Hiroshi Maruyama is a Japanese illustrator and character designer. He is renowned for being responsible for the design of the majority of Ultras and Kaiju in the Heisei Ultraman Series.
Career[]
Maruyama graduated from Tokyo Designer Academy and joined The Oriental Land Company's product department in the late 1980s. Starting from 1988, he became involved in television program production, serving as a designer.
In 1992, Maruyama joined Tsuburaya Productions, beginning his career in art design for tokusatsu productions. In 1995, he participated in the pilot episode of Ultraman Neos, responsible for the appearance design of the main characters in the series. Subsequently, from 1996 to 2007, he was selected as the principal designer for the Heisei Ultra Series, contributing to the design of nominal Ultras and the majority of Kaiju.
On January 21, 2008, Maruyama resigned from his position at Tsuburaya Productions and began participating in works from other fields. Currently, he works as a freelancer and is active in various creative projects, including design and illustration, through his personal studio, atelier-M.
In 2019, Maruyama collaborated with Tsuburaya Productions to release the ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES CLASSIC ARTS poster series, featuring the theme of "Tiga, Dyna, Gaia".[2] In 2023, at the TSUBURAYA CONVENTION 2023, Maruyama released a mini design booklet titled "Ultraman Gaia Version Up Fight!" The booklet focuses on the version upgrades of Gaia and Agul, along with relevant design sketches for Kaiju designs.[3]
Works[]
Hiroshi Maruyama was a designer for the following works, designing the listed Ultras and Kaiju:
Ultraman Series[]
- Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider (1993) - Character Coordination
- Ultraman Tiga (1996-1997) - Character Design and Kaiju Design
- Ultraman Tiga
- Multi Type
- Power Type
- Sky Type
- Golza
- Fire Golza
- Melba
- Gakuma
- Kyrieloid
- Kyrieloid II
- Ligatron
- Sealizar
- Gazort
- Machina
- Gagi
- Gagi II
- Alien Reguran
- Evolu
- Illusion Evolu
- Leilons
- Alien Raybeak
- Alien Muzan
- Sukunaoni
- Alien Standel
- Gobnu
- Deban
- Enomena
- Magnia
- Weaponizer
- Litomalus
- Dinosauroid
- Silvergon
- Obiko
- Jobarieh
- Alien Natarn
- King Molerat
- Bizaamo
- Shiela
- Desimonia
- Kyuranos
- Guwam
- Galra
- Goldras
- Dethmon
- Faldon
- Iludo
- Faivas
- Geozark
- Evil Tiga
- Guardie
- Gijera
- Taraban
- Metamorga
- Menjura
- Charija
- Yanakargie
- Zoiger
- Gatanothor
- Ultraman Tiga
- Ultraman Dyna (1997-1998) - Character Design and Kaiju Design
- Ultraman Dyna
- Flash Type
- Miracle Type
- Strong Type
- Shieldron
- Fohgus
- Gyabish
- Bao-on
- Giakuuda
- Kodaigon
- Dexador
- Mons-Ahgar
- Himala
- Garaon
- Gyanzar
- Neosaurus
- Bishmel
- Kokakucho
- Alien Lasesta
- Sodom
- Diplas
- Digon
- Reicubas
- Demagorg
- Gigantes
- Gaigaraid
- Gregore
- Satan Lovemos
- Geomos
- Zomborg
- God Jagira
- Diolius
- Mountain Gulliver 5
- Graikis
- Torongar
- Moravia
- Alien Fabiras
- Alien Chadabin
- Terranoid
- Gran-Sphere
- Ultraman Dyna
- Ultraman Gaia (1998-1999) - Character Design and Kaiju Design
- Ultraman Gaia
- V1
- V2
- SV
- Ultraman Agul
- V1
- V2
- Dragon in Gamu's Vision
- C.O.V.
- Geel
- Apatee
- Mezard
- Bokrag
- Gan-Q
- Tenkai
- Anemos
- Crabgan
- Rezaito
- Wolf Gas
- Antimatter
- Alguros
- Deents
- Zonnel
- Diglobe
- Geschenk
- Candea
- Pazuzu
- Gomenos
- Zoruim
- Mimos
- Enzan
- Rukulion
- Gokigumon
- Aeroviper
- Syazac
- Algona
- X-Savarga
- Tigris
- Tsuchikera
- Pazgeek
- Σ-Zuigul
- Bizorm
- Izac
- Shinryoku
- Mokian
- Deathbringer
- Fishman
- Zog
- Ultraman Gaia
- Ultraman Nice (1999) - Character Design
- Ultraman Neos (2000) - Character Design
- Ultraman Cosmos (2001-2002) - Character Design and Kaiju Design
- Ultraman Cosmos
- Luna Mode
- Corona Mode
- Lidorias
- Golmede
- Igomas
- Chaos Ultraman
- Chaos Header 0
- Ultraman Cosmos
- Ultraman Nexus (2004-2005) - Character Design
- Ultraman Nexus
- Anphans
- Junis
- Junis Blue
- Dark Faust
- Dark Mephisto
- Dark Zagi
- Ultraman Noa
- Ultraman Nexus
- Ultraman Max (2005-2006) - Character Design and Kaiju Design
- Ultraman Mebius (2006-2007) - Character Design and Kaiju Design
- Ultraman Mebius
- Mebius Brave
- Mebius Burning Brave
- Mebius Phoenix Brave
- Ultraman Hikari
- Fire Windom
- Femigon
- Mebius Killer
- Ultraman Mebius
- Ultraseven X (2007) - Props Design
- Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle - Character Design
- Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA (2016-2017) - Kaiju Design
Film Series[]
- Ultraman Cosmos vs. Ultraman Justice: The Final Battle (2003)
- Ultraman Cosmos
- Future Mode
- Ultraman Justice
- Crusher Mode
- Ultraman Legend
- Ultraman Cosmos
- ULTRAMAN (2004)
- Ultraman the Next
- Anphans
- Junis
- Ultraman the Next
- Ultraman Mebius & the Ultra Brothers (2006)
- Ultraman Mebius
- Mebius Infinity
- Ultraman Mebius
- Superior 8 Ultra Brothers (2008) - Suits supervision
Spin-off Series[]
- Ultraman Gaia: Gaia Again (2001) - Kaiju Design
- Ultra Idemitsujin (2007) - Character Design
Anime[]
- Devilman Lady - Character Design
- Battle Spirits Series - Spirits Design
- SSSS.GRIDMAN (2018) - Kaiju Design
- SSSS.DYNAZENON (2021) - Kaiju Design
- GRIDMAN UNIVERSE (2023)
Other Series[]
- Moon Spiral (1996) - Logo Design
- Bio Planet WoO - Character Design
- Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla - Design
- Kamen Rider Wizard - Phantom Design
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In the early 1990s, Maruyama not only worked as a suit technician for Tsuburaya Productions, involved in monster shows and related art activities, but also served as a suit actor for specific promotional events and corporate advertisements. During the photo shoot for Ultraman Tiga, he participated as a "Multi Type" suit actor.[4][5][6]
References[]
- ↑ https://x.com/hiro_mrym/status/1591076601621803010
- ↑ https://m-78.jp/news/post-5100
- ↑ https://twitter.com/hiro_mrym/status/1725424826264031648/
- ↑ https://x.com/hiro_mrym/status/1844829138856841512
- ↑ https://x.com/hiro_mrym/status/1844829143437025665
- ↑ https://x.com/hiro_mrym/status/1844832194834903263