Isao Takahata

Directing·Oct 29, 1935·Ujiyamada [now Ise], Mie, Japan

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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).

Film	Credit
HHotaru no Haka to Takahata Isao to 7-satsu no Nōto2025 · Self (archive footage)	Self (archive footage)
Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature2025 · Self (archive footage)	Self (archive footage)
Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron2024 · Self (archive fotage)	Self (archive fotage)
2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli2023 · Self	Self
NNHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director2018 · Self (archive footage)	Self (archive footage)
The Red Turtle2016 · Producer	Producer
HHyohyo: Dear Mr. Yasuo Otsuka2015 · Self	Self
Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya2014 · Self	Self
Anne of Green Gables Digest Version2014 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Ghibli Landscapes - Visit 'Japan' as Depicted by Isao Takahata2014 · Self	Self
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya2013 · Screenplay, Director	Screenplay, Director
The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness2013 · Self	Self
Ghibli Landscapes - A Journey to Encounter Directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's Starting Point2011 · Self	Self
Japanese Cinema: New Territories2011 · Self	Self
Ghibli's Bookshelf2010 · Self	Self
Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables2010 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
A Ghibli Artisan - Kazuo Oga Exhibition - The One Who Drew Totoro's Forest2007 · Self	Self
Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum2005 · Self	Self
Ghibli and The Miyazaki Mystery2005 · Self - Interviewee	Self - Interviewee
Yasuo Ōtsuka's Joy in Motion2004 · Self	Self
Winter Days2003 · Director	Director
Paul Grimault, image par image2003 · Self	Self
The Birth of Studio Ghibli2003 · Actor	Actor
The Cat Returns - Making of2002 · Self	Self
Super TV: Frontline Information 15 Months of Exclusive Coverage! The Secret Behind "My Neighbors the Yamadas"2000 · Actor	Actor
The World, The Journey Of My Heart - Traveler: Animation Film Director Isao Takahata1999 · Himself	Himself
My Neighbors the Yamadas1999 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
How Ghibli Was Born1998 · Himself	Himself
Pom Poko1994 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Heidi and Clara1993 · Director	Director
Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Mt. Alm1993 · Director	Director
The Making of Only Yesterday1991 · Self	Self
Only Yesterday1991 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Grave of the Fireflies1988 · Screenplay, Director	Screenplay, Director
AAu1988 · Producer	Producer
The Story of Yanagawa's Canals1987 · Himself, Writer, Director, Screenplay	Himself, Writer, Director, Screenplay
Castle in the Sky1986 · Producer	Producer
Warriors of the Wind1984 · Producer	Producer
Gauche the Cellist1982 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Chie the Brat1981 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The Movie1980 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
The Story of Heidi1979 · Director	Director
Heidi in the City1977 · Director	Director
Heidi in the Mountains1974 · Director	Director
FFantasia1973 · Director	Director
Panda! Go Panda!: Rainy Day Circus1973 · Director	Director
Yuki's Sun1972 · Writer	Writer
Panda! Go Panda!1972 · Director	Director