Anime film director Takahata dies

April 6, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese animated film director Isao Takahata, known for such films as "Hotaru no Haka" (Grave of the Fireflies) and "Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pompoko" (Pom Poko), died of lung cancer at a Tokyo hospital Thursday. He was 82.

Takahata made his directorial debut with "Taiyo no Oji Horusu no Daiboken" (Horus, Prince of The Sun) in 1968.

In collaboration with Japanese anime giant Hayao Miyazaki, in the 1970s and later, he directed anime film "Panda Kopanda" (Panda! Go, Panda!), and such television anime series as "Alps no Shojo Heidi" (Heidi, Girl of the Alps), "Haha wo Tazunete Sanzenri" (3000 Leagues in Search of Mother) and "Akage no Anne" (Anne of Green Gables).

Takahata served as producer for "Kaze no Tani no Naushika" (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind) and "Tenku no Shiro Rapyuta" (Castle in the Sky), both directed by Miyazaki.

In 1985, Takahata and Miyazaki jointly founded anime powerhouse Studio Ghibli Inc.

Hotaru no Haka, based on a novel by Japanese author Akiyuki Nosaka, hit the screen in 1988, together with Miyazaki's "Tonari no Totoro" (My Neighbor Totoro) in a double feature.

Hotaru no Haka attracted public attention as it depicted a wartime tragedy from a juvenile perspective in a delicate manner. Takahata was known for his pursuit of realism, while most Miyazaki works featured a world of fantasy.

"Kaguyahime no Monogatari" (The Tale of The Princess Kaguya), the first film directed by Takahata in 14 years, was released in 2013. The internationally acclaimed film, embodying Takahata's uncompromising attitude as an artist, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2015.

For his career contributions to animation, Takahata was named an Officer of the French Order of Arts and Letters in 2015 and received the Winsor McCay Award at the 2016 Annie Awards.

Takahata "had so many things he wanted to do, so I think he would be regretting," Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki said in a statement. "After talking with Miyazaki, we have decided to hold a big farewell ceremony as Ghibli to see him off." The event will take place on May 15. Jiji Press