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Isao Takahata

Director

Isao Takahata

Born October 29, 1935 in Ujiyamada [now Ise], Mie, JapanDied April 5, 201822 films

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.

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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).

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The best way into Isao Takahata's work
Grave of the Fireflies posterFirst watchGrave of the Fireflies19888.5In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya poster8.1The Tale of The Princess Kaguya2013Only Yesterday poster7.4Only Yesterday1991Pom Poko poster7.2Pom Poko1994My Neighbors the Yamadas poster7.0My Neighbors the Yamadas1999The Story of Heidi poster7.8The Story of Heidi1979Gauche the Cellist poster7.2Gauche the Cellist1982Horus: Prince of the Sun poster6.4Horus: Prince of the Sun1968Panda! Go Panda! poster6.3Panda! Go Panda!1972

Filmography

22 films as director
  1. 2026The Story of Yanagawa WaterwaysDirector
  2. 2014Anne of Green Gables Digest VersionDirector
  3. 2013The Tale of The Princess KaguyaDirector
  4. 2003Winter DaysDirector
  5. 1999My Neighbors the YamadasDirector
  6. 1994Pom PokoDirector
  7. 1993Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Heidi and ClaraDirector
  8. 1993Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Mt. AlmDirector
  9. 1991Only YesterdayDirector
  10. 1990Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green GablesDirector
  11. 1988Grave of the FirefliesDirector
  12. 1982Gauche the CellistDirector
  13. 1981Chie the BratDirector
  14. 19803000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The MovieDirector
  15. 1979The Story of HeidiDirector
  16. 1977Heidi in the CityDirector
  17. 1974Heidi in the MountainsDirector
  18. 1973Panda! Go Panda!: Rainy Day CircusDirector
  19. 1972Panda! Go Panda!Director
  20. 1972Panda! Go Panda!Director
  21. 1968Horus: Prince of the SunDirector
  22. 1964Wolf Boy Ken: Scared by a Ghost: The Greatest Operation in the JungleDirector