The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Heidi, Girl of the Alps, Grave of the Fireflies, Pom Poko…… All these animation hits are the works by Takahata Isao, animation director, who led the industry of Japanese animation. This exhibition focuses on a series of important materials belonging to his creation.

“What about making Japanese animation films as a Japanese―that has been always on my mind” Takahata Isao

Takahata Isao (1935-2018) is one of the leading animated filmmakers in Japan for a half century from the 1960s.

His first feature film Little Norse Prince Valiant (1968), a visual world with a grand scale enjoyable to adults as well, was followed by a series of animation works developing new realms of expression.

In the 1970‘s his TV series including Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974) and Anne of Green Gables (1979), created rich human dramas that stood out from the conventional fantasies, with a directorial method to carefully depict everyday life.

The 1980’s and onwards saw a shift of the story setting to Japan. Downtown Story (1981), Grave of the Fireflies (1988), and Pom Poko (1994) fluently tell Japanese climate and cultures, and real life of ordinary people. Some works question again what Japanese people experienced during and after World War II from a today’s perspective.

Takahata took on a challenge of a new style of brushwork in his posthumous film The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) which achieved an innovative portrayal transcending conventional cel-based animation.

Takahata continued to be an innovator by pursuing relevant themes of today along with new means of expression corresponding to the subjects. His animated films established a foundation for postwar Japanese animation, largely exerting its influence on other animators both in Japan and abroad.

This exhibition features his directing techniques to study the secret of his enriched world of creation up close, showcasing his production notes and storyboards that will be opened to the public for the first time.

Audio Guide
The Japanese audio guide is narrated by Nakagawa Taishi, one of the leading young actors of Japan, with comments from Takahata’s comrades.

Advanced Tickets
Advanced tickets with merchandise (Only available at Lawson Ticket)
   – A Japanese handcloth set 2,200 yen (Limited sale of 500 units)
   – A teacup set 2,000 yen (Limited sale of 500 units)
   – A ticket holder set 1,700 yen (Limited sale of 500 units)

Lawson Ticket L Code 82911
The ticket is valid on any date of the week.

Early bird paired discount ticket (Only available at Lawson Ticket)
  -A set of two tickets 2,000 yen (available for a use of two persons or one person twice)
Limited sale of 5,000 units (i.e. 10,000 tickets)
Lawson Ticket L Code 82911
The ticket is valid only on weekdays. (A weekend use is possible if you pay extra 500 yen per ticket at the museum box office.)

Tickets available at:
– Lawson Ticket L Code 82911
– ARTNE Ticket Online

Inquiries on Tickets: Nishinippon Shimbun Event Service at 092 711 5491

・For visitors on weekdays:
Booking is not required. Tickets will be available at the box office.
・For visitors on weekends and public holidays:
Booking is recommended through ARTNE Ticket Online or Lawson Ticket as COVID-19 precautious measures. This applies to invitation ticket holders and Physical Disability Handbook holders.

In the case that the venue is overcrowded, booking holders will be prioritised to enter.

※To prevent the spread of the COVID-19, please follow the instructions below. 
【Requests to Visitors】
■ Please do not enter the museum if you have the following symptoms: fever or colds (cough, sore throat) or feeling sick.
■ Wear face masks.
■ Cooperate with the temperature check if you have not checked it yet.
■ Clean your hands and fingers with hand sanitizers provided in the museum.
■ Keep the social distance (around 2 m) from others in the museum and refrain from chatting and staying too long in the exhibition rooms.
■ Avoid touching the artworks, display cases, and walls.
■ Restricted admission may take place to avoid overcrowding in the exhibition rooms.

【Our Effort】
■ Hand sanitizers are placed near each entrance of the exhibition room in the museum.
■ We frequently perform cleaning and sanitization of the parts where hands often touched, such as the doorknobs and handrails.
■ To conduct a regular operation safely, the museum staff will take care of their health care check, wear makes, and promote hand-washing while in the service.
Please find official website for further information. Thank you for your kind cooperation.