Isao Takahata

Isao Takahata, co-founder of Studio Ghibli and a towering figure in Japanese animation, eschewed the animator's pencil, focusing instead on directing from the 1960s through the 1980s on anime television. With Hayao Miyazaki, Takahata launched Studio Ghibli in 1985, thereafter crafting a series of critically acclaimed films including "Grave of the Fireflies," "Only Yesterday," "Pom Poko," "My Neighbors the Yamadas," and "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya," each a testament to his singular vision and narrative depth.