In 1981, Takahata directed Jarinko Chie, a film adapted from Etsumi HARUKI's well-known manga. The story centers on Chie, a ten-year-old girl labeled as "the unluckiest girl in Japan," who runs her family's diner while her father, an unemployed yakuza member, and mother live apart. Despite its bleak premise, the film is a humorous comedy.