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Shin'ichi Sekizawa

Shin'ichi Sekizawa

Writer · Died November 19, 1992, aged 71 · Kyoto, Japan

Shinichi Sekizawa (June 2, 1921 – November 11, 1992) was a Japanese screenwriter known for his immense contributions to the original Godzilla series, providing screenplays and/or stories for 10 of the original 15 Showa films. He began his career in his native Kyoto, joining an association of manga cartoonists which included the anime pioneer Osamu Tezuka. His career would be interrupted when he was reluctantly drafted to fight in the South Pacific during WWII. Sekizawa would reignite his film career in 1946 when he joined Beehive Productions as an assistant director, demonstrating a talent for screenwriting when completing the screenplay for the film Profile of the City in a record four days. Later at Shintoho Studios he would direct the now considered lost film Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers. His career at Toho began in 1958 working on Kihachi Okamoto's early films before eventually became the studio's go-to monster scripter after the immense success of his screenplay for Mothra. His kaiju screenplays for Ishiro Honda have been noted for their inventiveness, especially in his interplay of human drama blending with monster action and characterization. His lighthearted approach was contrasted to that of Takeshi Kimura, whose scripts had a darker, more cynical sensibility. Sekizawa's talents were not limited to science fiction, with his output in the 60s being as many as six screenplays a year in genres such as salaryman comedies and war movies as well as TV shows such as the original Ultraman. While Sekizawa enjoyed writing monster movies, he would eventually become tired of the Godzilla series and moved on to scripting for animating features while continuing his career as a lyricist. He was also an aficionado of model trains and published numerous publications on the subject. Before his death he was awarded a Purple ribbon by the Japanese government due to his immense artistic and cultural contributions.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 2, 1921
Died
November 19, 1992 (aged 71)
From
Kyoto, Japan
Works as
Writer
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 82 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 19% in 30 days

What are Shin'ichi Sekizawa's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Power.

Genres

Action13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
33%
Power
26%
Society
16%
Bonds
11%
Ideas
7%
Morality
4%
Self
3%
Survival15 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed4 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTechnology3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 12 · Serious 6 · Dark 4

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 10

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 7 · Intense 12

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 13 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Thrilling
14
Absurd
5
Joyful
4
Dread
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Fun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Shin'ichi Sekizawa's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Shin'ichi Sekizawa's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

82 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page.

  • Rebirth of Mothra II(1997)

    Lyricist

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Rebirth of Mothra(1996)

    Lyricist

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Super Atragon - Part II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Original Film Writer

  • Super Atragon - Part I (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Original Film Writer

  • Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Writer

  • Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth(1992)

    Lyricist

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Godzilla vs. Biollante(1989)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Gunhed(1989)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Mighty Jack(1968)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Godzilla 1985(1985)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Return of Godzilla(1984)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla(1974)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Godzilla vs. Megalon(1973)

    Lyricist · Story

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Godzilla vs. Gigan(1972)

    Lyricist · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • All Monsters Attack(1969)

    Lyricist · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Latitude Zero(1969)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Motta, the Flying Dracula Monster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Screenplay

  • Homeless Ninja Trick Book: Lose in All Directions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Screenplay

  • Agon: The Atomic Dragon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 4 episodes · Creator · Production Supervisor · Writer

  • Phantom Monster Agon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Creator · Screenplay

  • Son of Godzilla(1967)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Writer

  • Jack and the Witch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Screenplay

  • Do Your Best! Godzilla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Screenplay

  • The Killing Bottle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Screenplay

  • Ebirah, Horror of the Deep(1966)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Ultraman: A Special Effects Fantasy Series(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Mad Atlantic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Writer

  • Zero Fighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Writer

  • Invasion of Astro-Monster(1965)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Homeless Ninja Trick Book (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Screenplay

  • Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Writer

  • Frankenstein vs. Baragon(1965)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster(1964)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • A Keg of Powder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Screenplay

  • Dogora (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Adaptation · Screenplay

  • Ant Hell War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Writer

  • Mothra vs. Godzilla(1964)

    Lyricist · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Atragon(1963)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Samurai Pirate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Screenplay

  • Operation Mad Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Writer

  • King Kong vs. Godzilla(1963)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Warring Clans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Writer

  • Attack Squadron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Writer

  • Varan the Unbelievable(1962)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Operation Enemy Fort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Screenplay

  • Local Reporter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Screenplay

  • King Kong vs. Godzilla(1962)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Crimson Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Screenplay

  • Ganpā kachō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Screenplay

  • Hiroshi Moriya Sadogasa: Thank You, Sandogasa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Screenplay

  • Mothra(1961)

    Lyricist · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Hiroshi Moriya Sandogasa: I Want to Weep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Lyricist · Screenplay

  • Blueprint of Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Lyricist · Screenplay

  • Adventures of Princess Anmitsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Screenplay

  • Westward Desperado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Screenplay

  • University Bandits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Screenplay

  • The Secret of the Telegian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Screenplay

  • Maboroshi Tantei: Chiteijin Shūrai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Script

  • Take Aim at the Police Van (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Screenplay

  • The Last Gunfight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Lyricist · Screenplay

  • Battle in Outer Space(1959)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Gambling Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Screenplay

  • Mariko's Autobiography: Flowing Constellation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Adaptation

  • A Young Boss Tries Really Hard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Lyricist

  • The Big Boss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Screenplay

  • The Young Boss is Third Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Screenplay

  • Mermaids and Sea Robbers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Screenplay

  • Varan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Screenplay

  • Tomboy Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Screenplay

  • Shōjo to fūsen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Screenplay

  • Queen of Asia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Screenplay

  • A Texan in Tokyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Screenplay

  • Tokyo is a Fine Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Idea

  • Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Screenplay

  • A Man's Flower Path (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Adaptation

  • Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Director · Writer

  • Tokyo Profile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Screenplay

  • Children of the Great Buddha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Production Design

  • Children of the Beehive: What Happened Next (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Production Designer

  • 娘十八嘘つき時代 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Screenplay

  • Tomorrow Will Be Fine Weather (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Writer

Career shape

A full career of 78 titles from 1948 to 1997.

Biggest box office

Godzilla 1985 (1985)

$4.1M worldwide

Highest rated

The Return of Godzilla (1984)

Midcredits 77th

Most popular right now

King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing1 of 78: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting75 of 78: 72 only writing, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score39thOther crew5 of 78: 3 only other crew, 2 with another role

78 titles, 3 with more than one role — writing and other crew overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1940s2 · crew1950s19 · crew1960s46 · crew1970s3 · crew1980s2 · crew1990s6 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Shin'ichi Sekizawa's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 37th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

86thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 26 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Panned2
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · writer

Frankenstein vs. Baragon (1965)

66th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

Ultraman: A Special Effects Fantasy Series (1966)

Midcredits 88th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 35/100 and the plot and story 40/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Shin'ichi Sekizawa's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles33–71 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles3–17 · median 9 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles12–33 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles21–43 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles27–56 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Shin'ichi Sekizawa work with?

People who share at least 2 of Shin'ichi Sekizawa's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tomoyuki Tanaka shares the most, 20.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers