Anno Hideaki's Phantom Hotaru no Haka Cut on Display! Isao Takahata Exhibition Reveals Weekday Limited Visitor Gift & Highlights

Main Visual for "Isao Takahata Exhibition - The Man Who Made Japanese Animation." — Main Visual for “Isao Takahata Exhibition – The Man Who Made Japanese Animation.”

Layout of the Heavy Cruiser Maya from Hotaru no Haka.

Main Visual for "Ghibli no Rittai Zokeibutsu Ten" (Exhibition of Ghibli's Sculptural Works). — Main Visual for “Ghibli no Rittai Zokeibutsu Ten” (Exhibition of Ghibli’s Sculptural Works).

Celebrating a Visionary: Isao Takahata Exhibition Unveils New Details

An exhibition dedicated to the acclaimed animation film director Takahata Isao, known for masterpieces like 『Hotaru no Haka』 and 『Alps no Shoujo Heidi』, titled “Isao Takahata Exhibition – The Man Who Made Japanese Animation.”, is set to open at the Azabudai Hills Gallery in Tokyo. Running from June 27 to September 15, 2025, the exhibition recently unveiled its main visual, along with exciting details about the venue’s highlights and ticket information.

Exhibition Overview and Purpose

“Isao Takahata Exhibition – The Man Who Made Japanese Animation.” is being held to commemorate Takahata Isao-sensei’s 90th birthday and the passing of 80 years since the end of the Pacific War, an event that profoundly influenced his life and work.

Following the teaser visual that featured 『Alps no Shoujo Heidi』 and 『Hotaru no Haka』, the main visual showcases 『Hotaru no Haka』 and 『Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko』. In the exhibition’s work introduction area, cels and background art from 『Hotaru no Haka』, 『Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko』, and 『Alps no Shoujo Heidi』 will be displayed publicly for the first time.

Never-Before-Seen Production Materials on Display

Adding to the excitement, a significant discovery has been made: the layout drawings of the Heavy Cruiser Maya, drawn by Anno Hideaki when he participated as a key animator on 『Hotaru no Haka』. Anno Hideaki is active today as a director and producer, widely known for the 『Evangelion』 series. These layouts, along with the harmony cels (referring to cels drawn with a painterly touch) based on them, will also be shown publicly for the very first time at this exhibition.

Engaging Audio Guide and Official Playlist

To enhance the visitor experience, an audio guide featuring Ijuuin Hikaru as the navigator will be available. Ijuuin Hikaru, who participated in 『Kaguya Hime no Monogatari』 as the voice of Abe Uudaijin, is well-regarded for his extensive knowledge and conversational skills. You can enjoy commentary that will help you appreciate the exhibition more deeply, accompanied by narration from the legendary voice actor Tamagawa Sakiko, who has appeared in numerous animated works.

Furthermore, in addition to the audio guide, you can also listen to an official playlist of 5 songs selected by film director Iwai Shunji to complement the exhibition’s displays. Iwai Shunji has a deep connection with both Takahata-sensei and Studio Ghibli. The audio guide and official playlist can be accessed by paying an additional 700 yen (tax included) with each ticket.

Special Weekday Visitor Bonus

Visitors attending on weekdays will receive a special limited-design paper case featuring exclusive designs. There are five designs available, with different artwork featured depending on the day of the week. These paper cases are versatile and could be used for anything, perhaps even as a mint case or matchbox. Open the box, and you’ll find an illustration of Takahata Isao drawn by Ishii Hisaichi inside!

Related Events and Ticket Information

To commemorate the exhibition, guided tours led by Tanaka Chiyoshi from the Studio Ghibli Museum Department will also be held on July 1st and July 8th. Ghibli fans will definitely want to check these out!

Also, by presenting a ticket stub from the “Ghibli no Rittai Zokeibutsu Ten” (Exhibition of Ghibli’s Sculptural Works), currently being held in Tennoz, Tokyo, at this exhibition’s ticket counter, you can receive a 200 yen discount (tax included) off the same-day admission price.

The “Isao Takahata Exhibition – The Man Who Made Japanese Animation.”, featuring the work of animation film director Takahata Isao (『Hotaru no Haka』, 『Alps no Shoujo Heidi』), will be held at the Azabudai Hills Gallery in Tokyo from June 27 to September 15, 2025. Advance tickets will go on sale starting May 23rd at 11:30 AM. For more detailed information, please visit the special website.

Staff-Guided Night Tour by Studio Ghibli Museum Department
- Dates:
  - 1st Tour: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
  - 2nd Tour: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
- Time: 18:00 – 19:00 (Please arrive at the venue by 17:50 on the day)
- Venue: Azabudai Hills Gallery
- Fee: +600 yen (tax included) added to your ticket price
Discount with “Ghibli no Rittai Zokeibutsu Ten” Ticket Stub
- Discount: 200 yen off (tax included) the same-day *General Admission* ticket price only
- Available Period: June 27 (Fri) – September 15 (Mon/Holiday), 2025
- Note: Cannot be combined with other discounts. Applicable only to “General Admission” tickets; not applicable to “Specialized School/University/High School Student” or “4 years old – Junior High School Student” tickets.

Exhibition Outline

Exhibition Name: Isao Takahata Exhibition – The Man Who Made Japanese Animation.
Press Preview: Scheduled for Thursday, June 26, 2025 (For media only)
Dates: Friday, June 27, 2025 – Monday, September 15, 2025
Organizers: Azabudai Hills Gallery, NHK, NHK Promotions
Planning Cooperation: Studio Ghibli
Cooperation: Tokuma Memorial Animation Culture Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation), Shinchosha
Sponsorship: A-Factory
Support: Lets Enjoy Tokyo, TOKYO MX, Embassy of Switzerland in Japan
Venue: Azabudai Hills Gallery (Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A, MB Floor, 5-8-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 20:00 (Last entry 19:30)

*From June 27 (Fri) to July 18 (Fri), closing time is 17:00 (Last entry 16:30) on Tuesdays and Sundays.