Yoshiaki Nishimura

Expanding its reach far beyond its home country of Japan, Studio Ghibli spent the 1980s, '90s, and 2000s becoming one of the most respected animation film studios in the world. As producer Yoshiaki Nishimura rose gradually to the head of the company, he solidified his position as a principal influence on the state of international animation. With roots working production administration on "Howl's Moving Castle" (2004) and a more prominent production role over later films like "The Tale of Princess Kaguya" (2013) and "When Marnie Was There" (2014), Nishimura cemented his legacy as one of Studio Ghibli's later power players. Yoshiaki Nishimura began his tenure at Studio Ghibli-Japan's foremost animation film production house, and one of the most respected purveyors of animation in the world-as a production administrator on "Howl's Moving Castle" (2004), a fantastical adventure movie written and directed by kingpin Hayao Miyazaki. Nishimura graduated to a producer role when the company set forth writer and director Isao Takahata's "The Tale of Princess Kaguya" (2013), a watercolor coming-of-age film that earned critical esteem and a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 87th Annual Academy Awards. Nishimura also produced "When Marnie Was There" (2014), director Hiromasa Yonebayashi's drama story adapted from the eponymous novel by English author Joan G. Robinson.