Sorry Miyazaki, But Another Director Deserves The Throne Of Ghibli's Greatest Director

Hayao Miyazaki has become synonymous with Studio Ghibli’s identity. As the co-founder and a two-time Academy Award-winning visionary director, he has helped transform the studio into something undeniably impactful and lasting. His storytelling style and direction make him one of the greatest anime directors of all time, whose work has pushed animation into more emotionally charged and visually adventurous territory over the years.

However, there’s another Ghibli director who has created films that are just as breathtaking, if not more so. Isao Takahata, the second co-founder of Ghibli, may not be as widely known as Miyazaki, yet he has created some of the most daring and emotionally moving stories the studio has ever produced. His best-known works stand out among Ghibli films as some of the best ever made, making Takahata deserving of the title of Studio Ghibli’s greatest director.

Isao Takahata’s Three Best Films Prove He’s Ghibli’s Greatest Director

Studio Ghibli’s three highest-rated films on Rotten Tomatoes are all directed by Isao Takahata, with The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Only Yesterday, and The Grave of the Fireflies all earning a perfect 100% score. The critical reception of these films is well-earned, with each one offering something unforgettable and moving, making them some of Ghibli’s crown jewels.

Takahata’s vision for each film has pushed them into standout titles that define the studio’s artistic range. Grave of the Fireflies, for example, explores wartime devastation with unflinching realism, while Only Yesterday’s exploration of memory is not only universal but also incredibly thought-provoking and touching. Similarly, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya uses watercolor visuals that are refreshing and absolutely stunning.

While each film may not be as widely known as other Ghibli titles, like Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro, they stand out for being best suited for an adult audience, a choice that pushed anime’s capacity for more mature storytelling. This opened the door to exploring themes such as sacrifice, adulthood, and war in ways that would otherwise be softened or explored in a more symbolic manner if it were made for families.

The three films show the range of Takahata’s creative and directorial abilities, with his versatility, both thematically and stylistically, remaining unmatched. The emotional weight behind the three films is often raw and heavy, but also beautiful and reflective. Takahata’s accomplishments with these three masterpieces pushed the boundaries of storytelling in animation and represent the best of Ghibli’s core identity.

Takahata’s Films Represent the Best of What Studio Ghibli Can Be

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Only Yesterday, and Grave of the Fireflies are not only Takahata’s greatest achievements, but also some of Studio Ghibli’s best works overall. The studio may be most known for its fantasy and adventurous works, but its emotional core has always centered around lived experiences, reflection, and the beauty found in everyday life. Takahata’s work aligns more directly with that foundation than any other Ghibli filmmaker's.

Across his three highest-rated films, many recurring Ghibli themes appear with greater intensity and purpose. In Grave of the Fireflies, anti-war sentiment is not found in abstract symbolism or background motifs but is grounded in the consequences and the loss of innocence. In The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and Only Yesterday, coming-of-age isn’t formed through adventure, but through personal reflection, often shaped by memory and regret.

Takahata’s approach to filmmaking centers on uncompromising realism and stylistic boldness. Among the three films, each has a unique style, tone, and core theme pushing the story forward. Whether he’s exploring loss, impermanence, memory, or the beauty of everyday life, Takahata always manages to capture something rare, genuine, and resonant. He refines Ghibli’s identity in ways that uplift and empower the studio’s emotional philosophies.