Isao Takahata

Isao Takahata (p. 1935) - better known as a friend and colleague of Hayao Miyazaki, but also the very interesting and talented animation director.

In 1959 he began working in "Toei Douga". From the outset, became a director Takahata. Their first joint project with Miyazaki - feature film "The Adventures of Prince of the Sun Mountain" [Taiyo no Ouji Horus no Daibouken] (1968), the main artist who was their teacher - Yasuji Mori. In the future, all their work Takahata done in collaboration with Miyazaki

. In the 1970's at the studios Takahata "Nippon Animation" and "TMS" made as a director such serials, . as the Lupine III "[Lupin III] (1971-1972) - Directing with Miyazaki, . "Heidi - a girl of the Alps" [Alps no Shoujo Heidi] (1974), . "3000 leagues in search of Mother" [Haha wo Tazunete Sanzen-Ri] (1976), . "Red-haired Anne" [Akage no Anne] (1979) - series based on the classic European children's books, . and short anime "Giant Panda and the little panda" [Pandakopanda] (1972) on the idea and the script Miyazaki,
.

In 1981, Takahata at anime studio "Oh Production" put a full-length anime "Cellist Gosyu" [Sero Hiki no Goushu] on the book by the famous Japanese writer of the first half of XX century Miyazawa Kenji. This film is considered one of the best film adaptations of books Miyazawa.

In the same 1981 Takahata has created a feature film "pretty darling girl Chie" [Jarinko Chie] explanation of the popular comedy manga Haruki Etsumi. In the same year became the chief director Takahata TV series on the grounds of the manga.

When a company "Tokuma Shoten" Miyazaki invited to film "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds", he set a condition that Takahata should be a film producer. So Takahata become part of the team later created the "Studio Ghibli"

. As director, Takahata removed along with four other Miyazaki films - "Grave of the Fireflies" [Hotaru no Haka] (1988), "dripping memories" [Omohide Poro-poro] (1991), "The war in times Heisei tanuki and Pompoko" [Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko] (1994)
.

His latest film "Chirp, Chirp, our neighbors - family Yamada" [Houhokekyo Tonari no Yamada-kun] (1999) - quite an unusual example of the use of computer graphics in conjunction with the "primitive" style of newspaper comics.

Currently Takahata headed "Studio Ghibli".

Like Miyazaki, Takahata - representative of the school anime-realism, but his films are more lyrical and tragic than Miyazaki. Takahata not so cheerful, his films reflect the complex contradictions of life, and do not always end happily.