Isao Takahata (高畑 勲, Takahata Isao, born October 29, 1935) is a Japanese film director, animator, screenwriter and producer who has earned critical international acclaim for his work as a director of anime films. Takahata is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli along with long-time collaborative partner Hayao Miyazaki. He has directed films such as the grim, war-themed Grave of the Fireflies, the romantic drama Only Yesterday, the ecological adventure Pom Poko, and the comedy My Neighbors the Yamadas. Unlike most anime directors, Takahata does not draw and never worked as an animator before becoming a full-fledged director.According to Hayao Miyazaki, "Music and study are his hobbies". He was born in the same town as fellow director Kon Ichikawa, while Japanese film giant Yasujiro Ozu was raised by his father in nearby Matsusaka.Takahata graduated from the University of Tokyo French literature course in 1959.
Frequently puts focus on characters carrying out day-to-day regular activities.
2
Frequently shows a non-urban area at some point/entirely in his films.
3
Frequently has the protagonist riding on a train.
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Fact
1
He co-founded Japanese anime company Studio Ghibli.
2
He never worked as an animator and does not draw unlike most anime directors.
3
He survived a US air raid on Okayama City during WW II.
4
He graduated in 1959 from the University of Tokyo with a degree in French literature.
5
Takahata was originally intrigued by animation after having seen the French cartoon The King and the Mockingbird (1980) (which in 1952 had been released, though deemed incomplete). He was impressed by the film, asking "Can these kind of things be done by animation?".
6
According to animator Yasuo Ôtsuka, who mentored both Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, Miyazaki got his sense of social responsibility from Takahata and that without him Miyazaki would probably just be interested in comic book material.
7
Takahata cites the films of Italian neorealism, the French New Wave and poetic realist Jacques Prévert as an influence on his work.
8
Takahata and Michel Ocelot are mutual acquaintances and admirers. Ocelot names Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies (1988) and Pom Poko (1994) among his favourite films, while Takahata has adapted and directed the Japanese dubs of Ocelot's films.
9
In 1985, together with friend and fellow animator Hayao Miyazaki, founded Studio Ghibli.
10
Is a big fan of Nemuri Kyoshiro films. Nemuri Kyoshiro is a sleepy-eyed, outlaw swordsman who is the son of a Japanese mother and a foreign father, who had a series of novels beginning in 1956.
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While his friend/partner Hayao Miyazaki mostly worked on pure fantasies, Takahata in contrast mostly worked on realistic dramas which often featured surreal expressionism-based mood pieces.
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Frequently collaborates with longtime friend Hayao Miyazaki.
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
2013
Akage no An: Gurîn Gêburuzu e no michi
2010
Fuyu no hi
2003
My Neighbors the Yamadas
1999
Pom Poko
1994
Only Yesterday
1991
Grave of the Fireflies
1988
The Story of Yanagawa's Canals
1987
Documentary
Jarinko Chie
TV Series 4 episodes, 1981 - 1982 chief director - 60 episodes, 1981 - 1983
Sero hiki no Gôshu
1982
Jarinko Chie
1981
Anne of Green Gables
1979
TV Series 1 episode
Mirai shônen Konan
1978
TV Series 2 episodes
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother
1976
TV Series
Heidi: A Girl of the Alps
1974
TV Series 52 episodes
Isamu the Wilderness Boy
1973
TV Series
Panda kopanda amefuri sâkasu no maki
1973
Short
Panda! Go Panda!
1972
Short
Rupan sansei
1971-1972
TV Series second director - 15 episodes
Apache yakyûgun
1971-1972
TV Series 3 episodes
Gegege no Kitarô
1971
TV Series 1 episode
Môretsu atarô
1969
TV Series
Taiyô no ôji Horusu no daibôken
1968
Okami shônen Ken
1963
TV Series
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
2013
screenplay / story
Akage no An: Gurîn Gêburuzu e no michi
2010
My Neighbors the Yamadas
1999
writer
Pom Poko
1994
Only Yesterday
1991
screenplay
Grave of the Fireflies
1988
written by
The Story of Yanagawa's Canals
1987
Documentary
Sero hiki no Gôshu
1982
Jarinko Chie
1981
Tatsu no ko Tarô
1979
concept
Anne of Green Gables
1979
TV Series writer
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
La tortue rouge
2016
artistic producer / producer
Castle in the Sky
1986
producer
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
1984
producer
Art Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mirai shônen Konan
1978
TV Series storyboard artist
Isamu the Wilderness Boy
1973
TV Series storyboard artist
Assistant Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Himitsu no Akko-chan
1969
TV Series assistant director
Little Prince and the Eight Headed Dragon
1963
assistant director
Animation Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Fuyu no hi
2003
animator
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Kiki's Delivery Service
1989
musical director
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Toy Story 3
2010
special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 87th Annual Academy Awards
2015
TV Special
Himself - Nominee: Best Animated Film
Nonfiction W
2013
TV Series documentary
Himself
Yume to kyôki no ôkoku
2013
Documentary
Himself
Oga Kazuo Exhibition: Ghibli No Eshokunin - The One Who Painted Totoro's Forest
2007
Video documentary
Himself
Ghibli et le mystère Miyazaki
2005
TV Movie documentary
Himself / Interviewee
Paul Grimault, image par image
2003
Video documentary
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2016
Winsor McCay Award
Annie Awards
2016
Cinema Bloggers Award
Cinema Bloggers Awards, Portugal
Best Animated Film
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2015
IOMA
Italian Online Movie Awards (IOMA)
Best Animated Feature Film (Miglior film d'animazione)
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2015
Best Director
Tokyo Anime Award
Film Category
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2014
LAFCA Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Best Animation
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2014
Audience Award
Mill Valley Film Festival
Best Animation Film
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2014
Anime d'or
Tokyo Anime Award
2009
Leopard of Honor
Locarno International Film Festival
1995
Grand Prix
Annecy International Animated Film Festival
Best Animated Feature Film
Heisei tanuki gassen ponpoko (1994)
1995
Mainichi Film Concours
Mainichi Film Concours
Best Animated Film
Heisei tanuki gassen ponpoko (1994)
1994
Animation Jury Award
Chicago International Children's Film Festival
Animated Feature Film
Hotaru no haka (1988)
1994
Rights of the Child Award
Chicago International Children's Film Festival
Hotaru no haka (1988)
1989
Special Award
Blue Ribbon Awards
Hotaru no haka (1988)
1982
Mainichi Film Concours
Mainichi Film Concours
Ofuji Noburo Award
Sero hiki no Gôshu (1982)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2015
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2015
EDA Award
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
Best Animated Feature Film
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2015
Annie
Annie Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Directing in an Animated Feature Production
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2015
Gold Derby Award
Gold Derby Awards
Animated Feature
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2015
IOMA
Italian Online Movie Awards (IOMA)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura non originale)
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2015
Animation of the Year
Tokyo Anime Award
Film Category
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2014
ACCA
Awards Circuit Community Awards
Best Animated Feature
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2014
Award of the Japanese Academy
Awards of the Japanese Academy
Best Animation Film
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2014
Kinema Junpo Award
Kinema Junpo Awards
Best Film
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2014
People's Choice Award
Melbourne International Film Festival
Best Narrative Feature
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2014
Films from the South Award
Oslo Films from the South Festival
Best Feature
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2013
Blue Ribbon Award
Blue Ribbon Awards
Best Director
Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
Known for movies
Grave of the Fireflies (1988) as Director
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) as Director
$300,000
