Isao Takahata

Isao Takahata (高畑 勲 Takahata Isao) (born October 29, 1935) is one of the most famous directors of anime, or Japanese animated films.

Born in Ujiyamada (now Ise), Mie prefecture, Japan, he is a long-term colleague of Hayao Miyazaki and co-head at Studio Ghibli. His four animated films at Studio Ghibli have spanned a remarkable range of genres: war-film (Grave of the Fireflies), romantic drama (Only Yesterday), comedy (My Neighbors the Yamadas) and ecological adventure (Pom-Poko). Of these Grave of the Fireflies, in particular, is widely considered among the greatest animated films ever made.

Graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1959, Takahata joined the newly-created Tōei Dōga animation company (Toei Animation) where a short time later he met Miyazaki, and also directed his first feature film Horus: Prince of the Sun. Ostracized within the company after the financial failure of the film (despite its artistic success), he and Miyazaki left in order to work together, and collaborated on many other films.

Works

Assistant Director

• The Littlest Warrior (Anju to Zushiōmaru) -- 1961
• Iron Story (Tetsu Monogatari) -- 1962
• The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon (Wanpaku Ōji no Daija Taiji) -- 1962
• The Biggest Duel in the Underworld (Ankokugai Saidai no Kettō) -- 1963
• Hustle Punch (TV) -- 1965
• Secret Little Akko (TV) (Himitsu no Akko-chan) -- 1969

Director

• Horus: Prince of the Sun (Taiyō no Ōji - Horusu no Daibouken) -- 1968
• A-tarou the Workaholic (TV) (Mōretsu Atarō) -- 1969
• Apache Baseball Team (TV) (Apatchi Yakyūgun) -- 1971
• Lupin III (TV) (Rupan Sansei) -- 1971
• Panda Kopanda -- 1972
• Lowest-of-the-Low Kitarou (TV) (Gegege no Kitarō) -- 1972
• Red-armored Suzunosuke (TV) (Akadō Suzunosuke) -- 1973
• Heidi, Girl of the Alps (TV) (Arupusu no Shōjo Haiji) -- 1974
• 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (TV) (Haha wo Tazunete Sanzen-ri) -- 1976
• Future Boy Conan (TV) (Mirai Shōnen Konan) -- 1978
• Anne of Green Gables (TV) (Akage no An) -- 1979
• Chie the Brat (TV) (Jarinko Chie) -- 1981
• Gauche the Cellist (Serohiki no Gōshu) -- 1982
• The Story of Yanagawa's Canals (Yanagawa Horiwari Monogatari) -- 1987
• Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka) -- 1988
• Only Yesterday (Omohide Poro Poro) -- 1991
• Pom Poko (Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pon Poko) -- 1994
• My Neighbors the Yamadas (Hōhokekyo Tonari no Yamada-kun) -- 1999

Producer

• Horus: Prince of the Sun (Taiyou no Ouji - Horusu no Daibōken) -- 1968
• Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind (Kaze no Tani no Naushika) -- 1984
• Laputa: The Castle in the Sky (Tenkū no Shiro Rapyuta) -- 1986
• Ocean Waves (Umi ga Kikoeru)-- 1993

Scriptwriter

• Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka) -- 1989