Isao Takahata

高畑勲

Isao Takahata was a Japanese director, screenwriter, producer and one of the founders of Studio Ghibli. Takahata earned international critical acclaim for his work as a director of anime films such as, Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, Pom Poko, My Neighbors the Yamadas and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Takahata graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1959 with a degree in French literature. Around this time he had seen the French film The King and the Mockingbird, which led him to become interested in animation as a medium. A friend suggested for him to apply for a directing job a…