Isao Takahata

Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
高畑勲
	Takahata at the 2014 Annecy International Animated Film Festival
Born	October 29, 1935; Ise, Japan
Died	April 5, 2018 (aged 82); Tokyo, Japan
Other names	Takemoto Tetsu (武元哲)
Education	University of Tokyo
Occupation(s)	Film director, animation director, producer
Years active	1961–2018
Relatives	Asajirō Takahata (father) Shunji Iwai (relative)[citation needed]

Isao Takahata (高畑勲, Takahata Isao, October 29, 1935 – April 5, 2018) was a Japanese director, screenwriter and producer. A co-founder of Studio Ghibli, he earned international critical acclaim for his work as a director of Japanese animated feature films. Born in Ujiyamada, Mie Prefecture, Takahata joined Toei Animation after graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1959. He worked as an assistant director, holding various positions over the years and collaborating with colleague Hayao Miyazaki, eventually directing his own film, The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968). He continued his partnership with Miyazaki, and under Nippon Animation directed the television series Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974), 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1976), and Anne of Green Gables (1979). Takahata, Miyazaki and others formed Studio Ghibli in 1985, where he would direct Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Only Yesterday (1991), Pom Poko (1994), and My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999). His last film as director was The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013), which was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Animated Feature Film at the 87th Academy Awards.