Norio Matsumoto is a prolific action and character animator. He began his career after graduating from Tatsunoko's animators training program. He worked as an "inbetweener" for Oh! Productions (1987-89), mentored under Tomohiro Hirata and was influenced by Satoru Utsunomiya and Takashi Nakamura, for which he has adapted elements of their approach for a wider audience. Norio is perhaps best known for his work on the Naruto franchise, being the lead animator on Wakabayashi's episodes 30, 71, 133; and episode 167 of Shippuden.