← Back

Keizo Murase: The Last Monster Maker poster

Keizo Murase: The Last Monster Maker (2026)

An in-depth look at one of the kaiju genre's greatest artisans

Artist. Innovator. Teacher. Inspiration. 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. For the first time in the English-speaking world, the life and career of this singular creative visionary is 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.

Release: 2026-07-12
Runtime: 103 min
Cast
Keizô Murase
Keizô Murase
Self (Archival footage)
No Image
Matt Burkett
Narrator
No Image
Naoto Murase
Self
No Image
Fumitsugu Murase
Self
No Image
Daisuke Sato
Self
No Image
Nobuo Nakano
Self
Shinichi Wakasa
Shinichi Wakasa
Self
No Image
Yoshikazu Ishii
Self
No Image
Matt Frank
Self
No Image
Eric McEver
Self
No Image
August Ragone
Self
Takeshi Nakazawa
Takeshi Nakazawa
Self
Ed Godziszewski
Ed Godziszewski
Self
No Image
Brett Homenick
Self
No Image
Kevin Derendorf
Self
No Image
Tomohiro Matsumoto
Self
No Image
DopePope
Self
No Image
Kim Hyun-jae
Self