Isao Takahata

Date of death: April 5, 2018

Isao Takahata was a Japanese director, screenwriter, and producer, and one of the most influential figures in Japanese animation. Born in Ujiyamada (now Ise), Mie Prefecture, Japan, he graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1959 and joined the newly established animation studio Toei Doga that same year.

Initially, he worked as an assistant director, holding various positions at Toei Doga over the years before making his directorial debut with Horus: Prince of the Sun (1968), which is regarded as one of the greatest examples in the history of Japanese animation. During his time at Toei Doga, Takahata became friends with fellow animator Hayao Miyazaki through the studio's animators' union. The two subsequently worked together as a director-animator team on numerous productions, forming one of the most influential creative partnerships in Japanese animation.

In 1985, Takahata, Miyazaki, and producer Toshio Suzuki helped establish Studio Ghibli. Takahata directed his first film for the studio, Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka), in 1988. The film, which depicts the struggles of two siblings during the final months of World War II, is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated films ever made.

Takahata's work at Studio Ghibli demonstrated a remarkable range of genres and artistic styles. His films included the war drama Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka), romantic drama Only Yesterday (Omoide Poroporo), ecological comedy Pom Poko (Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko), comedy My Neighbors the Yamadas (Tonari no Yamada-kun), and historical fantasy The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (Kaguya-hime no Monogatari). His final film, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Sources:
Wikipedia
Ghibli Wiki
Studio Ghibli
Nausicaa.net