Koichi Kawakita
Encyclopedia
is a special effects artist.
.
In 1962, Koichi Kawakita studied effects techniques under the special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya
. Ten years later, he made his FX directorial debut in the superhero
show, Ultraman Ace
. He has since directed FX for numerous superhero shows such as Meteor Man Zone, Megaloman
and others. He also worked on movies as well. He was also an assistant to Sadamasa Arikawa for the Hong Kong
/Japan
co-production, The Mighty Peking Man
.
In 1983, he directed the FX for the Toho
tokusatsu
science fiction
film Sayonara Jupiter
. The following year, he was an assistant director to Teruyoshi Nakano
for The Return of Godzilla
. Five years later, he directed the FX for Gunhed
before succeeding Nakano for the Godzilla
film series from 1989's Godzilla vs. Biollante
to 1995's Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
, completing the second series of Godzilla films (the Versus Series, AKA: the "Heisei Series"). His work proved a dramatic improvement in the quality of special effects in Japanese films, though the sheer number of projects and effects work in 6 years led to some shortcuts in the last few Godzilla films. Most of the Godzilla films he worked on were characterized by the monsters shooting energy weapons at each other (there was a certain limit on physical fighting at the time, so that the monster fights look more realistic and less like men in rubber suits). There was also an emphasis on military mecha, as mecha was a big specialty of Kawakita's.
Aside from directing FX for films and TV, he also did FX work on toy commercials for Godzilla
and Gundam
for Bandai
. Aftering retiring from Toho, Kawakita established his own visual effects company, Dream Planet Japan, in January 2003. Since that time, Dream Planet Japan have collaborated with Toho on the TV series SUPER STAR GOD GRANSAZER (Chouseishin Guranseizaa, 2003), THE JUSTIRISERS (Genseishin Jasutiraizaa, 2004) and SUPER STAR FLEET SAZER-X (Chousei Kantai Seizaa Ekkusu, 2005), the movie SUPER STAR FLEET SAZER-X: FIGHT! WARRIORS OF THE STARS (Chousei Kantai Seizaa Ekkusu: Tatakae! Hoshi-no Senshi-tachi, 2005), as well as producing featurettes for the DVD releases of GUNHED (Ganheddo, 1989) and SAMURAI OF THE SKY (Oozora-no Samurai, 1953).
Biography
In 1958, Kawakita was a member of the Jury at the 6th Berlin International Film Festival6th Berlin International Film Festival
-Jury:* Marcel Carné* Bill Luckwell* Giuseppe Vittorio Sampieri* Koichi Kawakita* Leo J. Horster* Ilse Urbach* Ludwig Berger-Films in competition:* ...erwachsen sein dagegen sehr by Wolf Hart* Autumn Leaves by Robert Aldrich...
.
In 1962, Koichi Kawakita studied effects techniques under the special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya
Eiji Tsuburaya
was the Japanese special effects director responsible for many Japanese science-fiction movies, including the Godzilla series...
. Ten years later, he made his FX directorial debut in the superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
show, Ultraman Ace
Ultraman Ace
is the 5th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, the series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from April 7, 1972 to March 30, 1973, with a total of 52 episodes....
. He has since directed FX for numerous superhero shows such as Meteor Man Zone, Megaloman
Megaloman
is the name and titular superhero of a tokusatsu SF/superhero/kaiju TV series. Created by Tetsu Kariya, the show was produced by Toho Company Ltd., and aired on Fuji TV from May 7 to December 24, 1979, with a total of 31 half-hour episodes...
and others. He also worked on movies as well. He was also an assistant to Sadamasa Arikawa for the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
/Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
co-production, The Mighty Peking Man
The Mighty Peking Man
The Mighty Peking Man is a 1977 film produced in Hong Kong by Shaw Brothers Studio to capitalize on the craze surrounding the 1976 remake of King Kong...
.
In 1983, he directed the FX for the Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
film Sayonara Jupiter
Sayonara Jupiter (film)
is a 1984 Japanese science fiction film directed by Koji Hashimoto and produced by Toho. The script was adapted by pioneering science-fiction author Sakyo Komatsu from his novel Sayonara Jupiter...
. The following year, he was an assistant director to Teruyoshi Nakano
Teruyoshi Nakano
, is a Japanese special effects director, most notable for his contributions to the Godzilla film series and other tokusatsu movies. Nakano was a special guest at G-Fest XI, where he was the recipient of the Mangled Skyscraper Award....
for The Return of Godzilla
The Return of Godzilla
The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla (released as in Japan and as Godzilla 1985 in North America, is a 1984 Science Fiction Kaiju film. The sixteenth film in Toho's Godzilla series, it was produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka and directed by Koji Hashimoto with special...
. Five years later, he directed the FX for Gunhed
Gunhed (film)
is a 1989 Japanese live-action mecha film. It is an adaptation of the manga "Gunhed" by Kia Asamiya.-Plot:In 2038, a gang of scavengers infiltrate an industrial complex on a island within a prohibited zone. They are looking for the element Texmexium, which is rare and very valuable...
before succeeding Nakano for the Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
film series from 1989's Godzilla vs. Biollante
Godzilla vs. Biollante
is a 1989 science fiction kaiju film written and directed by Kazuki Ōmori. It was the seventeenth film to be released in the Godzilla franchise and the second in terms of the franchise's Heisei period...
to 1995's Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
, alternatively titled Godzilla vs. Destroyer, is a 1995 science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Kazuki Omori. It was released in Japan on December 9, 1995. It is the 22nd installment in the Godzilla series of films and the seventh and last of the Heisei series...
, completing the second series of Godzilla films (the Versus Series, AKA: the "Heisei Series"). His work proved a dramatic improvement in the quality of special effects in Japanese films, though the sheer number of projects and effects work in 6 years led to some shortcuts in the last few Godzilla films. Most of the Godzilla films he worked on were characterized by the monsters shooting energy weapons at each other (there was a certain limit on physical fighting at the time, so that the monster fights look more realistic and less like men in rubber suits). There was also an emphasis on military mecha, as mecha was a big specialty of Kawakita's.
Aside from directing FX for films and TV, he also did FX work on toy commercials for Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
and Gundam
Gundam
The is a metaseries of anime created by Sunrise studios that features giant robots called "Mobile Suits" ; usually the protagonist's MS will carry the name Gundam....
for Bandai
Bandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
. Aftering retiring from Toho, Kawakita established his own visual effects company, Dream Planet Japan, in January 2003. Since that time, Dream Planet Japan have collaborated with Toho on the TV series SUPER STAR GOD GRANSAZER (Chouseishin Guranseizaa, 2003), THE JUSTIRISERS (Genseishin Jasutiraizaa, 2004) and SUPER STAR FLEET SAZER-X (Chousei Kantai Seizaa Ekkusu, 2005), the movie SUPER STAR FLEET SAZER-X: FIGHT! WARRIORS OF THE STARS (Chousei Kantai Seizaa Ekkusu: Tatakae! Hoshi-no Senshi-tachi, 2005), as well as producing featurettes for the DVD releases of GUNHED (Ganheddo, 1989) and SAMURAI OF THE SKY (Oozora-no Samurai, 1953).
External links
- Milner, David. Yohihiko Shibata (trans.) December 1994. "An Interview with Koichi Kawakita", Kaiju Fan Online. (Originally published in Cult Movies)