Masao Maruyama

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A long-serving anime producer, as well as a founder of Madhouse, Mappa and Studio M2. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board at Mappa.

Maruyama graduated from Hosei University in 1963, and soon after, he found work at Mushi Production in 1965. It was here that he met many of Madhouse's future staff members. In October 1972, he left Mushi Production together with Rintarou, Osamu Dezaki and Yoshiaki Kawajiri and founded Madhouse. From that time onward, Maruyama focused mainly on producing and planning Madhouse's upcoming projects. He also served as the studio's president through the '80s and '90s.

Thanks in large part to his frequent attendance at anime conventions, he has become well-known in America among Madhouse's fanbase. Not simply wanting to emulate past successes, Maruyama frequently says at these events that his goal as a producer is to seek out new challenges that will allow the production staff to keep experimenting. This attitude in part has been the reason why he has encouraged the studio to take on projects that may not seem like sure-fire commercial hits. In addition, Maruyama has long been a supporter of bringing new talents into the animation business, and continues to encourage young people to work in anime.

In 2011, he left Madhouse and founded Mappa. Later in 2016, he left Mappa and founded Studio M2.