Isao Takahata

Biography

Isao Takahata (October 29, 1935 – April 5, 2018), co-founder of Studio Ghibli, was one of the most famous directors of Japanese animated films. Unlike most anime directors, he did not draw and never worked as an animator before becoming a director. For the first two decades of his career from the 1960s to the 1980s, Takahata worked primarily as director for anime television. In 1985 he and his long-time collaborative partner Hayao Miyazaki formed Studio Ghibli with Toshio Suzuki and Yasuyoshi Tokuma. From that point, his career transitioned into producing, directing, and writing films for Studio Ghibli. He is known for his five feature length anime films released under Ghibli, Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Only Yesterday (1991), Pom Poko (1994), My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999) and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013).

Known For

Kulturplatz

10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron

Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature

Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya

The Story of Yanagawa's Canals

NHK Educational TV Special

All Movies (24)

• Hotaru no Haka to Takahata Isao to 7-satsu no Nōto2025 · as Self (archive footage)
• Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature2025 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron2024 · as Self (archive fotage)
• 2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli2023 · as Self
• NHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director2018 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hyohyo: Dear Mr. Yasuo Otsuka2015 · as Self
• Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya2014 · as Self
• Ghibli Landscapes - Visit 'Japan' as Depicted by Isao Takahata2014 · as Self
• The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness2013 · as Self
• Ghibli Landscapes - A Journey to Encounter Directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's Starting Point2011 · as Self
• Japanese Cinema: New Territories2011 · as Self
• Ghibli's Bookshelf2010 · as Self
• A Ghibli Artisan - Kazuo Oga Exhibition - The One Who Drew Totoro's Forest2007 · as Self
• Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum2005 · as Self
• Ghibli and The Miyazaki Mystery2005 · as Self - Interviewee
• Yasuo Ōtsuka's Joy in Motion2004 · as Self
• Paul Grimault, image par image2003 · as Self
• The Birth of Studio Ghibli2003
• The Cat Returns - Making of2002 · as Self
• Super TV: Frontline Information 15 Months of Exclusive Coverage! The Secret Behind "My Neighbors the Yamadas"2000
• The World, The Journey Of My Heart - Traveler: Animation Film Director Isao Takahata1999 · as Himself
• How Ghibli Was Born1998 · as Himself
• The Making of Only Yesterday1991 · as Self
• The Story of Yanagawa's Canals1987 · as Himself

All TV Shows (3)

• 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki2019 · as Self
• Kulturplatz2004 · as Self
• NHK Educational TV Special1985 · as Himself