As you may have noticed, the Paris Secret team loves events linked to Japanese culture. If, like us, you’re a little kawaii in your spare time, a Parisian exhibition dedicated to one of the biggest names in Japanese animation will be taking place from October 15. Isao Takahata, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, will be the subject of an exhibition and film retrospective. All this will be on view at the Maison de la culture du Japon.
Isao Takahata: Less well-known than Miyazaki, but just as influential
Born on October 29, 1935, Isao Takahata studied French literature at Tokyo University, before drawing inspiration from Godard and collaborating with Paul Grimault, the great French animator. It was La Bergère et le Ramoneur (The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep), the first version of Le Roi et l’Oiseau(The King and the Bird), which made a deep impression on him and prompted him to take up filmmaking. After a spell at Tōei Animation, where he met Hayao Miyazaki, he made his first feature film in 1968 in collaboration with the latter. Together, they created the legendary Studio Ghibli in 1985. This was followed by such classics as Tomb of the Fireflies (1988), the Heidi series, and 2013’s Oscar-nominated The Tale of Princess Kaguya. Seven years after his death, the Maison de la culture du Japon will pay tribute to him with a retrospective event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELGUE86HPSc
Isao Takahata – Pioneer of modern animation, from the post-war era to Studio Ghibli
From October 15, 2025 to January 24, 2026, Isao Takahata – Pionnier du dessin animé moderne, de l’après-guerre au Studio Ghibli (Isao Takahata – Pioneer of modern cartooning, from the post-war era to Studio Ghibli) will take place in the 15tharrondissement of Paris , showcasing original drawings, storyboards, celluloid, sets and, of course, video projections. With Kazuyoshi Tanaka, another master of animation, curating the exhibition, the visit promises to be of the highest quality. And there’s more good news: admission is priced from €5 to €7.
An Isao Takahata film retrospective with rare works
In parallel, from October 21 to 31, the Maison du Japon is also organizing a film retrospective. On the program: Takahata’s feature-length films, key TV series episodes and documentaries. It’s an opportunity to (re)discover some of his finest works, some of which are being shown in France for the very first time. You can also watch films and artists that inspired him, such as Grimault’sLe Roi et l’Oiseau. Sessions cost just 6 euros full price.
Whether you want to learn more about this genius or are discovering him for the first time, this exhibition is a must-see for all fans of anime and Japanese culture.
📍Location: Maison de la culture du Japon, 101 bis Quai Jacques Chirac, 75015 Paris.
📆 Date: October 15, 2025 to January 24, 2026 for the exhibition, October 21 to 31, 2025 for the cinema retrospective.
💶 Price: between 5 and 7 euros for the exhibition, film screenings are 6 euros full price.