, also abbreviated as , is a Japanese special effects studio founded in 1963 by special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya and was run by his family, until October 2007, when the family sold the company to advertising agency TYO Inc. The studio is best known for producing the science fiction media franchise Ultraman. Since 2007, the head office has been located in Hachimanyama, Setagaya, Tokyo.

History

right|thumb|[[Setagaya, Tokyo – The Kinuta office, which was used by Tsuburaya Productions as the head office from 1964 to 2005. Tsuburaya closed the office on February 6, 2008, and sold it.]]

First established by Japanese special effects (tokusatsu) pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya in 1963, it was responsible for the creation of such classic shows as Ultraman (and its many sequels), Kaiju Booska and many other spectacular tokusatsu family/children's shows.

Tsuburaya has officially made their Ultraman and non-Ultraman content widely available on their YouTube channel, even simulcasting several of their series with English subtitles, the channel has reached over 2 million subscribers.

Tsuburaya's more recent work includes the "Ultra N-Project" (Ultraman the Next and Ultraman Nexus) based loosely on an unused concept which was planned before the production of Ultra Q, but never actually filmed.

Corporate buyout

In October 2007, due to rising production costs, the Tsuburaya family sold the company to Japanese advertising agency TYO Inc., which then held an 80% stake in the company. Bandai, the main licensor of merchandise for the Ultra Series, acquired a 33.4% stake in 2007 with TYO transferring another 15.6% in 2009

In 2010, pachinko maker Fields Corporation bought out TYO's 51% stake in Tsuburaya Productions, with Bandai retaining the remaining 49%.

Logo Evolution

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Tsuburaya Logo.png|Wordmarked version

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Tokusatsu

  • Ultraman (1966-present)
  • Shin Japan Heroes Universe (2022-present)
  • Mighty Jack
  • Mirrorman
  • Redman
  • Fireman
  • Jumborg Ace
  • Dinosaur War Izenborg
  • Dinosaur Corps Koseidon
  • Gridman the Hyper Agent
  • Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad
  • Gridman Universe
  • SSSS.Gridman
  • SSSS.Dynazenon
  • WoO
  • Daicon Film's Return of Ultraman
  • The Flying Monster
  • Animetal Marathon III

References

;Bibliography

  • Tsuburaya Youtube channel
  • Eiji Tsuburaya Official Site