IFFR 2025
30 Jan – 9 Feb 2025

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      Masaoka Kenzō

      MASAOKA Kenzō (1898-1988, Japan) was one of Japan’s first animation artists. He studied painting at Kyoto City University of Arts, graduating in 1917. After working as a costume designer, he began creating his own animation films in 1927, making Sea Palace and Shell Palace. He became the first to use cel animation in anime, and in 1933 directed The World of Power and Women, the first anime talkie. His work in anime earned him the nickname ‘the Japanse Disney’. Due to financial difficulties (in part due to the high cost of cel animation) he had to retire from filmmaking shortly after World War II.

      Filmography

      (all short) Umi no kyūden/Sea Palace (1927), Kai no kyūden/Shell Palace (1927), Nansensu Monogatari Daīppen Sarugashima/Nonsense Story, Volume 1: Monkey Island (1930), Nansensu Monogatari - Daini-hen - Kaizokusen/Nonsense Story - Second Chapter - The Pirate Ship (1931), Bakahachi to jōshu-sama (1931), Chikara to Onna no Yo no Naka/The World of Power and Women (1933), Shudan no tosei (1934), Sanba garasu/Three Crows (1934), Gyangu to Odoriko/The Gang and the Dancer (1934), Adauchi Karasu/Vengeful Crow (1934), Chagama ondo/The Dance of the Chagamas (1934), Mori no yōsei/Fairy Forest (1935), Tāchan no kaitei ryoko/Ta-chan's Underwater Adventure (1935), Tāchan no kaibutsu taiji/Ta-chan's Monster Adventure (1935), Kaguya Hime/Princess Kaguya (1935), Suzume no Oyado/The Sparrows' Lodge (1936), Yakko no Takohei: Otomo wa tsuyoi ne (1938), Shin Saru Kani Gassen/Monkey and Crabs (1939), Nyan no urashima/Cat’s Folktale (1939), Benkei tai Ushiwaka/Benkei and Ushiwaka (1939), Yume no Majutsushi/Magician in the Dream (1940), Fuku-chan no kishū/Attack on Fuku-chan (1941), Kumo to chūrippu/Spider and Tulip (1943), Sakura: Haru no genso/Cherry Blossom: Spring’s Fantasy (1946), Sute Neko Tora-chan/Abandoned Cat Little Tora (1947), Tora-chan to Hanayome/Tora-chan and the Bride (1948), Tora-chan no Kankan Mushi/Tora-chan and the Insect (1950)

      More info: Wikipedia, Masaoka Kenzō

      Masaoka Kenzō at IFFR