Takeshi Yagi
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese TV director/producer whose credits include Tsuburaya Productions
' popular Ultra Series
.
television shows in Japan. In the mid-1990s, he joined Tsuburaya Productions
, the creators of the popular Ultra Series
, working as an Assistant Director on TV series such as Ultraman Tiga
. He made his directorial debut on the fourth episode of the TV mini-series Moon Spiral in 1996. He continued to serve as both a Director and Director of Special Effects for the majority of Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra Series until 2007.
In 2004, Yagi was credited as the Main Director for Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy
. The following year, he was promoted to Series Producer for 2005's Ultraman Max
, where he made the popular decision to bring in acclaimed directors Shusuke Kaneko
and Takashi Miike
to direct episodes for the series. In 2007, he acted as the Series Organizer and Main Director for the late-night Ultraseven X
. Around the same time, he also began work on his first feature film, Superior Ultraman 8 Brothers
.
Yagi retired from Tsuburaya Productions in January 2008 to pursue a career as a freelance director/producer. His first directorial piece after leaving Tsuburaya Productions was Toei
's Urban Legend Sepia.
Tsuburaya Productions
is a Japanese special effects studio founded in 1963 by special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya and was run by his family, until October 2007, when the family sold the company to advertising agency TYO Inc. The studio is best known for producing the original Ultraman TV series, as well as the Ultra...
' popular Ultra Series
Ultra Series
The is the collective name for all the shows produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad Ultra Monsters. The Ultra Series is one of the prominent tokusatsu superhero genre productions from Japan, along with Toei produced series Kamen Rider, Super...
.
Personal history
Born in 1967, Yagi grew up during the boom of tokusatsuTokusatsu
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 ....
television shows in Japan. In the mid-1990s, he joined Tsuburaya Productions
Tsuburaya Productions
is a Japanese special effects studio founded in 1963 by special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya and was run by his family, until October 2007, when the family sold the company to advertising agency TYO Inc. The studio is best known for producing the original Ultraman TV series, as well as the Ultra...
, the creators of the popular Ultra Series
Ultra Series
The is the collective name for all the shows produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad Ultra Monsters. The Ultra Series is one of the prominent tokusatsu superhero genre productions from Japan, along with Toei produced series Kamen Rider, Super...
, working as an Assistant Director on TV series such as Ultraman Tiga
Ultraman Tiga
is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the 11th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Ultraman Tiga was aired at 6:00pm and aired between September 7, 1996 to August 30, 1997, with a total of 52 episodes with 4 movies After a franchise hiatus of over 15 years, set in a...
. He made his directorial debut on the fourth episode of the TV mini-series Moon Spiral in 1996. He continued to serve as both a Director and Director of Special Effects for the majority of Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra Series until 2007.
In 2004, Yagi was credited as the Main Director for Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy
Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy
is a 2004 production, and the 19th installment in the Ultra Series that was broadcast in Japan in 2004. It is a sequel to Ultra Q, the first of the Ultra Series...
. The following year, he was promoted to Series Producer for 2005's Ultraman Max
Ultraman Max
was an Ultraman TV series which started airing on 7 July 2005, and produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Co., Ltd.. The show tried to return to the true formula of new monsters every week and being a fast paced show like previous series with the exception of Ultraman Nexus...
, where he made the popular decision to bring in acclaimed directors Shusuke Kaneko
Shusuke Kaneko
is a Japanese filmmaker and screenwriter.-Career:Shūsuke Kaneko began his career in film with Nikkatsu's Roman Porno film series, in which he served as assistant director to Kōyū Ohara. The series also gave Kaneko his directorial debut with writer Kōichirō Uno's, Kōichirō Uno's Wet and Swinging ,...
and Takashi Miike
Takashi Miike
is a highly prolific and controversial Japanese filmmaker. He has directed over seventy theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. In the years 2001 and 2002 alone, Miike is credited with directing fifteen productions...
to direct episodes for the series. In 2007, he acted as the Series Organizer and Main Director for the late-night Ultraseven X
Ultraseven X
is the 23rd entry in the Tsuburaya Productions' long-running Ultra Series. It is a revival of the 1967 classic Ultra Seven, and is the first in Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra hero series to be exclusively for an adult audience and in wide screen high-definition format...
. Around the same time, he also began work on his first feature film, Superior Ultraman 8 Brothers
Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers
is a Ultraman theatrical feature, and the first film by director Takeshi Yagi, who has since retired from Tsuburaya Productions as of January 2008. It unites the Shōwa heroes Ultraman, Seven, Jack and Ace together on screen with the Heisei heroes Tiga, Dyna, Gaia and Mebius...
.
Yagi retired from Tsuburaya Productions in January 2008 to pursue a career as a freelance director/producer. His first directorial piece after leaving Tsuburaya Productions was Toei
Toei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
's Urban Legend Sepia.
Movie
- 2008: Superior Ultraman 8 BrothersGreat Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothersis a Ultraman theatrical feature, and the first film by director Takeshi Yagi, who has since retired from Tsuburaya Productions as of January 2008. It unites the Shōwa heroes Ultraman, Seven, Jack and Ace together on screen with the Heisei heroes Tiga, Dyna, Gaia and Mebius...
TV
- 1996: Moon Spiral
- 1999: Ultraman GaiaUltraman Gaiais a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the 13th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Mainichi Broadcasting System , Ultraman Gaia was aired on JNN TV stations from September 5, 1998 until August 28, 1999, with a total of 51 episodes.-Plot:Ultraman Gaia takes place in yet...
- 2001: Ultraman CosmosUltraman Cosmosis a Japanese tokusatsu TV show being the 17th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Ultraman Cosmos was aired between July 7, 2001 to September 28, 2002, with a total of 65 episodes, which currently makes it the longest running Ultra Show to date.In June 2002, Cosmos was...
- 2004: Ultra Q: Dark FantasyUltra Q: Dark Fantasyis a 2004 production, and the 19th installment in the Ultra Series that was broadcast in Japan in 2004. It is a sequel to Ultra Q, the first of the Ultra Series...
- 2004: Ultraman NexusUltraman Nexuswas produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting. It was the 20th entry in the Ultra Series. The series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System, including TBS, CBC, MBS, etc. The show ran from October 2, 2004 until June 25, 2005, with a total of 37 broadcast episodes...
- 2005: Ultraman MaxUltraman Maxwas an Ultraman TV series which started airing on 7 July 2005, and produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Co., Ltd.. The show tried to return to the true formula of new monsters every week and being a fast paced show like previous series with the exception of Ultraman Nexus...
(Series Producer) - 2006: Ultraman MebiusUltraman Mebiusis a Japanese television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting. It is the 17th TV series and 40th anniversary production in the Ultra Series, which first began in 1966. It premiered on the Tokyo Broadcasting System on April 8, 2006...
- 2007: Ultraseven XUltraseven Xis the 23rd entry in the Tsuburaya Productions' long-running Ultra Series. It is a revival of the 1967 classic Ultra Seven, and is the first in Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra hero series to be exclusively for an adult audience and in wide screen high-definition format...
(Series Organizer) - 2009: Urban Legend Sepia