Isao Takahata

Isao Takahata (born October 29, 1935, died April 5, 2018) was a Japanese film director, animator, screenwriter and producer who has earned critical international acclaim for his work as a director of anime films. Takahata's last movie before his death was The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, which was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Animated Feature Film at the 87th Academy Awards. Takahata had no previous experience as an animator before he became a director. According to Hayao Miyazaki, "Music and study were his hobbies". He was born in the same town as fellow director Kon Ichikawa. For Disney, he directed and wrote Pom Poko and My Neighbors the Yamadas, produced Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Castle in the Sky, and was the musical director for Kiki's Delivery Service.