The animation world is mourning the loss of one of its giants: Isao Takahata, an iconic animation director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli.
Takahata died at age 82 in a Tokyo hospital yesterday following an undisclosed illness, according to a report by Japanese public broadcaster NHK.
In an illustrious career that lasted over 55 years, Takahata wrote and directed the features Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, Pom Poko, My Neighbors the Yamadas, and most recently, The Tale of Princess Kaguya. He also storyboarded and directed numerous tv series in the 1960s and ’70s, among them Lupin III, Anne of Green Gables, and Heidi, Girl of the Alps.