is a Japanese author and illustrator of children's books.

Background

Anno was born in 1926 in Japan, and grew up in the small town of Tsuwano. As a student at a regional high school, he studied art, drawing, and the writings of Hermann Hesse. During World War II, Anno was drafted into the Japanese army. After the war, Anno earned a degree from the Yamaguchi Teacher Training College in 1948. He taught mathematics for ten years in an elementary school in Tokyo before beginning a career illustrating children's books. Anno lives in Japan with his wife, Midori. They have two children, Masaichiro and Seiko.

Art

Anno is best known for wordless picture books featuring small, detailed figures. In the "Journey" books, a tiny character travels through a nation's landscape, densely populated with pictures referencing that country's art, literature, culture, and history. Anno's illustrations are often in pen and ink and watercolor, and occasionally incorporate collage and woodcuts. They are intricately detailed, showing a sense of humor as well as an interest in science, mathematics, and foreign cultures. They frequently incorporate subtle jokes and references. Anno's style has been compared to that of M. C. Escher. Although he is best known for his children's books, his paintings have earned recognition in his native Japan. In Tsuwano, Japan, the Mitsumasa Anno Museum houses a collection of his works.

List of works

• Mysterious Pictures (1968)
• Jeux de consruction (1970)
• Topsy Turvies (1970)
• Upside Downers (1971)
• Zwergenspuk (1972)
• Dr. Anno's Magical Midnight Circus (1972)
• Anno's Alphabet (1975)
• Anno's Journey (1977)
• Anno's Animals (1979)
• Anno's Italy (1979)
• Unique World of Mitsumasa Anno (1980)
• Anno's Magical ABC (1981)
• Anno's Counting House (1982)
• Anno's Britain (1982)
• Anno's USA (1983)
• Anno's Counting Book (1984)
• Anno's Flea Market (1984)
• Anno's Three Little Pigs (1985)
• Anno's Counting Book (1986)
• The King's Flower (1986)
• All in a Day (1986)
• Anno's Sundial (1987)
• Anno's Upside Downers (1988)
• In Shadowland (1988)
• Anno's Peekaboo (1988)
• Anno's Faces (1989)
• Anno's Aesop: A Book of Fables (1989)
• Chyi Miaw Gwo (1990)
• Anno's Medieval World (1990)
• Anno's Masks (1990)
• The Animals (1992)
• Anno's Hat Tricks (1993)
• Anno's Twice Told Tale (1993)
• Anno's Magic Seeds (1995)
• Anno's Journey (1997)
• Anno's Math Games (1997)
• Anno's Math Games 2 (1997)
• Anno's Math Games 3 (1997)
• Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar (1999)
• The Art Of Mitsumasa Anno: Bridging Cultures (with Ann Beneduce) (2003)
• Bungotai for Youths (2003)
• Anno's Spain (2004)

Works illustrated by Mitsumasa Anno

• Socrates and the Three Little Pigs, by Tsuyoshi Mori (1986)
• The Magic Pocket: Selected Poems, by Michio Mado (1998)

Awards

• Chicago Tribune Honor Award (1970)
• The Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists (1974)
• Kate Greenaway Commended (1974)
• Brooklyn Museum of Art Award (1975)
• Boston Globe Horn Book Award (Picture Books) (1975)
• BIB Golden Apple Award (1979)
• Graphic Award, Bologna Children's Book Fair (1980)
• Hans Christian Andersen Award (1984)

Footnotes