Isao Takahata- The Other Master
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Today's subject is the idea of a story filter or lens. Often utilized through genre, this idea is sometimes the very best method at getting to the heart of what your story is really about. So, let's explore that idea- but rather than through genre- through animation. And let's use the work of one of the of form's greatest contemporary directors as our example.
And for all you purists out there- yes, I used the English-dubbed versions. Sue me.
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Interview w/Roger Ebert on 'Grave of the Fireflies' - bit.ly/1IMaJSp
Further Reading-
The Anime Machine by Thomas LaMarre - amzn.to/261kA7E
AnimeLand interview w/Takahata - bit.ly/1Ug6Z6L
Pile of Shame review of 'Hols, Prince of the Sun' by Justin Sevakis - bit.ly/1WR7ODt
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Twitter- / andymsaladino
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Very saddened to hear about Takahata's passing today. He was one of the true masters of animation and his films will remain as some of the most compassionate, imaginative, and lovingly crafted pieces of cinema ever created. I only included a couple of clips from it in this video essay, but I'd highly encourage anyone interested in his work to check out the documentary ''Isao Takahata and His Tale of Princess Kaguya'' for an incredibly insightful look into the man himself and his process of working. I obviously never had the pleasure of meeting him, but every interview I watched and read, and every bit of research I did for this essay pointed to the fact that Takahata was a man full of passion and energy, but also deep kindness and sincerity -- all of which completely come across in each and every one of his films. He will be greatly missed.
this video, which is one of my favorite essays, is why i watched that documentary. thank you for that, and may Takahata RIP.
may he rest in peace, he has brought us some of the best anime films out there. while my personal favorite is gauche the cellist, they are all great works of art that will not be forgotten.
Yes. Only Yesterday, the least known of his Ghibli film, means a lot to me. It taught me about the process of understanding as well as growing up.
Goodbye, sir, and thank you for all the memories.
Gutted to hear that Isao has passed away. We lose great figures every year. May he Rest in Peace.
"Miyazaki likes to fly, Takahata likes to make you cry..."
Grave of the Fireflies automatically includes him in the animation Hall of Fame...or the film Hall of Fame...or the anything Hall of Fame.
Even watching those brief snippets, I started choking up a little bit, what a masterpiece!
ShikataGaNai100 I watched that long time ago and it did really hit hard, didn't know who the director was, it's so refreshing tho have found this video.
ShikataGaNai100 Isao Takahata for the WWE hall of fame confirmed.
ShikataGaNai100 Tale of Princess Kaguya is better in my opinion. It’s truly underrated, I can’t stress how underrated it is. It’s a masterpiece
@@maxyb891 Me too!
There's no need to pit Miyazaki against Takahada or vice versa. They are both masterful storytellers who use different methods to create beautiful films.
They themselves like to compete tho haha
Grave of the fire flies 😭
I'm not really into anime, but I like the meta discussion and the techniques Takahada uses reminds me a lot of Terry Gilliam, especially the film Brazil where the protagonist constantly drifts in and out of his fantasies. His other works such as Time Bandits and Munchhausen, also has a certain anime'ish quality to them, exaggerated features (notably Munchhausens nose). I wouldn't replace a Takahada Brazil or a Miyazaki Time Bandits with the Gilliam one, but I would definitely watch them! :P - Also I'd love to see Gilliams live action take on Spirited Away.
@@jj-nm5vo yes,but that really brought out really good films
They are very different though. Miyazaki tells adventerous fairy tale like stories with some of the most inventive visuals and worldbuilding in all of film. Takahada goes into the themes of society and the flaws in cultures, and tells them through slice-of-life stories that don't shy away from being more character driven.
Takahata is too overlooked. Tale of Princess Kaguya and Only Yesterday are some of Ghibli's best films
Truth
Only Yesterday: that movie hit me so hard.
I don't know I love films where while nothing seems to be happening externally (plot wise) that there's a wealth of things happening internally with characters and that's what I adore about Only Yesterday. I mean while it is a movie about a young woman just going to the countryside for a short period but it's also about her ENTIRE life up to that point, about reflecting on her childhood, about her family, about the choices we can make on the direction of our lives. I find it to be a beautiful and genuine and insightful character piece. Interesting especially since so many animated films go for the external dilemma rather than an introspective focus.
ikr, that why the fact that it hit me is even more rememberable. i cant explain why, but during the movie i felt the chilling atmosphere that made me think about how im living my life. i have nothing in common to relate to the main character. she's a country girl and i am a city boy, but that movie makes me feel so related somehow.
Only Yesterday is their best film.
I’ve always found unnecessary to compare Miyazaki-sama and Takahata-sama simply because there’s no other studio in the present or in the past that so beautifully had two completely complementary careers like Studio Ghibli. I know it’s probably open to a extensive discussion, but I’ve always seen much of Miyazaki movies as whimsical, fantastically surreal, of nature-driven ways used to convey a realistic vision based on our lack of extensive power, yet necessary attitude, towards the world and reality. It’s the “you need to be strong while you act, no time to wait” side of things. Takahata portray emotion in a more subtle way. The travels, the places you go are mostly inside of yourself. Miyazaki uses nature and surrealism like no other to connect characters with reality. Takahata, on the other hand, uses reality to make characters discover themselves. In many cases, they talked in the same language, what I said about one also works with another. And that’s why both of them are and were masters in the most beautiful language one can master - the language of the heart.
Beautifully said
Perfect
When you learn editing in film school or by yourself, you often ask yourself "What is the best cut I've seen in a film ?" For me, it's the shot/ reverse shot at the end of Grave of the Fireflies. You've got the brother and the sister sitting in a bench in the forest surrounded by fireflies. The brother tells the little girl that it's time to sleep and she rests her head on his lap. The light of the fireflies slowly fades away as the brother is looking through the "camera". His eyes then shift to something else out of frame and we see the reverse shot of what he's looking at : a modern city. In just one shot reverse shot, we deeply understand that the sacrificed youth is still looking at us and that we must learn from what they endured to not make the same mistakes ever again. Takahata does this in just one freaking cut goddammit !!
jesus christ, so many good videe essayist poppin' up lately
care to recommend some others?
Some fine chanels with movie-related content: Channel Criswell, CinemaWins, Lessons from the Screenplay, Anna Catley, Now You See It, Sideways, Joseph McNairy, Big Joel, BREADSWORD, Reality Punch Studios, The Royal Ocean Film Society (heh), Taylor J. Williams, Borgus Network, Nerdwriter1, Beyond the Frame, What it all Meant, Half Past Awkward, Lindsay Ellis, Karsten Runquist, Jack's Movie Reviews, This Guy Edits.
Hope you enjoy them! (:
@@narutoandanimefa Also the, sadly, inactive Every frame a painting.
@@narutoandanimefa most of these TH-camrs are far from perfect
Princess Kaguya is overlooked in my opinion. It's honestly the best Ghibli film
Same
I think it’s because the plot in general
@@watchforever1724it was based on a very old japanese folk tale which makes sense. its still a complete masterpiece
@@wetasspaddington yeah I know
Rest in Peace Mr. Takahata. The simplicity and pureness in your projects are unmatched.
I can't say why, but watching this made me very emotional at the end. I guess there's something about Takahata's animations that brings something from deep within me?
Only Yesterday is a beautiful movie. I love this movie.
Dude, this video essay is so awesome! Smiled dozens of times through the video, im in awe. Its a hecking masterpiece dude, good job!)))
will you do video on Miyazaki? I saw couple essays about him on youtube, BUT didn't watched them, because i don't wanna see unexpected trashtalk about my favourite director. But you seem very cool!) What ya think? Is it safe to watch those essays or will you do it your own in future?
I don't have anything on Miyazaki planned at the moment, but he is one of my favorites, so I'd love to get around to him one day.
If you want to see a good essay on him, check out Channel Criswell's excellent video - th-cam.com/video/52raDbtNpa4/w-d-xo.html
Cool~) Well, despite other essays, i will be glad to see your view on Miyazaki someday. Because this "The other master" is beyond awesome. Very inspiring and educational;)
I'm a huge fan of this guy, besides his movies being some of my favs I especially admire the anime series he directed about Anne of Green Gables. Anyways great work~! Btw I had already seen Cello Hiki no Gauche great kinda short movie I loved the landscape and architecture artwork in that and of course the use of music ^^
Glad to see the lesser-known master getting some love. There's another famous anime director who makes films that could be live action: Satoshi Kon. Can't really say that about Paprika, but Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, and Tokyo Godfathers don't have to be animation. Yet they are better off for it.
Satoshi Kon was a master.. I agree with you, Paprika can't be easily made in live action, but his other movies can.. He used to say that the reason he chose animation over live action is it gives you more ability to control what is shown to the audience.. His example was a shot from one of his movies (Perfect Blue probably) where a character is holding a gun.. the shot lasts only for a couple of frames long, which would have been too fast for a live action audience.. May his soul rest in peace
The every frame a painting video on Kon makes a good point though, much of his editing is impossible/too disorienting to be done in live action. Kon's greatest strength his editing was amplified through the use of animation as a medium. Kon IMO was doing exactly what Takahata is by using animation as a means to enhance peoples sense of reality but maybe a bit more modern and playful in his sensibilities.
+Abdelrahman Magdy Said fucking stop thinking on Live action animated movies adaptacion! Animation is superior to normal acting already! thats why Today People almost everytime use animated efects on Live action movies
Paulin Paozin BTW, this is exactly what um saying, animation is superior to live action, and this is why I don't believe in the idea that some people try to enforce, i.e. you should only use animation for stories that can't be done in live action.. I believe this is wrong, because even the stories that can be done in live action can be better if done properly in animation
TheWWIFlyingAce They did make Paprika into a live-action movie It's called Inception. Which movie captured the idea of dreams better? and blur's the line between reality and non reality?
They also made Perfect Blue into a live-action movie, It's called Black Swan. Which movie shows how the media and being involved with the media can psychologically damaged you and almost take away your sense of identity because of the high demand and stressful work conditions in order to become something you're not, almost like a different person entirely?
Thank you for including the cut from Only Yesterday where Taeko fell in love and fly away from the feeling... It portrays innocence perfectly. One of my favorite movie scene of all time.
watching only yesterday, i felt like i was watching my own life, even though i had little in common with the protag. takahata has a way of doing that.
His work is beautiful. Tahakata always inspired me to see the best in humanity and to find beauty in the simple things. Rest in Peace.
Isao Takahata is the master and the mentor of Hayao Miyazaki. I don't think Hayao could pull stuff like Gauche and Kaguya off.
The best adaptation of "Anne of Green Gables" is said to be the 1979 anime, which was directed by Takahata.
No way haha that's cool
Akage no Anne is his Magum Opus
agreed
Akage no anne is the best work of animation ever created
It definitely is, in my opinion. I watched and loved it, even a little more than Heidi, which was also directed by Isao Takahata.
What is your favorite Isao Takahata movie, if I may ask?
I teared up while watching certain parts of the video. It's just fascinating how even those 10 second long sequences could make me relive the emotions I felt the first time I watched his movies, Paku-san's works are so underrated, it's sad. His mastery of fantastic yet subtle storytelling is truly a blessing to this world. Thank you for this nostalgic and informative ride through Paku-san's brilliant world.
Rest in peace Mr. Takahata you will be missed dearly. Fly high above us now as your characters do always. Thank you.
Awesome video. Everyone forgets about Takahata when talking about Studio Ghibli, now I have a video to show my friends. Also good use of " Time Away From Home" as the closing song. Summer Salt also needs more attention.
is it just me or you sound like every frame a painting?
maybe it's him
Amazing video man! Love that folks are giving Takahata more love! You deserve more subs dude!
I cannot believe he is gone. Rewatching this video just a few days after his passing really made me feel a palpable sense of loss.
YES! i prefer takahata's storytelling than miyazaki, thank you for this!
sissyboytaaka
Same ^
Idk why but I love takahata's life style more than Hayao-san, really want to know much more about him.
Same!
Some aspects
Glad to see a video appreciating Isao Takahata's works. Only Yesterday is my favorite of all Ghibli films(I love all of them btw) .. :)
It is the best. For me, anyway. But then, what is "best?" The box office has a vote; I only have my heart.
R.I.P Isao Takahata-san :'(
Thank you so much! Takahata is one the most underrated directors of Ghibli. Takahata's stories have so much more quality than Miyazaki's. People often dislike "My Neighbours Yamada" just because of the different animation, but the fact is that it's probably one of the best stories Ghibli has ever made.
I'm really glad to see more discussion of Takahata's work! I fell entirely in love with Only Yesterday, and fall harder every time I watch it again. Same goes for Princess Kaguya and My Neighbours the Yamadas.
Dude, this was so inspiring and beautiful, I almost cried Hahaha. That's why I love animation, to me it's paintings in movement.
Wonderful. The same argument can be used for the video games I play. Im not trying to play the game with the most realistic and true to life graphics, but rather something unique and creative and beautiful
*not the same argument but a similar one. I'm sorry
Heidi is the best known TV work, but Isao Takahata's version of the canadian book "Anne of Green Gables" is, in my opinion, the most stunning and underrated book adaptation of all time. It's like the minds of two authors (Takahata and L.M. Montgomery) separated by a great deal of time and space were suddenly in perfect synch, as if they worked side by side at the same project; and the result is a series that will make you feel like you've truly witnessed someone else's life. If you're at the right age (I'm in my fourties) you'll end up wishing that Anne was your adoptive daughter, and that's probably the warmest, most beautiful thing I've ever felt watching fiction.
at times this dude sounds like tony zhou from every frame a painting.
R.I.P mr. Isao Takahata you'll always live on in our hearts. Your works truly inspired me and comforted me in days of sadness. You're a legend and no one can replace you.
I started crying in the middle of the video and I don't know why.
I love Takahata but I realise there's a lot of his movies that I haven't seen.
Note to self: Animate things that Hollywood cannot recreate into Live-Action for cash grab. lol
Watched Grave of the Fireflies. Bawled my eyes out. Proof of how powerful animation can be. As beautiful and moving as it was I refuse to watch it ever again.
I always thought of Takahata's approach more arthouse than Miyazaki's.
Goodbye, sir, and thank you for all the memories.
Abhisek Dash lkk
Sleep well maestro and thank you for all the stories. We will miss you.
Rip😢. Pompoko as the rest of your movies were awesome 🙏.
A few days before Isao Takahata passed away, Hayao Miyazaki came to his hospital room and burst into large tears. At his funeral, Hayao Miyazaki gave a farewell speech.
"I met an exceptional person in Isao Takahata, We always fought hard because wanted to go farther each other. Thank you very much."
The friendship between the two men will continue for a long time.
What you pointed out at 6:39 is I think the crux of why animation is such a special medium. We understand completely why she just ran into the air and is floating on clouds. It's metaphor, and in an animated world where you can make metaphor come to life (without looking weird), it FITS. It never would in live action.
Only Yesterday is easily in my top 3 favorite Ghibli films (and I love almost all of them). I love the vast difference in the two animation styles, and the message and story really speak to me.
Rest in peace isao takahata
I just smiled and kept smiling like an idiot the whole time watching takahata's animations...
RIP Isao Takahata
Takahada needs more attantion. He directed my favorite animation, Grave of the Fireflies.
Takahata is the Miyazaki of anime.
woah, that's deep
Takahata is the Dark Souls of anime directors.
The cup souls of bandime
More like his partner
I doubt anyone watch grave of firefly n would not cry,
You have really encapsulated my feelings on the subject with this video. I was intrigued by many of these films (most notably _Only Yesterday)_ because of the way they animate real life without feeling rushed in any way. Animated real life is even more enjoyable than live-action real life because you _feel_ how every single thing you see required attention and work.
Honestly latest Disney films are sucks...🤮
he directed heidi? oh i loved seeing that in tv
Rest In Peace
Hey man I found this video and I instantly subscribed to your channel! I have a question: what are other directors (anime or live action) that have this very realist, grounded approac? A director who comes to mind is Hou Hsaio-Hsen (The Assassin, Millenium Mambo, A City of Sadness) as an example. Keep up the great content!
Interesting. I didn't connect Hsiao-Hsien and Takahata, but they are similar in tone.
God, I love them.
Pom Poko is my favorite anime
高畑勲さんの作品の中で一番 過小評価されていて 特に海外では話題にも上らない「赤毛のアン」(この動画にも一つも出てこない) 高畑作品がこれだけ海外から愛されてるのだから 恐らく 見過ごされてるだけだと思うので 英語でコメントします。Everyone who loves Isao takahata's movies,if possible,please watch the Akage no Anne（Anne of GreenGables） of the TV series. You can see a wonderful side different from his movie。
Pom Poko - Not bad but definitely way too long for what it is
My Neighbors The Yamadas - Great for old people. Quirky!
Only Yesterday - A truly astonishing film with masterful direction and storytelling.
Grave Of The Fireflies - Ripped my heart out of my chest.
The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya - 4th favorite movie ever made, and Studio Ghibli's best work.
RIP Isao Takahata.
at 0:30- what Ghibli movie has the film, "Son of Godzilla" was playing?
Nope, no live-action Totoro for me!
The Tale of Princess Kaguya is the only film I have ever unashamedly sobbed through in a movie theater
Rip :(
I just want to thank you because I would have missed out on a masterpiece like Kaguya Hime no Monogatari without that clip in your video.
It may not be Japanese, but do you know the animation work of Børge Ring?
ご冥福をお祈りします、高畑勲監督。
Only Yestersay has to be the best animated film i’ve ever seen since Fantasia 2000. Let alone American Graffiti.
rest in peace
Extremely cool and insightful. And I had thought of Takahata's movies as random and all over the place.
Very inspiring essay, my friend. Takahata is such a a overlooked artist, because his works are fantastic, like the movies of his partner, Miyazaki.
I can't thank him enough for choosing to work in the anime industry instead of getting a high-paying job despite graduating from one of Japan's most cutting-edge universities.
Thank for making this video 🌈 BEAUTIFUL
For the fact that he was never an animator, he sure knew how to direct animated films.
Honestly i really think this analysis was very superficial beyond just pointing out the obvious. Yeah he represents certain feelings in his own unique way, so does any director. The micro-animations in his movie bring his characters to life in interesting ways, ok ? You mentioned how disney does this too but really didn't show what makes Takahata's brand of presentation different. Most of this video is you pointing your finger at scenes without really giving any commentary. If you're goal was to make a slightly narrated slideshow then sure why not.
I feel like in your effort to imitate every frame a painting's videos so obsessively you're sort of forgetting to bring anything substantial to what you're saying. You have all the technical knowhow under your belt, but our REALLY need to try finding your own voice because it's neigh eery to see how identical your narration is to Tony Zhou. Right down to the intonation, style of editing, narrative punchlines and all.
The use of animation rather than live action for Grave of the Fireflies is brilliant for many reasons.
Firstly, animation tends to be geared to entertainment for children and that's what it is -- a story about a child and her older brother. The expectation with most animation is that somehow, something special or magical will happen to remove them from the peril they face, but withholding that kind of resolution of the story makes it hit as all the more tragic.
Practically, animation is the perfect choice because emaciated children in live action would either not be done convincingly and thus lack authenticity, or would, for obvious reasons be completely inhumane to child actors.
The occasional fantastical imaginings of Seita also adequately convey how, despite trying to prove he is mature, he is still tempted to fall back into more immature, childlike imaginings.
Finally, the montage scene near the end where Setsuko is depicted doing various domestic activities near the air raid shelter, where her ghostly image disappears from one scene to the next is a perfect way of showing the memory of her spirit in that environment.
Films exist to entertain and make us laugh, but sometimes films are made that convey a story that needs to be told. Although it's sad, Fireflies is a brilliant film.
My neighbors the Yamadas and pom poko were the most influential movies of my childhood, bless
He died today. Rest in peace, Isao Takahata. I and many others will remember your work fondly.
Isao Takahata
1935 to 2018
I highly recommend his Anne of Green Gables anime! It's soo good
Takahata felt like to Ozu to Miyazaki's Kurosawa
NO ONE WATCH PRINCESS KAGUYA I'VE NEVER CRIED SO MUCH
Great job doing these video essays dude! Keep the good work flowing! I gave it a share, awesome!
Miyazaki is in the clouds. Takahata stays firmly rooted to earth.
I'm going to cry
Only Yesterday is a fucking masterpiece.
both of them are incredibly amazing as directors and artist.
Finally someone brought up Isao Takahata, Only Yesterday and Grave of the Fireflies are both in my top 10 list of Ghibli films.
You do a wonderful job with these. Well researched and well put together. It must take forever... Thanks for doing this.
No to sure I agree with the term "filter." A medium is a mediation between spectator and the world?. Well, a medium is a filter, a lens etc. So I think it goes beyond the lens metaphor, since everyone is using a lens. Your choice of scenes is interesting. Of course you can do alot of effects with CGI nowadays. So cel has become a thing.
Thank you for introduce me this genius and his art works
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Sadigziggi that movie was good
Another great video, thanks for making these!
Really good video!
Some criticism: I was kinda confused at the beginning, i didn't know who was talking and in what context. It sounded like it might av been you. And it started a bit to fast. Everything else was great though!
brilliant video on a sadly overlooked director
Rest in peace 😞
RIP Master ♥️🙏🏼
Rest In Peace, Isao. :'(
Just heard the news. Heartbreaking loss
Really like your videos.
Grave of fireflies toke me 4 sittings to get throu, just the first 10mins made me have to take a breather.
Grave of the Fireflies is one of my all-time favorites.
And it is also Isao Takahata's very first anime debut as the director of Studio Ghibli.
This similar to how Nintendo games with their crazy and stylized visual styles, through gameplay usually portray real life concepts much better than games with realistic graphics like GTA V, or Mafia III, or even Skyrim, try walking around in Ocarina Of Time, and then in Skyrim, or ride a horse in Twilight Princess compared to Skyrim, or even jumping in a 3D Mario game compared to jumping in Uncharted for example, yeah Uncharted may not have realistic jumps, but it's trying to make them look realistic and they feel scripted, pointless and empty, while in Mario games, even though Mario jumps a few times his height, you can feel every moment of the jump, as though you are doing it yourself.