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Akira Ifukube was born on May 31, 1914 in Kushiro, Japan. A prolific writer, he eventually created almost 400 scores. Before Godzilla propelled him to worldwide fame in 1954, he had already completed over 80 films, eighteen alone in 1952. Also acknowledged for creating Godzilla's iconic roar, Ifukube's work on this film has stood the test of time, his themes interpolated 65 years later into Bear McCreary's score for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Over a twenty-year period (1954-75), Ifukube became the go-to composer for Toho Studio's A-list fantasy films, particularly those directed by Ishiro Honda. Frequently in demand by other studios as well, Ifukube was still able to find time to indulge in his passion to create classical compositions. Many of these were influenced by the Ainu melodies of his youth, something he often incorporated into various film scores. In 1975, Godzilla director Ishiro Honda helmed his final film in the series, Terror of MechaGodzilla (Mekagojira no gyakushu). Ifukube had also returned to the series, composing his first original score since 1968's Destroy All Monsters (Kaiju sosjingeki). The 1972 film, Godzilla vs. Gigan, or Godzilla On Monster Island (Chikyu Kogeki Meirei - Gojira tai Gaigan)was completely tracked with previously recorded Ifukube music from various sources. Terror of MechaGodzilla was to be the last film in the classic Showa series, until Toho revived the monster nine years later. Ifukube declined to return for the reboot, Godzilla 1984, and it's 1989 sequel Godzilla vs. Biollante. Allegedly unhappy with the way his music was adapted into the latter film, Ifukube agreed to return and score all subsequent films but one (Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla / Gojira vs. Supesugojira, 1994). Forty-one years after assisting in the birth of the beast, he sent Godzilla to his death in grand style for 1995's Godzilla vs. Destroyah (Gojira vs. Desutoroia).Akira Ifukube passed away just eleven years later, on February 8, 2006, at the age of 91.