- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- October 29, 1935
- Place of Birth
- Ujiyamada [now Ise], Mie, Japan
- Died
- April 5, 2018
Isao Takahata
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).
Filmography
Hotaru no Haka to Takahata Isao to 7-satsu no Nōto
movieHotaru no Haka to Takahata Isao to 7-satsu no Nōto
2025 · Self (archive footage)
movieMiyazaki, Spirit of Nature
2025 · Self (archive footage)
movieHayao Miyazaki and the Heron
2024 · Self (archive fotage)
movie2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli
2023 · Self
tv10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki
2019 · Self
NHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director
movieNHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director
2018 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Red Turtle
2016 · Other, Producer
Hyohyo: Dear Mr. Yasuo Otsuka
movieHyohyo: Dear Mr. Yasuo Otsuka
2015 · Self
movieIsao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2014 · Self
movieAnne of Green Gables Digest Version
2014 · Storyboard Artist, Director, Writer
movieGhibli Landscapes - Visit 'Japan' as Depicted by Isao Takahata
2014 · Self
movieThe Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2013 · Director, Screenplay, Original Story
movieThe Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
2013 · Self
movieGhibli Landscapes - A Journey to Encounter Directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's Starting Point
2011 · Self
movieJapanese Cinema: New Territories
2011 · Self
movieGhibli's Bookshelf
2010 · Self
movieAnne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables
2010 · Director, Writer
movieToy Story 3
2010 · Thanks
movieA Ghibli Artisan - Kazuo Oga Exhibition - The One Who Drew Totoro's Forest
2007 · Self
movieHayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum
2005 · Self
movieGhibli and The Miyazaki Mystery
2005 · Self - Interviewee
tvKulturplatz
2004 · Self
movieYasuo Ōtsuka's Joy in Motion
2004 · Self
movieWinter Days
2003 · Director
moviePaul Grimault, image par image
2003 · Self
movieThe Birth of Studio Ghibli
2003
movieThe Cat Returns - Making of
2002 · Self
movieSuper TV: Frontline Information 15 Months of Exclusive Coverage! The Secret Behind "My Neighbors the Yamadas"
2000
movieThe World, The Journey Of My Heart - Traveler: Animation Film Director Isao Takahata
1999 · Himself
movieMy Neighbors the Yamadas
1999 · Director, Screenplay, Songs
movieMarco: Carry a Dream
1999 · Original Series Creator
movieHow Ghibli Was Born
1998 · Himself
moviePom Poko
1994 · Director, Writer, Original Story
movieHeidi: Girl of the Alps: Heidi and Clara
1993 · Director
movieHeidi: Girl of the Alps: Mt. Alm
1993 · Director
movieThe Making of Only Yesterday
1991 · Self
movieOnly Yesterday
1991 · Director, Screenplay
movieKiki's Delivery Service
1989 · Music Director
movieGrave of the Fireflies
1988 · Director, Screenplay
Au
movieAu
1988 · Producer
movieThe Story of Yanagawa's Canals
1987 · Himself, Director, Writer, Screenplay
movieCastle in the Sky
1986 · Producer
tvNHK Educational TV Special
1985 · Himself
movieWarriors of the Wind
1984 · Producer
movieGauche the Cellist
1982 · Director, Screenplay
tvChie the Brat
1981 · Series Director
movieChie the Brat
1981 · Director, Writer
movie3000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The Movie
1980 · Director, Director of Operations, Screenplay
movieGegege no Kitaro: The All Seeing Eye
1980 · Co-Director
movieFuture Boy Conan
1979 · Storyboard Artist
movieThe Story of Heidi
1979 · Director
movieTaro the Dragon Boy
1979 · Concept Artist, Original Concept
tvAnne of Green Gables
1979 · Series Composition, Writer, Director, Storyboard Artist
tvFuture Boy Conan
1978 · Director, Storyboard Artist
movieHeidi in the City
1977 · Director
tv3000 Leagues in Search of Mother
1976 · Director, Series Director
tvMarco
1976 · Creator
tvLaura, the Prairie Girl
1975 · Creator
movieHeidi in the Mountains
1974 · Director
tvHeidi: Girl of the Alps
1974 · Director
Fantasia
movieFantasia
1973 · Director
moviePanda! Go Panda!: Rainy Day Circus
1973 · Director
movieYuki's Sun
1972 · Writer
moviePanda! Go Panda!
1972 · Director
moviePanda! Go Panda!
1972 · Director
tvLupin the 3rd
1971 · Director
movieHorus: Prince of the Sun
1968 · Director
movieSpooky Kitaro
1968 · Co-Director
movieWolf Boy Ken: Scared by a Ghost: The Greatest Operation in the Jungle
1964 · Director
movieDuel of the Underworld
1963 · Assistant Director
movieThe Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon
1963 · Assistant Director, Producer's Assistant
movieStory of Iron
1962 · Production Assistant, Assistant Director, Script Supervisor
movieThe Orphan Brother
1961 · Assistant Director