Mori, Yasuji (1925 - 1992)

Born in Tottori Prefecture and raised in Taiwan, Yasuji Mori (森康二) obtained his degree in architecture from the Tokyo Art School, and was hired by animation studio Nihon Dogasha (AKA Nichido) in 1947, which in 1956 was acquired by film studio Toei and officially re-named to Toei Doga. After helping to create the Toei Doga style over the decade and a half which followed in films such as Panda and the Magic Serpent (1958) and Puss 'n Boots (1969), Mori left Toei to join Nippon Animation, where he worked for the remainder of his life. Mori was also famous as an illustrator of children's books.

As an animator, during his stay at Toei Doga Mori created many unforgettable characters and some of the most striking full animation sequences ever seen in Japan. He brought to his work a meticulous, uncompromising, worksman-like approach, and as a senior animator at Toei Doga exerted a formative influence on many of the great animators of the next generation including Yasuo otsuka, Hayao Miyazaki, Yoichi Kotabe and Isao Takahata. As a teacher, according to Isao Takahata, Mori's influence on the world of Japanese animation was "incalculable".

Completed 2/1948
19 m. B&W Movie
Nihon Dogasha
トラちゃんと花嫁
Tora-chan and the Bride
Colorist
Executive Producer: Yamamoto Sanae
Director: Masaoka Kenzo



Completed 10/1948
18 m. B&W Movie
Nihon Dogasha
ポッポやさんのんき駅長
Poppo-ya-san the Carefree Station Master
Animator
Executive Producer: Yamamoto Sanae
Director: Kumagawa Masao



Completed 6/1949
13 m. B&W Movie
Nihon Dogasha
ポッポやさんのんき機関士
Poppo-ya-san the Carefree Railroad Man
Animator
Executive Producer: Yabushita Taiji
Director: Kumagawa Masao
Written by: Matsuzaki Yoshihito
Photography: Yabushita Taiji
Music: Sakamoto Yoshitaka
Recording: Hozaka Tomoaki
Effects: Narita Umekichi
Animation (doga): Hama Keitaro, Abe Koki, Furusawa Hideo, Fukui Eiichi, Mori Yasuji



Completed 12/1950
17 m. B&W Movie
Nihon Dogasha/Toho Kyoiku Eigasha
小人と青虫
The Gnome and the Caterpillar
Animator
Executive Producer: Yamamoto Sanae
Director: Furusawa Hideo
Animation: Kumagawa Masao, Hama Yasumasa, Mori Yasuji, Kitajima Michio, Kobata Shunji
Written by: Matsuzaki Yoshihito
Original Work by: Koezuka Akira
Photography: Tori Jiro
Music: Sakamoto Yoshitaka
Recording: Okazaki Michio
Backgrounds: Daikubara Akira



Completed 8/1953
16 m. B&W Movie
Nihon Dogasha
ありとはと
The Ant and the Pigeon
Animator
Executive Producer: Yamamoto Sanae
Director: Yuhara Hajime
Animation: Furusawa Hideo, Mori Yasuji
Written by: Yuhara Hajime
Photography: Takagi Taisaku, Ishikawa Mitsuaki
Music: Sakamoto Yoshitaka



Completed 3/1954
B&W Movie
Nihon Dogasha
子うさぎものがたり
Story of the Little Rabbit
Key Animator
Executive Producer: Yamamoto Sanae
Director: Mori Yasuji
Animation Help: Furusawa Hideo
Written by: Yabushita Taiji
Photography: Takagi Taisaku, Ishikawa Mitsuaki
Recording: Yokota Kin'ya
Music: Sakamoto Yoshitaka
Effects: ET Group



Completed 4/1954
19 m. B&W Movie
Mitsui Geijutsu Productions
かっぱ川太郎
Kawataro Kappa
Animator
Executive Producers: Mitsui Takeshi, Yoshioka Kenji
Animation Director: Yabushita Taiji
Script: Iizawa Tadashi
Original Work: Kiyomizu Kon
Photography: Takagi Taisaku, Ishikawa Mitsuaki, Yamada Kozo
Music: Hattori Tadashi
Lyrics: Sato Hachiro
Recording: Teraoka Yukio
Effects: Eguchi Takao



Completed 10/1955
16 m. Kony Color Movie
Nichido Eigasha
うかれバイオリン
The Merry Violin
Key Animator
Planning: Yamazaki Kishiro, Yamamoto Sanae
Directed & Written by: Yabushita Taiji
Photography: Takagi Taisaku, Ishikawa Mitsuaki
Music: Sakamoto Yoshitaka
Recording: Nakano Rinji
Effects: ET Group
Animation: Daikubara Akira, Mori Yasuji, Furusawa Hideo



Completed 7/1956
15 m. Fuji Color Movie
Nichido Eigasha/Kyoiku Eiga Haikyūsha
黒いきこりと白いきこり
The Black Woodcutter and the White Woodcutter
Key Animator
Directed by: Yabushita Taiji
Original Work by: Hamada Hirosuke
Music: Ito Takanobu
Recording: Nakano Rinji
Effects: Kimura Hajime



5/13/1957
13 m. B&W Movie
Toei kyoiku eiga bu
こねこのらくがき
Kitty's Graffiti
Key Animator, Director
Planning: Akagawa Koichi, Yamamoto Sanae
Director: Yabushita Taiji
Animation: Mori Yasuji, Daikubara Akira, Ichino Shoji, Naganuma Sumiko, Uchiyama Takashi, Tera Chikao, Tashima Minoru, Nakashima Kiyoshi, Shindo Mitsuko, Yamada Junji
Original Work by: Kishita Akio
Photography: Ishikawa Mitsuaki
Music: Ito Senji
Effects: Kimura Hajime



10/22/1958
84 m. Movie
Toei Doga
白蛇伝
Legend of the White Snake
Key Animator

Completed 4/9/1959
16 m. Movie
Toei Doga
こねこのスタジオ
Kitty's Studio
Key Animator, Director
Planning: Yamamoto Sanae
Photography: Ishikawa Mitsuaki
Music: Yamada Eiichi
Recording: Mori Takeshi
Voice acting: Nakamura Meiko



12/25/1959
82 m. Movie
Toei Doga
少年猿飛佐助
Boy Sarutobi Sasuke
Key Animator

8/14/1960
88 m. Movie
Toei Doga
西遊記
Journey to the West
Key Animator

7/19/1961
83 m. B&W Movie
Toei Doga
安寿と厨子王丸
Anju & Zushiomaru
Key Animator

Completed 10/1961
13 m. B&W Movie
Toei Doga
ねずみのよめいり
The Mouse's Wedding
Animation Supervisor
Planning: Shimada Taiichi
Script: Shirakawa Daisaku, Tsukioka Sadao
Structure, Director: Shirakawa Daisaku, Tsukioka Sadao
Animators: Tsukioka Sadao, Kobayashi Kazuko, Hanada Reiko, Hayashi Shigeyuki (Rin Taro), Tamura Shin'ya
Art: Koyama Reiji
Finishing: Motohashi Fumieda
Photography: Sugawara Hideaki, Shinozaki Fumio
Editing: Inaba Yūzo
Music: Asano Shingo
Recording: Ishii Yukio



5/1/1962
109 m. Toei Scope Movie
Toei Kyoto
恋や恋なすな恋
Koi ya koi nasuna koi
Key Animator
A live-action film.
Animated sequences done by Mori.



7/19/1962
15 m. Movie
Toei Doga
もぐらのモトロ
Motoro the Mole
Animation Supervisor
Director: Ikeda Hiroshi
Script: Hara Toru
Art: Yokoi Saburo
Key Animator: Nagasawa Makoto
Photography: Hayashi Akio
Recording: Ishii Yukio



3/24/1963
85 m. Movie
Toei Doga
わんぱく王子の大蛇退治
Little Prince & the 8-Headed Dragon
Animation Director

12/21/1963
82 m. Movie
Toei Doga
わんわん忠臣蔵
Bow-wow Chūshingura
Key Animator

3/20/1965
80 m. Toei Scope Movie
Toei Doga
ガリバーの宇宙旅行
Gulliver's Space Travels
Key Animator

2/1/1965 - 11/29/1965
44 ep. B&W TV Series
Toei Doga
宇宙パトロールホッパ
Space Patrol Hopper
Animation Director




11/1/1965 - 4/25/1966
26 ep. B&W TV Series
Toei Doga
ハッスルパンチ
Hustle Punch
Original Work, Animation Director

7/21/1966
Movie
Toei Kyoto
大忍術映画ワタリ
Great Ninja Movie: Watari
Key Animator
A live-action film.
Animated sequences done by Mori.



4/5/1967 - 10/4/1967
26 ep. B&W TV Series
Toei Doga/Videocraft/Rankin Bass
001/7親指トム
Tom Thumb 001/7
Animation Director

7/21/1968
82 m. Movie
Toei Doga
太陽の王子ホルスの大冒険
The Big Adventure of Hols, Prince of the Sun
Key Animator

3/18/1969
80 m. Movie
Toei Doga
長靴をはいた猫
Puss 'n Boots
Animation Director, Character Designer

3/17/1970
81 m. Movie
Toei Doga
ちびっ子レミと名犬カピ
Little Rémy and Famous Dog Capi
Key Animator

3/20/1971
78 m. Movie
Toei Doga
どうぶつ宝島
Animal Treasure Island
Animation Director

7/18/1971
56 m. Movie
Toei Doga
アリババと40匹の盗賊
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Key Animator

7/16/1972
50 m. Movie
Toei Doga
魔犬ライナー0011変身せよ
Maken Rainer 0011: Transform!
Key Animator




3/17/1973
53 m. Movie
Toei Doga
パンダの大冒険
Panda's Big Adventure
Key Animator




3/18/1972
53 m. Movie
Toei Doga
ながぐつ三銃士
Puss 'n Boots II
Animation Director

1/7/1973 - 12/30/1973
52 ep. TV Series
Zuiyo Eizo
山ねずみロッキーチャック
Rocky Chuck the Woodchuck
Animation Director

1/6/1974 - 12/29/1974
52 ep. TV Series
Zuiyo Enterprises
アルプスの少女ハイジ
Heidi, Girl of the Alps
Opening Animation, Pilot Film E-Konte

1/5/1975 - 12/28/1975
52 ep. TV Series
Zuyo Eizo > Nippon Animation
フランダースの犬
A Dog of Flanders
Character Designer

10/7/1975 - 4/30/1976
26 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
草原の少女ローラ
Laura, Girl of the Prairies
Animation Director, Character Designer

6/7/1977 - 12/6/1977
26 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
シートン動物記 くまの子ジャッキー
Seton Animal Chronicles: Jacky the Bearcub
Character Designer

1/1/1978 - 12/31/1978
53 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
ペリーヌ物語
The Story of Perrine
Layout

4/4/1978 - 10/31/1978
26 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
未来少年コナン
Future Boy Conan
Key Animator

1/1/1978 - 12/31/1978
39 ep. TV Series
Nack
星の王子さま プチ★プランス
Petit Prince: Prince of the Stars
Character Designer

4/7/1979 - 9/29/1979
26 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
シートン動物記 りすのバナー Seton Animal Chronicles: Banner the Squirrel
Character Designer

6/30/1979
70 m. TV Special
TV Man Union/Mushi Pro/Nippon Animation
トンデモネズミ大活躍
Manxmouse
Character Designer

2/3/1980
70 m. TV Special
Nippon Animation
のどか森の動物大作戦
Peter of Placid Forest
Animator

4/11/1981 - 8/1/1981
13 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
フーセンのドラ太郎
Dorataro the Hobo
Character Designer

10/9/1981 - 3/26/1982
26 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
ワンワン三銃士
Bow-Wow Three Musketeers
Layout Supervisor

10/3/1983 - 3/26/1984
26 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
不思議の国のアリス
Alice in Wonderland
Layout Supervisor

7/7/1984 - 12/31/1984
26 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
ふしぎなコアラブリンキー
Blinky the Wonderful Koala
Layout Supervisor

1/6/1985 - 12/29/1985
46 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
小公女セーラ
Little Princess Sara
Layout Supervisor

4/25/1986 - 12/26/1986
26 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
青春アニメ全集
Youth Anime Complete Works
Character Designer, Layout Supervisor

5/19/1986
72 m. TV Special
Nippon Animation
サンゴ礁伝説 青い海のエルフィ
Coral Reef Legend: Elfie of the Blue Seas
Scene Layout

10/19/1987
69 m. TV Special
Nippon Animation
瞳のなかの少年 15少年漂流記
The Boys in the Eye: 15 Boys Stranded at Sea
Animation Supervisor

10/21/1987 - 3/30/1988
24 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
グリム名作劇場
Grimm Masterpiece Playhouse
Character Designer

10/2/1988 - 3/26/1989
23 ep. TV Series
Nippon Animation
新グリム名作劇場
New Grimm Masterpiece Playhouse
Character Designer

10/1/1993
OVA
Nippon Animation/Nihon Columbia
アニメ・アート・ビデオ・コレクション童話 第4巻 おおかみと7ひきのこやぎ
Anime Art Video Collection Vol. 4: The Wolf and the Seven Kids
Director, Character Designer

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