Known for Directing
Shinji Higuchi is a movie director, storyboard artist and SFX specialist. He is one of the top special effects wizards in Japan, often working in animation. Higuchi is one of the original founders of Gainax, along with Hideaki Anno, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto and Takami Akai. Higuchi gain recognition for his special effects work in Shusuke Kaneko's Gamera trilogy and is a frequent collaborator with Hideaki Anno on both anime and tokusatsu projects.
Born
September 22, 1965 (age 61)
Birthplace
Tokyo, Japan
Filmography
84 films, 26 shows


Bullet Train Explosion
2025 · 2h 17m · JP
When panic erupts on a Tokyo-bound bullet train that will explode if it slows below 100 kph, authorities race against time to save everyone on board.


Shin Ultraman
2022 · 1h 52m · JP
The Japanese government sets up a special task force to fight the giant creatures suddenly appearing across the country. Soon, the squad unexpectedly meets a giant silver humanoid who starts appearing every time a space monster attacks!


Thunderbirds 55/GOGO
2022 · 1h 30m · JP
Shortly before the International Rescue Team begins full-scale operation, Lady Penelope, invited by Jeff Tracy, arrives at Tracy Island and discovers the amazing technology hidden on the island, as well as Thunderbirds 1 to 5. International Rescue soon receive a call from a yeti on Mount Everest pleading for rescue, with Penelope sent to investigate. All the while, a series of robberies plagues British Stately Homes.


Shin Godzilla
2016 · 2h · JP
When a massive, gilled monster emerges from the deep and tears through the city, the government scrambles to save its citizens. A rag-tag team of volunteers cuts through a web of red tape to uncover the monster's weakness and its mysterious ties to a foreign superpower. But time is not on their side - the greatest catastrophe to ever befall the world is about to evolve right before their very eyes.


Attack on Titan II: End of the World
2015 · 1h 27m · JP
Eren Yeager leaves to restore a break in the wall destroyed by a Titan. He comes under attack by the Titans and is cornered. Shikishima comes to his aid. The titans never stops attacking. Eren is now injured and tries to protect Armin, but is swallowed by a titan. A Titan with black hair appears and begins to expel the other titans.


Attack on Titan
2015 · 1h 38m · JP
100 years ago, titans suddenly appeared on Earth. Soon, human civilization veered on collapse due to the titans. Humans then built a giant wall to defend themselves. Within the giant walls, humans lived in peace, but, 100 years later, the giant wall is broken.


Peaceful Times (F02) Petit Film
2013 · 5m · JP
The short features previously unseen Evangelion storyboard art. Evangelion director Hideaki Anno supervised the "petit film," and Mahiro Maeda directed and storyboarded it. Shiro Sagisu provided the music, and voice actress Megumi Hayashibara narrates the Japanese version of the English lyrics. Sagisu made a few comments about the video on his website and posted the Japanese version of the lyrics. According to Sagisu, when they were finishing work on Q, Anno told him this would be the last time they used the F2 (Next Episode) theme, which made Sagisu want to make a extended version of it. He says the video actually contains four versions of the song: An unreleased version by the London Studio Orchestra (at the start), the Takahashi version from Xpressions, the version from Piano Forte #1, and Hayashibara's narrated version.


The Floating Castle
2012 · 2h 24m · JP
In the year 1590, the mighty warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi is close to fulfilling his ambition of unifying all of Japan under his banner when he comes across unexpected resistance in the form of a floating fortress known as Oshi Castle. Narita Nagachika, a frivolous hedonistic fellow and unlikely candidate for the position of rebel general, finds himself in charge of defending the castle. His odds? An army of 500 men to combat Toyotomi Hideyoshi's army of 20,000.


Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo
2012 · 10m · JP
The short focuses on the God Warrior from Nausicaa of The Valley of The Wind (1984). Super-powered bio-weapons in ceramic armor begin attacking Tokyo, annihilating human civilization.


The Last Princess
2008 · 1h 58m · JP
After the Akizuku clan fall in defeat to rival clan Yamana, Princess Yuki and General Rokurota take cover in a hidden fortress, along with their clan and gold treasury. Fortuitously stumbling into the hideaways, brash young miner Takezo and his bumbling sidekick Shinhachi hatch a daring plan to help transport the gold out of enemy terrain – in exchange for a share of the stash, of course. With assassins hot in pursuit, Yuki disguises as a male and ventures into the real world with Rukurota and her peasant companions, getting her first taste of danger, toil, and budding romance with the strong-minded and willful Takezo.


Japan Sinks
2006 · 2h 15m · JP
In the aftermath of a major earthquake, scientists predict that Japan will sink into the sea. As further disasters follow, politicians plead with other countries to take refugees, while scientists struggle to save Japan itself.


Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean
2005 · 2h 8m · JP
A drama set during World War II where a submarine carrying a secret weapon attempts to stop a planned third atomic bombing of Japan. Based on Harutoshi Fukui's novel Shuusen no Lorelei.


Minimoni The Movie: The Great Cake Adventure!
2002 · 1h · JP
The movie takes place entirely in and around the Mini Moni Cafè. The Mini Moni Cafè is run by the first generation members of Mini Moni, who are lead by Mari Yaguchi. Mika Todd is the primary baker for the cafè and Ai Kago and Nozomi Tsuji are bumbling waitresses. One day Kago and Tsuji serve a particularly enthusiastic customer (played by Ai Takahashi) who says she has never had such a delicious cake before. When the waitress explain they do not know the secret ingredient that makes the cakes so good, Takahashi decides to sneak into the cafè later find out what it is and steal it.


Vandread Turbulence
2002 · 1h 26m · JP
Vandread Turbulence is an OVA summary of Vandread the Second Stage with additional footage and animation.


Vandread Integral
2001 · 1h 18m · JP
Vandread Integral is an OVA summary of Vandread the First Stage with additional footage and animation.


Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story II
1991 · 1h 54m · JP
The second specially edited memorial episode featuring Jean’s narration. This is a breath-taking sea adventure action animation. The story centers on a series of critical battles by the indestructible submarine, Nautilus and the conflict between Captain Nemo and the Gargoyle. It’s a shorter, more streamlined version of Nadia called "The Nautilus Story", which all but eliminates the filler arc and concentrates on the struggle between Nemo and Gargoyle. Some scenes in the more pivotal episodes are cut as well. The compilation series was made by Hideaki Anno, who was said to have been dissatisfied with the final result of the TV show. The Nautilus Story was only released in Japan on VHS and laserdisc.


Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story III
1991 · 1h 54m · JP
The third and final specially edited memorial episode featuring Jean’s narration. This is a breath-taking sea adventure action animation. The story centers on a series of critical battles by the indestructible submarine, Nautilus and the conflict between Captain Nemo and the Gargoyle. It’s a shorter, more streamlined version of Nadia called "The Nautilus Story", which all but eliminates the filler arc and concentrates on the struggle between Nemo and Gargoyle. Some scenes in the more pivotal episodes are cut as well. The compilation series was made by Hideaki Anno, who was said to have been dissatisfied with the final result of the TV show. The Nautilus Story was only released in Japan on VHS and laserdisc.


Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story I
1991 · 1h 50m · JP
The first specially edited memorial episode featuring Jean’s narration. This is a breath-taking sea adventure action animation. The story centers on a series of critical battles by the indestructible submarine, Nautilus and the conflict between Captain Nemo and the Gargoyle. It’s a shorter, more streamlined version of Nadia called "The Nautilus Story", which all but eliminates the filler arc and concentrates on the struggle between Nemo and Gargoyle. Some scenes in the more pivotal episodes are cut as well. The compilation series was made by Hideaki Anno, who was said to have been dissatisfied with the final result of the TV show. The Nautilus Story was only released in Japan on VHS and laserdisc.