was a pioneering animator who helped develop the art of anime 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 master of cutout animation.[2] Among his students were such animators as Yoshitarō Kataoka.