It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of Isao Takahata, the legendary filmmaker behind such classics as Grave of the Fireflies and The Tale of Princess Kaguya. He passed away in Tokyo hospital according to media reports.
After surviving a US air raid on Okayama City in 1945, Takahata went on to start his career in animation at Toei Animation. His directorial debut, Horus: Prince of the Sun, was a commercial failure, but after leaving Toei in 1971, he joined forces with Yōichi Kotabe and Hayao Miyazaki to make the animated feature Pippi Longstocking.
The collaboration proved to be a fruitful one, and following Miyazaki’s debut Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in 1984, Takahata was invited to join Miyazaki’s fledgling Studio Ghibli, founding what would be an animation powerhouse alongside producer Toshio Suzuki. In 1986, Takahata was producer on the studio’s first film officially under the Ghibli banner, Castle in the Sky.
Takahata first Studio Ghibli feature as director was Grave of the Fireflies (1988), a powerful tale of the Second World War that has been largely hailed as one of the best war films and animated features of all time. He would follow the masterpiece in the decades that followed with Only Yesterday, Pom Poko, My Neighbours the Yamadas, and the anthology film Winter Days.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Prior to the hiatus of Studio Ghibli, Takahata directed The Tale of Princess Kaguya, which was recently named one of the best Japanese films of the 21st century by IndieWire. For this film, crafted in an exquisite watercolor style that distinguishes it from other Ghibli films, he received his only Academy Award nomination. He also served as producer on the European co-production The Red Turtle for Dutch animator and director Michaël Dudok de Wit.
Takahata has left an unquantifiable legacy behind him, and he will be missed.
Takahata (far right) with Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki.
