Profile | プロフィール
Born / 生年月日
October 29, 1935 | Ujiyamada (now Ise), Mie Prefecture, Japan
Died / 没年月日
April 5, 2018 | Tokyo, Japan (aged 82)
Occupation / 職業
Film Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Translator
映画監督、脚本家、プロデューサー、翻訳家
Nationality / 国籍
Japanese (日本)
Biography | 経歴
English Isao Takahata was one of Japanese animation’s greatest auteurs, a director who revolutionized the medium through his unwavering commitment to realism, psychological depth, and profound social themes. As a co-founder of Studio Ghibli alongside Hayao Miyazaki, Takahata directed masterpieces ranging from the devastating anti-war tragedy Grave of the Fireflies to the visually revolutionary The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Unlike most animation directors, Takahata did not draw; instead, he pioneered “oral direction”—creating complex, vibrant worlds through meticulous verbal instruction and intense collaboration with elite artists. His influence defines the genre: he shaped Miyazaki’s creative evolution, established the template for the World Masterpiece Theater with Heidi, Girl of the Alps, and proved that animation could reach the pinnacle of cinematic art. Passing away on April 5, 2018, at age 82, Takahata leaves a legacy as the medium’s most intellectual and uncompromising visionary of reality.
日本語 高畑勲は、日本のアニメーション界が生んだ最も偉大な作家の一人であり、徹底したリアリズム、心理的深淵、そして重厚な社会的テーマへの献身を通じて、この媒体に革命をもたらしました。宮崎駿と共にスタジオジブリを創設した彼は、魂を揺さぶる反戦の悲劇『火垂るの墓』から、視覚的革命を成し遂げた『かぐや姫の物語』まで、数々の傑作を世に送り出しました。多くのアニメ監督とは異なり、高畑自身は絵を描きませんでしたが、その代わりに「口述演出」という手法を確立。緻密な言葉の指示と卓抜したアーティストたちとの共鳴を通じて、生命力溢れる世界を構築しました。彼の影響は計り知れず、宮崎の作家性を形作り、『アルプスの少女ハイジ』で世界名作劇場の礎を築くなど、アニメーションをあらゆる映画表現に比肩する芸術的洗練へと導きました。2018年4月5日、82歳で逝去。「現実を見つめ続けた静かなる予言者」としての遺産は、今も色褪せることなく輝き続けています。
Highlights / 主な歩み:
- 1935: Born in Ise, Mie Prefecture (三重県伊勢市で誕生)。
- 1944: Survived Okayama firebombing at age 9 (9歳で岡山空襲を体験)。
- 1959: Graduated University of Tokyo (French Literature), joined Toei Animation (東京大学卒業、東映動画入社)。
- 1968: The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun – Directorial debut / 監督デビュー。
- 1974: Heidi, Girl of the Alps – TV masterpiece / テレビの名作🏆。
- 1976: 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother – World Masterpiece Theater / 世界名作劇場。
- 1979: Anne of Green Gables – World Masterpiece Theater / 世界名作劇場。
- 1985: Co-founded Studio Ghibli / スタジオジブリ共同設立🏆。
- 1988: Grave of the Fireflies – Roger Ebert “Great Movies” / ロジャー・エバート「偉大な映画」🏆。
- 1991: Only Yesterday – Highest-grossing Japanese film of 1991 / 1991年最高興行収入🏆。
- 1994: Pom Poko – Mainichi Film Award / 毎日映画賞🏆。
- 1998: Purple Ribbon Medal of Honor / 紫綬褒章受章🏆。
- 2013: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya – Oscar nomination 🌟 / アカデミー賞ノミネート🌟。
- 2014: Honorary Cristal – Annecy Animation Festival / アヌシー映画祭名誉クリスタル賞🏆。
- 2015: French Order of Arts and Letters (Officier) / フランス芸術文化勲章オフィシエ受章🏆。
- 2018: Died April 5, Tokyo (2018年4月5日、東京で逝去、享年82)。
Filmography | 主な作品
Feature Films (長編映画)
| Year | Title (English / Japanese) | Role | Awards/Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun / 太陽の王子 ホルスの大冒険 | Director | Tashkent Film Festival Best Director 🏆 / Directorial debut / With Miyazaki (scene design) |
| 1972 | Panda! Go, Panda! / パンダコパンダ | Director | Theatrical short / Miyazaki screenplay |
| 1973 | Panda! Go, Panda!: Rainy Day Circus / パンダコパンダ 雨ふりサーカスの巻 | Director | Sequel |
| 1981 | Jarinko Chie / じゃりン子チエ | Director | Mainichi Film Award 🏆 |
| 1982 | Gauche the Cellist / セロ弾きのゴーシュ | Director | Kenji Miyazawa adaptation |
| 1984 | Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind / 風の谷のナウシカ | Producer | Miyazaki director / Led to Ghibli founding |
| 1988 | Grave of the Fireflies / 火垂るの墓 | Director, Screenplay | Roger Ebert “Great Movies” 🏆 / Anti-war masterpiece / First Ghibli film |
| 1991 | Only Yesterday / おもひでぽろぽろ | Director, Screenplay | Highest-grossing Japanese film of 1991 🏆 |
| 1994 | Pom Poko / 平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ | Director, Screenplay | Mainichi Film Award 🏆 / Ecological allegory |
| 1999 | My Neighbors the Yamadas / ホーホケキョ となりの山田くん | Director, Screenplay | First Ghibli digital production / Watercolor style |
| 2013 | The Tale of the Princess Kaguya / かぐや姫の物語 | Director, Screenplay | Oscar nom (Best Animated Feature) 🌟 / 8 years production / Final film |
| 2016 | The Red Turtle / レッドタートル ある島の物語 | Artistic Producer | Cannes premiere / Michaël Dudok de Wit director |
Television (テレビ)
| Year | Title | Episodes | Role | Awards/Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963-65 | Ken the Wolf Boy / 狼少年ケン | Multiple episodes | Adviser, Director | Early TV work |
| 1971-72 | Lupin III (Part 1) / ルパン三世 (第1シリーズ) | Episodes 7-23 | Director (second half) | With Miyazaki / Defined franchise |
| 1974 | Heidi, Girl of the Alps / アルプスの少女ハイジ | 52 episodes | Director (all episodes) | Revolutionary TV anime 🏆 / World Masterpiece Theater |
| 1976 | 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother / 母をたずねて三千里 | 52 episodes | Director (all episodes) | World Masterpiece Theater / Neorealist influence |
| 1979 | Anne of Green Gables / 赤毛のアン | 50 episodes | Director (all episodes) | World Masterpiece Theater / Miyazaki character design |
Awards & Recognition | 受賞歴
Major Awards
Winner (受賞):
- Tashkent International Film Festival – Best Director – Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968) 🏆
- Mainichi Film Award – Best Animation – Jarinko Chie (1981) 🏆
- Mainichi Film Award – Best Animation – Pom Poko (1994) 🏆
- Purple Ribbon Medal of Honor (Shiju Hōshō) – For contributions to the arts (1998) 🏆
- Honorary Cristal Award – Annecy International Animation Film Festival (2014) 🏆
- French Order of Arts and Letters (Officier rank) – For promoting French culture and animation (2015) 🏆
- Kon Ichikawa Award – Kawakita Memorial Film Institute (2015) 🏆
Nominated (ノミネート):
- Academy Award – Best Animated Feature – The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2015) 🌟
Film Recognition
- Grave of the Fireflies – Roger Ebert’s “Great Movies” list 🏆
- Heidi, Girl of the Alps – Established World Masterpiece Theater template 🏆
- Only Yesterday – Highest-grossing Japanese film of 1991 🏆
- The Tale of the Princess Kaguya – Universal critical acclaim for visual innovation 🏆
