Keizō Murase (村瀬継蔵, Murase Keizō, October 5, 1935 – October 14, 2024) was a Japanese suitmaker, stuntman, sculptor, modeler, and film director. He is particularly well known for his work in giant monster films, including Mothra (1961), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), and The Mighty Peking Man (1977).
Keizō Murase | |
|---|---|
| 村瀬継蔵 | |
| Born | October 5, 1935 |
| Died | October 14, 2024 (aged 89) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Occupation(s) | Suitmaker, stuntman, sculptor, modeler, film director |
| Years active | 1958–2024 |
Life and career
editMurase was born in Ikeda, Tokachi, Hokkaido, Japan on October 5, 1935.[1][2]
In 1958, Toho hired Murase to sculpt the Varan suit for Varan the Unbelievable.[3] An amateur photographer, Murase extensively documented his work which was published in his 2015 autobiography, Monster Maker: Keizo Murase.[4] After working for Daiei Film on Gamera, he, Masao Yagi, and Akira Suzuki founded the modelling company, Ex Productions, he later left in 1972 to form his own company, Twenty.[4]
Murase died from cirrhosis of the liver on October 14, 2024, at the age of 89.[5]
Filmography
editFilm
edit- The H-Man (1958)[4]
- Varan (1958) – Varan sculptor / Miniature construction[4]
- Mothra (1961) – Mothra imago sculptor[4]
- King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) – King Kong and Godzilla sculptor[4]
- Gorath (1962) – Maguma sculptor[4]
- Matango (1963) – Matango sculptor[4]
- Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) – Godzilla sculptor[4]
- Dogora (1964) – Dogora sculptor[4]
- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964) – Godzilla and King Ghidorah sculptor[4]
- Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965) – Frankenstein and Baragon sculptor[4]
- Gamera (1965) – Gamera sculptor[4]
- Return of Daimajin (1966) – Daimajin sculptor[4]
- Daimajin Strikes Again (1966) – Daimajin sculptor[4]
- Gamera vs. Gyaos (1967) – Gyaos sculptor[4]
- Yongary, Monster from the Deep (1967) – Yonggary sculptor[4]
- Gamera vs. Viras (1968) – Viras sculptor[4]
- Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)[4]
- The Mighty Peking Man (1977) – Peking Man sculptor[4]
- The Seventh Curse (1986)[4]
- Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) – King Ghidorah and Mecha-King Ghidorah sculptor[4]
- Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992)[4]
- Howl from Beyond the Fog (2019)[6]
- Brush of the God (2024) – Director[7]
Television
edit- Kamen Rider (1971)[4]
- Ultraman Ace (1972)[4]
- Ike! Greenman (TV 1973–1974) – Greenman sculptor[4]
References
edit- ^ 特撮造形師 村瀬継蔵さん作品展
- ^ Homenick, Brett (2018-05-23). "MEMORIES OF JAPAN'S MASTER MONSTER MAKER! Keizo Murase Shares the Secrets of the World's Greatest Kaiju!". Vantage Point Interviews. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
- ^ "平成25年度メディア芸術情報拠点・コンソーシアム構築事業 日本特撮に関する調査" (PDF). Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Murase, Keizo; Wakasa, Shin'ichi (September 9, 2015). Monster Maker: Keizo Murase - Treasured KAIJU Photobook (in Japanese). Yosensha. ISBN 4800307562.
- ^ ""怪獣造形界のレジェンド"村瀬継蔵さん死去 89歳 公開中の特撮映画『カミノフデ』で総監督". Sankei. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "SRS Cinema Acquires North American Rights to New Kaiju Film HOWL FROM BEYOND THE FOG". SciFi Japan. 5 August 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-03-05.
- ^ "怪獣造形のレジェンド 村瀬継蔵が挑む最初で最後の監督作 劇場用特撮映画『神の筆』制作支援プロジェクト | MOTION GALLERY". motion-gallery.net (in Japanese). Retrieved July 19, 2021.
External links
edit- Keizô Murase at IMDb
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