Legendary anime director, producer, and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Isao Takahata (1935–2018) was renowned for his deeply humanistic storytelling and distinctive artistic approach. A longtime collaborator and friend of Hayao Miyazaki, Takahata remained a role model for the latter throughout his life.
Few filmmakers have had as profound an impact on Japanese animation as Takahata, and his meticulous direction underpins some of the most moving animated films in history. His works range from the poignant Grave of the Fireflies (1988) through Only Yesterday (1991), Pompoko (1994), My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999), and the lyrical Oscar-nominated The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013). Before setting up Ghibli, he played a pivotal role in the industry’s evolution with classics like Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974) and Anne of Green Gables (1979), taking literary adaptations to a new artistic level.
To commemorate the 90th anniversary of Takahata’s birth, Azabudai Hills Gallery hosts this extensive retrospective from June 27 to September 15. Organised with the cooperation of Studio Ghibli, the exhibition will explore Takahata’s career through his early influences, creative philosophy and technical innovations. A major focus will be Grave of the Fireflies, a film that remains one of cinema’s most powerful messages of peace, inspired by Takahata’s childhood during World War II.
The exhibition will also highlight its protagonist’s pre-Ghibli contributions and artistic evolution, offering a rare glimpse into some of his lesser-known works. Following its Tokyo run, the show will travel to Paris in the fall of 2025, bringing Takahata’s legacy to a global audience.
