Special effects supervisor
A special effects supervisor, also referred to as a special effects director, special effects coordinator or SFX supervisor, is an individual who works on a commercial, theater, television or film set creating special effects. They are generally the department head who defers to the film's director and/or producers, and who is in charge of the entire special effects team. Special effects include anything that is manually or mechanically manipulated. This may include the use of mechanized props, special effects makeup, props, scenery, scale models, pyrotechnics and atmospheric effects: creating physical wind, rain, fog, snow, clouds etc.
Eiji Tsuburaya, the "Father of Tokusatsu" and co-creator of the Godzilla series, as well as the main creator of the Ultra series.
A special effect of a firing methane bubble which looks like a bird.
Eiji Tsuburaya was a Japanese special effects director, filmmaker, and cinematographer. A co-creator of the Godzilla and Ultraman franchises, he is considered one of the most important and influential figures in the history of cinema. Known as the "Father of Tokusatsu", he pioneered Japan's special effects industry, introducing several technological developments in film productions. In a career spanning five decades, Tsuburaya worked on approximately 250 films—including globally renowned features directed by Ishirō Honda, Hiroshi Inagaki, and Akira Kurosawa—and earned six Japan Technical Awards.
Tsuburaya in 1960
Tsuburaya with his mother Sei, c. 1902. Sei died of illness shortly after giving birth to her second son.
Tsuburaya (far right) with fellow Imperial Japanese Army comrades, c. 1922
Tsuburaya riding his iron shooting crane in 1934. An adaptation of this crane is still used worldwide today.