Tomoyuki Tanaka

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.

Most Famous Work

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10

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Zone Fighter

(1973) Writer

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8

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Godzilla

(1954) Story

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7

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Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

(1956) Story

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7

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The Return of Godzilla

(1984) Story

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7

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King Kong vs. Godzilla

(1962) Producer

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8

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Kagemusha

(1980) Executive Producer

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6

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Godzilla Raids Again

(1955) Producer

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8

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Yojimbo

(1961) Executive Producer

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Acting

Year	Character	Movie/Tv
1986	Self	Toho Unused Special Effects Complete Collection 1986-01-01 Movie
1973	Government official (uncredited)	Submersion of Japan 1973-12-29 Movie
Year	Character	Movie/Tv

Writing

Year	Role	Movie/Tv
2019	Characters	Look Within 2019-09-14 Movie
2017	Characters	Within Reach 2017-02-24 Movie
1996	Original Story	Rebirth of Mothra 1996-12-14 Movie
1992	Story	Godzilla vs. Mothra 1992-12-12 Movie
1985	Story	Godzilla 1985 1985-07-26 Movie
1984	Story	The Return of Godzilla 1984-12-15 Movie
1977	Story	Godzilla 1977-01-01 Movie
1973	Writer	Zone Fighter 1973-04-02 TV Show
1963	Writer	Attack Squadron 1963-01-03 Movie
1961	Lyricist	Mothra 1961-07-30 Movie
1957	Story	Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean 1957-03-15 Movie
1956	Story	Godzilla, King of the Monsters! 1956-04-27 Movie
1954	Story	Godzilla 1954-11-03 Movie
Year	Role	Movie/Tv

Crew

Year	Role	Movie/Tv
1997	Creator	Rebirth of Mothra II 1997-12-13 Movie
Year	Role	Movie/Tv

Production

Year	Role	Movie/Tv
1995	Executive Producer	Godzilla vs. Destoroyah 1995-12-09 Movie
1994	Executive Producer	Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla 1994-12-10 Movie
1993	Executive Producer	Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II 1993-12-11 Movie
1992	Executive Producer	Godzilla vs. Mothra 1992-12-12 Movie
1991	Producer	Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah 1991-12-14 Movie
1989	Executive Producer	Godzilla vs. Biollante 1989-12-16 Movie
	Executive Producer	Gunhed 1989-07-22 Movie
1987	Executive Producer	Princess from the Moon 1987-09-26 Movie
	Producer	Actress 1987-01-17 Movie
1985	Executive Producer	Godzilla 1985 1985-07-26 Movie
1984	Producer	The Return of Godzilla 1984-12-15 Movie
	Executive Producer	Ohan 1984-10-06 Movie
	Producer	Zero 1984-08-11 Movie
1983	Executive Producer	The Makioka Sisters 1983-12-30 Movie
1982	Producer	The Longest Tunnel 1982-10-16 Movie
1981	Executive Producer	The Imperial Navy 1981-08-08 Movie
1980	Producer	Magnitude 7.9 1980-08-30 Movie
	Executive Producer	Kagemusha 1980-04-26 Movie
1977	Executive Producer	The War in Space 1977-12-17 Movie
	Executive Producer	High Seas Hijack 1977-10-20 Movie
	Producer	House 1977-08-26 Movie
	Producer	Mount Hakkoda 1977-06-04 Movie
	Producer	Godzilla 1977-01-01 Movie
1976	Producer	Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster 1976-11-19 Movie
	Executive Producer	Zero Fighter 1976-10-02 Movie
	Executive Producer	Human Revolution II 1976-06-19 Movie
1975	Executive Producer	Conflagration 1975-07-12 Movie
	Executive Producer	Terror of Mechagodzilla 1975-03-15 Movie
1974	Producer	ESPY 1974-12-28 Movie
	Executive Producer	Prophecies of Nostradamus 1974-07-13 Movie
	Producer	Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 1974-03-20 Movie
1973	Executive Producer	Submersion of Japan 1973-12-29 Movie
	Producer	The Human Revolution 1973-09-08 Movie
	Producer	Godzilla vs. Megalon 1973-03-17 Movie
1972	Producer	Godzilla vs. Gigan 1972-03-12 Movie
1971	Executive Producer	Godzilla vs. Hedorah 1971-07-24 Movie
1970	Executive Producer	Space Amoeba 1970-08-01 Movie
	Executive Producer	The Vampire Doll 1970-07-04 Movie
	Executive Producer	Terror in the Streets 1970-07-04 Movie
1969	Executive Producer	All Monsters Attack 1969-12-20 Movie
	Producer	All Monsters Attack 1969-12-20 Movie
	Producer	Portrait of Hell 1969-11-18 Movie
	Production Director	Battle of the Japan Sea 1969-08-01 Movie
	Producer	Battle of the Japan Sea 1969-08-01 Movie
	Executive Producer	Latitude Zero 1969-07-26 Movie
	Producer	Samurai Banners 1969-03-01 Movie
1968	Producer	Admiral Yamamoto 1968-08-14 Movie
	Producer	Destroy All Monsters 1968-08-01 Movie
	Producer	Kill! 1968-06-22 Movie
	Producer	Judge and Jeopardy 1968-06-08 Movie
	Executive Producer	風来忍法帖　八方破れ 1968-05-08 Movie
	Executive Producer	Golden Eyes 1968-03-16 Movie
1967	Producer	Son of Godzilla 1967-12-16 Movie
	Producer	Japan's Longest Day 1967-08-12 Movie
	Producer	King Kong Escapes 1967-07-22 Movie
	Producer	Samurai Rebellion 1967-05-27 Movie
	Executive Producer	The Killing Bottle 1967-02-11 Movie
	Executive Producer	The Age of Assassins 1967-02-04 Movie
1966	Executive Producer	Ebirah, Horror of the Deep 1966-12-17 Movie
	Producer	What's Up, Tiger Lily? 1966-11-02 Movie
	Producer	The War of the Gargantuas 1966-07-29 Movie
	Producer	Zero Fighter 1966-07-13 Movie
	Producer	The Mad Atlantic 1966-07-13 Movie
	Executive Producer	Adventure in Kigan Castle 1966-04-28 Movie
1965	Executive Producer	Invasion of Astro-Monster 1965-12-19 Movie
	Executive Producer	Ironfinger 1965-12-05 Movie
	Executive Producer	Key of Keys 1965-10-22 Movie
	Producer	Fort Graveyard 1965-09-18 Movie
	Producer	Frankenstein Conquers the World 1965-08-08 Movie
	Producer	The Retreat from Kiska 1965-07-04 Movie
	Producer	Sanshiro Sugata 1965-05-29 Movie
	Executive Producer	風来忍法帖 1965-05-16 Movie
	Producer	Red Beard 1965-04-03 Movie
	Producer	Samurai Assassin 1965-01-03 Movie
1964	Executive Producer	Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster 1964-12-20 Movie
	Producer	A Keg of Powder 1964-12-09 Movie
	Producer	Dogora 1964-08-11 Movie
	Producer	Whirlwind 1964-07-26 Movie
	Executive Producer	Blood and Diamonds 1964-07-01 Movie
	Executive Producer	Mothra vs. Godzilla 1964-04-29 Movie
	Producer	Ant Hell War 1964-04-29 Movie
	Producer	Oh, Bomb! 1964-04-18 Movie
	Producer	Tiger Flight 1964-02-29 Movie
	Producer	Jakoman and Tetsu 1964-02-08 Movie
1963	Producer	Atragon 1963-12-22 Movie
	Producer	The Sun is Calling You 1963-09-29 Movie
	Producer	Operation Mad Dog 1963-09-29 Movie
	Executive Producer	Young Swordsman 1963-08-31 Movie
	Executive Producer	Interpol Code 8 1963-08-31 Movie
	Producer	Matango 1963-08-11 Movie
	Producer	Outpost of Hell 1963-07-28 Movie
	Producer	King Kong vs. Godzilla 1963-06-26 Movie
	Producer	Legacy of the 500,000 1963-04-18 Movie
	Producer	Warring Clans 1963-03-23 Movie
	Producer	High and Low 1963-03-01 Movie
	Producer	Attack Squadron 1963-01-03 Movie
1962	Executive Producer	The Weed of Crime 1962-12-08 Movie
	Producer	Varan the Unbelievable 1962-12-07 Movie
	Producer	47 Ronin 1962-11-03 Movie
	Executive Producer	Operation Enemy Fort 1962-10-20 Movie
	Producer	King Kong vs. Godzilla 1962-08-11 Movie
	Producer	Operation Sewer Rats 1962-06-01 Movie
	Producer	Hoero Datsugoku-shu 1962-05-15 Movie
	Producer	Gorath 1962-03-21 Movie
	Producer	Sanjuro 1962-01-01 Movie
1961	Executive Producer	The Witness Killed 1961-12-17 Movie
	Producer	The Last War 1961-10-08 Movie
	Executive Producer	A Man in Red 1961-09-12 Movie
	Executive Producer	Blood on the Sea 1961-08-13 Movie
	Producer	Mothra 1961-07-30 Movie
	Executive Producer	Yojimbo 1961-04-25 Movie
	Executive Producer	Big Shots Die at Dawn 1961-04-09 Movie
	Producer	Wakarete ikiru toki mo 1961-04-04 Movie
	Producer	The Merciless Trap 1961-02-01 Movie
	Executive Producer	Blueprint of Murder 1961-01-03 Movie
1960	Executive Producer	The Human Vapor 1960-12-11 Movie
	Executive Producer	Westward Desperado 1960-10-30 Movie
	Producer	The Bad Sleep Well 1960-09-15 Movie
	Executive Producer	Man Against Man 1960-08-14 Movie
	Producer	The Secret of the Telegian 1960-04-10 Movie
	Executive Producer	The Last Gunfight 1960-01-03 Movie
1959	Producer	Battle in Outer Space 1959-12-26 Movie
	Producer	The Three Treasures 1959-11-01 Movie
	Executive Producer	Desperado Outpost 1959-10-06 Movie
	Producer	Gigantis, the Fire Monster 1959-05-21 Movie
	Producer	Samurai Saga 1959-04-28 Movie
	Executive Producer	The Adventures of Sun Wu Kung 1959-04-19 Movie
	Executive Producer	A Whistle in My Heart 1959-03-29 Movie
	Executive Producer	The Big Boss 1959-01-15 Movie
1958	Producer	Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman 1958-12-01 Movie
	Producer	The Spell of the Hidden Gold 1958-10-21 Movie
	Producer	Varan 1958-10-14 Movie
	Producer	The H-Man 1958-06-24 Movie
	Producer	Little Peach 1958-05-13 Movie
	Producer	The Rickshaw Man 1958-04-21 Movie
1957	Producer	The Mysterians 1957-12-28 Movie
	Producer	The Lower Depths 1957-10-01 Movie
	Producer	Untamed Woman 1957-05-28 Movie
	Producer	Yagyu Secret Scrolls 1957-04-14 Movie
	Producer	The Lonely Swordsman (Part 2) 1957-04-02 Movie
	Producer	Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean 1957-03-15 Movie
	Producer	A Man in the Storm 1957-02-05 Movie
1956	Producer	The Lonely Swordsman (Part 1) 1956-12-26 Movie
	Producer	Rodan 1956-12-26 Movie
	Executive Producer	The Legend of the White Serpent 1956-06-22 Movie
	Producer	Scoundrel 1956-05-10 Movie
	Producer	Godzilla, King of the Monsters! 1956-04-27 Movie
	Producer	Rainy Night Duel 1956-01-29 Movie
	Executive Producer	The Maiden Courtesan 1956-01-22 Movie
1955	Producer	To Love and Forgive 1955-11-08 Movie
	Producer	Tomorrow I'll Be a Fire-Tree 1955-10-05 Movie
	Producer	Ticket to Hell 1955-09-28 Movie
	Producer	Half Human 1955-08-14 Movie
	Executive Producer	Mother and Son 1955-06-07 Movie
	Producer	No Response from Car 33 1955-05-31 Movie
	Producer	Godzilla Raids Again 1955-04-24 Movie
	Producer	Love Never Fails 1955-04-01 Movie
	Executive Producer	Lovetide 1955-01-09 Movie
1954	Producer	Godzilla 1954-11-03 Movie
	Producer	The Surf 1954-10-20 Movie
	Producer	君死に給うことなかれ 1954-10-20 Movie
	Producer	Itsuko to sono haha 1954-02-17 Movie
	Producer	Farewell Rabaul 1954-02-10 Movie
1953	Producer	Red-Line Base 1953-12-08 Movie
	Producer	Youth of Heiji Senigata 1953-08-19 Movie
	Producer	Adolescence Part II 1953-07-01 Movie
	Producer	Their Father's Wife 1953-05-27 Movie
	Producer	Yasugorō shusse 1953-04-15 Movie
	Producer	The Last Embrace 1953-03-11 Movie
	Producer	My Wonderful Yellow Car 1953-01-15 Movie
1952	Producer	The Man Who Came to Port 1952-11-27 Movie
	Producer	Swift Current 1952-10-23 Movie
	Producer	Adolescence 1952-08-28 Movie
	Producer	Shanghai Rose 1952-08-13 Movie
	Producer	Sword for Hire 1952-05-22 Movie
	Producer	Foghorn 1952-03-03 Movie
1951	Producer	Sekidô matsuri 1951-12-07 Movie
	Producer	Swords and Brocade 1951-06-22 Movie
	Producer	Who Will Judge Me? 1951-05-18 Movie
	Producer	The White Orchid 1951-03-24 Movie
	Producer	Beyond Love and Hate 1951-01-11 Movie
1950	Producer	White Beast 1950-06-03 Movie
	Executive Producer	The Angry Street 1950-05-14 Movie
	Producer	The Angry Street 1950-05-14 Movie
	Producer	Heat and Mud 1950-05-01 Movie
	Producer	Devil's Gold 1950-02-19 Movie
	Producer	Escape at Dawn 1950-01-08 Movie
1949	Producer	Jakoman and Tetsu 1949-07-11 Movie
	Producer	Kirare no Senta 1949-04-05 Movie
	Producer	Lady From Hell 1949-03-15 Movie
1947	Producer	Snow Trail 1947-08-05 Movie
	Producer	Chikagai nijuyojikan 1947-04-29 Movie
	Producer	Four Love Stories 1947-04-01 Movie
1946	Producer	Eleven High School Girls 1946-08-21 Movie
	Producer	As Long as I Live 1946-08-01 Movie
	Executive Producer	Those Who Make Tomorrow 1946-05-02 Movie
	Producer	Yoki na onna 1946-02-14 Movie
1945	Executive Producer	Three Women of the North 1945-08-05 Movie
	Producer	Duel at Yagyu Valley 1945-05-17 Movie
Year	Role	Movie/Tv