Unproduced Scripts Discovered at Home of Late Studio Ghibli Founder Isao Takahata

A treasure trove of unpublished scripts and creative notes penned by Isao Takahata has been discovered at the acclaimed animation director’s home. Known for films like Pom Poko, Grave of the Fireflies and the Academy Award-nominated The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (all produced by Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki and Yasuyoshi Tokuma), Takahata died in 2018 at age 82.

NHK reports from Japan that about 130 pages of material were discovered at the home in June of this year, and have been examined by Tokyo Zokei University professor Seiji Kano. The animation expert, who serves as the director of the Institute of Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki Films, found that the writings are on paper from an animation studio Takahata joins right after graduating from university, dating them to sometime in the director’s 20s.

The studio was not named in the article, but Takahata’s first animation job was at Toei, where he made his directorial debut with The Adventures of Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968).

Kano told the news outlet that Takahata’s work diverged from the child-centric themes of animation at that time which focused on simple “good triumphs over evil” stories. He added that these early scripts align with ‘the deep humanity and contradictions the director pursued in his later years.’

Among the materials discovered were an apparent prequel to The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (based on the folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter). Kano also highlighted two other scripts:

• Oeyama, based on the mythical demon leader Shuten-doji who was defeated by a samurai hero. The script includes a note by Takahata saying he does not want to depict the slaying of the demon, who is ‘somewhat comical and does not necessarily represent evil.
• Moratta Hoseki, based on a children’s story by author/poet/activist Kenji Miyazawa about a rabbit who obtains a precious jewel, is tricked into wrongdoing by a fox and loses his sight as punishment. Takahata’s version sees the rabbit realize the error of his ways and drive away the mischievous fox with help from his animal friends.

It remains to be seen whether the Ghibli team or other artists will attempt to bring these original scripts to life.

[Source: NHK]