Japanese anime film director and writer Isao Takahata has died at the age of 82, local media reported Friday.
Takahata died of lung cancer on Thursday in a hospital in Tokyo, Ghibli studio said in a statement.
Studio Ghibli President Kiyofumi Nakajima said they sincerely pray for his soul to rest in peace.
Takahata founded Studio Ghibli with iconic director Hayao Miyazaki in 1985, which later became a world-renowned animation studio, producing blockbuster films.
Takahata was most famous for “The Grave of the Fireflies”, an award-winning 1988 film.
“The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”, his last film and made in 2013, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Nakajima stated that a farewell gathering for Takahata will take place on May 15.
