Artist. Innovator. Teacher. Inspiration.
For more than 70 years, Japan’s handcrafted visual effects films have thrilled, delighted, and inspired viewers from around the world. But only one remarkable man presided over the entire length and breadth of the artform. From his humble beginnings as a modeling assistant in 1958 to his acclaimed directorial debut Brush of the God in 2024, the legendary Keizo Murase spent his career dedicated to the art of monster making, bringing life to many of Japan’s most iconic and beloved kaiju characters. But behind every rampaging monster and transforming superhero were the hands of a dedicated artist, whose contributions to the Japanese film industry might have been forgotten, if not for a dedicated group of close friends, longtime admirers, and fans from every corner of the globe.
Now, in the wake of his passing and the release of his first and last feature film as director, this group has united to share their stories about Murase as a man, a mentor, and an inspiration. For the first time in the English-speaking world, the life, career, and legacy of this singular creative visionary are revealed and celebrated in a feature-length tribute that sheds detailed light on the accomplishments of Japan’s last great monster maker, and preserves the stories of those who knew and loved him best.
PRODUCED BY ET13 PRODUCTIONS / 103 MINUTES / RELEASE YEAR: 2026
Available on the Blu-ray release for Brush of the God from SRS Cinema!
Order your copy here.
More distribution coming soon!
Stay tuned for updates!
THE TEAM
Elijah Thomas
DIRECTOR, CO-WRITER, & CO-PRODUCER
“Mr. Murase was a pillar for the world of kaiju and tokusatsu, I am really excited for audiences to learn about the amazing career and life led by him. Working on this project has been such an eye-opener for me and I've learned so much. My hope is the audience does, as well.”
Daniel DiManna
CO-WRITER & CO-PRODUCER
“The impact of Murase-san’s artistry cannot be overestimated, and it deserves to live on forever, It has been the honor of a lifetime to be part of preserving his story through this documentary. May it bring joy and inspiration to monster lovers and stand as a worthy tribute to the soul of a true master.”
Jackson Gibbens
EDITOR
“Keizo Murase is one of genre filmmaking’s most influential, and underappreciated artists. It was an incredible honour to be able to play a part in spreading the legacy of Mr. Murase through this documentary. I hope audiences are able to find a new appreciation for the artistry behind cinema’s greatest titans.”
Gratton Conwill
COMPOSER
"This documentary is a celebration of human ingenuity and the magic of special effects. In an age where artists are being weighed against machines, stories like this become essential. I hope fans of Kaiju movies relish this gold mine of information, and I hope in a small way I was able to bolster the legacy of Keizo Murase."
Matt Burkett
NARRATOR
MEET THE INTERVIEWEES
Keizo Murase
August Ragone
Bob Eggleton
Brett Homenick
Daisuke Sato
Daniel DiManna
Dopepope
Ed Godziszewski
Eric McEver
Edward L. Holland
Fumitsugu Murase
Jessica Tseang
Kevin Derendorf
Kim Hyun-jae
Matt Frank
Naoto Murase
Nicholas Driscoll
Nicolas Cloutier
Nobuo Nakano
Shinichi Wakasa
Takashi Nakazawa
Tomohiro Matsumoto
Tsuyoshi Ogawa
Yoshikazu Ishii

