Yasuji Murata

Yasuji Murata (村田安司, Murata Yasuji; 24 January 1896, Yokohama, Japan – 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.

Selected filmography

• Taro's Train (1929) Tarō-san no kisha
• Animal Olympics (1928) Dōbutsu Orinpikku taikai
• At The Circus (1931)
• Monkey and the Crabs (1927)
• The Ugly Duckling (1932)
• Private Norakuro in Boot Camp (1933)
• Corporal Norakuro (1934)
• Momotaro in the Sky (1931)
• Momotaro under the Sea (1932)

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