The Japan Times has reported that director/writer Kazuki Omori passed away of leukemia this past Saturday, November 12th, 2022. He died at the hospital in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture. He was 70. Godzilla fans know Omori best for his directorial work on Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) for which he wrote and directed.
Omori was born in Osaka, on March 3rd, 1952. He had initially studied to be a doctor, but his love for film won over his career trajectory. Before Godzilla, Omori had already seen great success with young-adult romances and films featuring Japanese pop idols. By 1987 he was already a Japanese Academy Award nominated writer and director for the film Women in Love.
Omori was hired to give the Godzilla franchise a facelift because he was, "someone who could look at it with fresh eyes and give a new perspective to the series," said Ed Godziszewski, "Someone who could relate to and draw in younger people."
Though Godzilla vs. Biollante wasn't very successful, Omori's second Godzilla film, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, performed much better at the Japanese box office. Both of his movies were honored at the Japanese Academy Awards--Godzilla vs. Biollante's Masanobu Takashima won Newcomer of the Year and a Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah was awarded for its special effects.
Though Omori's directorial work ended with Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, he wrote two of the most successful Heisei Godzilla films, Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992) and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995). Despite becoming a professor of arts in 2000, Omori continued to direct films and even returned to tokusatsu with 2005's Super Fleet Sazer-X: The Movie.
Omori was a keen mind who lived a very full life. For Godzilla fans, he shaped the trajectory of the much beloved Heisei series. Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones and his work will continue to entertain many.
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Source(s):
The Japan News
Kotobank.jp
Japanese Academy Awards Official Website
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