Isao Takahata: an exhibition dedicated to the master of animation at Japan's House of Culture, our photos

Here's an exhibition that should delight fans of Japanese cartoons! This autumn and winter, the Maison de la culture du Japon in Paris is devoting a fine retrospective to Isao Takahata (1935-2018). Co-founder of Studio Ghibli in 1985 with Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki, Isao Takahata is one of the great figures of Japanese animation.

In 1968,Isao Takahata directed his first feature film,"La grande aventure de Hols, prince du Soleil" (distributed in France under the title "Horus, prince du Soleil"). This was followed by"Kié la petite peste" in 1981,"Goshu le violoncelliste" a year later,"L'Histoire des canaux de Yanagawa" (1987) and, of course,"Le Tombeau des lucioles" (1988), the film that made his international name. Isao Takahata 's innovative, poetic work has truly transformed the world of animation.

From October 15, 2025 to January 24, 2026, the Maison de la culture du Japon will be devoting a retrospective to him, entitled " Isao Takahata - Pioneer of contemporary animation, from the post-war period to Studio Ghibli ". Already presented in Japan, South Korea and Thailand, where it met with great success on each occasion, the installation finally arrives in Paris.

As its title suggests, the exhibition celebrates the work ofIsao Takahata, from his beginnings in the 60s to his most recent successes, including"The Tale of Princess Kaguya" (2013). While the exhibition revisits some of his masterpieces with Studio Ghibli, the event is above all a tribute to Isao Takahata, his creativity, his talent, his humanist outlook and his sense of storytelling.

To this end, " Isao Takahata - Pioneer of contemporary animation, from the post-war period to Studio Ghibli " unveils an impressive selection of notebooks, storyboards, layouts, sketches, key poses, original drawings, celluloid, film extracts and videos. Make sure you allow plenty of time for your visit. To better understand the creative process of Japanese animation through the eyes ofIsao Takahata, it's important to read all the labels and watch each video. The only drawback: several showcases reveal notebooks written in Japanese. We would have appreciated translations of excerpts from some of them. On the other hand, we strongly advise you to linger in the last room of the cultural center to admire the transition from drawing to animation.

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The chronological tour begins with a presentation ofIsao Takahata 's early work for Toei Doga (now Toei Animation). The exhibition revisits the director's first feature film for cinema:"The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun" (1968). It then turns to his work for television in the 70s, with series such as"Heidi" (1974),"Marco" (1976) and"Anne of Green Gables" (1979).

In the third part, we (re)discover some of his works set in Japan, revealing his reflections on contemporary history. The exhibition focuses on"Le Tombeau des Lucioles" (1988), certainly the director's best-known masterpiece, but also on"Souvenirs goutte à goutte" (1991) and"Pompoko" (1994) produced by Studio Ghibli.

Finally, the last section looks back at the new cartoon forms ofIsao Takahata, who drew inspiration from traditional painted scrolls to create"My Neighbors the Yamada" (1999) and"The Tale of Princess Kaguya" (2013).

So, are you looking forward to immersing yourself in the inspiring and important work ofIsao Takahata? Visit the House of Culture of Japan from October 15, 2025 to January 24, 2026. Please note that, unlike the exhibitions on the first floor of the cultural center, those on the second floor are not free. But the price remains affordable. Full price: 7 euros; concessions: 5 euros. In other news, the Maison de la Culture du Japon in Paris is taking advantage of this event to offer a film retrospective dedicated to Isao Takahata from October 21 to 31, 2025.

Isao Takahata: screenings of the best of his filmography at the House of Culture of Japan
Want to (re)discover the best of Isao Takahata's filmography? The Maison de la culture du Japon in Paris is taking advantage of the exhibition dedicated to the famous Japanese director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli to take you back to some of his sublime works. From "Horus, Prince of the Sun" to "Pompoko", not forgetting "The Tale of Princess Kaguya" and "Tomb of the Fireflies"... here's the calendar of screenings scheduled during the All Saints' vacation, from October 21 to 31, 2025. [Read more]