Alexander Viktorovich Shiryaev (Russian: Александр Викторович Ширяев; 10 September [O.S. 29 August] 1867 — 25 April 1941) was a Russian ballet dancer, ballet master and choreographer, founder of character dance in Russian ballet who served at the Mariinsky Theatre. Shiryaev was also a pioneering animation director who is credited with invention of stop motion animation.