Shinji Higuchi
Directing Born Sep 22, 1965 Tokyo, Japan 109 credits
Biography
Shinji Higuchi is a movie director, storyboard artist, and special effects specialist born on September 22, 1965, in Tokyo, Japan. Known primarily for directing, he has accumulated 86 known credits. He is recognized as one of the top special effects wizards in Japan and frequently works in animation. He gained recognition for his special effects work in the Gamera trilogy directed by Shusuke Kaneko. Additionally, Higuchi is one of the original founders of Gainax, alongside Hideaki Anno, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, and Takami Akai. He is also a frequent collaborator with Hideaki Anno on both anime and tokusatsu projects.
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Career overview
Shinji Higuchi is a movie director, storyboard artist, and special effects specialist born in Tokyo, Japan on September 22, 1965. Recognized as one of the top special effects wizards in Japan, he frequently works in animation and has eighty-six known credits in the entertainment industry. Higuchi is also known as one of the original founders of Gainax, alongside Hideaki Anno, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, and Takami Akai.
Higuchi gained recognition for his special effects work in the Gamera trilogy directed by Shusuke Kaneko. Throughout his career, he has collaborated frequently with Hideaki Anno on both anime and tokusatsu projects. His primary focus is directing, establishing a prominent career in Japanese cinema and visual effects.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
EVANGELION 30th Anniversary Special Screening · Production SupervisorTHE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN
Bullet Train Explosion · Director
Luca on the RoadIshiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film DirectorBrush of the God
KyrieBreakfast of the Movie
Shin Ultraman · Storyboard ArtistShin Ultraman · DirectorKamen Rider Black Sun · Concept ArtistLost Man FoundThunderbirds 55/GOGO · Director
Hideaki Anno: The Final Challenge of Evangelion
The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8 · StoryThe 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8 · Original Concept
The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga
DRAGON PILOT: Hisone and Masotan · Series DirectorDRAGON PILOT: Hisone and Masotan · Original StoryDRAGON PILOT: Hisone and Masotan · Storyboard Artist
Shin Godzilla · StoryboardShin Godzilla · Visual Effects DirectorShin Godzilla · DirectorShin Godzilla · Visual Effects Technical DirectorShin Godzilla · Visual Effects
Attack on Titan · DirectorAttack on Titan II: End of the World · DirectorAttack on Titan: Counter Rockets · Series Director
Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark · Storyboard Artist
Attack on Titan · Storyboard ArtistKill la Kill · Storyboard ArtistThe IntermissionPeaceful Times (F02) Petit Film · Director
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo · Storyboard ArtistThe Floating Castle · DirectorGiant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo · Director
Towa no Quon 3: The Complicity of Dreams · Storyboard Artist
Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt · Storyboard ArtistDeath KappaMonster Magnitude: 9 · Series DirectorMonster Magnitude: 9 · DirectorMonster Magnitude: 9 · Writer
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance · Storyboard ArtistEvangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance · Assistant ScriptGeharha: The Dark and Long-Haired Monster · Executive Producer
The Last Princess · Director
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone · Storyboard Artist
Japan Sinks · DirectorTachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food GriftersGunbuster: The Movie · Storyboard Artist
Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean · Director
Kibakichi
Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker · OtherMike Yokohama: A Forest with No Name
The Private Detective MikeVandread Turbulence · DirectorMinimoni The Movie: The Great Cake Adventure! · Director
All About Lily Chou-ChouThe Princess Blade · Visual Effects DirectorPistol Opera · Special EffectsVandread Integral · Director
FLCL · Mechanical Designer
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris · Visual Effects DirectorGamera 3: Revenge of Iris · Creature DesignGAMERA 1999
His and Her CircumstancesEVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)² · ScreenplayRevival of Evangelion · ScreenplayDocument Love & Pop
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion · Storyboard ArtistNeon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth · Screenplay
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion · Visual Effects DirectorGamera 2: Attack of Legion · Creature DesignSpace Ship Remnant 6 · Visual Effects Director
Full filmography
- EVANGELION 30th Anniversary Special Screening (2026) Production Supervisor
- THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN (2026) as Self
- Bullet Train Explosion (2025) Director
- Luca on the Road (2024) as Takashi Shiomi
- Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director (2024) as Himself
- Brush of the God (2024)
- Kyrie (2023) as Takashi Shiomi
- Breakfast of the Movie (2023)
- Shin Ultraman (2022) Storyboard Artist
- Shin Ultraman (2022) Director
- Kamen Rider Black Sun (2022) Concept Artist
- Lost Man Found (2022) as Himself
- Thunderbirds 55/GOGO (2022) Director
- Thunderbirds 55/GOGO (2022) Editor
- Thunderbirds 55/GOGO (2022) Writer
- Ribbon (2022) Special Effects
- Shin Ultra Fight (2022) Director
- Shin Ultra Fight (2022) Series Director
- Taroman Historia (2022) as Self
- Hideaki Anno: The Final Challenge of Evangelion (2021) as Self
- The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8 (2020)
- The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8 (2020) Story
- The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8 (2020) Original Concept
- The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga (2019) as Self - SFX Director
- DRAGON PILOT: Hisone and Masotan (2018) Series Director
- DRAGON PILOT: Hisone and Masotan (2018) Original Story
- DRAGON PILOT: Hisone and Masotan (2018) Storyboard Artist
- Shin Godzilla (2016) Storyboard
- Shin Godzilla (2016) Visual Effects Director
- Shin Godzilla (2016) Director
- Shin Godzilla (2016) Visual Effects Technical Director
- Shin Godzilla (2016) Visual Effects
- Attack on Titan (2015) Director
- Attack on Titan II: End of the World (2015) Director
- Attack on Titan: Counter Rockets (2015) Series Director
- Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark (2014) Storyboard Artist
- Attack on Titan (2013) Storyboard Artist
- Kill la Kill (2013) Storyboard Artist
- The Intermission (2013)
- Peaceful Times (F02) Petit Film (2013) Director
- Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012) Storyboard Artist
- The Floating Castle (2012) Director
- Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo (2012) Director
- Towa no Quon 3: The Complicity of Dreams (2011) Storyboard Artist
- Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2010) Storyboard Artist
- Death Kappa (2010) as Reporter
- Monster Magnitude: 9 (2010) Series Director
- Monster Magnitude: 9 (2010) Director
- Monster Magnitude: 9 (2010) Writer
- Monster Magnitude: 9 (2010) Executive Producer
- Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009) Storyboard Artist
- Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009) Assistant Script
- Geharha: The Dark and Long-Haired Monster (2009) Executive Producer
- The Last Princess (2008) Director
- Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007) Storyboard Artist
- Japan Sinks (2006) Director
- Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters (2006) as Beefbowl Ushigoro (voice)
- Gunbuster: The Movie (2006) Storyboard Artist
- Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean (2005) Director
- Kibakichi (2004) as Shinnosuke Higuchi
- Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker (2003) Other
- Mike Yokohama: A Forest with No Name (2003) as No. 19
- The Private Detective Mike (2002)
- Vandread Turbulence (2002) Director
- Minimoni The Movie: The Great Cake Adventure! (2002) Director
- All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001) as Otaku
- The Princess Blade (2001) Visual Effects Director
- Pistol Opera (2001) Special Effects
- Vandread Integral (2001) Director
- FLCL (2000) Mechanical Designer
- Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (1999) Visual Effects Director
- Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (1999) Creature Design
- GAMERA 1999 (1999)
- His and Her Circumstances (1998) as Member B (voice)
- EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)² (1998) Screenplay
- Revival of Evangelion (1998) Screenplay
- Document Love & Pop (1998)
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997) Storyboard Artist
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth (1997) Screenplay
- Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (1996) Visual Effects Director
- Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (1996) Creature Design
- Space Ship Remnant 6 (1996) Visual Effects Director
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) Writer
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) Storyboard Artist
- Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995) Special Effects
- The Making of Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995)
- Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero (1993) Special Effects Supervisor
- Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero (1993) Storyboard Artist
- The Man Who Wanted to Be Ultraman (1993) Storyboard Artist
- The Cat (1992) Special Effects Assistant
- Future Memories: Last Christmas (1992) Visual Effects Director
- The Cat- Beast Wars: Nine Lives (1991) Special Effects Supervisor
- Otaku no Video (1991) Storyboard
- Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story III (1991) Director
- Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story II (1991) Director
- Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story I (1991) Director
- Mikadroid: Robokill Beneath Disco Club Layla (1991) Special Effects
- Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990) Storyboard Artist
- Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990) Director
- Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars (1990) Storyboard
- Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars (1990) Storyboard Artist
- The Men Who Made Ultraman (1989) Special Effects
- Gunbuster (1988) Storyboard Artist
- Dragon Quest Fantasia Video (1988) Special Effects
- Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise (1987) Assistant Director
- Godzilla 1985 (1985) Special Effects
- Orochi Strikes Again (1985) Visual Effects
- Orochi Strikes Again (1985) Special Effects
- The Return of Godzilla (1984) Special Effects