Masao Maruyama

Masao Maruyama ?? ?? born June 19 1941 is a Japanese anime producer and anime entrepreneur the cofounder of Madhouse as well as the founder of MAPPA and Studio M2 He is the current chairman of MAPPA and president of Studio M2 Maruyama has been involved in the Japanese animation business for over 50 years He has worked with many wellknown and upandcoming animators established several animation production companies worked on dozens of series and films and planned and produced various works Maruyama is one of the most experienced producers in the Japanese animation industry and has given opportunities to individuals who went on to become accomplished directors in their own right Among the talents he picked up were Satoshi Kon Mamoru Hosoda and Sunao Katabuchi He also gave Masaaki Yuasa and Mitsuo Iso a chance to direct at a very early stage He also gave Mamoru Hosoda who was thinking of returning to his hometown to change careers after he was forced to drop out of directing Studio Ghiblis Howls Moving Castle a chance to direct his first theatrical film after resigning from Toei Animation Yuichiro Hayashi Munehisa Sakai and Sunghoo Park who became MAPPAs main directors and Sayo Yamamoto his direct protégé at Madhouse are also people whose talents were discovered by Maruyama His ability to find talented people helped Madhouse and MAPPA to make great strides