Tsunezō Murotani was a Japanese manga artist whose career spanned nearly seven decades, leaving a significant mark on the medium through both comedic storytelling and educational historical works. Born in Osaka Prefecture on September 9, 1934, his birth name was Tokizo Murotani. He began his creative journey early, winning gold prizes in a manga contest held by the Mainichi Chugakusei Shimbun for three consecutive years while still in high school. He made his professional debut in 1953 with the series Nihon Rekishi Manpo, which was published in that same newspaper supplement.

Murotani first gained popularity as a gag manga artist in the 1950s and 1960s with series like Pikadon-kun and Wanpaku Ta-bou. However, he became widely known to a broader audience as the original creator behind two anime series that aired in the late 1960s. The first, Kaminari Boy Pikkaribee, was an anime television series that ran from 1967 to 1968. It was based on his manga Biribiri Beet, which had been serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. The story followed a strange character who rode on a small black cloud and could only say biri biri. The following year, in 1968, his manga Doctor Tsururi served as the basis for the anime Fight Da!! Pyuta. These adaptations cemented his status as a recognized creator in the early days of television anime.

Beyond these comedic and sometimes supernatural works, Murotani’s artistic identity was remarkably versatile. He also worked in science fiction and horror, with a notable success in the latter genre being the series Jigoku-kun, which ran in Weekly Shonen Sunday starting in 1967 during a boom in horror-themed manga. However, the most defining aspect of his later career was his pioneering role in the field of educational manga. Beginning in the 1970s, he shifted his focus to creating historical and educational comics, becoming regarded as a trailblazer in children's learning manga. His most significant contribution in this area was the extensive Gakken Manga series, which numbered 15 volumes and covered Japanese history, world history, and biographies of historical figures. These works were widely distributed, finding a place in school libraries and becoming a key educational resource for a generation of readers.

In his later years, Murotani also pursued a career in oil painting, holding several exhibitions in Japan and France. Tsunezō Murotani passed away on November 22, 2021, at the age of 87. His death was publicly announced in January 2022. His legacy is defined by his ability to move fluidly between genres, from slapstick comedy and horror to his foundational work in educational manga that helped shape the format for historical storytelling in the medium.