is a former Japanese film and television producer. The third son of special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, he began his career at his father's company Tsuburaya Productions while at Tamagawa University in 1966. Tsuburaya had an extremely prolific five-decade career in film and television, during which he worked on over 80 productions.
Life and career Akira Tsuburaya was born on February 12, 1944 in Tokyo. He was the third son of special effects pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya and his wife Masano Araki as well as their first child to be baptized. While at Tamagawa University, Tsuburaya began his career working in film at his father's company Tsuburaya Productions on the domestically popular Ultra Q episode, "Kanegon's Cocoon" as an assistant director in 1965. He subsequently returned to work as an assistant director on the Ultra Q episode "Challenge From the Year 2020" and the following year worked in the same position on Ultraman (TV 1966-1967). He later served as the chief assistant director of special effects on Ultraseven (TV 1967) and was also an assistant director on Operation: Mystery! (1968).
Tsuburaya began working as a producer in 1970, receiving his first credit in that position on Chibira-kun in the same year. He continued working at Tsuburaya Productions on productions such as Triple Fighter (1972), Fireman (1973) Army of the Apes, Pro-Wrestling Star Aztecaser Ultraman Leo (both 1974), Dinosaur War Izenborg (1977), and Star Wolf (1978) until leaving the company in June 1989.
In July 1989, a month after leaving, he established Tsuburaya Eizo. He would serve as executive producer for many television shows by his company, including Babel II: Beyond Infinity (2001) and Genma Wars: Eve of Mythology (2002). In February 2002, he rejoined Tsuburaya Productions and became the head of the production department as vice president. In May 2005, however, he left Tsuburaya Productions once again and was appointed director of Tsuburaya Dream Factory that June.
Filmography Year Title Position Notes 1966Ultra QAssistant directorEpisodes "Kanegon's Cocoon" &"Challenge From the Year 2020" UltramanFour episodes 1967 UltrasevenOf special effects1968Operation: Mystery!1970Chibira-kun Producer 1972 Triple Fighter 1973 Fireman 1974 Army of the Apes Ultraman Leo 1976 Star of Pro-Wrestling AztecaserKyoryu Tankentai Born Free1977Dinosaur War Izenborg1978Dinosaur Corps KoseidonStar WolfExecutive producer1979White Hand, Beautiful Hand, Cursed Hand1980Bizarre! Golden-eyed GirlVengeful Spirit! Sneering DollBokura Yakyu Tanteidan1981All Robots Who Can Feel Gather1982Princess Sakurako, the Evil SpiritCute DemonMidare Karakuri1983In the Eye of the DevilThe Legendary Ghost CatPicture Book of SweetsThe Lost Honor of Natsuko AizawaAdventurous Trip to the End of the Universe1984Cursed Mannequin DollPopular Kaiju ParadeTwo Women1985The Night I DiedDemon WithinProducer1986The SamuraiExecutive producer1987Fear of 3:00 AM1988Sorry for the Wait! The Complete Works of UltramanOffice Love1989Pursue the 7 Mysteries of Ultraman!Decision! Best Ten of Ultraman1990Superman Detective SchwatchUltra Q The Movie: Legend of the StarsProducer1991Crystal Blue ShadowExecutive producerYōka Mandragora's CounterattackSkyscraper HuntingPlannerMikadroidProducer1993Legendary Fairy Woman, Siren 1Planner1994Legendary Fairy Woman, Siren 21995Corporate Warrior YamazakiPrisoner Maria: The MovieProducerFemale Prisoner Executioner Maria 2White Coat of AmazonessLegendary Fairy Woman, Siren 31996Heisei Shameless AcademyExecutive producerLegendary Fairy Woman, Siren 4Planner1997The Messiah from the FutureDevil SummonerExecutive producer1998I Want to Play and Live for the Rest of My LifePlanner/Acting roleKachiri the LocksmithExecutive producerThe Mysterious Transfer StudentPlannerNeptune in Dotsuki DotsukareWomen Who Slept with BubblesProducerInformant (Chikuri) Maru Backstory InvestigationExecutive producerRosetta: The Masked Angel1999Danger de mortPlannerThe Man Who Shot Don2000Būba SenseiExecutive producerChinpiraProducer2001STAR BOWSExecutive producerZombie SnakePlanner2002Wild 7: anotherExecutive producerBarom-1Genma Wars: Eve of MythologyBeast FighterDemon Lord DanteGot MarsBabel IISubmarine Super 99Gun FrontierCosmo Warrior ZeroFortune Dogs2004Eko Eko AzarakProducerSpace Symphony Maetel~Galaxy Express 999 Gaiden~Mysterious Case Special Investigation TeamS.R.I Laughing Fire Daruma ManExecutive producer2005Kazuo Umezu's Horror TheaterPlannerSix-part film2006A Chain of Cursed MurdersCat Eyed Boy2008Bringing Godzilla Down to SizeInterviewee
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