Kenzō Masaoka

Kenzo Masaoka
Born	October 5, 1898 Osaka, Japan
Died	November 23, 1988 (aged 90) Tokyo, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Occupation	animator

Kenzō Masaoka (政岡 憲三 Masaoka Kenzō, October 5, 1898 - November 23, 1988) was an early anime creator. Masaoka was born in Osaka, Japan and died in Tokyo, Japan. He is probably most famous for creating the earliest anime to use cel animation and recorded sound.^[1] He worked at a number of companies as an animator and actor. His work as a special effects artist earned him the title "Japanese Méliès."^[2]

He also did work under the pseudonym Donbei Masaoka (正岡 どんべい Masaoka Donbei).

Famous animators who worked under him include Mitsuyo Seo and Yasuji Mori.

Selected filmography

• Nansensu monogatari daīppen - Sarugashima, 1930 [Nonsense Story, Volume 1: Monkey Island]
• Chikara to Onna no Yo no Naka, 1933 (the first "talkie" anime film)
• Adauchi karasu, 1933
• Kaguya-hime, 1934
• Tahchan no kaitei ryoku, 1934 [Ta-chan's Underwater Adventure]
• Mori no yakyūdan, 1934
• Chagama ondo, 1935 [A Song of the Chagama Family]
• Mori no yosei, 1935
• Benkei tai Ushiwaka, 1937 [Benkei and Ushiwaka]
• Nyan no urashima, 1938
• Yume no majutsushi, 1938
• Tori no hoken kanyūin, 1938
• Fuku-chan no Kishū, 1942
• Kumo to Tulip, 1942 [The Spider and the Tulip]
• Sakura - Haru no gensō, 1946
• Suteneko Tora-chan, 1948

References

1. Kōdansha (1993). Japan: an illustrated encyclopedia. Kōdansha, ISBN 978-4-06-206489-7
2. The World History of Animation, Stephen Cavalier p. 144

External links

• Kenzō Masaoka at the Internet Movie Database