Isao Takahata

Isao Takahata was a Japanese director, screenwriter and producer who co-founded Studio Ghibli with his long-time collaborator Hayao Miyazaki. He was one of the most influential figures in the history of Japanese animation, and his films explored a variety of themes and styles, often challenging the conventions of the medium. He began his career at Toei Animation in 1959, where he met Miyazaki and worked on several projects, including his directorial debut The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968). He later joined Nippon Animation and directed several acclaimed television series, such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974), 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1976), and Anne of Green Gables (1979). In 1985, he and Miyazaki founded Studio Ghibli, where he directed some of his most celebrated works, such as Grave of the Fireflies (1988), a harrowing depiction of the aftermath of the Second World War; Only Yesterday (1991), a realistic drama about a woman's nostalgia for her childhood; Pom Poko (1994), a fantasy comedy about shape-shifting raccoon dogs; and My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999), a comic strip-like family portrait. His last film as director was The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013), a visually stunning adaptation of a 10th-century folktale, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. Takahata was also a mentor and a producer for many other animators, such as Yoshifumi Kondō, Hiroyuki Morita, and Gorō Miyazaki. He died of lung cancer in 2018, leaving behind a legacy of artistic excellence and innovation.