Isao Takahata
Directing Born Oct 29, 1935 Died Apr 5, 2018 Ujiyamada [now Ise], Mie, Japan 101 credits
Biography
Isao Takahata was a Japanese animated film director, producer, and writer, as well as a co-founder of Studio Ghibli. He was born on October 29, 1935, in Ujiyamada, which is now Ise, in Mie, Japan, and he passed away on April 5, 2018, at the age of 82. Unlike most anime directors, he did not draw and never worked as an animator prior to becoming a director. During the first two decades of his career, spanning from the 1960s to the 1980s, he worked primarily as a director for anime television. In 1985, he formed Studio Ghibli alongside long-time collaborative partner Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma, after which his career transitioned into producing, directing, and writing films for the studio.
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Career overview
Isao Takahata was born on October 29, 1935, in Ujiyamada, which is now known as Ise, Mie, Japan. He was a co-founder of Studio Ghibli and 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, spanning from the 1960s to the 1980s, Takahata worked primarily as a director for anime television. In 1985, along with his long-time collaborative partner Hayao Miyazaki, as well as Toshio Suzuki and Yasuyoshi Tokuma, he formed Studio Ghibli. From that point onward, his career transitioned into producing, directing, and writing films for Studio Ghibli. Throughout his career, he accumulated seventy-three known credits focusing on directing.
Isao Takahata passed away on April 5, 2018, at the age of eighty-two.
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Career timeline
Miyazaki, Spirit of NatureHotaru no Haka to Takahata Isao to 7-satsu no Nōto
Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron
2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli
10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki
NHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director
The Red Turtle · OtherThe Red Turtle · Producer
Hyohyo: Dear Mr. Yasuo Otsuka
Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess KaguyaGhibli Landscapes - Visit 'Japan' as Depicted by Isao TakahataAnne of Green Gables Digest Version · Storyboard ArtistAnne of Green Gables Digest Version · DirectorAnne of Green Gables Digest Version · Writer
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya · ScreenplayThe Tale of The Princess Kaguya · DirectorThe Tale of The Princess Kaguya · Original StoryThe Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
Ghibli Landscapes - A Journey to Encounter Directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's Starting PointJapanese Cinema: New Territories
Toy Story 3 · ThanksAnne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables · DirectorAnne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables · WriterGhibli's Bookshelf
A Ghibli Artisan - Kazuo Oga Exhibition - The One Who Drew Totoro's Forest
Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli MuseumGhibli and The Miyazaki Mystery
KulturplatzYasuo Ōtsuka's Joy in Motion
Winter Days · DirectorThe Birth of Studio GhibliPaul Grimault, image par image
The Cat Returns - Making of
Super TV: Frontline Information 15 Months of Exclusive Coverage! The Secret Behind "My Neighbors the Yamadas"
My Neighbors the Yamadas · DirectorMy Neighbors the Yamadas · ScreenplayMy Neighbors the Yamadas · SongsMarco: Carry a Dream · Original Series CreatorThe World, The Journey Of My Heart - Traveler: Animation Film Director Isao Takahata
How Ghibli Was Born
Pom Poko · DirectorPom Poko · WriterPom Poko · Original Story
Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Mt. Alm · DirectorHeidi: Girl of the Alps: Heidi and Clara · Director
Only Yesterday · DirectorOnly Yesterday · ScreenplayThe Making of Only Yesterday
Kiki's Delivery Service · Music Director
Au · ProducerGrave of the Fireflies · ScreenplayGrave of the Fireflies · Director
The Story of Yanagawa's CanalsThe Story of Yanagawa's Canals · WriterThe Story of Yanagawa's Canals · DirectorThe Story of Yanagawa's Canals · Screenplay
Castle in the Sky · Producer
NHK Educational TV Special
Warriors of the Wind · Producer
Gauche the Cellist · DirectorGauche the Cellist · Screenplay
Chie the Brat · Series DirectorChie the Brat · DirectorChie the Brat · Writer
Full filmography
- Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Hotaru no Haka to Takahata Isao to 7-satsu no Nōto (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron (2024) as Self (archive fotage)
- 2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli (2023) as Self
- 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki (2019) as Self
- NHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- The Red Turtle (2016) Other
- The Red Turtle (2016) Producer
- Hyohyo: Dear Mr. Yasuo Otsuka (2015) as Self
- Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2014) as Self
- Ghibli Landscapes - Visit 'Japan' as Depicted by Isao Takahata (2014) as Self
- Anne of Green Gables Digest Version (2014) Storyboard Artist
- Anne of Green Gables Digest Version (2014) Director
- Anne of Green Gables Digest Version (2014) Writer
- The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013) Screenplay
- The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013) Director
- The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013) Original Story
- The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013) as Self
- Ghibli Landscapes - A Journey to Encounter Directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's Starting Point (2011) as Self
- Japanese Cinema: New Territories (2011) as Self
- Toy Story 3 (2010) Thanks
- Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables (2010) Director
- Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables (2010) Writer
- Ghibli's Bookshelf (2010) as Self
- A Ghibli Artisan - Kazuo Oga Exhibition - The One Who Drew Totoro's Forest (2007) as Self
- Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum (2005) as Self
- Ghibli and The Miyazaki Mystery (2005) as Self - Interviewee
- Kulturplatz (2004) as Self
- Yasuo Ōtsuka's Joy in Motion (2004) as Self
- Winter Days (2003) Director
- The Birth of Studio Ghibli (2003)
- Paul Grimault, image par image (2003) as Self
- The Cat Returns - Making of (2002) as Self
- Super TV: Frontline Information 15 Months of Exclusive Coverage! The Secret Behind "My Neighbors the Yamadas" (2000)
- My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999) Director
- My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999) Screenplay
- My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999) Songs
- Marco: Carry a Dream (1999) Original Series Creator
- The World, The Journey Of My Heart - Traveler: Animation Film Director Isao Takahata (1999) as Himself
- How Ghibli Was Born (1998) as Himself
- Pom Poko (1994) Director
- Pom Poko (1994) Writer
- Pom Poko (1994) Original Story
- Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Mt. Alm (1993) Director
- Heidi: Girl of the Alps: Heidi and Clara (1993) Director
- Only Yesterday (1991) Director
- Only Yesterday (1991) Screenplay
- The Making of Only Yesterday (1991) as Self
- Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) Music Director
- Au (1988) Producer
- Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Screenplay
- Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Director
- The Story of Yanagawa's Canals (1987) as Himself
- The Story of Yanagawa's Canals (1987) Writer
- The Story of Yanagawa's Canals (1987) Director
- The Story of Yanagawa's Canals (1987) Screenplay
- Castle in the Sky (1986) Producer
- NHK Educational TV Special (1985) as Himself
- Warriors of the Wind (1984) Producer
- Gauche the Cellist (1982) Director
- Gauche the Cellist (1982) Screenplay
- Chie the Brat (1981) Series Director
- Chie the Brat (1981) Director
- Chie the Brat (1981) Writer
- Gegege no Kitaro: The All Seeing Eye (1980) Co-Director
- 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The Movie (1980) Director
- 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The Movie (1980) Screenplay
- 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother: The Movie (1980) Director of Operations
- Anne of Green Gables (1979) Series Composition
- Anne of Green Gables (1979) Writer
- Anne of Green Gables (1979) Director
- Anne of Green Gables (1979) Storyboard Artist
- Taro the Dragon Boy (1979) Concept Artist
- Taro the Dragon Boy (1979) Original Concept
- The Story of Heidi (1979) Director
- Future Boy Conan (1979) Storyboard Artist
- Future Boy Conan (1978) Director
- Future Boy Conan (1978) Storyboard Artist
- Heidi in the City (1977) Director
- 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1976) Director
- 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1976) Series Director
- Marco (1976) Creator
- Laura, the Prairie Girl (1975) Creator
- Heidi: Girl of the Alps (1974) Director
- Heidi in the Mountains (1974) Director
- Panda! Go Panda!: Rainy Day Circus (1973) Director
- Fantasia (1973) Director
- Yuki's Sun (1972) Writer
- Panda! Go Panda! (1972) Director
- Panda! Go Panda! (1972) Director
- Lupin the 3rd (1971) Director
- Horus: Prince of the Sun (1968) Director
- Spooky Kitaro (1968) Co-Director
- Wolf Boy Ken: Scared by a Ghost: The Greatest Operation in the Jungle (1964) Director
- Duel of the Underworld (1963) Assistant Director
- The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon (1963) Assistant Director
- The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon (1963) Producer's Assistant
- Story of Iron (1962) Production Assistant
- Story of Iron (1962) Assistant Director
- Story of Iron (1962) Script Supervisor
- The Orphan Brother (1961) Assistant Director