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Japan Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Ghibli's Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
Rather than a single-minded lone auteur, Isao Takahata was a receptive collaborator at heart. That's the thrust of a new exhibition dedicated to the works and creative process of the acclaimed animation director and Studio Ghibli cofounder, who died in 2018. 'The man who planted Japanese animation' opened on June 27 at Tokyo's Azabudai Hills Gallery. It's an exhibit best appreciated through its details; its displays are as meticulously assembled as the works of the late director of 'Pom Poko' and 'Grave of the Fireflies.' The show is very much one of paper. Though there are, of course, anime cels and finished animations, the exhibition unearths vast amounts of archival photographs, sketches, memos, storyboards, watercolors, aided by informative wall texts in English, with the occasional Chinese and Korean. As a result, viewers are steeped in the tactile laboriousness employed by Takahata and the animators of his generation, which seems to fly in the face of the rise of AI in the animation and creative industries at large. Takahata encouraged collaboration and the exhibition showcases works by his team members, such as image boards for "Pom Poko" illustrated by animators Yoshiyuki Momose and Shinji Otsuka. | © 1994 Isao Takahata / Studio Ghibli, NH 'The man who planted Japanese animation' gives considerable attention to Takahata's lesser known works, including his commercial flop debut feature in 1968, 'Little Norse Prince Valiant,' about a folk prince fighting black magic. A sizable space is devoted to Takahata's 'communal, democratic' approach to teamwork. The director (who himself didn't draw) was keen to incorporate opinions, ideas and designs from his animators on all areas of the film. Display cases show the extensive collaborative effort by the staff, including its youngest animator, Hayao Miyazaki, whose memos made strong arguments for realistic depictions of the villagers and featured design proposals for a troll and an ice mammoth, which became significant to the film. A highlight in the 'Little Norse Prince Valiant' gallery is a 'tension chart,' translated into English as 'emotion curve,' for the film, a painstakingly hand-drawn chart of rises and falls in drama, plotted against the individual emotions of twenty characters. One of the hallmarks of Studio Ghibli films is the way even small movements and actions of the characters can convey great emotion or intention. Even in moments of high drama or extreme comedy, they react in recognizable and quotidian ways — a slumping shoulder, a mindful door-closing, a ravenously consumed meal. The exhibition evidences the hard and meticulous work that goes into making animation. | Thu-Huong Ha The gallery spaces devoted to Takahata's TV work, which includes the domestic and global hit 'Heidi, Girl of the Alps,' convey how he and Miyazaki were building these skills well before Studio Ghibli existed. They focused on depicting everyday life vividly, through characters' interactions with food, for example. Not surprisingly, Miyazaki features as a prominent character in his own right in the exhibition, and his contributions are underscored. 'Meeting Miyazaki was significant,' Takahata says in a video about their process. 'He didn't learn from me, but I'm sure he learned a lot from our work together.' In the sections devoted to Takahata's best known features, there is plentiful archival material for diehards. The 'Grave of the Fireflies' gallery contains location-scouting photos from the 1988 war film, including several photos that inspired the memorable pole against which the main character slumps against and dies in the opening scene. The 'Pom Poko' room exhibits a long display case of image boards illustrated by animators Yoshiyuki Momose and Shinji Otsuka, giving fans a chance to see their early ideas in vivid riotous splendor. A caption quoting Takahata — 'I think of this film as a documentary' — is a simultaneously funny and poignant remark on the zany, moralistic film about Tama Hills supernatural tanuki losing their home to human urban over-development. A color simulation board for Kaguya's kimono by Kazuo Oga from "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" film shows Takahata's method of stylization. | © 2013 Isao Takahata, Riko Sakaguchi / Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTK The final section is dedicated to 'The Tale of the Princess Kaguya,' Takahata's last film which was released in 2013. A video shows Takahata and his team at work; the director explains his technique, which I think of as selective realism. In his films, some aspects of a given scene might be intricately detailed while others are barely sketched in. In 'Princess Kaguya' in particular, the coloring is pale, relying on watercolor, and many scenes have no margins or look half-finished. Takahata explains he didn't want to visualize too much on the part of the viewer. 'Humans are more imaginative,' the director says in the video. 'They can feel empathy even through depersonalized drawings.' The last gallery space contains drawings from the film's two most memorable scenes, one in which the princess is dancing for joy under cherry blossoms and one in which she's running out of fear and fury under a full moon. Clips of the final products loop side-by-side above, one exuberant, and one literally breathtaking, their propelling motion a dynamic finale to Takahata's exacting life's work. . 'The man who planted Japanese animation' is on view at Tokyo's Azabudai Hills Gallery through Sept. 15. For more information, visit
Forbes
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Isao Takahata Exhibition In Tokyo Is Both Poignant And Fascinating
The legendary Isao Takahata finally has a comprehensive exhibition of his work in anime, and it is both poignant as it is fascinating. Takahata was one of the co-founders of Studio Ghibli, along with Hayao Miyazaki, with whom he often collaborated. While Takahata sadly died in 2018, his work is very much with us, as this exhibition shows. Much of Ghibli's early output was cemented through Takahata's involvement and steady hand. He was a producer on both Nausicaä and Laputa, and his expertise is also very much present in the pre-Ghibli but still amazing Future Boy Conan. Being a very talented director and screenwriter in his own right, Takahata would also mark out his own career in anime. For many, though, it's his 1988 film, Grave of the Fireflies, that many really know him for. Dealing with the horrific reality of children attempting to survive the Second World War in Japan, it's a truly harrowing tale. Isao Takahata is a legendary figure in anime. So, this exhibition has an enormous amount of ground to cover, which it does with respectful thoroughness. From how Takahata started out in anime, to his work on early famous anime movies and popular TV shows, you really get to see how diligent and capable Takahata really was at managing these productions. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder From Heidi to Anne of Green Gables, Takahata cemented himself as a genuinely wholesome and thoughtful anime director. I also feel that, along with Yoshiyuki Tomino, Takahata's contribution to Future Boy Conan is what makes it so remarkable. So, if you're in Tokyo and want to pay your respects to Takahata's impressive body of work, this exhibition comes very much recommended. The Isao Takahata Exhibition is now open to the public at the Azabudai Hills Gallery in Tokyo. Tickets start at 2,000 yen (or around $14 at the current exchange rate) and it will run until September 15. Isao Takahata Isao Takahata Exhibition Gallery Location: Azabudai Hills Gallery Duration: June 27th - September 15th Entrance: 2,000 yen Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Japan Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Netflix to stream Studio Ghibli's 'Grave of the Fireflies' in Japan
Silicon Valley – Netflix has announced plans to stream "Hotaru no Haka" (Grave of the Fireflies), an animated film produced by Studio Ghibli, from July 15 in Japan. It will be the first work by the Japanese anime powerhouse to be streamed on Netflix in Japan since the U.S. company started to distribute Ghibli films in other countries in 2020. The announcement was made on Wednesday. The film, directed by the late Isao Takahata and released in 1988, depicts the desperate struggle for survival of a Japanese boy and his little sister in World War II. It is based on a short story by the late Akiyuki Nosaka. "We really wanted this timeless masterpiece to be seen by a Japanese audience," Netflix content division official Kazutaka Sakamoto said in a statement. "We're happy that we were able to make the distribution a reality." The company began streaming the film in over 190 countries and regions on Sept. 16 last year. In the first week of its release on the service, it came seventh in the global top 10 non-English movie weekly rankings, making news also in Japan. Fans in Japan had voiced hope that the film would also be streamed in their country.
Geek Vibes Nation
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
GKIDS To Release The Acclaimed Anime War Drama 'Grave Of The Fireflies' On Blu-Ray This July
GKIDS & Shout! Studios will release the acclaimed Japanese animated historical war drama Grave of the Fireflies on Blu-Ray and Limited Edition Blu-Ray Steelbook on July 8, 2025. The bonus features will include storyboards, image galleries, an interview with director Isao Takahata, an interview with film critic Roger Ebert, and more. Grave of the Fireflies is directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Isao Takahata (Pom Poko, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya), with production from studio Science SARU (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Inu-Oh). Based on the personal accounts of survivor Nosaka Akiyuki, Grave of the Fireflies is hailed as one of the most stunning contributions to animation and cinematic history. Deftly depicting the beauty of the human spirit as well as its devastating cruelty, Grave of the Fireflies is a singular work of art from Academy Award-nominated director and Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata. Get more details below! Synopsis: When an American air raid kills their mother in the final days of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his 4-year-old sister Setsuko are left to fend for themselves in the devastated Japanese countryside. After falling out with their only living relative, Seita does his best to provide for himself and his sister by stealing food and making a home in an abandoned bomb shelter. But with food running short, the siblings can only cling to fleeting moments of happiness in their harsh reality. Special Features Feature Length Storyboards Deleted Scene Storyboards Interview with Director Isao Takahata Interview with Roger Ebert Promotional Video Image Galleries Teasers & Trailers Before we let you go, we have officially launched our merch store! Check out all of our amazing apparel when you click here and type in GVN15 at checkout for a 15% discount! Make sure to check out our podcasts each week including Geek Vibes Live, Top 10 with Tia, Wrestling Geeks Alliance and more! For major deals and money off on Amazon, make sure to use our affiliate link!
