Isao Takahata may be less well known than his colleague Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away), but he was Miyazaki's mentor, creative partner, rival, and friend. Together, they were the ingredients that made Studio Ghibli so successful. A studio that still competes with Disney and Dreamworks.
A great love of nature, human connections, and rich Japanese culture are recurring themes in Takahata's films. He did not have a distinct style. Each film is a unique work of art. With Takahata, you could even say that none of his films are the same. In terms of surprise value, that counts for a lot.
Takahata's death in 2018 left a deep impression on Miyazaki, who paid tribute to his mentor and good friend in his latest film, The Boy and the Heron.