The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited one of the founders of Studio Ghibli, director Isao Takahata, into its ranks on Friday. Earlier this year, the academy honored the director with an Oscar nomination for his most recent work, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. He attended the awards ceremony in February with the film's producer Yoshiaki Nishimura.

Takahata had a long career directing such classics as Little Norse Prince Valiant (Taiyō no Ōji - Hols no Daibōken), Alps no Shōjo Heidi, and Anne of Green Gables before he co-founded Studio Ghibli with Hayao Miyazaki. He went on to create the feature films Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, Pom Poko, and My Neighbors the Yamadas.

The Academy invited Miyazaki at least four previous times, and it also invited studio co-founder and producer Toshio Suzuki last year. Miyazaki's Spirited Away film won an Oscar, and he personally came to Los Angeles to accept his Honorary Academy Award last year.

Composer Joe Hisaishi ( Spirited Away, Departures ), a frequent collaborator on Miyazaki's films, was invited in 2013. Kunio Katō was invited in 2009 after becoming only the second Japanese animator to win an Oscar with his "La Maison en Petits Cubes" ("Tsumiki no Ie" or House of Blocks) short.

In addition to Takahata, Academy also invited actor J.K. Simmons (Pom Poko) and producer Terence Chang (Appleseed: Ex Machina) this year.

Source: Jiji