Thunderbirds 55/GOGO

2022

Thunderbirds 55/GOGO poster
NR

Shortly before the International Rescue Team begins full-scale operation, Lady Penelope, invited by Jeff Tracy, arrives at Tracy Island and discovers the amazing technology hidden on the island, as well as Thunderbirds 1 to 5. International Rescue soon receive a call from a yeti on Mount Everest pleading for rescue, with Penelope sent to investigate. All the while, a series of robberies plagues British Stately Homes.

Thunderbirds 55/GOGO

2022

Revival of Evangelion poster
7.7

Revival of Evangelion is a re-edit of the Neon Genesis Evangelion films , released in 1998. It consists of Evangelion: Death (which was essentially a clip show that summarized the entire regular series) and The End of Evangelion , re-edited together to make a version that tells the entire story of Evangelion. It is considered to be the final form of the Evangelion films.

Revival of Evangelion

1998

Japan Sinks poster
5.6

In the aftermath of a major earthquake, scientists predict that Japan will sink into the sea. As further disasters follow, politicians plead with other countries to take refugees, while scientists struggle to save Japan itself.

Japan Sinks

2006

Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean poster
6.3

A drama set during World War II where a submarine carrying a secret weapon attempts to stop a planned third atomic bombing of Japan. Based on Harutoshi Fukui's novel Shuusen no Lorelei.

Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean

2005

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story II poster
NR

The second specially edited memorial episode featuring Jean’s narration. This is a breath-taking sea adventure action animation. The story centers on a series of critical battles by the indestructible submarine, Nautilus and the conflict between Captain Nemo and the Gargoyle. It’s a shorter, more streamlined version of Nadia called "The Nautilus Story", which all but eliminates the filler arc and concentrates on the struggle between Nemo and Gargoyle. Some scenes in the more pivotal episodes are cut as well. The compilation series was made by Hideaki Anno, who was said to have been dissatisfied with the final result of the TV show. The Nautilus Story was only released in Japan on VHS and laserdisc.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story II

1991

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story III poster
NR

The third and final specially edited memorial episode featuring Jean’s narration. This is a breath-taking sea adventure action animation. The story centers on a series of critical battles by the indestructible submarine, Nautilus and the conflict between Captain Nemo and the Gargoyle. It’s a shorter, more streamlined version of Nadia called "The Nautilus Story", which all but eliminates the filler arc and concentrates on the struggle between Nemo and Gargoyle. Some scenes in the more pivotal episodes are cut as well. The compilation series was made by Hideaki Anno, who was said to have been dissatisfied with the final result of the TV show. The Nautilus Story was only released in Japan on VHS and laserdisc.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story III

1991

Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo poster
6.6

The short focuses on the God Warrior from Nausicaa of The Valley of The Wind (1984). Super-powered bio-weapons in ceramic armor begin attacking Tokyo, annihilating human civilization.

Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo

2012

Peaceful Times (F02) Petit Film poster
NR

The short features previously unseen Evangelion storyboard art. Evangelion director Hideaki Anno supervised the "petit film," and Mahiro Maeda directed and storyboarded it. Shiro Sagisu provided the music, and voice actress Megumi Hayashibara narrates the Japanese version of the English lyrics. Sagisu made a few comments about the video on his website and posted the Japanese version of the lyrics. According to Sagisu, when they were finishing work on Q, Anno told him this would be the last time they used the F2 (Next Episode) theme, which made Sagisu want to make a extended version of it. He says the video actually contains four versions of the song: An unreleased version by the London Studio Orchestra (at the start), the Takahashi version from Xpressions, the version from Piano Forte #1, and Hayashibara's narrated version.

Peaceful Times (F02) Petit Film

2013

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story I poster
NR

The first specially edited memorial episode featuring Jean’s narration. This is a breath-taking sea adventure action animation. The story centers on a series of critical battles by the indestructible submarine, Nautilus and the conflict between Captain Nemo and the Gargoyle. It’s a shorter, more streamlined version of Nadia called "The Nautilus Story", which all but eliminates the filler arc and concentrates on the struggle between Nemo and Gargoyle. Some scenes in the more pivotal episodes are cut as well. The compilation series was made by Hideaki Anno, who was said to have been dissatisfied with the final result of the TV show. The Nautilus Story was only released in Japan on VHS and laserdisc.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story I

1991

The Last Princess poster
5.9

After the Akizuku clan fall in defeat to rival clan Yamana, Princess Yuki and General Rokurota take cover in a hidden fortress, along with their clan and gold treasury. Fortuitously stumbling into the hideaways, brash young miner Takezo and his bumbling sidekick Shinhachi hatch a daring plan to help transport the gold out of enemy terrain – in exchange for a share of the stash, of course. With assassins hot in pursuit, Yuki disguises as a male and ventures into the real world with Rukurota and her peasant companions, getting her first taste of danger, toil, and budding romance with the strong-minded and willful Takezo.

The Last Princess

2008

Minimoni The Movie: The Great Cake Adventure! poster
NR

The movie takes place entirely in and around the Mini Moni Cafè. The Mini Moni Cafè is run by the first generation members of Mini Moni, who are lead by Mari Yaguchi. Mika Todd is the primary baker for the cafè and Ai Kago and Nozomi Tsuji are bumbling waitresses. One day Kago and Tsuji serve a particularly enthusiastic customer (played by Ai Takahashi) who says she has never had such a delicious cake before. When the waitress explain they do not know the secret ingredient that makes the cakes so good, Takahashi decides to sneak into the cafè later find out what it is and steal it.

Minimoni The Movie: The Great Cake Adventure!

2002

Vandread Integral poster
7.8

Vandread Integral is an OVA summary of Vandread the First Stage with additional footage and animation.

Vandread Integral

2001

Vandread Turbulence poster
7.8

Vandread Turbulence is an OVA summary of Vandread the Second Stage with additional footage and animation.

Vandread Turbulence

2002