The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
2013, Fantasy/Anime, 2h 17m
96 Reviews 10,000+ RatingsWhat to know
Boasting narrative depth, frank honesty, and exquisite visual beauty, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a modern animated treasure with timeless appeal. Read critic reviews
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The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Photos
Movie Info
Cast & Crew
The Princess Kaguya
Voice
The Bamboo Cutter
Voice
The Bamboo Cutter's Wife, Narrator
Voice
Sutemaru
Voice
Lady Sagami
Voice
Prince Ishitsukuri
Voice
News & Interviews for The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Critic Reviews for The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
All Critics (96) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (96)
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A poignant gem, very different in tone to the director's most celebrated works, Grave of the Fireflies and Only Yesterday, but no less worthy of praise and admiration.
March 22, 2015 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
The impression is of a continuous series of watercolours, similar to the narrative scroll revealed to Kaguya in a key scene.
March 20, 2015 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
While the characters feel very simplified at times, there are scenes that put great weight on performance and subtle expressions, in a way that's nearer to the classical Disney tradition than most Japanese animation.
March 20, 2015 | Full Review… -
As you'd expect from the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Takahata has created a ravishing, technically perfect product and the hand-drawn, watercolour images explode with tender, humorous details.
March 20, 2015 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Be prepared for a melancholy denouement that's not suitable for younger children, but which grown-ups and older kids may find heartbreaking.
March 19, 2015 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review… -
The latest film from the esteemed Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli.
March 19, 2015 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
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Aug 15, 2017The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is an absolute stunning piece of art. Let's just take a moment to appreciate how beautiful this film is, it is without a doubt a work of art. Every paint stroke, every detail and every frame by frame animation is perfection. I've never seen such exquisite visionary qualities in a film before. Every frame is colourful, bright and absolutely delightful to admire. Not to mention several scenes have multiple layers of animation embedded within them, masterful. I'm just...in awe of how amazing the animation was, I really am. Trust it to be Studio Ghibli, they really are masters of the animation genre. This film is a re-telling of the famous Japanese folk tale "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" where said bamboo cutter comes across a glowing stalk which is revealed to contain a princess. They raise her as she grows rapidly and, with the help of a divine presence, believe she should be living in the lifestyle of nobility. There is so much to analyse, so much to take in that I just don't have enough words to detail every theme that is explored. The story is one of happiness. The contrasting lifestyles of rural village people to rich noblemen. But is anyone actually truly happy? Princess Kaguya wishes to live back in the mountains whereas her old friends are jealous of her new luxurious residence. Within this personal conflict is the never ending battle of seeking true happiness which conclusively she does not find (much like everyone else in life). The bamboo cutter gave the princess a life in his own image, a life that he wished he desired all along. While he may have been happy, his daughter was not. He was blinded by the materialistic aspirations that he yearned for. The representation of the traditional Japanese culture was wonderful and really captured the authenticity of the folk tale. I do have to warn you though, don't let the cutesy animation fool you. I do not recommend this for children. It's a long runtime, there are heavy themes and I don't think they will fully appreciate it.Luke A Super Reviewer
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Jun 26, 2015An exquisite and beautiful film.Marcus W Super Reviewer
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Mar 01, 2015This film is absolutely exquisitely drawn. There is no CG here and it is a joy to watch. The famous Japanese folklore tale is great to watch and you cannot help but be enthralled by all the characters. Superb.Ian W Super Reviewer
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Feb 20, 2015"The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" is a lovely story about a found princess that grows quickly, deals with life's hardships, downfalls, and the realistically drawn imagery really makes you buy into this story. Well-written, brilliantly-animated (as always by Studio Ghibli), it is definitely worth it's Academy Awards recognition. It may not be the best film to come from this studio, but ever since the mastermind of the studio passed, it will be a challenge to live up to. I really enjoyed watching this film, and by the end I was actually tearing up, because the maturity level of the characters and symbolism that was being shown, really stood out. "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" is the definition of an achievement in my opinion and deserves to be seen by many around the world. This is a very original film, however, it is a tad overlong and slowly paced out, making for a less pleasant experience. It felt like it was trying to take it's beautiful story and stretch it to become a Blockbuster film, which felt very out of left field for the studio. In the end, this is a really good film.KJ P Super Reviewer
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