Mitsumasa Anno facts for kids

Mitsumasa Anno (born March 20, 1926 – died December 24, 2020) was a famous Japanese artist and writer. He was best known for creating amazing picture books for children. Many of his books had very few words, or even no words at all!

In 1984, he won the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal. This award is one of the highest honors for people who make children's books. He received it for his "lasting contribution to children's literature," meaning his work made a big and important difference for kids' books.

About Mitsumasa Anno's Life

Mitsumasa Anno was born in 1926 in a small town called Tsuwano in Japan. He grew up there and studied art and drawing in high school. He also enjoyed reading the writings of Hermann Hesse.

During World War II, he joined the Japanese army. After the war ended, Anno went to Yamaguchi Teacher Training College. He earned his degree in 1948. For ten years, he taught mathematics at an elementary school in Tokyo. After that, he started his career illustrating children's books.

Mitsumasa Anno lived in Japan with his wife, Midori. They had two children, Masaichiro and Seiko. He passed away on December 24, 2020.

Mitsumasa Anno's Art Style

Anno was most famous for his picture books that had no words. These books often showed tiny, very detailed figures. In his popular "Journey" books, a small character travels through different countries. The pictures are full of tiny details that show the art, stories, culture, and history of that country.

Anno often used pen and ink and watercolor for his drawings. Sometimes, he also used collage and woodcuts. His illustrations are very detailed and often show a sense of humor. He was also very interested in science, mathematics, and different cultures. You can often find clever jokes and hidden references in his artwork. Some people have compared his drawing style to that of M. C. Escher, another famous artist known for his detailed and sometimes mind-bending art.

Even though he was best known for his children's books, his paintings were also recognized in Japan. There is a museum in Tsuwano, his hometown, called the Mitsumasa Anno Museum. It has a collection of his beautiful works.

Awards and Recognition

The Hans Christian Andersen Award is given out every two years by the International Board on Books for Young People. It is the highest award a writer or illustrator of children's books can receive. Mitsumasa Anno won the illustration award in 1984.

He also received many other important awards:

• Chicago Tribune Honor Award (1970)
• The Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists (1974)
• Kate Greenaway Medal, commended runner-up (1974), for Anno's Alphabet
• Brooklyn Museum of Art Award (1975)
• Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, Picture Book (1975), for Anno's Alphabet
• BG–HB Honor, Picture Book (1977), for Anno's Counting Book
• Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, Picture Book (1978), for Anno's Journey
• BIB Golden Apple Award (1979)
• Graphic Award, Bologna Children's Book Fair (1980)
• Person of Cultural Merit (2012)

Selected Works by Mitsumasa Anno

As illustrator only

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