Moribi Murano
Description
Moribi Murano was a Japanese manga artist, animator, character designer, and director, born Mamoru Satō on September 5, 1941, in Dalian, China. After World War II, he settled in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. He began his professional career in manga in 1958 with the work Dangan Ronkii.
As a manga creator, Murano produced a diverse body of work that includes titles such as Kusabue no Kisetsu, Boxer, Kakine no Majo, Osamu to Tae, and Shokunin-zuku Hyakkei. His most recognized manga is Hoero! Bun Bun (Howl! Bun Bun), a series about the adventures of a puppy. This manga became the foundation for his most significant contributions to anime, serving as the original creator for both a television anime series and a later film adaptation.
In addition to his manga work, Murano was an animator who studied under the pioneering manga artist and animator Osamu Tezuka. He worked on numerous anime productions in various capacities. Early in his animation career, he contributed to series such as Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy) and Big X. His credits include key animation, episode direction, and storyboarding on shows like Sabu to Ichi Torimono Hikae and Manga Sekai Mukashibanashi.
The Hoero! Bun Bun manga was first adapted into a 39-episode anime television series that aired from October 1980 to July 1981. The production was directed by Shigeru Omachi, with Murano credited as the original creator and also contributing to character design for the series. He later wrote the lyrics for the theme song of the 1987 anime film adaptation, Hoero! Bunbun.
Beyond his own creation, Murano took on directorial and design roles for other notable projects. In 1983, he directed the film Unico: Mahou no Shima e (Unico: To the Magic Island), a sequel to The Fantastic Adventures of Unico, which was based on a concept by Osamu Tezuka. Murano also handled the screenplay and series composition for this film. He later served as the character designer for the 1985 historical adventure film Kamui no Ken (The Dagger of Kamui). In addition to his character design work on the film, he also illustrated a five-volume novel adaptation of the story. Murano was also instrumental in introducing animator Akio Sugino to Osamu Tezuka in 1964.
Moribi Murano passed away due to heart failure at a hospital in Tokyo on March 7, 2011, at the age of 69. He had been hospitalized since January of that year. He is survived by his wife, Taeko Satō.
As a manga creator, Murano produced a diverse body of work that includes titles such as Kusabue no Kisetsu, Boxer, Kakine no Majo, Osamu to Tae, and Shokunin-zuku Hyakkei. His most recognized manga is Hoero! Bun Bun (Howl! Bun Bun), a series about the adventures of a puppy. This manga became the foundation for his most significant contributions to anime, serving as the original creator for both a television anime series and a later film adaptation.
In addition to his manga work, Murano was an animator who studied under the pioneering manga artist and animator Osamu Tezuka. He worked on numerous anime productions in various capacities. Early in his animation career, he contributed to series such as Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy) and Big X. His credits include key animation, episode direction, and storyboarding on shows like Sabu to Ichi Torimono Hikae and Manga Sekai Mukashibanashi.
The Hoero! Bun Bun manga was first adapted into a 39-episode anime television series that aired from October 1980 to July 1981. The production was directed by Shigeru Omachi, with Murano credited as the original creator and also contributing to character design for the series. He later wrote the lyrics for the theme song of the 1987 anime film adaptation, Hoero! Bunbun.
Beyond his own creation, Murano took on directorial and design roles for other notable projects. In 1983, he directed the film Unico: Mahou no Shima e (Unico: To the Magic Island), a sequel to The Fantastic Adventures of Unico, which was based on a concept by Osamu Tezuka. Murano also handled the screenplay and series composition for this film. He later served as the character designer for the 1985 historical adventure film Kamui no Ken (The Dagger of Kamui). In addition to his character design work on the film, he also illustrated a five-volume novel adaptation of the story. Murano was also instrumental in introducing animator Akio Sugino to Osamu Tezuka in 1964.
Moribi Murano passed away due to heart failure at a hospital in Tokyo on March 7, 2011, at the age of 69. He had been hospitalized since January of that year. He is survived by his wife, Taeko Satō.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview
- Topics: Anime overview