Tomoyuki Tanaka

Tomoyuki Tanaka

  • Birthday: 1910-04-26
  • Deathday: 1997-04-02
  • Place of birth: Osaka, Honshu, Japan
  • Also know as: 田中友幸

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.

Filmography

Submersion of Japan

1973

As Government official (uncredited)

Production

Rebirth of Mothra II

1997

As Creator

Godzilla Raids Again

1955

As Producer

Godzilla

1954

As Producer

King Kong vs. Godzilla

1962

As Producer

Destroy All Monsters

1968

As Producer

The War of the Gargantuas

1966

As Producer

The Longest Tunnel

1982

As Producer

Red Beard

1965

As Producer

The Bad Sleep Well

1960

As Producer

Yojimbo

1961

As Executive Producer

Kagemusha

1980

As Executive Producer

High and Low

1963

As Producer

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah

1995

As Executive Producer

The Lower Depths

1957

As Producer

Samurai Rebellion

1967

As Producer

Atragon

1963

As Producer

Battle in Outer Space

1959

As Producer

Kill!

1968

As Producer

Godzilla vs. Megalon

1973

As Producer

King Kong Escapes

1967

As Producer

Godzilla vs. Mothra

1992

As Executive Producer

Godzilla vs. Biollante

1989

As Executive Producer

Son of Godzilla

1967

As Producer

Latitude Zero

1969

As Executive Producer

Rodan

1956

As Producer

Godzilla vs. Gigan

1972

As Producer

Attack Squadron

1963

As Producer

The Mysterians

1957

As Producer

White Beast

1950

As Producer

Samurai Saga

1959

As Producer

The Human Vapor

1960

As Executive Producer

All Monsters Attack

1969

As Producer

Half Human

1955

As Producer

Mothra

1961

As Producer

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

1964

As Executive Producer

Godzilla

1977

As Producer

The War in Space

1977

As Executive Producer

Gorath

1962

As Producer

Godzilla 1985

1985

As Executive Producer

Little Peach

1958

As Producer

The Rickshaw Man

1958

As Producer

Terror of Mechagodzilla

1975

As Executive Producer

The Killing Bottle

1967

As Executive Producer

Princess from the Moon

1987

As Executive Producer

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

1966

As Executive Producer

A Keg of Powder

1964

As Producer

Adventure in Kigan Castle

1966

As Executive Producer

Snow Trail

1947

As Producer

The Merciless Trap

1961

As Producer

The Angry Street

1950

As Executive Producer

The Legend of the White Serpent

1956

As Executive Producer

Oh, Bomb!

1964

As Producer

Matango

1963

As Producer

The Last Gunfight

1960

As Executive Producer

The Big Boss

1959

As Executive Producer

Blueprint of Murder

1961

As Executive Producer

Big Shots Die at Dawn

1961

As Executive Producer

The Age of Assassins

1967

As Executive Producer

Westward Desperado

1960

As Executive Producer

Desperado Outpost

1959

As Executive Producer

The Return of Godzilla

1984

As Producer

High Seas Hijack

1977

As Executive Producer

Golden Eyes

1968

As Executive Producer

Ironfinger

1965

As Executive Producer

風来忍法帖

1965

As Executive Producer

風来忍法帖 八方破れ

1968

As Executive Producer

Interpol Code 8

1963

As Executive Producer

The Vampire Doll

1970

As Executive Producer

Whirlwind

1964

As Producer

Godzilla vs. Hedorah

1971

As Executive Producer

Duel at Yagyu Valley

1945

As Producer

A Whistle in My Heart

1959

As Executive Producer

The Weed of Crime

1962

As Executive Producer

Operation Enemy Fort

1962

As Executive Producer

Varan

1958

As Producer

Young Swordsman

1963

As Executive Producer

Warring Clans

1963

As Producer

The Retreat from Kiska

1965

As Producer

Farewell Rabaul

1954

As Producer

Blood and Diamonds

1964

As Executive Producer

Yagyu Secret Scrolls

1957

As Producer

Ohan

1984

As Executive Producer

The Adventures of Sun Wu Kung

1959

As Executive Producer

Terror in the Streets

1970

As Executive Producer

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II

1993

As Executive Producer

The Maiden Courtesan

1956

As Executive Producer

Key of Keys

1965

As Executive Producer

Man Against Man

1960

As Executive Producer

Samurai Assassin

1965

As Producer

Portrait of Hell

1969

As Producer

Admiral Yamamoto

1968

As Producer

Fort Graveyard

1965

As Producer

Zero Fighter

1976

As Executive Producer

Sanjuro

1962

As Producer

Space Amoeba

1970

As Executive Producer

Three Women of the North

1945

As Executive Producer

To Love and Forgive

1955

As Producer

House

1977

As Producer

Legacy of the 500,000

1963

As Producer

Samurai Banners

1969

As Producer

Adolescence Part II

1953

As Producer

The Last War

1961

As Producer

Those Who Make Tomorrow

1946

As Executive Producer

The Man Who Came to Port

1952

As Producer

Mother and Son

1955

As Executive Producer

Lovetide

1955

As Executive Producer

A Man in Red

1961

As Executive Producer

47 Ronin

1962

As Producer

Blood on the Sea

1961

As Executive Producer

Untamed Woman

1957

As Producer

Japan's Longest Day

1967

As Producer

The Imperial Navy

1981

As Executive Producer

Tiger Flight

1964

As Producer

Escape at Dawn

1950

As Producer

The H-Man

1958

As Producer

Foghorn

1952

As Producer

The Last Embrace

1953

As Producer

Sword for Hire

1952

As Producer

The Angry Street

1950

As Producer

Four Love Stories

1947

As Producer

Jakoman and Tetsu

1964

As Producer

Beyond Love and Hate

1951

As Producer

The Surf

1954

As Producer

Actress

1987

As Producer

Zero

1984

As Producer

Magnitude 7.9

1980

As Producer

Yoki na onna

1946

As Producer

Lady From Hell

1949

As Producer

Eleven High School Girls

1946

As Producer

As Long as I Live

1946

As Producer

Chikagai nijuyojikan

1947

As Producer

Kirare no Senta

1949

As Producer

Devil's Gold

1950

As Producer

Who Will Judge Me?

1951

As Producer

The White Orchid

1951

As Producer

Swords and Brocade

1951

As Producer

Scoundrel

1956

As Producer

Zero Fighter

1966

As Producer

Their Father's Wife

1953

As Producer

Adolescence

1952

As Producer

My Wonderful Yellow Car

1953

As Producer

Yasugorō shusse

1953

As Producer

Swift Current

1952

As Producer

Shanghai Rose

1952

As Producer

Youth of Heiji Senigata

1953

As Producer

Itsuko to sono haha

1954

As Producer

Red-Line Base

1953

As Producer

No Response from Car 33

1955

As Producer

Human Revolution II

1976

As Executive Producer

Love Never Fails

1955

As Producer

Ticket to Hell

1955

As Producer

Operation Sewer Rats

1962

As Producer

The Three Treasures

1959

As Producer

Hoero Datsugoku-shu

1962

As Producer

Sanshiro Sugata

1965

As Producer

Jakoman and Tetsu

1949

As Producer

Rainy Night Duel

1956

As Producer

Battle of the Japan Sea

1969

As Production Director

Battle of the Japan Sea

1969

As Producer

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla

1994

As Executive Producer

Sekidô matsuri

1951

As Producer

Operation Mad Dog

1963

As Producer

Outpost of Hell

1963

As Producer

Ant Hell War

1964

As Producer

The Sun is Calling You

1963

As Producer

The Witness Killed

1961

As Executive Producer

ESPY

1974

As Producer

Prophecies of Nostradamus

1974

As Executive Producer

Conflagration

1975

As Executive Producer

Submersion of Japan

1973

As Executive Producer

What's Up, Tiger Lily?

1966

As Producer

The Makioka Sisters

1983

As Executive Producer

Gunhed

1989

As Executive Producer

Dogora

1964

As Producer

All Monsters Attack

1969

As Executive Producer

Varan the Unbelievable

1962

As Producer

King Kong vs. Godzilla

1963

As Producer

Mothra vs. Godzilla

1964

As Executive Producer

Invasion of Astro-Monster

1965

As Executive Producer

Heat and Mud

1950

As Producer

The Human Revolution

1973

As Producer

Mount Hakkoda

1977

As Producer

Judge and Jeopardy

1968

As Producer

The Mad Atlantic

1966

As Producer

A Man in the Storm

1957

As Producer

Wakarete ikiru toki mo

1961

As Producer

Attack Squadron

1963

As Writer

Godzilla 1985

1985

As Story

Mothra

1961

As Lyricist

Godzilla vs. Mothra

1992

As Story

Godzilla

1954

As Story

Rebirth of Mothra

1996

As Original Story

Godzilla

1977

As Story

Within Reach

2017

As Characters

Look Within

2019

As Characters

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