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Isao Takahata

Directing 82 (deceased) years old Ujiyamada [now Ise], Mie, Japan ★ 1.3
Born: October 29, 1935
Died: April 5, 2018

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).

External Links

🌐 Official Website 🎬 IMDb

Known For

Lupin the 3rd
Lupin the 3rd Director 1971
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables Director 1979
Heidi: Girl of the Alps
Heidi: Girl of the Alps Director 1974
Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday Director 1991
Heidi in the City
Heidi in the City Director 1977

Filmography

Acting Credits (27)

Hotaru no Haka to Takahata Isao to 7-satsu no Nōto
Hotaru no Haka to Takahata Isao to 7-satsu no Nōto Self (archive footage) 2025
Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature
Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature Self (archive footage) 2025
Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron Self (archive fotage) 2024
2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli
2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli Self 2023
10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki
10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki Self 2019
NHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director
NHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director Self (archive footage) 2018
Hyohyo: Dear Mr. Yasuo Otsuka
Hyohyo: Dear Mr. Yasuo Otsuka Self 2015
Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya Self 2014
Ghibli Landscapes - Visit 'Japan' as Depicted by Isao Takahata
Ghibli Landscapes - Visit 'Japan' as Depicted by Isao Takahata Self 2014
The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness Self 2013
Ghibli Landscapes - A Journey to Encounter Directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's Starting Point
Ghibli Landscapes - A Journey to Encounter Directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's Starting Point Self 2011
Japanese Cinema: New Territories
Japanese Cinema: New Territories Self 2011
Ghibli's Bookshelf
Ghibli's Bookshelf Self 2010
A Ghibli Artisan - Kazuo Oga Exhibition - The One Who Drew Totoro's Forest
A Ghibli Artisan - Kazuo Oga Exhibition - The One Who Drew Totoro's Forest Self 2007
Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum
Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum Self 2005
Ghibli and The Miyazaki Mystery
Ghibli and The Miyazaki Mystery Self - Interviewee 2005
Kulturplatz
Kulturplatz Self 2004
Yasuo Ōtsuka's Joy in Motion
Yasuo Ōtsuka's Joy in Motion Self 2004
Paul Grimault, image par image
Paul Grimault, image par image Self 2003
The Birth of Studio Ghibli
The Birth of Studio Ghibli 2003
The Cat Returns - Making of
The Cat Returns - Making of Self 2002
Super TV: Frontline Information 15 Months of Exclusive Coverage! The Secret Behind "My Neighbors the Yamadas"
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 Takahata
The World, The Journey Of My Heart - Traveler: Animation Film Director Isao Takahata Himself 1999
How Ghibli Was Born
How Ghibli Was Born Himself 1998
The Making of Only Yesterday
The Making of Only Yesterday Self 1991
The Story of Yanagawa's Canals
The Story of Yanagawa's Canals Himself 1987
NHK Educational TV Special
NHK Educational TV Special Himself 1985

Directing Credits (37)

Anne of Green Gables Digest Version
Anne of Green Gables Digest Version Director 2014
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya Director 2013
Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables Director 2010
Winter Days
Winter Days Director 2003
My Neighbors the Yamadas
My Neighbors the Yamadas Director 1999
Pom Poko
Pom Poko Director 1994
Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Heidi and Clara
Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Heidi and Clara Director 1993
Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Mt. Alm
Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Mt. Alm Director 1993
Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday Director 1991
Grave of the Fireflies
Grave of the Fireflies Director 1988
The Story of Yanagawa's Canals
The Story of Yanagawa's Canals Director 1987
Gauche the Cellist
Gauche the Cellist Director 1982
Chie the Brat
Chie the Brat Series Director 1981
Chie the Brat
Chie the Brat Director 1981
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The Movie
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The Movie Director 1980
Spooky Kitaro: The All Seeing Eye
Spooky Kitaro: The All Seeing Eye Co-Director 1980
The Story of Heidi
The Story of Heidi Director 1979
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables Director 1979
Future Boy Conan
Future Boy Conan Director 1978
Heidi in the City
Heidi in the City Director 1977
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother Director 1976
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother Series Director 1976
Heidi in the Mountains
Heidi in the Mountains Director 1974
Heidi: Girl of the Alps
Heidi: Girl of the Alps Director 1974
Fantasia
Fantasia Director 1973
Panda! Go Panda!: Rainy Day Circus
Panda! Go Panda!: Rainy Day Circus Director 1973
Panda! Go Panda!
Panda! Go Panda! Director 1972
Panda! Go Panda!
Panda! Go Panda! Director 1972
Lupin the 3rd
Lupin the 3rd Director 1971
Horus: Prince of the Sun
Horus: Prince of the Sun Director 1968
Spooky Kitaro
Spooky Kitaro Co-Director 1968
Wolf Boy Ken: Scared by a Ghost: The Greatest Operation in the Jungle
Wolf Boy Ken: Scared by a Ghost: The Greatest Operation in the Jungle Director 1964
Duel of the Underworld
Duel of the Underworld Assistant Director 1963
The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon
The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon Assistant Director 1963
Story of Iron
Story of Iron Assistant Director 1962
Story of Iron
Story of Iron Script Supervisor 1962
The Orphan Brother
The Orphan Brother Assistant Director 1961

Writing Credits (19)

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