Yasuji Murata (村田安司 Murata Yasuji?, 24 January 1896 – 2 November 1966) was a pioneering animator who helped develop the art of ***** 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 ****** of cutout animation.[2] Among his students were such animators as Yoshitarō Kataoka.[edit]Selected filmographyDōbutsu Orinpikku taikai, 1928 [Animal Olympics]Tarō-san no kisha, 1929 [Taro's Train]Saru Masamune, 1930 [The Monkey Masamune]Oira no yakyū, 1930Sora no Momotarō, 1931Norakuro gochō, 1934