Masao Maruyama

is a Japanese anime producer and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of Madhouse, as well as the founder of MAPPA and Studio M2 animation studios. He is the current Chairman of MAPPA and President of Studio M2 and Board member of N LITE Japan.

Over a career spanning more than 50 years, Maruyama has founded multiple animation production companies and produced numerous television series, feature films, and original video animations (OVAs). He is also noted for hiring and working with various directors early in their careers, including Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Hosoda, Sunao Katabuchi, Masaaki Yuasa, Mitsuo Iso, Yuichiro Hayashi, Munehisa Sakai, Sayo Yamamoto and Katsuhiro Otomo.

Early life Maruyama was born in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, in 1941. Although he did not initially intend to pursue a career in animation, his encounter with the studio's head, Osamu Tezuka, influenced his decision to remain in the industry. He became the studio's president in 1980, overseeing project planning, production design, and directorial assignments.

During his tenure as studio head, Maruyama planned or produced numerous feature films, including all of Satoshi Kon's directorial works (Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers, Paprika), Mamoru Hosoda's The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars, and Sunao Katabuchi's Mai Mai Miracle. Following Kon's death in August 2010, production was suspended on his unfinished film, Dreaming Machine, for which Maruyama served as producer.

In 2010, Maruyama served as the executive producer for an anime project based on the TV show Supernatural, entitled Supernatural The Animation, which was the world's first animated project from a Japanese anime studio based on an overseas drama series.

Between 2010 and 2011, Maruyama acted as a planner for Marvel Anime, an animated anthology series featuring Iron Man, Wolverine, X-Men and Blade.

MAPPA and Studio M2 (2011–present)

In June 2011, Maruyama left Madhouse to establish MAPPA (Maruyama Animation Produce Project Association), where Maruyama served as the company's first representative director. The studio was founded in part to produce Sunao Katabuchi's film In This Corner of the World, a project Maruyama had been developing since 2010 but which had faced fundraising delays. Maruyama then established Studio M2, a new company specializing in project planning and pre-production, to ensure the completion of his remaining long-term projects.

In 2023, Maruyama joined the board of N LITE Japan to produce the animated film Mfinda.

Works

Movies Year Title Japanese name Director Role(s) 1981 Natsu e no Tobira 夏への扉Mori Masaki Coordinator 1982 Haguregumo 浮浪雲Mori Masaki Coordinator 1983 Unico in the Island of Magic ユニコ 魔法の島へMoribi Murano Coordinator 1983 Barefoot Gen はだしのゲンMori Masaki Coordinator 1983 Genma Wars 幻魔大戦Rintaro Coordinator 1984 Lensman SF新世紀レンズマンKazuyuki Hirokawa, Yoshiaki Kawajiri Producer 1985 The Dagger of Kamui カムイの剣Rintaro Coordinator, Producer 1985 Bobby ni Kubittake ボビーに首ったけToshio Hirata Producer 1986 Toki no Tabibito: Time Stranger 時空の旅人Mori Masaki Producer 1986 Neo Tokyo 迷宮物語Rintaro, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Katsuhiro Otomo Story Editor, Producer 1986 Phenix Hō-ō-hen 火の鳥 鳳凰編Rintaro Producer 1987 Barefoot Gen 2 はだしのゲン2Mori Masaki Coordinator 1987 Hoero Bun Bun ほえろブンブンShigeru Omachi Producer 1987 Wicked City 妖獣都市Yoshiaki Kawajiri Coordinator 1987 Gokiburi-tachi no Tasogare ゴキブリたちの黄昏Hiroaki Yoshida Producer 1988 Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars 銀河英雄伝説 わが征くは星の大海Noboru Ishiguro Production Producer 1993 Ninja Scroll 獣兵衛忍風帖Yoshiaki Kawajiri Production Producer 1995 The Diary of Anne Frank アンネの日記Akinori Nagaoka Producer 1997 Perfect Blue パーフェクトブルーSatoshi Kon Producer 1999 Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie 劇場版カードキャプターさくらMorio Asaka Planning 2000 Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust バンパイアハンターDYoshiaki Kawajiri Producer 2000 Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card 劇場版カードキャプターさくら 封印されたカードMorio Asaka Planning 2001 Metropolis メトロポリスRintaro Planning 2002 WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 WXIII 機動警察パトレイバーTakuji Endo Producer 2002 Millennium Actress 千年女優Satoshi Kon Planning 2003 Nasu: Summer in Andalusia 茄子 アンダルシアの夏Kitarō Kōsaka Producer 2003 Tokyo Godfathers 東京ゴッドファーザーズSatoshi Kon Planner 2006 Paprika パプリカSatoshi Kon Planner 2006 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time 時をかける少女Mamoru Hosoda Planner 2007 Highlander: The Search for Vengeance ハイランダー: 復讐の探求Yoshiaki Kawajiri Co-Producer 2007 Forest of Piano ピアノの森Masayuki Kojima Planner 2007 Cinnamoroll The Movie シナモン the MovieGisaburō Sugii Planner 2007 The Story of a Mouse-The Adventures of George and Gerald- ねずみ物語 〜ジョージとジェラルドの冒険〜Masami Hata Planner 2008 Hells Angels HELLS ANGELSYoshinobu Yamakawa Planner 2009 Summer Wars サマーウォーズMamoru Hosoda Planner 2009 Mai Mai Miracle マイマイ新子と千年の魔法Sunao Katabuchi Planner 2010 Trigun: Badlands Rumble TRIGUN Badlands RumbleSatoshi Nishimura Planner 2010 Redline REDLINETakeshi Koike Planner 2011 The Princess and the Pilot とある飛空士への追憶Jun Shishido Planner 2012 The Tibetan Dog チベット犬物語 〜金色のドージェ〜Masayuki Kojima Planner 2012 Wolf Children おおかみこどもの雨と雪Mamoru Hosoda Special Supporters 2013 Hunter × Hunter: Phantom Rouge 劇場版 HUNTER×HUNTER 緋色の幻影Yūzō Satō Creative Producer 2016 In This Corner of the World この世界の片隅にSunao Katabuchi Planner 2016 Garo: Divine Flame 牙狼〈GARO〉-DIVINE FLAME-Yūichirō Hayashi Creative Producer 2018 Usuzumizakura: Garo 薄墨桜 -GARO-Satoshi Nishimura Creative Producer TBA MFINDA ムフィンダ Gisaburō Sugii Producer

Television series

OVA and others

Legacy and recognition

In recognition of his contribution to the industry, Maruyama received the Special Award at the 7th Animation Kobe in 2002 and the Encouragement Award at the 23rd Fujimoto Award in 2003.

Cultural Depictions The character Masato Marukawa from the 2014 animated TV series Shirobako is modelled after Maruyama. In the series, Marukawa is depicted as president of the fictional studio Musashino Animation.

Public Appearances Maruyama is a frequent guest at the American anime convention Otakon, having attended at least 15 times since 2001. The convention named him an honorary staff member in 2009.