Isao Takahata
Known for: Directing
Born: October 29, 1935
Died: April 5, 2018
Place of birth: Ujiyamada [now Ise], Mie, Japan
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).
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Filmography
62 movies · 11 TV shows, newest first
NR
The Story of Yanagawa Waterways
2026NR
Hotaru no Haka to Takahata Isao to 7-satsu no Nōto
2025
7.8
Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature
2025
7.8
Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron
2024
NR
2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli
2023
7.8
10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki
2019NR
NHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director
2018
7.4
The Red Turtle
2016NR
Hyohyo: Dear Mr. Yasuo Otsuka
2015
6.7
Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2014
10.0
Anne of Green Gables Digest Version
2014
NR
Ghibli Landscapes - Visit 'Japan' as Depicted by Isao Takahata
2014
8.1
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2013
7.6
The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
2013
NR
Ghibli Landscapes - A Journey to Encounter Directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's Starting Point
2011
NR
Japanese Cinema: New Territories
2011
NR
Ghibli's Bookshelf
2010
7.8
Toy Story 3
2010
6.0
A Ghibli Artisan - Kazuo Oga Exhibition - The One Who Drew Totoro's Forest
2007
8.0
Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum
2005
6.9
Ghibli and The Miyazaki Mystery
2005
6.0
Kulturplatz
2004
NR
Yasuo Ōtsuka's Joy in Motion
2004
6.0
Winter Days
2003
7.0
Paul Grimault, image par image
2003
NR
The Birth of Studio Ghibli
2003
7.8
The Cat Returns - Making of
2002
NR
Super TV: Frontline Information 15 Months of Exclusive Coverage! The Secret Behind "My Neighbors the Yamadas"
2000
7.0
The World, The Journey Of My Heart - Traveler: Animation Film Director Isao Takahata
1999
7.0
My Neighbors the Yamadas
1999
7.0
Marco: Carry a Dream
1999
6.0
How Ghibli Was Born
1998
7.2
Pom Poko
1994
6.3
Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Heidi and Clara
1993
6.5
Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Mt. Alm
1993
10.0
The Making of Only Yesterday
1991
7.4
Only Yesterday
1991
7.1
Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables
1990
7.8
Kiki's Delivery Service
1989
8.4
Grave of the Fireflies
1988NR
Au
1988
8.0
Castle in the Sky
1986
8.0
NHK Educational TV Special
1985
7.9
Warriors of the Wind
1984
7.2
Gauche the Cellist
1982
7.0
Chie the Brat
1981
6.8
Chie the Brat
1981
7.4
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The Movie
1980
7.0
Gegege no Kitaro: The All Seeing Eye
1980
7.6
Future Boy Conan
1979
7.8
The Story of Heidi
1979
6.4
Taro the Dragon Boy
1979
7.5
Anne of Green Gables
1979
8.4
Future Boy Conan
1978
6.8
Heidi in the City
1977
7.7
3000 Leagues in Search of Mother
1976
NR
Marco
1976
6.7
Laura, the Prairie Girl
1975
6.6
Heidi in the Mountains
1974
7.4
Heidi: Girl of the Alps
1974NR
Fantasia
1973
6.4
Panda! Go Panda!: Rainy Day Circus
1973
5.9
Yuki's Sun
1972
6.3
Panda! Go Panda!
1972
7.8
Panda! Go Panda!
1972
8.0
Lupin the 3rd
1971
6.4
Horus: Prince of the Sun
1968
6.4
Spooky Kitaro
1968
NR
Wolf Boy Ken: Scared by a Ghost: The Greatest Operation in the Jungle
1964
7.0
Duel of the Underworld
1963
6.9
The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon
1963
7.0
Story of Iron
1962
6.3
The Orphan Brother
1961