“Grave of the Fireflies”: Takahata Isao’s Lifelong Quest for Realism

Takahata Isao in September 2016 at the Studio Ghibli facility in Koganei, Tokyo. (© Kyōdō)

A scene from Grave of the Fireflies. (© 1988 Nosaka Akiyuki/Shinchōsha)

Only Yesterday. (© 1991 Hotaru Okamoto, Yuko Tone/Isao Takaahata/Studio Ghibli, NH)

Pom Poko. (© 1994 Isao Takahata/Studio Ghibli, NH)

Grave of the Fireflies. (© 1988 Nosaka Akiyuki/Shinchōsha)

My Neighbors the Yamadas. (© 1999 Hisaichi Ishii/Isao Takahata/Studio Ghibli, NHD)

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. (© 2013 Isao Takahata, Riko Sakaguchi/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTK)