村田安司 Yasuji Murata

Yasuji Murata (村田安司 Murata Yasuji?, 24 January 1896 – 2 November 1966) was a pioneering animator who helped develop the art of anime in Japan. Studying the animation techniques of Sanae Yamamoto,[1] Murata produced dozens of mostly educational films at the Yokohama Cinema studio featuring such characters as Momotarō and Norakuro. Along with Noburō Ōfuji, he was renowned as a master of cutout animation.[2] Among his students were such animators as Yoshitarō Kataoka. [edit]Selected filmography Dōbutsu Orinpikku taikai, 1928 [Animal Olympics] Tarō-san no kisha, 1929 [Taro's Train] Saru Masamune, 1930 [The Monkey Masamune] Oira no yakyū, 1930 Sora no Momotarō, 1931 Norakuro gochō, 1934