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Jun Fukuda

Jun Fukuda

Directing

Biography

Jun Fukuda was a Japanese film director, screenwriter and producer. Fukuda joined Toho in 1946 and ventured into the realm of assistant director, being taken under the wing by directors like Hiroshi Inagaki. By 1959, Fukuda began a career as a full-fledged director, his early work slanted more toward mystery, but then expand into more comedic work by the mid-1960s, such as the spy spoof Iron Finger (1965). He also wrote the screenplay for the unproduced The Invisible Man vs. the Human Torch. Fukuda would eventually be tasked to direct a Godzilla movie, Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966). Fukuda would go on to direct various entries in Toho's popular Young Guy series and Konto 55, however he would be best known for his Godzilla work, becoming the "go to" director for special effects productions after Ishirō Honda. Fukuda famously harbored a harsh view of his work in the Godzilla series saying, "The monsters became the stars, and the human characters were put into the background." and "I give all of my Godzilla films a minus score." Despite the distain he felt towards his work, he was pleasantly surprised to find fans who enjoyed his film and who sent him well wishing cards near the end of his life.

Known For

Zone Fighter
7.4

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.

Zone Fighter

1973Series