Eiji Tsuburaya - Special Effects - Model Miniatures

Eiji Tsuburaya (1901-1970) was the mastermind of the TOHO Studio effects Shop.
The very imaginative and visionary visual effects maestro became internationally known through a unique 
monster movie, GODZILLA (1954), and a star was born.
His ingenuity, creativity and attention to detail enabled the creation of little cinematic gems even from moderate budgets.
Through the years TOHO produced a great number of effects-laden films, including some large-scale war films.
Eiji Tsuburaya was in charge of over sixty craftsmen, technicians and model makers for the epic war movies.
They are usually very well executed and offer a wide variety of skilful miniatures and admirable effects.
'Admiral Yamamoto' (1968) shows Tsuburaya at the height of his creative powers.
His vibrant orchestration of model miniature battleships and aircrafts and the impressive effects 
sequences are of extremely good quality.
On top you get a very atmospheric, moving end, all staged in miniature. Awesome!

Toshiro Mifune reads the script in his office. 
He plays the famous Admiral Yamamoto, charismatic, stoic and proud.

German Poster of the TOHO War movies 'Storm over the Pacific' (1960) and 'Wings over the Pacific' (1963).
Eiji Tsuburaya was the visual effects director on both movies and reused several sequences from these films 
(stock footage) for 'Admiral Yamamoto'. 
The Pearl Harbor attack, the Battle of Midway, Carrier scenes and different Dog Fight and aircraft scenes.
Many of these scenes are of simple quality and easy to distinguish from the new exceptionally material 
Tsuburaya designed for 'Admiral Yamamoto'.
The Midway Island outdoor miniature set, for example,  looks like a lost sheet of plywood in the Pacific.
Pyro Effects can not cover everything. Nevertheless, both movies have the special Tsuburaya Charme!
The Japanese fleet anchored in the Hiroshima Bay. Model Miniature Ships and Islands - Painted Backdrop.
The miniature fleet in the big TOHO water pool. 
Detailed large scale model miniatures, Battleships, Submarines and Carriers.
On the right the Battleship HARUNA.
The Battleship HARUNA in the Toho pool.
The proud Battleship NAGATO anchored in the Hiroshima Bay - Toho water tank, 1968.
Sailing on the Pacific, the Battleship NAGATO - Model Miniature.
A craftsman ensures that the chimney of the NAGATO smokes in a proper manner, Toho pool 1968.
A technician is preparing the pyro charges. These charges are very similar to New Years Battery Fireworks. 
Once ignited electrical via 'firing board', they are only a little controllable. 
The guns shoot, whether you are prepared or not! 
The mighty Battleship YAMATO - Model Miniature.
The Carrier AKAGI and the YAMATO anchored in the Toho pool - Visual Effects Camera crew. 
The big Toho pool opened in 1960 at a size of about 290 x 240 feet and up to five feet deep.
The AKAGI and the KAGA are sailing out to attack Midway.
Admiral Yamamoto personally greets goodbye...
Toshiro Mifune in his Yamamoto costume climbs onto the outer wall of the pool to see the impressive, 
large-scale model miniatures of Tsuburayas boys, 1968.
Japanese carrier model miniature - KAGA
American aircrafts attack the Japanese carriers - First-Class miniature effects. 
The flying debris are done brilliantly.
Antiaircraft fire of a Carrier ...all in miniature. Every small ack-ack gun is loaded with a Battery Pyro-charge.
It happens that such a gun breaks loose and fires in all directions.
The Japanese Carrier KAGA on fire - Toho water tank.
The KAGA is sinking - View from the cockpit of an aircraft.
The mighty YAMATO, the heaviest and most powerfully armed battleship ever constructed.
An excellent Miniature out of the Tsuburaya Model Shop. 
'Miniature' is a bit misleading as these models are large-scale miniatures with a length of several meters! 
The Japanese Fleet anchored at Truk Island - Remodeled 'Hiroshima Bay' Set.
Battleship YAMATO - Truk Island.
The Battleships KONGO and HARUNA are sailing out to bomb the 'Henderson Airfield' on Guadalcanal. 
A Japanese Bomber diving steeply downward - A lossy naval battle in the Pacific.
Japanese Model Miniature planes diving downward to attack the US fleet in the Toho pool, 1968.
The wire mogul Fumio Nakadai ('Godzilla') orchestrated a large-scale ballett of aircraft miniatures.
This is quite an art and he did a marvellous job on 'Admiral Yamamoto'.
The heavy guns of an American Battleship.
Hit!
US Battleship - A model miniature of impressive size! 
The first battle is over, you can see the traces of the struggle. The Supply Crew brings new ammunition.
Pyro-charges are provided with ignition wires - Technicians of the Tsuburaya Crew, 1968.
An US aircraft carrier is under attack.
Excellent aircraft model miniatures in action.
Eiji Tsuburaya was always very interested in airplanes and airplane models.
US Carrier model miniature in the Toho pool, 1968.
The technician sitting on a 'styrofoam raft' is fixing the antiaircraft guns. 
The guys on the right side are piloting the ship into the desired position.
These large models usually have their own engine and are driven by one person.
The large guy with cap in the pool is the right hand of Eiji Tsuburaya, chief assistant Teruyoshi Nakano.
Nakano learned a lot under the old master and became a famous Visual Effects Director himself after the death of Eiji Tsuburaya, 1970.
The US fleet has discovered the Japanese planes...
An US carrier receives a direct hit. 
A great miniature explosion filmed in high-speed, which makes the destruction much more realistic on screen.
You can see the ignition wire ...on a sightseeing flight.
A Captain steers his Ship through the Pacific - Toho water tank, 1968.
What a great miniature! Unfortunately, a bit big for the bathtub.
Uhh...the beautiful model!
A Japanese Torpedo-bomber has found something of interest.
The big Carrier miniature under fire - Toho Pool, painted backdrop. I hope the poor Captain is no longer on board.
Tsuburayas Crew orchestrated a massive pyro show in the Toho pool. Bombs, torpedoes ... the whole program!
The pyro crew did a great job.
US Aircraft Carrier on fire.
Japanese pilots on the flight back - Model Miniatures.
Admiral Yamamoto on the Battleship YAMATO receives bad news. The Navy run out of supplies.
Admiral Yamamoto (Toshiro Mifune) on RABAUL - Ordering the squadrons back to Japan, to defend the homeland.
The Admiral thanked the troops.
Departure in transport aircrafts - Model Miniatures.
In the model shop of Eiji Tsuburaya, 1968. A craftsman is giving a ZERO miniature the finishing touches.
On the right the half-finished model miniature of an Transport Aircraft.
Admiral Yamamoto wants to go on an inspection flight to encourage the troops and to strengthen the morale.
A very risky flight in a territory that is endangered by the enemy.
Toshiro Mifune plays the Admiral with dignity and splendor. A charismatic performer in any role!
The small travel group on the way to BOUGAINVILLE.
Two Mitsubishi G4M Bettys and six Mitsubishi Navy Fighters A6M Zero.
A great model miniature of a Betty Bomber. 
Eiji Tsuburaya had a high affinity for aircrafts and a sharp eye for details.
The Admiral (Toshiro Mifune) in Betty H-323 on the way to BOUGAINVILLE.
Suddenly an attack of several American Lookheed P-38s - 'Operation Vengeance'.
Machine gun fire from behind - Enemy Planes!  Their Target: Kill Yamamoto!
Model Miniature of Admiral Yamamotos H-323 Betty.
Effects Craftsmen with the Betty Bomber of Yamamoto - Bougainville (Toho Studio), 1968.
The H-323 model miniature , hanging on wires, is being loaded with a pyro charge.
A dynamic orchestration of model miniatures on wires - Fumio Nakadai.
Lookheed P-38
Composite of a live-action shot and a model miniature shot.
The aircraft models are large-scale miniatures of exceptional quality.
The Model Shop of Eiji Tsuburaya did some very convincing miniature work, 1968.
The Zeros do their best against a superior force - A Lookheed P-38 (model miniature) in problems.
The Betty of Yamamoto was hit several times.
The H-323 on an unplanned descent.
One engine is burning, the propeller stand still. 
Close to  Bougainville...
All Miniature, Bougainville and the Betty H-323. Magnificent!
The Zeros rush to help the beloved Admiral, but it is too late.
The Bougainville Set - This is breathtaking! What a marvelous Set for the film's climactic finale.
Even the Camera Crew is hanging on wires.
The Betty of Yamamoto glides silently into the jungle of Bougainville.
Admiral Yamamoto is dead.
Bougainville, Toho Studios, 1968.
Beautiful images, accompanied by a great score.
H-323 crashed.
Bougainville, April 18, 1943 - Toho Studios, 1968.
A final salute - The Zero Pilots have tears in their eyes.
An unforgettable, almost poetic end!
The TOHO DVD (left) has a good quality, Tohoscope, but no English subtitles.
There is a Spanish 'Admiral Yamamoto' DVD available with surreal English subtitles.
Every now and then we get a subtitle, but then usually wrong! Ha, Ha.
The movie is also available in a 4 disc Box Set (right) in Spain with the mentioned bumpy quality subtitles. 
The Box is a cheap bargain compared to the (absolutely preferred) Toho DVD and contains 4 Toho War movies.
'Storm over the Pacific', 'Wings over the Pacific', 'Admiral Yamamoto' and 'Battle of the Japan Sea'.
I've only briefly tested the quality, everything OK, ...but wait a minute!
The running time of 'Admiral Yamamoto' is much too short. What have they done?
Well, they cut off the complete climactic end! 
The film ends abruptly on Rabaul, shortly before the Admiral starts on the tragic inspection flight to Bougainville.
Come on, you cut the brilliant end? How strange is that! A faulty production?
Anyway, better stay away from that DVD box, especially if you want to enjoy the terrific 'ADMIRAL YAMAMOTO'.

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