Background
Anno was born in 1926 in Tsuwano, a small town in Shimane Prefecture, Japan and grew up there.
安野 光雅
Anno was born in 1926 in Tsuwano, a small town in Shimane Prefecture, Japan and grew up there.
As a student at a regional high school, he studied art, drawing, and the writings of Hermann Hesse.
He received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1984 for his "lasting contribution to children"s literature."
During World 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
They have two children, Masaichiro and Seiko.
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.
The biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award conferred by the International Board on Books for Young People is the highest recognition available to a writer or illustrator of children"s books Jansson received the illustration award in 1984. Chicago Tribune Honor Award (1970) The Minister of Education"s Encouragement Prize for New ists (1974) Kate Greenaway Medal, commended runner-up (1974), Anno"s Alphabet Brooklyn Museum of Award (1975) Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, Picture Book (1975), Anno"s Alphabet Black Gold–HB Honor, Picture Book (1977), Anno"s Counting Book Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, Picture Book (1978), Anno"s Journey BIB Golden Apple Award (1979) Graphic Award, Bologna Children"s Book Fair (1980) Person of Cultural Merit (2012).
