This summer, Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills Gallery will host “Takahata Isao Exhibition: The Man Who Planted Japanese Animation,” a comprehensive retrospective celebrating the life and work of Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata. Running from June 27 to September 15, 2025, the exhibition coincides with the 90th anniversary of Takahata’s birth and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a period that profoundly influenced his storytelling.
Organized with the cooperation of Studio Ghibli, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at Takahata’s creative journey, from his early days at Toei Animation to his seminal works at Ghibli. Visitors can expect to see original animation cels, background art, and production materials from classics like Grave of the Fireflies, Pom Poko, and Heidi, Girl of the Alps. Notably, the exhibition will display a newly discovered layout for the heavy cruiser Maya, drawn by Hideaki Anno during his time as a key animator on Grave of the Fireflies.
Following its Tokyo run, the exhibition is scheduled to open in Paris in the fall of 2025, allowing international audiences to experience Takahata’s enduring legacy.
