Short answers, pulled from the story.
Kenzo Masaoka was a Japanese animator and voice actor who was the first in Japan to use cel animation and recorded sound in anime. He was also one of the founders of what became Toei Animation, and his special effects work earned him the title "Japanese Melies."
Masaoka introduced both cel animation and recorded sound to Japanese animation, making him the first to combine these two techniques in anime. Cel animation allowed characters to be drawn on transparent sheets layered over backgrounds, enabling more efficient production.
Masaoka earned the title "Japanese Melies" for his work as a special effects artist, drawing a comparison to Georges Melies, the pioneering French filmmaker known for cinematic illusion and visual trickery.
Mitsuyo Seo and Yasuji Mori both worked under Masaoka. Seo is known for directing the first feature-length anime, and Mori became a significant figure at Toei Animation.
Masaoka was one of the founders of what became Toei Animation, one of the most prominent studios in the history of Japanese animation.
Masaoka's filmography includes a wide range of works, from folklore adaptations such as Princess Kaguya and Benkei and Ushiwaka to serialized character films like Tora-chan and the Bride and Tora-chan and the Insect, as well as adventure titles including Spider and Tulip and The Gang and the Dancer.