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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
SoraNews24
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Exhibition honoring Studio Ghibli's late Isao Takahata is now open in Tokyo's Azabudai Hills
The event features never-before-seen artwork and more to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the pioneering animation director's birth. Isao Takahata is perhaps best known to Western audiences as a founding member of the beloved Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli and as director of some of its most famous works, including Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Pom Poko (1994), and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013). Born on October 29, 1935, Takahata took a leading role in shaping Japanese animation over the course of over 50 years, alongside frequent collaborator and friend Hayao Miyazaki, until his passing in 2018 at the age of 82. In honor of the 90th anniversary of Takahata's birth, a new exhibition titled Isao Takahata Exhibition: The Man who Planted Japanese Animation that's being held at Tokyo's Azabudai Hills Gallery is welcoming visitors between June 27 and September 15. ▼ Promotional poster for the exhibition featuring Setsuko, one of the main characters of Grave of the Fireflies The gallery features animation cells and background art from several of Takahata's iconic TV series and films such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974), Grave of the Fireflies , and Pom Poko on display for the first time. Since this year also marks 80 years since the end of the Pacific War, special tribute is paid to the lasting legacy of Grave of the Fireflies. The film, which is often considered to be Takahata's masterpiece, follows two war orphan siblings in the aftermath of the 1945 fire bombings of Kobe. For this part of the exhibition, Hideki Anno, who served as a key animator for the film before going on to become a successful director for Neon Genesis Evangelion and more, has hand-selected impactful scenes to play at the gallery. ▼ Hideki's layout drawings for the Imperial Japanese Navy Heavy Cruiser Maya (as it appears in the film) are also revealed for the first time. Visitors can also purchase an audio guide featuring Japanese-language narration for an additional fee on top of the ticket price. This guide also comes bundled with a musical playlist curated by filmmaker Shunji Iwai, a distant relative of Takahata, designed to accompany the works of art throughout the gallery. ▼ Shunji Iwai Unlike most other art galleries, there are some hands-on, interactive elements to this exhibition. Visitors will delight in the giant Papanda prop from one of Takahata's earlier works, Panda! Go, Panda! (1972), and the ability to recreate the scene of Pan-chan flying to grab onto his dad's fluffy tummy for themselves. It certainly makes for a fun commemorative photo. In addition, it wouldn't be a Japanese exhibition without a tie-in collaboration cafe. The menu features a variety of foods and drinks that pay tribute to some of Takahata's most beloved works, including Panda! Go, Panda! curry. Finally, weekday visitors to the gallery will receive a free multi-use paper case with a drawing of Takahata inside. There are five versions in total, one for each day of the week featuring a different one of Takahata's productions. Online tickets for the Isao Takahata Exhibition: The Man who Planted Japanese Animation begin at 2,000 yen (US$13.87) for general admission with discounts for high school/university students, young children, and more. They can be purchased on the gallery's official website or via the Lawson Ticket site. Along similar lines, for some newly revealed artwork behind the unrealized concepts of Miyazaki, you may also be interested in this artbook to be released in early July. Exhibition information Isao Takahata Exhibition: The Man who Planted Japanese Animation / 高畑勲展 ̶日本のアニメーションを作った男。 Address: Tokyo-to, Minato-ku, Toranomon 5-8-1 Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A, MB floor 東京都港区虎ノ門 5-8-1 麻布台ヒルズ ガーデンプラザA MB階 Duration: June 27-September 15 Open: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (last entry at 7:30 p.m.); 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays from June 27-July 18 Website Source, images: PR Times (1, 2) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
5 Underrated Studio Ghibli movies every fan should watch
Pom Poko tells the story of a tribe of tanuki (Credit: Crunchyroll) Studio Ghibli's name is often linked with flying castles. Also with mystical forests, and enchanting spirits, the studio has also ventured into grounded stories and unconventional animation styles, and these quieter titles may not have had global marketing pushes. Yet they reflect the same depth and vision as their better-known counterparts, and in some cases, even more. Realism replaces magic in Only Yesterday In Only Yesterday, a Tokyo office worker reflects on her childhood. While vacationing in the countryside, the film moves gently between past and present. And capturing how memories shape identity. There are no spells or creatures; just quiet moments and honest emotion. Its realism and adult themes make it stand out in Ghibli's catalog. Though praised in Japan, it took 25 years to reach U.S. audiences, making it one of the studio's most overlooked treasures. Porco Rosso blends humor, war, and melancholy Miyazaki's 1992 Studio Ghibli classic, Porco Rosso (Credit: Crunchyroll) Set in the Adriatic after World War I, Porco Rosso follows a pilot cursed to look like a pig. His airborne adventures feel playful, but the story carries deeper notes of loss, aging, and regret. Beneath the humor and action is a thoughtful portrait of a man shaped by history. The film balances style and substance, using aviation as both spectacle and symbol. It's a war story without violence; a rare feat in animation. The Tale of Princess Kaguya redefines visual storytelling This hand-drawn folktale is among Ghibli's most visually daring works. With loose brushwork and soft colors, The Tale of Princess Kaguya evokes the fragility of its heroine's world. A magical child from a bamboo stalk is raised to become nobility, but longs to return to nature. The story unfolds with emotional weight, questioning beauty, duty, and the meaning of happiness. Despite critical acclaim, its quiet delivery kept it under the radar for many fans. Pom Poko turns folklore into environmental warning Pom Poko tells the story of tanuki; shapeshifting raccoon dogs. They are trying to save their forest home from urban development, and the film is filled with humor and folklore. But its heart lies in the tension between tradition and modern expansion, as their tactics grow more desperate. The story shifts from playful to tragic, as it's a rare animated film that explores environmental collapse. That too without sugarcoating it, though rich in message, its unusual tone and style kept it from wider recognition. My Neighbors the Yamadas finds meaning in the mundane Told in comic strip form, My Neighbors the Yamadas follows a modern family through daily life. Each scene is short and light, ranging from school struggles to quiet moments between spouses. Its sketch-like animation adds to its charm, making each moment feel like a memory. It's less a single story and more a series of lived-in snapshots. Often missed by those seeking fantasy, this film reveals the beauty in ordinary life. Ghibli's lesser-known side offers surprises These five films show that Studio Ghibli's greatness isn't limited to the fantastical. Whether through realism, satire, or visual experimentation, the studio has explored stories that feel deeply human. Discovering these titles gives a fuller picture of Ghibli's creative range; one where quiet truths can be just as magical as flying castles. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
