About

Known credits:
75
Birthday:
1935-10-29
Place of birth:
Ujiyamada [now Ise], Mie, Japan
Website:
N/A

Isao Takahata

Overview

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).

Known for

Acting
2025 Hotaru no Haka to Takahata Isao to 7-satsu no Nōto Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
N/A
2025 Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature Actor Self (archive footage) 58
Average
2024 Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron Actor Self 59
Average
2023 2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli Actor Self N/A
N/A
2019 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki Actor Self 71
Good
2018 NHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
N/A
2015 Hyohyo: Dear Mr. Yasuo Otsuka Actor Self N/A
N/A
2014 Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya Actor Self 58
Average
2014 Ghibli Landscapes - Visit 'Japan' as Depicted by Isao Takahata Actor Self N/A
N/A
2013 The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness Actor Self 62
Fair
2011 Ghibli Landscapes - A Journey to Encounter Directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's Starting Point Actor Self N/A
N/A
2011 Japanese Cinema: New Territories Actor Self N/A
N/A
2010 Ghibli's Bookshelf Actor Self N/A
N/A
2007 A Ghibli Artisan - Kazuo Oga Exhibition - The One Who Drew Totoro's Forest Actor Self 58
Average
2005 Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum Actor Self 59
Average
2005 Ghibli and The Miyazaki Mystery Actor Self - Interviewee 59
Average
2004 Yasuo Ōtsuka's Joy in Motion Actor Self N/A
N/A
2003 Paul Grimault, image par image Actor Himself 59
Average
2003 The Birth of Studio Ghibli Actor N/A
N/A
2002 The Cat Returns - Making of Actor Self N/A
N/A
1999 The World, The Journey Of My Heart - Traveler: Animation Film Director Isao Takahata Actor Himself 59
Average
1998 How Ghibli Was Born Actor Himself 59
Average
1991 The Making of Only Yesterday Actor Self 59
Average
1987 The Story of Yanagawa's Canals Actor Himself 58
Average

Directing
2014 Anne of Green Gables Digest Version Directing Director 58
Average
2013 The Tale of The Princess Kaguya Directing Director 76
Good
2010 Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables Directing Director 58
Average
2003 Winter Days Directing Director 58
Average
1999 My Neighbors the Yamadas Directing Director 64
Fair
1994 Pom Poko Directing Director 67
Fair
1993 The Mountain Alps Directing Director 59
Average
1993 Alps no Shōjo Heidi: Heidi to Clara Hen Directing Director 59
Average
1991 Only Yesterday Directing Director 69
Fair
1988 Grave of the Fireflies Directing Director 82
Very good
1987 The Story of Yanagawa's Canals Directing Director 58
Average
1982 Gauche the Cellist Directing Director 60
Fair
1981 Chie the Brat Directing Director 59
Average
1980 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The Movie Directing Director 58
Average
1980 Spooky Kitaro: The All Seeing Eye Directing Co-Director 59
Average
1979 Heidi, Girl of the Alps Directing Director 62
Fair
1977 Heidi in the City Directing Director 58
Average
1974 Heidi in the Mountains Directing Director 58
Average
1973 Panda! Go Panda!: Rainy Day Circus Directing Director 58
Average
1972 Panda! Go Panda! Directing Director 58
Average
1972 Panda! Go Panda! Directing Director 59
Average
1968 Horus: Prince of the Sun Directing Director 59
Average
1968 Spooky Kitaro Directing Co-Director 58
Average
1963 The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon Directing Assistant Director 58
Average
1962 Story of Iron Directing Assistant Director 58
Average
1961 The Orphan Brother Directing Assistant Director 58
Average

Writing
2013 The Tale of The Princess Kaguya Writing Screenplay 76
Good
2010 Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables Writing Writer 58
Average
1999 My Neighbors the Yamadas Writing Screenplay 64
Fair
1994 Pom Poko Writing Original Story 67
Fair
1994 Pom Poko Writing Writer 67
Fair
1991 Only Yesterday Writing Screenplay 69
Fair
1988 Grave of the Fireflies Writing Screenplay 82
Very good
1987 The Story of Yanagawa's Canals Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1987 The Story of Yanagawa's Canals Writing Writer 58
Average
1982 Gauche the Cellist Writing Screenplay 60
Fair
1981 Chie the Brat Writing Writer 59
Average
1980 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The Movie Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1979 Taro the Dragon Boy Writing Original Concept 59
Average
1979 Anne of Green Gables Writing Series Composition 72
Good
1972 Yuki's Sun Writing Writer 58
Average

Production
2016 The Red Turtle Production Other 70
Good
2016 The Red Turtle Production Producer 70
Good
1986 Castle in the Sky Production Producer 77
Good
1984 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Production Producer 77
Good
1980 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The Movie Production Director of Operations 58
Average
1963 The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon Production Producer's Assistant 58
Average
1962 Story of Iron Production Production Assistant 58
Average

Art
2014 Anne of Green Gables Digest Version Art Storyboard Artist 58
Average
1979 Taro the Dragon Boy Art Concept Artist 59
Average

Crew
2010 Toy Story 3 Crew Thanks 77
Good