Toei Company
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Toei Company, Ltd. (東映株式会社, Tōei Kabushiki-gaisha, an acronym for Tōkyō Eiga Haikyū (東京映画配給) lit. 'Tokyo Film Distribution'; /ˈtoʊ.eɪ/) is a Japanese entertainment company. Headquartered in Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo, it is involved in film and television production, distribution, video game development, publishing, and ownership of 34 movie theaters. Toei also owns and operates studios in Tokyo and Kyoto and holds shares in several television companies. The company is renowned for its production of anime and live-action dramas known as tokusatsu, which incorporate special visual effects. It is also known for producing period dramas. Internationally, Toei is the majority shareholder of Toei Animation and is recognized for its franchises such as Kamen Rider and Super Sentai.
Tōei's headquarters at Toei Kaikan in Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo | |
Native name | 東映株式会社 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Tōei Kabushiki-gaisha |
| Formerly |
|
| Company type | Public KK |
| TYO: 9605 | |
| Industry | Film and television Video games |
| Founded | October 1, 1949 (as Tōkyō Eiga) |
| Founder | Keita Goto |
| Headquarters | 2-17 Ginza 3-chome, , Japan |
Area served | Worldwide, with a focus in Japan |
Key people | Noriyuki Tada (Chairman) Fumio Yoshimura (President and CEO) |
| Products | Motion pictures, publicity materials |
| Services | Film and TV distribution and marketing |
| Revenue | ¥ 66,300,000,000 (As of March 2006) |
Number of employees | 343 (As of March 1, 2019) |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | www |
| Footnotes / references [1][2] | |
Toei is one of the four members of the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (MPPAJ 日本映画製作者連盟), and is therefore one of Japan's Big Four film studios, alongside Kadokawa Daiei Studio, Shochiku and Toho.
History edit
Toei's predecessor, the Toyoko Eiga Company, Ltd. (東横映画, Tō-Yoko Eiga, "Toyoko Films"), was incorporated in 1938. It was founded by Keita Goto, CEO of Tokyo-Yokohama Electric Railway, the direct predecessor to the Tokyu Corporation. It had erected its facilities immediately east of the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line; they managed the prewar Tōkyū Shibuya Yokohama studio system. From 1945 through the Toei merger, Tokyo-Yokohama Films leased from the Daiei Motion Picture Company a second studio in Kyoto.
On October 1, 1950, the Tokyo Film Distribution Company was incorporated as a subsidiary of Toyoko Eiga; in 1951 the company purchased Ōizumi Films. The current iteration of Toei was established on April 1, 1951. Through the merger, they gained the combined talents and experience of actors Chiezō Kataoka, Utaemon Ichikawa, Ryunosuke Tsukigata, Ryūtarō Ōtomo, Kinnosuke Nakamura, Chiyonosuke Azuma, Shirunosuke Toshin, Hashizo Okawa, and Satomi Oka.
In 1955, they purchased the Kyoto studio from Daiei.[3] In 1956, Toei established an animation division, Toei Animation Company, Limited at the former Tokyo-Ōizumi animation studio, purchasing the assets of Japan Animated Films (日本動画映画, Nihon Dōga Eiga, often shortened to 日動映画 (Nichidō Eiga)), founded in 1948. Toei was a pioneer in the use of "Henshin"/"character transformation" in live-action martial-arts dramas, a technique developed for the Kamen Rider, Metal Hero and Super Sentai series; the genre currently continues with Kamen Rider and Super Sentai.
In September 1964, Toei leaves the Tokyu Corporation.[3]
In 1972, Toei started to distribute foreign films in Japan.[3]
In 1975, they opened a theme park at Kyoto Studio, the Toei Kyoto Studio Park.[3]
Toei films edit
Toei started producing films in 1953. This list compiles the films by their original release date, their common English titles and Japanese titles. The Japanese titles are not necessarily direct translations of their English counterparts.
For feature films, Toei established itself as a producer of B-movies, that were made to fit into double bills and triple bills.[4][5] It is predominantly known in the west for its series of action films and television series.[5]
| Release date | English film title | Original title | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Weak-kneed from Fear of Ghost-Cat | Kaibyo koshinuke daisodo | [6] | |
| 1956 | The Phantom Cat | Kaibyo Ranbu[7] | [8] | |
| 1956 | The Swamp | Kaidan Chidoriga-fuchi | [9] | |
| 1957 | Ghost Story of Broken Dishes at Bancho Mansion | Kaidan Bancho sara yashiki | [10] | |
| 1958 | Ghost-Cat of Karakuri Tenjo | Kaibyo Karakuri Tenjo | [6] | |
| March 19, 1959 | Planet Prince | Yusei oji | Chapter 1 | [11] |
| May 26, 1959 | Planet Prince - The Terrifying Spaceship | Yūsei Ōji - Kyōfu no Uchūsen | Chapter 2 (both chapters edited into a 1962 feature version called Prince of Space) | [11] |
| 1959 | Ghost from the Pond | Kaidan hitotsu-me Jizo | [12] | |
| October 19, 1959 | The Final War | Daisanji sekai taisen - yonju-ichi jikan no kyofu | A New Toei Co, Ltd. Production; released in U.S. in 1962 | [13] |
| 1960 | Alakazam the Great | Saiyu-ki | A Toei Animation Co, Ltd. Production | [14] |
| July 19, 1961 | Invasion of the Neptune Men | Uchu kaizoku-sen | Starred Sonny Chiba as Space Chief | [15] |
| 1961 | Ghost of Oiwa | Kaidan Oiwa no Borei | [16] | |
| 1962 | Ghost Music of Shamisen | Kaidan shamisen-bori | [16][17] | |
| 1964 | Jakoman and Tetsu | Jakoman to Tetsu | [18] | |
| 1965 | House of Terrors | Kaidan semushi otoko (Ghost of the Hunchback[19]) | [20] | |
| 1965 | Ghost of the One-Eyed Man | Kaidan katame no otoko | [21] | |
| March 5, 1966 | The Magic Serpent | Kai tatsu daikessen | [22] | |
| July 1, 1966 | Terror Beneath the Sea | Kaitei Daisensō | U.S./ Japanese co-production | |
| 1967 | Yongary, Monster from the Deep | Dai koesu Yongkari | South Korean/Japanese co-production | [23][24] |
| December 1, 1968 | The Green Slime | Gamma sango uchu dai sakusen | U.S./ Japanese co-production | [25][26] |
| 1968 | Fear of the Snake Woman | Kaidan hebionna | [12] | |
| August 13, 1969 | Killer's Mission | Shokin kasegi | [27] | |
| 1969 | Horrors of Malformed Men | Kyofu kikei ningen | [28] | |
| 1970 | Voyage Into Space | Giant Robo (Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot)[29] | Episodes of the Japanese TV series re-edited into a TV movie for U.S. release | [30] |
| May 23, 1970 | A Kamikaze Cop | Yakuza deka | [17] | |
| October 17, 1970 | Kamikaze Cop, Marihuana Syndicate | Yakuza deka, Marihuana mitsubai soshiki | [17] | |
| 1970 | Venus Flytrap (film) | Revenge of Dr. X (U.S. video title) | Based on a 1950s unproduced screenplay by Ed Wood (uncredited) | [31] |
| August 25, 1972 | Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion | [32][33] | ||
| December 30, 1972 | Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 | [34][33] | ||
| July 29, 1973 | Female Convict Scorpion: Beast Stable | [35][33] | ||
| 1974 | The Street Fighter | Gekitotsu Satsujinken | starred Sonny Chiba; spawned 2 sequels, Return of the Street Fighter and Street Fighter's Last Revenge | [31] |
| April 29, 1977 | Legend of Dinosaurs & Monster Birds | Kyoryu-kaicho no densetsu | [36][37] | |
| April 29, 1978 | Message from Space | Uchu kara no messeji | Starred Sonny Chiba and Vic Morrow | [38][39] |
| 1979 | The Inferno | Jigoku | [40] | |
| January 30, 1981 | Time Slip (a.k.a. G.I. Samurai[41]) | Sengoku jieitai | starred Sonny Chiba | [42] |
| October 13, 1990 | The Pale Head | Shiroi te | A Kansai Telecasting Corp/Toei-Tokyo Production | [43][44] |
| 2001 | The Firefly | Hotaru | Toei 50th Anniversary film | [45] |
| 2012 | A Chorus of Angels | Kita no Canaria tachi | Toei 60th Anniversary films | [45] |
| 2012 | Hayabusa: Harukanaru Kikan | Toei 60th Anniversary films | [45] | |
| September 3, 2013 | Space Pirate Captain Harlock | a.k.a. Harlock: Space Pirate | Toei Animation Production | [46] |
| December 5, 2015 | 125 Years Memory | Kainan 1890 | Co-produced by Toei, Creators' Union, Böcek Yapım | [47] |
| May 17, 2019 | First Love | Hatsukoi | Distributor, produced by OLM | [48][49] |
| June 25, 2021 | The Goldfish | Umibe no Kingyō | [50] | |
| 2023 | The Legend and Butterfly | Toei 70th Anniversary film | [45] | |
| 2023 | Shin Kamen Rider | Reboot of the original 1971 series by Hideaki Anno |
Toei animation films edit
Toei produced/distributed shows edit
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1971–present | Kamen Rider franchise |
| 1975–present | Super Sentai franchise |
| 1982–present | Metal Hero franchise |
| 1993–present | Power Rangers franchise |
| 1994–1996 | VR Troopers |
| 1995–1996 | Masked Rider |
| 1996–1998 | Big Bad Beetleborgs (later Beetleborgs Metallix) |
| 2008–2009 | Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight |
| 2023 | Voltes V: Legacy |
Shows created with Shotaro Ishinomori edit
- Nebula Mask Machineman (1984)
Video games edit
- Ninja Hayate (1984)
- Time Gal (1985)
- The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO (1994)
- Chameleon Twist (1997)
- Chameleon Twist 2 (1998)
Saburo Yatsude edit
Saburō Yatsude (八手 三郎, Yatsude Saburō, alternatively read as Saburo Hatte) is a collective pseudonym used by Toei Company television producers, and formerly Toei Animation producers, when contributing to their various anime and tokusatsu series; similar to Bandai Namco Filmworks' Hajime Yatate. The use of the pen name began with The Kagestar and has been used throughout the Super Sentai (in the adapted Power Rangers series starting with Ninja Storm, the credits list Saburo Hatte. Before this, the credits listed "Original Concepts by Saburo Yatsude") and Metal Hero Series as well as for Spider-Man, Choukou Senshi Changéríon, Video Warrior Laserion, Chōdenji Robo Combattler V, Chōdenji Machine Voltes V, Tōshō Daimos, Daltanius, Space Emperor God Sigma, Beast King GoLion and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV. The name is also used as a contributor to the soundtracks for the series.
Toei Animation stopped using Saburo Yatsude in 1999, and they began to use Izumi Todo instead. The first anime that was created by Izumi Todo was Ojamajo Doremi.
In the Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger series, Saburo Hatte is an actual person who is godlike within the fictional reality that the show takes place in. In fact, his hand appears at the end of the first half of the series to cover the camera lens and end the show, later having the second half be made under Malseena's influence while in the hospital in the real world.
In the Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger spinoff, Super Animal War's third episode, he is portrayed by Jun Hikasa.
On April 3, 2016, an unknown Toei staff member going by Saburo Yatsude was interviewed while wearing a "Giraffe Zyuman" mask in reference to Zyuohger.[51]
Original creator edit
Live action edit
- The Kagestar (1976-1977)
- Ninja Captor (1976-1977)
- Spider-Man (1978-1979)
- Kamen Rider (1971-present)
- Super Sentai (1979-present)
- Metal Hero Series (1982-1999)
- Choukou Senshi Changéríon (1996)
- Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger (2012-2013)
Anime edit
- Robot Romance Trilogy (1976-1979) (Animated by Nippon Sunrise)
- Future Robot Daltanious (1979-1980)
- Space Emperor God Sigma (1980-1981) (Animated by Academy Productions)
- Beast King GoLion (1981-1982)
- Armored Fleet Dairugger XV (1982-1983)
- Lightspeed Electroid Albegas (1983-1984)
- Video Warrior Laserion (1984-1985)
Script edit
Television edit
- Sore Kara no Musashi (1964-1965)
- Mito Kōmon (1964-1965)
- Tensou Sentai Goseiger (2010)
- Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger (2021)
- Avataro Sentai Donbrothers (2022)
Web series edit
- From Episode of Stinger - Uchu Sentai Kyuranger: High School Wars (2017)
- Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Spin-Off: Zenkai Red Great Introduction! (2021)
- Avataro Sentai Donbrothers Meets Kamen Rider Den-O: Aim! Don-O (2022)
Director edit
- Nebula Mask Machineman (1984)
See also edit
References edit
Footnotes edit
- ^ "会社概要".
- ^ "TOEI GROUP" (in Japanese). toei.co.jp. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Osaki, Tad (December 17, 2001). "Toei through the ages". Variety (Toei at 50 ed.). p. A2.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 88.
- ^ a b Galbraith IV 1996, p. 89.
- ^ a b Galbraith IV 1996, p. 241.
- ^ "KAIBYO RANBU (1956) de Masamitsu Igayama, Cinefania".
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 320.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 378.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 242.
- ^ a b Galbraith IV 1996, p. 325.
- ^ a b Galbraith IV 1996, p. 243.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 166.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 99.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 233.
- ^ a b Galbraith IV 1996, p. 244.
- ^ a b c Galbraith IV 1996, p. 245.
- ^ Galbraith IV 2008, p. 72.
- ^ https://www.google.com/search?q=Kaidan+semushi+otoko+translate&oq=Kaidan+semushi+otoko+translate&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160l2.4201j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 [bare URL]
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 220.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 182.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 275.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 448.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 449.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 202.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 203.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 247.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 218.
- ^ Woolery, George W. (1985). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series. The Scarecrow Press. pp. 251–252. ISBN 0-8108-1651-2.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 431.
- ^ a b Galbraith IV 1996, p. 373.
- ^ Female Prisoner Scorpion: The Complete Collection (book). Arrow Video. 2016. p. 5. FCD1338/AV060.
- ^ a b c Sharp 2011, p. 120.
- ^ Female Prisoner Scorpion: The Complete Collection (book). Arrow Video. 2016. p. 7. FCD1338/AV060.
- ^ Female Prisoner Scorpion: The Complete Collection (book). Arrow Video. 2016. p. 9. FCD1338/AV060.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 261.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 262.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 285.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 286.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 236.
- ^ "It's Ninjas Vs. Helicopters in Sonny Chiba's G.I. Samurai". August 30, 2008.
- ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 396.
- ^ Galbraith IV 2008, p. 373.
- ^ Galbraith IV 2008, p. 374.
- ^ a b c d "木村拓哉×綾瀬はるか×大友啓史監督 激動の時代を生き抜いた夫婦を描く 映画『THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY』公開決定". otocoto. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
- ^ Elley, Derek (September 7, 2013). . Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ "125 Years Memory". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- ^ Kiang, Jessica (May 30, 2019). "Film Review: 'First Love'". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ "'First Love' ('Hatsukoi'): Film Review | Cannes 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. May 17, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ The Goldfish: Dreaming of the Sea (2021) - IMDb, retrieved August 29, 2021
- ^ "Animal Sentai Zyuohger".
Sources edit
- Galbraith IV, Stuart (1996). The Japanese Filmography: 1900 through 1994. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0032-3.
- Galbraith IV, Stuart (2008). The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-1461673743. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- Sharp, Jasper (2011). Historical Dictionary of Japanese Cinema. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0810875418.
External links edit
- Toei webpage
- Toei's official YouTube's channel on YouTube
- Toei's official YouTube films's channel on YouTube
- Toei's official PR account on Twitter
- Toei's official films account on Twitter
- at the Wayback Machine (archived April 18, 2009) - a Hollywood Reporter article detailing Toei's receiving MIPTV's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006