Director
Isao Takahata
Born 29 October 1935 · Ujiyamada [now Ise], Mie, Japan — died 5 April 2018
Isao Takahata (1935–2018) was a Japanese animation director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, alongside Hayao Miyazaki. He never trained as an animator. Known for emotionally realistic, adult-oriented animated films, he helped establish anime as a medium for serious drama and everyday life.
Key films
Horus: Prince of the Sun (1968)
His first feature as director, a landmark in Japanese animation that influenced later anime.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Devastating wartime drama, widely regarded as one of the greatest animated films ever made.
Only Yesterday (1991)
Quiet, realistic story of an adult woman remembering her childhood, unusual for animation.
Pom Poko (1994)
Folkloric comedy-drama about shape-shifting tanuki resisting suburban development.
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013)
His final film, a hand-drawn adaptation of a Japanese folktale, acclaimed internationally.
Key awards
- 2014 Carrosse d'Or, Cannes Directors' Fortnight
- 2015 Academy Award nomination, Best Animated Feature (The Tale of The Princess Kaguya)
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 46
- 1964Wolf Boy Ken: Scared by a Ghost: The Greatest Operation in the JungleDirector
- 1968Horus: Prince of the SunDirector
- 1972Panda! Go Panda!Director
- 1972Panda! Go Panda!Director
- 1973Panda! Go Panda!: Rainy Day CircusDirector
- 1974Heidi in the MountainsDirector
- 1977Heidi in the CityDirector
- 1979The Story of HeidiDirector
- 19803000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The MovieDirector
- 1981Chie the BratDirector
- 1982Gauche the CellistDirector
- 1988Grave of the FirefliesDirector
- 1990Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green GablesDirector
- 1991Only YesterdayDirector
- 1991The Making of Only Yesterday · as SelfActor
- 1993Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Heidi and ClaraDirector
- 1993Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Mt. AlmDirector
- 1994Pom PokoDirector
- 1998How Ghibli Was Born · as SelfActor
- 1999My Neighbors the YamadasDirector
- 1999The World, The Journey Of My Heart - Traveler: Animation Film Director Isao Takahata · as SelfActor
- 2000Super TV: Frontline Information 15 Months of Exclusive Coverage! The Secret Behind "My Neighbors the Yamadas"Actor
- 2002The Cat Returns - Making of · as SelfActor
- 2003Winter DaysDirector
- 2003Paul Grimault, image par image · as SelfActor
- 2003The Birth of Studio GhibliActor
- 2004Yasuo Ōtsuka's Joy in Motion · as SelfActor
- 2005Ghibli and The Miyazaki Mystery · as Self - IntervieweeActor
- 2005Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum · as SelfActor
- 2007A Ghibli Artisan - Kazuo Oga Exhibition - The One Who Drew Totoro's Forest · as SelfActor
- 2010Ghibli's Bookshelf · as SelfActor
- 2011Ghibli Landscapes - A Journey to Encounter Directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's Starting Point · as SelfActor
- 2011Japanese Cinema: New Territories · as SelfActor
- 2013The Tale of The Princess KaguyaDirector
- 2013The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness · as SelfActor
- 2014Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya · as SelfActor
- 2014Anne of Green Gables Digest VersionDirector
- 2014Ghibli Landscapes - Visit 'Japan' as Depicted by Isao Takahata · as SelfActor
- 2015Hyohyo: Dear Mr. Yasuo Otsuka · as SelfActor
- 2018NHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 20232399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli · as SelfActor
- 2024Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron · as Self (archive fotage)Actor
- 2025Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2025Hotaru no Haka to Takahata Isao to 7-satsu no Nōto · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2026The Story of Yanagawa WaterwaysDirector
- 2026The Story of Yanagawa Waterways · as SelfActor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.