Shinji Higuchi

**Shinji Higuchi** (born *September 22, 1965* in Shinjuku, Tokyo) is a seminal Japanese filmmaker whose career spans more than four decades, encompassing roles as a film director, special effects maestro, screenwriter, and storyboard artist. His early fascination with Toho Studios, sparked during a junior‑high field trip with his aunt, led him to a lifelong devotion to *tokusatsu* and giant‑monster cinema. After entering the industry in 1984 as an assistant modeler on *The Return of Godzilla*, he quickly rose to prominence by directing the groundbreaking special effects for the fan‑made Daicon film *Yamata no Orochi no Gyakushū* and later contributing to the iconic anime series *Neon Genesis Evangelion* as a writer and art director, even lending his name to the series’ protagonist, Shinji Ikari.

Higuchi’s directorial breakthrough arrived with the kaiju revival *Gamera: Guardian of the Universe* (1995), earning the Special Technology Award at the 19th Japan Academy Film Prize and establishing him as a leading visual effects visionary. He continued to blend spectacle with narrative in *Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean* (2005), *Sinking of Japan* (2006), and the live‑action adaptation of *Attack on Titan* (2015), the latter winning Excellence in Theatrical Live Action Film at the 2016 VFX‑JAPAN Awards. In partnership with Hideaki Anno, he co‑directed *Shin Godzilla* (2016), securing the Director of the Year accolade at the 40th Japan Academy Film Prize. His most recent achievement, *Shin Ultraman* (2022), achieved major commercial success and critical praise, solidifying Higuchi’s reputation as a driving force behind contemporary Japanese genre cinema, while his public advocacy for whaling reflects his broader engagement with cultural and environmental debates.