Koichi Kawakita

Visual Effects

Koichi Kawakita

Born December 5, 1942 · Tokyo, Japan

Died December 5, 2014 · aged 72

Koichi Kawakita was a Japanese director, cinematographer, and optical photographer best known for his work on most of the Heisei era Godzilla films and the first two Rebirth of Mothra films. He also occasionally appeared in cameos in some of Toho's tokusastu productions.

Known For

King Kong vs. GodzillaKing Kong vs. Godzilla · 1962
King Kong vs. Godzilla
★ 6.91962
MovieScience FictionFantasy
The advertising director of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, frustrated with the low ratings of their sponsored TV program, seeks a more sensationalist approach. He orders his staff to Faro Island to capture King Kong for exploitation. As Godzilla re-emerges, a media frenzy generates with Pacific looking to capitalize off of the ultimate battle.
The Mighty Peking ManThe Mighty Peking Man · 1977
The Mighty Peking Man
★ 5.11977
MovieActionFantasy
Word of a monster ape ten stories tall living in the Himalayas reaches fortune hunters in Hong Kong. They travel to India to capture it, but wild animals and quicksand dissuade all but Johnny, an adventurer with a broken heart. He finds the monster and discovers it's been raising a scantily-clad woman, Samantha, since she survived a plane crash years before that killed her parents. In the idyllic jungle, Johnny and Samantha fall in love. Then Johnny asks her to convince "Utam" to go to Hong Kong. Lu Tien, an unscrupulous promoter, takes over: Utam is in chains for freak show exhibitions. When Lu Tien assaults Samantha, Utam's protective instincts take over: havoc in Hong Kong.
Godzilla vs. BiollanteGodzilla vs. Biollante · 1989
Godzilla vs. Biollante
★ 7.41989
MovieActionHorror
After the previous Godzilla attack, a miniature arms race ensues to collect his cells. Concerned over Godzilla's possible return, the Japanese government uses the cells to create a new bio-weapon, ANEB (Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria). They seeks the aid of geneticist Genshiro Shiragami, who's experiments result in a new mutation.
King Kong vs. GodzillaKing Kong vs. Godzilla · 1963
King Kong vs. Godzilla
★ 6.61963
MovieActionScience Fiction
When an underhanded pharmaceutical company goes to a remote tropical island to steal King Kong for advertising purposes, they get more than they bargained for when the gigantic ape attacks an unsuspecting village and an enormous octopus.
Ebirah, Horror of the DeepEbirah, Horror of the Deep · 1966
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
★ 6.31966
MovieScience FictionAction
Searching for his brother, Ryota stows away on a boat belonging to a criminal alongside two other teenagers. The group shipwrecks on Letchi island and discover the Infant Island natives have been enslaved by a terrorist organization controlling a crustacean monster. Finding a sleeping Godzilla, they decide to awaken him to defeat the terrorists and liberate the natives.
Godzilla vs. DestoroyahGodzilla vs. Destoroyah · 1995
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
★ 7.81995
MovieActionScience Fiction
A burning Godzilla, on the verge of meltdown, emerges to lay siege to Hong Kong. At the same time horrifying new organisms are discovered in Japan. These crustacean-like beings are seemingly born of the Oxygen Destroyer, the weapon that killed the original Godzilla.
Godzilla vs. MechagodzillaGodzilla vs. Mechagodzilla · 1974
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
★ 6.91974
MovieActionAdventure
An Okinawan prophecy that foretells the destruction of the Earth is seeming fulfilled when Godzilla emerges to return to his destructive roots. But not all is what it seems after Godzilla breaks his ally Anguirus's jaw. Matters are further complicated when a second Godzilla emerges, revealing the doppelgänger as a mechanical weapon.
The War in SpaceThe War in Space · 1977
The War in Space
★ 6.01977
MovieAdventureScience Fiction
The year is 1988, and in the midst of recovering from a near-miss with a large comet, Earth finds that there are much worse matters at hand: the sudden arrival of a strange army of aliens and their fleet of unstoppable warships.

Filmography

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Zone FighterZone Fighter · 1973
Zone Fighter
★ 7.41973
SeriesAction & AdventureSci-Fi & Fantasy
Zone Fighter, known in Japan as Ryūsei Ningen Zone, is a tokusatsu science fiction superhero television series. Produced by Toho Company Ltd., the show aired on Nippon Television from April 2 to September 24, 1973, with a total of 26 episodes, it was cancelled due to the oil crisis of 1973. This was Toho's answer to not only the popular Ultra Series, but the Henshin Hero phenomenon started by shows like Kamen Rider and Android Kikaider. The previous year, Toho had just made their successful first superhero show, Rainbowman. The series was also notable for its guest appearance by Toho's own Godzilla, as well as two other Toho monsters, King Ghidorah and Gigan. Supplementary materials published by Toho have confirmed Zone Fighter to be part of the Showa-era Godzilla series, taking place in between Godzilla vs. Megalon and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.

Special Effects