A former Studio Ghibli producer who made sexist comments about women’s ability to direct fantasy films has apologised for his comments.

Yoshiaki Nishimura, who produced Ghibli’s latest film, When Marnie Was There and has since left the company, was asked in an interview last week if the studio would ever hire a female director. Nishimura said that it wasn’t a coincidence that none of Studio Ghibli’s films had been directed by women and that, while men were idealists, women were too “realistic” to direct animated fantasy.

“I definitely had the sexist belief that men had a strong tendency to be idealistic and that women were better at living reality,” said Nishimura from the Twitter account of his other workplace, Studio Ponoc. “I am reflecting and learning. Gender has nothing to do with making movies. My deepest apologies.”

Studio Ghibli – once steered by the legendary director Hayao Miyazaki, who retired in 2013 – is one of the most respected animation houses in the world. Ghibli films, including The Tale of Princess Kaguya, which was produced by Nishimura, have been nominated for the best animation Oscar five times. Spirited Away, which was written and directed by Miyazaki, won the prize in 2003.