Japanese animé writer/director, responsible for many Studio Ghibli titles and the wonderful Grave of the Fireflies. The success of Hayao Miyazaki in the west following Princess Mononoke and Sprited Away should help bring Takahata's work to a wider audience. Many of his titles can be imported from Japan or China as DVD editions with English subtitles.

Links:

• IMDB entry: http://www.imdb.com/Name?Takahata,%20Isao
• French language profile: http://www.filmdeculte.com/portrait/portrait.php?id=13 (works well in Babelfish)