Isao Takahata

Born in Ise, in the center of the country, on October 29, 1935,  Isao Takahata  graduated in French literature from the university in the Japanese capital. When he was 9 years old, he survived a harsh air raid, his passion for French culture led him to animation, after discovering the cinema of Paul Grimault.

Determined to dedicate himself to this discipline, he took the opportunity offered by a friend who told him that Toei Animation was looking for a production assistant. After an entrance exam, he was hired along with nine other people with whom he had to compete hard until he was given the opportunity to direct his first job, The Adventures of  Hols: Prince of the Sun , from 1968, where he was already on board the who would be his foremost disciple,  Hayao Miyazaki .

The commercial failure of the film made it very difficult for him to continue advancing in the company, which is why he ended up leaving it in 1971. He signed for Shin-Ei Animation, and traveled to Sweden with Miyazaki so that  Astrid Lindgren  authorized them to adapt his film into cartoons . best known work,  Pippi Longstocking . Unfortunately, she sent them for a ride.

Both were recruited for the  Lupine series , which was declining in ratings. Zuiyo Enterprise then invited them to create a series based on  Johanna Spyri ‘s novel  Heidi . His work achieved unusual success around the world, just like  Marco  y  Ana de las Tejas Verdes , which broke barriers for Japanese animation.

In the end, he and Miyazaki ended up becoming independent, founding Studio Ghibli in 1985. For this house,  Isao Takahata  directed five films:  Grave of the Fireflies  (1988), a harrowing chronicle of World War II horror,  Memories of Yesterday  (1991) ,  Pompoko  (1994),  My Neighbors the Yamadas  (1999) and  The Tale of the Princess Kaguya  (2013), nominated for an Oscar for best animated film.

He has also worked as a producer on Miyazaki’s major works, such as  Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind  (1984),  Castle in the Sky  (1986), and  Nicky, the Witch’s Apprentice  (1989). Always discreet, in the background, Takahata has traditionally preferred to let Miyazaki monopolize the limelight and recognition. His last work for Ghibli was the brilliant  The Red Tortoise , by Dutchman  Michael Dudok de Wit , the company’s first film not directed by a Japanese.

Extremely anti-war, he fought the government of Shinzo Abe, when he modified the ninth article of the Japanese Constitution, approved after World War II, which prohibited the state from promoting acts of war. “It’s still hard to stop a war,” he declared. “When the politicians start the next one they will appeal to the emotions of the people, and they will say that this time we are not going to lose, and that times have changed in these 70 years. Really? Have we made progress on the war?