Shinji Higuchi

Shinji Higuchi is celebrated for his tokusatsu blockbusters and effects-driven spectacle. He first drew wide notice for his special-effects work on Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, honored with the Japan Academy Film Prize's Special Technology award at the ceremony's 19th edition.

Yes, Higuchi co-directed the 2016 kaiju film Shin Godzilla alongside Hideaki Anno, and the two shared the directing prize for the film. It stands as one of the clearest showcases of his tokusatsu, effects-driven filmmaking style.

Higuchi is credited as a writer on the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, reflecting his long-running creative partnership with series creator Hideaki Anno. The two went on to collaborate on numerous other projects together over the following decades, including the 2016 film Shin Godzilla.

Higuchi stepped into feature directing in 2005 with Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean, followed a year later by Sinking of Japan. He later adapted Hajime Isayama's Attack on Titan manga into a two-part live-action film that won an Excellence in Theatrical Live Action Film honor at the 2016 VFX-JAPAN Awards, and his 2022 feature Shin Ultraman drew strong reviews both in Japan and abroad.

Shinji Higuchi is a Japanese filmmaker born in 1965, active in the industry since 1984. He's best known for tokusatsu-influenced spectacle spanning special effects, directing, and writing, including his contribution to Neon Genesis Evangelion.