SRS Cinema has officially announced the upcoming release of Keizo Murase: The Last Monster Maker, a feature-length, first-of-its-kind English language documentary centered around the life, work, and dreams of legendary monster maker Keizo Murase. This will be included as a special feature on the Brush of the God release.
Directed by Elijah Thomas, the film will explore Murase’s remarkable career and lasting influence, showing his work in monster suit making and props that redefine Japanese sci-fi and fantasy film.
Spanning several decades of his works, beginning from 1958’s The H-Man all the way to the 2025 recent The Monster and The Old Man, while also shedding light on lesser-known and previously undocumented projects that were never explored in English before.
©SRS Cinema
©ET13 Productions
Formally blessed by the Murase Family, this brings together more than two-dozen collaborators, friends, family members, fans, and historians to celebrate the life, works, and legacy of Keizo Murase. Special guests include Shinichi Wakasa (creature designer, Godzilla 2000: Millenium), Daisuke Sato (director, Howl from Beyond the Fog), Matt Frank (artist, Mothra: Queen of the Monsters), Yoshikazu Ishii (director, Yuzo: The Biggest Battle in Tokyo), Ed Godziszewski (co-author, Godzilla: The First 70 Years), and Naoto Murase (son of Keizo Murase and CEO of Twenty Co.).
The official synopsis for the documentary reads:
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 art form. 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 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.
“Mr. Murase was a pillar for the world of kaiju and tokusatsu,” says Thomas. “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.”
“The impact of Murase-san’s artistry cannot be overestimated, and it deserves to live on forever,” adds Daniel DiManna, screenwriter, producer, historian, and creative consultant on the film. “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.”
The team behind the documentary also includes narrator Matt Burkett (creator/host of Monstrosities, bonus feature producer for Kamen Rider Dyad), composer Gratton Conwill (Disectoid, Amityville 2000), editor Jackson Gibbens (co-host, Kaiju Conversation), and more.
Keizo Murase: The Last Monster Maker will be available as a bonus feature on SRS Cinema’s Blu-ray release of Brush of the God. The set is expected to ship between late April and late May 2026. Pre-order your copy on the official SRS Cinema website.
ABOUT ET13 PRODUCTIONS
Founded in 2019, ET13 Productions acts as the in-house production studio for filmmaker Elijah Thomas. The company’s first major production was the 2022 short film S.O.S. Seek Shelter. The company has produced over half a dozen short films since its founding. Most recently, ET13 produced Elijah’s largest-scale short films: Edo Kami no Gyakushu and the Amityverse: Endgame segment, The Amity Q. ET13 Productions has also housed the popular tokusatsu-oriented podcast Kaiju Conversation since 2019.
ABOUT SRS CINEMA
SRS Cinema LLC is among the leaders in ultra-low-budget indie film distribution, having evolved to its
current form from its roots as “Salt City Home Video” in 1992. They have handled rights to over 300
movies domestically and worldwide. SRS Cinema now distributes DVD exclusively through MVD, while
their Sub Rosa branch handles limited special edition VHS releases.
