Kaguya-hime no Monogatari

The Tale Of Princess Kaguya is a 2014 film from Studio Ghibli directed by Isao Takahata, based on the Japanese folk tale "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter". This was Takahata's last directorial work. |Story: 10/10| The space between real and unreal, earthly and heavenly. The Tale of Princess Kaguya’ is a retelling of the oldest story in Japanese history, Taketori Monogatari(or The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter), which tells of a poor couple that discover a mystical girl in a forest and take it upon themselves to raise her as a princess. Takahata takes this narrative and runs with it, exploring the transient nature of life, the shallowness of wealth, and the absurdity of societal roles along the way. You can't fight fate...yes..no one is able to resist Kaguya's return to the Moon. |Art: 10/10| Gorgeous Princess Kaguya is like an old Japanese painting come to life.the visual style is evocative, moving from a light, luminous almost water-colour quality to charcoal-black shadows and raw, impressionistic scrawls. |Sound: 9/10| A believable sound ! The Tear Jerker ending is set to very happy festival music! |CHARACTERS:9/10| Good Isao Takahata struggles to bring an emotionally distant character to life. The film follows the folktale close enough, but adds more Character Development and scenes to flesh out the story more.

(spoilers) I didn’t like Isao Takahata’s The Tale of Princess Kaguya on a March midday of years past. In retrospection, maybe it was my degree of awakeness, eyes slouched and body sliding into the couch that was too comfortable for its own good. Or, it was my cerebrum not yet mature enough yet to be desensitized to the methodical pace and repetition of the derived folklore. Or a dozen other things. Whatever rationale I conjure, the obvious conclusion is that I was wrong. The film’s visuals might very well be why man picked up the pencil, but that almost doesn’t need to be said. While Isao Takahata’s focus on the emptiness of the frame’s crevices has flocked a critical fawning over its nostalgic evocation, what stands out to me is the stillness of character, the moments of brevity, pondering, and composure, the wide frames, and the characters becoming one with their environment. "Birds, bugs, beasts, grass, trees, flowers Bring spring and summer, fall and winter" Unlike that Spring day, from the first few minutes, the film’s impression was overwhelming. The scene where Kaguya imitates a pair of frogs’ lunging, communication, and direction that initiated a path of familial deviation had such detail and distinguished movement. Her initial characterization as a curious, cheerful child was unlike any recollection I had perceived of the film prior. From the impressive form of her movement and care put into the lingering of each jolt of her legs formulate a fluidity that is difficult to overstate, it dawned upon me that I was experiencing something very different from the film I thought I had previously seen. "Go round, come round, come round, O distant time" Following the amphibian beyond the bamboo cottage let Kaguya walk; the outside world’s influence took hold on the untouched child, skin as pale as the land she had come from, eyes as black as her inevitable despair. As she found comfort in easing into familiarity with the town boys’ methods — the way they speak, move, engage with their surroundings, and find happiness within their means — that door was eternally shut by misplaced trepidations of nobility above and a misguided patriarch. The Bamboo Cutter, in order to show Kaguya the world’s splendorous range, halted the world’s influence on her; by showing her the world, he unknowingly took it away. "Come round, call back my heart" Kaguya’s resistance to the dehumanization practices of a deeply rigid, intolerable expectation of female nobility is halted with the realization that any steps already taken were of no consequence. A ceremony predicated on her behalf, but not with her, and definitively not for her, a celebration without those whom she yearns to celebrate with, and a body questioning why she even ought to be celebrated. Despite placating her father’s wishes to an ability she thought was all she could muster, she recognizes that it was not enough. Despite her composure, the life she wanted to live is not only any longer attainable, but in compromise, there is but contempt. And she cracks. "Come round, call back my heart" The subdued, pastel backdrops falter at this moment, representative of a thick, muck inner turmoil. The lines blur and thicken, palette shifts monochrome, pastel robes fall for the stark red garments, the moon domineers the frame until Kaguya returns to her place of influence and familiarity — the cottage is sold, mountain decayed, faces gone, and the passage of time irreversible. Then, she awakes, eyebrows plucked, teeth as her eyes, and what was once bursting personality full of life now splinters stoic. This stoicism wavers only when the shade of grief overcomes that of joy — the prospects of an arranged marriage, the emperor’s assault, and in the return to the City of the Moon. "Teach me how to feel" How devastating it is to live as a piece of art. Kaguya, lauded in her piercing perfection and heart-wrenching deftness in all she put her mind to, never was an agent of her own happiness. Tied down and mouth shut like a statue, in disobedience came an erasing of the past like a colonialized relic, only to be held on with a tear. Whether her swan song with Sutemaru was really a dream or not, neither of them were willing to drop their obligations in such a manner as to realize a moment’s longing. When Kaguya says that she thinks she could have been happy with him, the implication is not that she wants to pursue that happiness, but recollect what could have been — a counterfactual of her own existence. The moon’s reach becomes clear, and Kaguya falls back down to earth. "If I hear that you pine for me, I will return to you" The Tale of Princess Kaguya might be about living one’s life to the best of their ability, or finding solace in that you never will. Maybe it is more about reconciliation with death, as Takahata passed away but half a decade later, or recognizing the beauty in pain as reflective of how things were once better. While pointed, the takeaway of having compassion for parents’ misguided actions, reaffirming the fallibility of parental figures is one that keeps recurring in my head. Despite all The Bamboo Cutter had done, in the end, Kaguya found the love for him to precede all else. She might have been a princess in background and dignity — she frolicked in a world outside the bamboo cottage, frog in hand, had loved, yearned, and felt pain with a youthful intensity — if only he knew that she was much more than that.

Preamble: english language is not my native, sorry for possible mistakes. Review can include minor spoilers. So, after I watched this film, has wrote my thoughts, I decided to check out different reviews of other people on this film. As I expected they all are quite positive, and I think I just need to write my own, because the main thing of reviews is constructive criticism, not babbling about how it's "wonderful and nice". And this film can easily be critisized. It has a lot of flaws and weak points. As Isao Takahata is one of my favourite anime directors and I value him even more than Miyazaki, I must say this is one of his weakest works. Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli, Joe Hisaishi... An adaptation of the Japanese folk tale "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" (10th-century Japanese folktale). What to say, I had huge expectations on this film. My all time favourite creators made film on one of favourite japanese tales. Maybe that's a problem of too big expectation? No, it's not. Realization was really quite bad. Again, the film is based on the Japanese folk tale - "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter". So this is nothing more than an adaptation of the eponymous fairy tale recorded in the X century and is considered one of the oldest of the surviving Japanese stories, and even one of the earliest precursors of science fiction overall. This time it wasn't great direction, smart work and production. However it is interesting, dramatic, even melodramatic film, which squeezes tears from you. Or at least tries to. Atypical panache and animation, something reminding me of some Soviet old animation and multiplication of 70s and 80s. Taketori, old man, collector of bamboo and craftsman, finds a little girl in bamboo shoots. And, considering it as a message from heaven, he brings up the girl with his wife as his own. Considering her a princess, he wanted to give her a life of luxury. Little later Taketori finds gold and expensive beautiful things and clothes in the bamboo for the 'Babmoo girl', as the village boys christen her. She will be given Kaguya name much later. But let's call her Kaguya from here. So, Kaguya is very playful girl and she is growing extremely fast. She has outstanding beauty as well. Girl loves nature and her friends from village, she is doing good, walks and rejoices. Especially she made friends with one guy... But finally the parents arrange and carry her into the city, to the castle. Now she is a princess, the highness. Princess Kaguya. But she was not happy in the castle. Even aristocracy wanted to marry her, but she doesn't want it, she wants to be with that village boy. Briefly it's like that. Sad, but true. Nothing can replace that true nature for her, the freedom and bustle on the nature with friends. Nevertheless, she wants her parents and Taketori to be happy. So she acts as noble princess. Again, many notable people sought her hand, even king himself. Kings forced a connection with her, and something mystical happens again. Now we know that she is from the Moon. Well, well, well... So, in fact, the work is full of theatricality. And of course I don't like that. Also there are many absurd and moments of frustration that appears, there were a lot of silly moments and scenes. On the other hand, it is the vital thing, the problem of fathers and children, just built in the absolute. Good intentions leads to poor circumstances. In the end, it turns out, as always. Eh... Pretty mediocre film, to say frankly. Very uneven film, I can say even rough. I've read the story itself, of course the problem in it itself, however overall production wasn't that great, again. Pretty weak. Don't get me wrong, it still was nice experience, however much more in disappointment way. Eternal road. And even memory of this film will fade, while I have quite phenomenon memory, because it's not that brilliant. Sorry for not indexing quite clear arguments this time, it's just hard to do in this film. It's not logical problems, it's more like exaggeration and overstatement of human feelings. Those love stories are full of bullshit, we have seen tons of them. Many people living unhappy lives with unloved works and even companions. And they don't put it as huge tragedy. The film is doing just it - like it's a huge tragedy. While the truth is there are far more tragic things in life. Music of Joe Hisaishi is good as usual, but this time not something outstanding as well. This kinda reminded me of "The Emperor's New Clothes". Interesting, what people would say, if it was not Ghibli movie and not Takahata's work. Probably, not as they say in their reviews. Most of them. I guess so. Majority just get accustomed to high level of Ghibli and don't want to admit that they have no critical thinking or bad taste. Illusions are far sweeter. It's a pity for me, because Isao Takahata is really one of my favourites. However it's ok, you can't do only Masterpieces. But I want to think maybe I was expected too much from this film, however I'm just maximum 'subjective objective' as I can, being logical and rational. It's really not that great film in comparing even to other Ghibli works. One of their worst films so far, unfortunately. One of the rare cases when I can say about Ghibli movie - pretty mediocre. 5/10.

This movie is where it really makes you think about life and what true "happiness" is. If it's too long just read the last paragraph, I honestly get tired of reading long reviews too lol. So when I first watched this, I was unaware that it was a Studio Ghibli work just because of the fact that the art style was so foreign. It was a soft, hand drawn paper pencil style and honestly, I never watch any of them before I watch this one. But as you watch, you can understand that the artistic style choice was so well adapted with the story and fit very well with everything that goes on. The story it self comes from an old folk tale about a bamboo cutter but it has a more of an emotional adaptation to it. Much of the story contains a subtle development of the main character and has a very "warm" and child storybook like feeling. However, one thing that did really bug me was the fact that the ending was very choppy. Yes, it did make me cry, but it still was cut off so randomly which made me fell a bit...lost as in if felt as if the story was left unfinished. Personally, I don't like it when the story does not have a finalized ending and leaves as an "open-ending". But this is just a personal pet peeve and you might find it very like-able that is does this. Oh the MUSIC!. It is marvelous, Much of the soundtrack is very Japanese traditional sounds but there is one scene from the movie that had the Princess laughing and the music made if truly feel how beautiful she was portrayed. And speaking of the Princesses, the character was very intricately woven. Though some characters were your typical "bad guys" (not really) who I really wanted to focus on was the main character itself. Though t may seem she is very two-dimensional, it subsequently shows each side of her character, and I found that she was the most complexly made character in the whole movie. So if you plan to watch it look for that and it's super cool. Overall it was fantastic, the art style really grows on you and though it seems a little boring and slow for some who likes things fast paced, this is one where you sit down with your hot coco in your bed with the rain outside and just relax to enjoy life. Ya it's those kind of movie. It's great.

Kaguya was an enlightening experience, but not in the conventional sense. It elucidated the reason why Takahata's magnum opus Omoide Poroporo is such a transcendental masterpiece by demonstrating how easy it is to do the exact opposite. That is not to say the movie doesn't have its share of readily apparent qualities. You won't see a better tribute to Japanese painting in animation as the staff carefully poured all their passion into this visual spectacle. I'm not quick to give it the title of best looking Takahata as it's not like there is no competition. Nonetheless, it certainly embodies his more experimental sensibilities while remaining deeply rooted in Japanese artistic traditions. Also, I appreciate that he gave Kaguya more depth than she possesses in the original story. The fact remains, however, that the movie is a massive waste of potential. It wouldn't be a problem coming from most directors who never even shot for the stars, but from such auteur, what a letdown. It's his last movie after all, so you'd expect him to leave a more lasting mark. When adapting the manga from Poroporo, Takahata took the liberty to build his own environment and explore nostalgia in ways untouched by any other anime, period. It was infinitely ahead of its source material in the sense it became a product of his own, something he would be known for and a glaring representative of his talent. Kaguya by contrast... is an exceptionally faithful adaptation of a simple tale, and therein lies the problem. What is there to take away? As much as he tried to twist the message for modern audiences, depth is nowhere to be found. It can provoke a plethora of emotions on the viewers, instill thoughts, etc, but essentially so could the original tale. That is why it was created, because of the universal appeal it carries within. But it's far from actually insightful or fresh even, given that it's so old and its core lessons have been widened to no end throughout history. The only way it could work out would be if themes such as empowerment, attachment to one's origins, or the tension between mortal existence and eternal detachment could have been examined in greater depth. The latter, in particular, is such a fascinating concept. Likewise, the characters could have been developed into fully realized human beings rather than archetypes. Sadly both themes and characters are just there, signaling their own existence but lacking in actual substance. Ultimately, it feels as though Takahata took very few risks, relying instead on the broad emotional appeal of the original story. The result is a film that earns admiration almost effortlessly, yet never transcends its source material. Impeccably crafted though it may be, it strikes me as a surprisingly safe work from one of animation's greatest auteurs, a lavish adaptation that never quite becomes the masterpiece it could have been. In that sense, it often feels less like a personal artistic statement and more like a prestigious, crowd-pleasing awards contender. There, I said it.

Kaguya-hime no Monogatari is one of the best movies ever. I can't describe how i much i love this animated work from Isao Takahata. I just love the way how this was made... The story is based on a japanese folk and it's just adopted on the right way for the modern media. You just can feel how real the story is, even if it isn't, but if you want to understand what i mean you have to watch the movie first. This anime is a great example for the art in the art category. The painting is just half made, so when you watch the movie you can shine your imagination in the highest level. And there is a scence on the middle of the movie when the paintings are completly changed like 20+ times in 10 seconds, and it's hand drown! The art is simply brilliant! When you hear the sound effects in the movie, there is no way to not be enchanted like a 4 years old kid when he hears her mother's singing. For some of the sound tracks the creators used a complete philharmonic orchestra. They also did some tracks with children singing, and i can say they are just emotional in a real unique way. The characters are based from the folk, but they are looking really realistic. While you watch the film you can see what is going inside, but you will never be able to understand kaguya, even if you are the creator of the movie. The enjoyment of the film is comming from the best place you can imagine... It is from the love, when i watched the show i felt that and because i used to love the character of kaguya i also felt what she felt and i think the best comes frome here. Story 10 Art 10 Sound 10 Character 10 Enjoyment 10 Overall 10

Kaguya-hime no Monogatari is one of a kind in the Studio Ghibli collection. The story is very unique and focuses on the aspect of change and how even though our intentions start out as good, they can turn into greed and selfishness. The story was based off of a Japanese tale of the same title. Studio Ghibli did a marvellous job making a story on a piece of paper come alive. The art, sound and characters were well thought out to give the movie a nostalgic feel. The art was different from the usual but it made the movie feel like someone was telling us a story. It reminded me of a picture book which is probably what Miyazaki was going for. The sound was used to build and release tension. It starts of calm and slowly builds up to keep the audience on edge. Music is a big deal for me, especially in movies as it can make a big difference. The producers did a good job with picking the right music. Now, the characters in my opinion weren't as interesting as Kaguya but seeing as the story is mainly based around her, it didn't bother me. It felt like the only characters who developed further were Kaguya, Ouna, Okina and Sutemaru but again, that's forgivable as these are the main characters. If you like sweet stories with a sad ending, this movie might be the one for you. The music, art and story were very enjoyable and you'll most likely find yourself thinking about the wonderful tale of Princess Kaguya during the day.

As a firm believer in Studio Ghibli's films this became one of my all time favorites. I have always loved old folklore and such since I was little and this film really dug into my heart and pulled out something that I did not even know existed. This movie is a complete masterpiece in every way. I became obsessed with it not even 5 minutes into the movie and did not pause it for 1 second because I was so entranced by the story. The characters seemed so real that I could not believe that this was an animation, and going off of the animation I have to say that it blew me away. Considering that this was a Ghibli film they completely changed the animation style to where no one would believe it was really them. The story was breath taking and the way that they used the animation to bring out the story was amazing. I even cried at the end for a good hour. Please for anybody considering watching this movie please do you will not regret it in the end!!

Breathtaking. If the mythical origins haven't piqued your interest yet, the art, animation, and music of this movie will. Every frame of this show looks like an exquisite watercolor painting -- and I mean EVERY SINGLE ONE. The hand-drawn elements are also surprisingly rather detailed: the mansion, the clothing, the leaves and twigs, etc. all work together seamlessly to transport the audience to another time and space. The music, although generally not too catchy, emphasizes the beauty and elegance that the era has to offer, especially while showing off iconic scenes such as Kaguya laughing amidst a whirlwind of sakura petals. I would also like to praise her voice actress for such a majestic performance as she would effortlessly switch between unruly country bumpkin to graceful, noble princess within seconds. While you're busy admiring the visual spectacle, the plot is sure to fascinate you, and thankfully (spoiler!) it truly isn't your usual fairytale with a happy ending. The story of Kaguya, a girl from the moon, who discovers what it means to live during her short time on Earth is straightforward and relatively easy to understand (it's based on a 10th century myth, after all) but is enough to make you reflect on how you yourself are living in accordance with society's unnecessary rules. Kaguya's journey of discovering the broad spectrum of emotions (joy, pain, sadness, love) is one you can definitely empathize with. My personal complaint is that the story itself, while having the potential for it, didn't make my heart ache as much as I expected. I guess I wanted some astounding revelation from the plot, but that didn't happen. This is just a nitpick though and can be easily overlooked. Overall, this movie is definitely a Ghibli classic and a must-watch! The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a breathtaking montage of life itself.

Another of Ghibli studio's work, this is another which got nominated for the Oscar aware. Unfortunately they did not win -_-. Moving on. I first found myself absorb into this movie when watching it from Barnes and Nobles. Because I was so interested, I decided to ask for the name of it and see it from start to finish back at home in a anime website. At one point, I thought it was Ghibli's old work due to the old-looking animation, which was pretty good to be honest. However, I realized they intentionally put it that way in order to retell an old folklore (this is based on Tales of the Bamboo Cutter) which made me love it even more. A lot of people might say most of the movie were fillers since it portrays the life of Princess Kaguya, but I disagree since it gave a different effect, in which, it immerse yourself to her life and you soon feel more emotionally connected to her at the end due to how she lived her life in the previous years. Her interaction with other children, desires and even freedom makes one wish to free her and discard a lifestyle of luxury but limits someone's ability to do what they want. The plot follows accordingly to the folktale with slightly subtle changes. However what made this stand out so much was the passage of time and how the princess was contend with something more simple. At the very end, the music will move you to tears as it make one remember a time when everyone was truly happy. Definitely would recommend this movie. I found myself re-watching the series many times for several months. Its emotionally poignant and a theme that something can never be attained yet we always desire for it. Was I a sad? Very much, but this is what good storytelling of tragic events would do to you.

I decided to watch this movie because I had seen a lot of people praise it as one of Ghibli's best films, but sadly, it did not live up to the hype for me. Without further ado, let's get into my thoughts: Art and Animation: 10/10 Most of the positive things I have to say about Kaguya-hime are regarding its art style. This movie is incredibly visibly appealing, with its gentle brushstrokes and flowing movements. If I had to pick one thing that I didn't like about it, I would say that the colors could afford to be a bit more vibrant, but that doesn't detract from my admiration of the visual aspects of this movie. Sound: 7/10 I watched this in the English dub, and the voice cast was of good quality. The score was nice as well, but it didn't particularly stick out for me. Story: 3/10 I knew going into this that Ghibli movies often have brief moments or scenes where I lose interest, but this movie was different. I spent about 80% of the movie uninvested, and another 15% being confused at what was happening. The ending (which I will not spoil) felt sudden, and I feel like there was very little buildup to it. The only scenes I was interested in was the scenes with Kaguya's suitors. Themes: 4/10 The themes of this movie were interesting, but they failed to resonate with me. The theme I was the most interested in was the restrictions of women in high society/nobility/royalty. As a history buff, this topic always interests me when it comes up in media. Sadly, this wasn't touched upon that much. If it was a more present idea in the movie, then I might have liked it more. Overall: 5.5/10 I am sure that this is a beautiful and moving movie for many people, but I am not one of them. However, I understand that this movie is loved by lots of people, and I'm glad that it has touched so many people.

I always wondered what anime it was, when I saw the image of Kaguya dancing under the cherry blossom tree. When it appeared on Netflix, I got really hyped for... nothing. This will be a short review. Story About an alien that comes down to earth, gets raised by old village people and becomes so beautiful, that she rises up to be noble and rich Plot/ Characters I really liked Kaguya, I liked her realtionship with nature and more importantly with the old woman, which was like a mother to Kaguya. But something went terribly wrong. After she became rich and the problem accures that noble men want to wed her until even the emperor came and seeked for her, we don't get a proper solution for that hot mess, which the emperor was. little Spoiler I was so disgusted by the emperor, I wanted him to get an answer, something to shake him up a bit, a slap to the face for example, something holy that wakes him up in his dreams... Also, two of the most digusting characters are Kaguyas Father, who tries to push her to marry of and act unfitting to her nature and Satamaru (whatever his name is). He is married, has a child and still wants to run away with Kaguya. I hated both of them (Kaguya and Playboy) so much in that scene in the woods, the whole anime appeared garbage to me. Story: interesting but poor towards the end: 6 Art: beautiful and unique: 10 Sound: good: 8 Character: hot mess: 3 Enjoyment: first half: 7, second half: 3 Overall: too nice for my upset stomage: 5

I am constantly in awe when reflecting upon how downright ravishingly beautiful of an artistic achievement this film is. Isao Takahata made his ultimate masterpiece with this film. In every sense of the word. As much as his death in April of 2018 pained my soul (especially upon discovering he was planned to direct a short film in Studio Ponoc's recent Modest Heroes anthology), there could not have been a more perfect film to go out on. Very rarely has any movie made me visibly emotional, but Kaguya accomplished the task like it was child's play. At moments I was laughing, then in a later scene I was immediately reduced to a sobbing mess. Movies have made me tear up before, but never full on cry. Except, of course, for Grave of the Fireflies (another film oh-so conveniently directed by Takahata). Takahata has a great understanding of human emotions not often seen by other directors. Emotions almost literally spill off the screen in his films, and Princess Kaguya is no exception. The film itself is a lovely metaphor for life itself. In that it makes you feel every emotion in the book. Characters You go on a journey with this strong women who constantly refuses to form into the mold that society dictates she must fit into. Kaguya is a very interesting protagonist, and you never want to take your eyes off the screen. The ways she thwarts her "enemies" are more emotional than physical, she's smart like that. The story starts out with a charming air of enthusiasm as little Kaguya explores this beautiful world, but be warned. While it offers many themes of life to ponder over, this is not what I would describe as a happy tale. As Kaguya matures, so too does the tone of the film. It gets increasingly dark in its subject matter, and Kaguya's life doesn't exactly get more uplifting. But she grows as a person, and it reminded me of my own struggles in life. When you're young, you are much more oblivious to the dark and sometimes evil world out there. And throughout the film Kaguya realizes that life without true happiness isn't really living at all. There are many lovable characters you meet throughout the film, and like any Ghibli film worth its salt, this film doesn't have any clearly defined villain either. There are definitely some less than desirable characters in there (the emperor definitely comes to mind, he was an ass), but none are outright evil. There are a lot of assholes in the real world too. Kaguya's adoptive mother and father are caring and gentle, and only want what they personally think is best for her. Even if her views of happiness don't match up with theirs. Oh, and Kaguya's handmaiden was absolutely aces (whom I eventually found was voiced in the dub by the wonderful Hynden Walch, the voice of Princess Bubblegum, which makes it even better). Art and Animation The artwork is of course a very high selling point for the film, and one of its greatest strengths. Inspired by traditional watercolor paintings and charcoal sketches from ancient Japanese scrolls and envisioned by the criminally unknown but massively influential artist Yoshiyuki Momose (who partnered with Takahata on many of his films to bring the director's ideas to visual fruition), the film's emotions at many times come through in the art itself. During one particularly notable scene in the film when Kaguya escapes from the castle in an enraged fury, the animation follows suit by evolving into an erratic and wild explosion of rough charcoal lines and tones of black and grey, with a striking and ominous moon looming in the background (a symbol that is foreshadowed many times throughout the film). Another sequence involving a nobleman hunting down a dragon of legends is so fluidly drawn yet rough at the same time. It was absolutely entrancing. In fact, now that I think about it, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is probably the only animated film that truly takes advantage of the capabilities of the animated medium. It employs its unique visual style to actually enhance the mood the film is attempting to get across, making it all the more powerful. Sound The soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi is possibly equally as wonderful. It only enhances the film's impact, with beautiful tracks that have stayed imprinted in my head ever since. It just feels so right. The main theme that repeats throughout the film represents the beauty of life, perfectly accommodating the film's own themes. And it doesn't hurt that it's also extremely catchy, as well as the upbeat Celestial Being music that plays during a not-so-upbeat moment during the climax of the film. There's also one more recurring track initially played at the beginning of the film that is a very simple but haunting melody that stuck with me until the end. Hearing it now having seen the film tends to bring a tear to my eye. I do believe it is some of Hisaishi's best work. We were spoiled the year of this film's release with not one but two of his soundtracks, the other for The Wind Rises. And while that film's soundtrack was great as well, I feel as though this one edges it out simply by being so perfect for the film it's accompanying. Everything is just so wonderfully timed. Some lovely Japanese tracks are played on the koto as well, so while Ghibli's English dub (which is included in the Japanese release) is just as high quality as we've come to expect (It has James Caan!), I'd personally recommend that you watch it in its original Japanese first so you can experience the lovely singing. It's always difficult to re-dub those scenes in foreign films anyway, but Ghibli did a good job with it nonetheless. Closing Thoughts In closing, should you see this film? Yes. As soon as it is humanly possible for you to do so. It's stuck with me long after I've seen it, just like all great films do. And hopefully it will stick with you as well. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry. It will make you feel human. And I respect any work of art that can make me feel that way. To describe the plot in any more detail would be to rob you from experiencing it for yourselves. The best recommendation I can give you is to go in blind, and if you haven't read the original story yet that'd be even better. This way you'll get the full, unspoiled experience.This is indeed Isao Takahata's magnum opus, and Ghibli's penultimate achievement. Definitely check this one out. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy. Or two.

This Film Is Based on the Oldest Folklore: 竹取物語 (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter) the story is rich and the art style is one of the main parts and feels like an old art that has been hand-drawn frame by frame during this film. for the first second of the movie, people may find this movie animation feels weird. but as long you go around 30 mins or so in the movie, the movie animation explained this is the one who made the aesthetic of the movie and feeling of old Japanese art. Overall This is one best folklore Movie That I have ever watched 10/10

A Quick Review: I'm gonna be completely honest here. No fancy elitist language or deep metaphors. No emotional hysteria. This movie hit me different then any other I've seen. While its not as philosophically deep as some other anime or movies, its not lacking emotional moments either. It was a perfect blend of a movie that's not creating a darker tone just to make people cry but its not trying to make you question your entire existence either. I also noticed that it took an interesting perspective on family as well but that's not exactly what I focused on. This movie hit me different emotionally and that is what I'm trying to express and why I have rated it so high. I have never felt the way I did after watching this movie, and if you read my profile you would know why. Its a feeling that is really hard to explain and what i think might be a bit of reliability (unsure on that last one) but regardless, it was a new feeling. The use of music was incredible too because there would be times where the music wouldn't match the mood that was presented, like near the end, and it actually just made it that much more emotional. That's all I really wanted to say so I'll end it here.

This review does contain a couple loose implications of the plot, provided in confidence that the reader has a gist of how the legend goes. I guarantee it will NOT spoil the film, however. This film is a must-see by Ghibli. The main strength is that an old legend, complete with strong themes and details, is taken quite faithfully from its roots in the by-gone days of Old Japan, and presented to a modern audience with as much wholeheartedness and delicacy as possible. Certain parts are changed, but in ways that clearly improve the film in terms of pacing. YET the result is a film that is unbearably mature, respectful of an adult's jaded attitude towards beauty and happiness, AND STILL easily tears down our "grown-up" constructs of how to go about life when faced with decisions about these things. It's on the slower side, but nicely paced, with small and large events setting the mood as we watch. What makes it special is how it presents some very difficult themes: beauty; adoration; marriage, effort with/without reward... more specifically: ephemeral nature of beauty; the sometimes hypocritical love of "the patriarch" (in society); the unspoken agreements of husband and wife; the conflicts between love and adoration; belief that progress is happiness; conflicts between the values of the rich and poor... and of course, a couple points that are more relatable, such as: coming-of-age; responsibility for self/other; and the importance of enjoying the moment... Kaguya herself is the embodiment of a normal, lively childhood, in the beginning. Yet, her father sees her as simply the most beautiful princess-to-be who ever was. He wholeheartedly loves her, but eventually becomes burdened with the expectations of happiness which he vicariously places on her. And these feel as if they could be his own misgivings about himself (as in, he has to do the right thing because he's of low-status). Indeed to me (I'm a guy), the father's and mother's story is much more endearing and relatable then Kaguya herself. They represent a genuine and well-intentioned struggle to nurture this other-worldly thing of beauty. More importantly, they represent us, people who yearn for beauty. It just so happens, in this tale, they find it and simply work very, very hard to take care of it (also interesting how this common tragic theme is essential to the legend itself: people doing their absolute best, for the best reasons, yet failing). I hope I didn't misinterpret things too much or go to deep. Overall, if you like the type of film that hits hard, but at the end of it, you're not sure why, because the story and characters are simple... well, this is for you. It's TRUE film. These are masters at work who know exactly how to tell a story, even one that's been told a million times over by the brightest historians and performers in the world!!!

This review has spoilers. Short story shorter, you should watch this film for the beautiful mess it is. I recently re-saw “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” in theaters due to a limited re-release in the States. Seeing it on the big screen definitely made me appreciate it's unique art-style. However, literally everything else that the film had to offer really made me take a step back and rethink what I remembered seeing in this film when I saw it for the first time years ago. The best way I can describe this film is a beautiful mess. It presents a lot of interesting ideas and plot threads. However, it really fails to capitalize on any of them. It will also, on a whim, change drastically in pacing and tone, all at once. The ending, oh god the ending, comes so far out of left field that I thought I had accidentally started watching “Millennium Actress”. I'd buy it more if the film had stuck with the idea that everything is a fever dream, but it isn't. It seems like half way through the film, they started throwing shit against the wall and decided to roll with all the ideas. I think that everyone should see this based solely on its visual prowess. However as a film, it is really janky and not really enjoyable pass the half-way point. So go watch this and get frustrated like the rest of us. Enjoyment: 5.8/10 Overall: 6.0/10

A Christian's Anime Review The Tale of Princess Kaguya Discernment Topics Violence: \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ Minor scrapes and bruises result from everyday accidents. One man falls on his head into a pot. We are told that he died from this. Language:\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ None. Spiritual Content:\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ One man hastily offers a prayer when witnessing a fantastic occurrence. This man makes the assumption that "heaven" is directing him to perform various tasks. [Spoilers] A procession of beings from the moon accompany a figure who looks just like Buddha. They certainly display celestial ability by turning arrows into flowers. Fanservice:\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ None. However, the film has no compunction about casual nudity in the context of breastfeeding in one case, and small children who generally don't wear underwear. This is, however, in line with the time period's attire. Nudity of small children and babies is present in the beginning of the film. Misc. Suggestive Content:\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ The main character learns to steal food in one case. One person mentions stealing as a necessary action in times of starvation. Multiple side characters are stated to have multiple wives, and in some cases ignore that fact to pursue other relationships. This is, however, not condoned. Detached Assessment Story:\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ 10/10 The plot was engaging and emotionally affecting. There were lessons to be learned from the story that will stick with me for a long time. I was deeply affected by it's poignant portrayals. Characters:\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ 10/10 Princess Kaguya is one of the best female characters in all of fiction. Strong, but not overbearing or annoying. A good example of humility and kindness, but also of struggle and grief. Her experiences and the desire thereof are the catalyst for everything in the film. Side characters are well done, and complement the story admirably. Art:\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ 8/10 The entire film is in a unique, hand-drawn, oil painting style. While some may appreciate the aesthetic, and one can certainly get used to it over the course of the film, it may offset some people's enjoyment and be distracting. Other than that, the art was particularly striking and fitting for some scenes. Sound:\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ 8/10 Music was fitting and decent. ED was haunting and sad. Good. Enjoyment:\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ 9/10 While I wasn't the biggest fan of the unique art style (which may simply be due to my boorish experience in visual arts) I supremely enjoyed the rest of the film. [Spoiler] The ending was a bit of a downer, but the lessons exemplified by it were so poignant that it must be recognized for it's greatness. Conclusion I highly recommend this film to those who enjoy stories exploring emotion or giving good life lessons.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya review / Eulogy of Isao Takahata / the Studio Ghibli experience It has been my goal over the last several years to slowly digest the works of the iconic Studio Ghibli, and it was only several weeks back that I decided it was finally time to watch “The Tale of Princess Kaguya”. Now with the recent news of director Isao Takahata's passing, I feel compelled to write not only a review of this incredible film, but use this space as a eulogy/send-off to Takahata-sensei. For some time now, Studio Ghibli has been a household name not only in Japan, but in the West as well. Movies like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro have garnered a following in the West akin to western animation such as the Lion King and Toy Story, and it's been my prerogative to share these films with my future offspring in the same way I spent my adolescence consuming these impactful stories over and over again. And as the influence of Japanese culture and film continues to seep into every avenue of western media, there has been a common narrative related to the Ghibli library as it finds Western acclaim - and that's the imagined dichotomy of legendary duo and studio founder's Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. At this point, Miyazaki and Ghibli are synonymous - his fantastical artistry, mind-boggling set-pieces, humanist and naturalist motifs have all become the bread and butter of the Studio Ghibli legacy. As one of history’s most iconic filmmakers, his praise is well-deserved. The problem arises in conversation regarding the Ghibli filmography, where all too often I see Takahata pegged as "the guy that made the super depressing war movie". Those more familiar with Takahata's works will often differentiate the Miyazaki/Takahata duo, describing Miyazaki as the magical day-dreamer and Takahata as the grounded realist. While I agree that their films create this distinction at face value, I'd like to proclaim today, as I have been for years, that Takahata-sensei and his films create a magical atmosphere of their own caliber and are as important as any film made by Miyazaki. My first experience with Takahata, as it was for many, was the heart-wrenching war drama "Grave of the Fireflies". The film explored ideas and narratives I had never seen or expected from animation, and the lasting effect of that film has weighed on my heart ever since. For many, this is the only Ghibli experience they have outside of Miyazaki's work, so the drastic shift in tone and direction can be jarring. But the more I explored this undervalued creator’s side of Ghibli, the more I saw the core values of Studio Ghibli resonating. The dual-perspective, coming-of-age story told in "Only Yesterday" was one of the most relatable films of my college years, and the simple, daily happenings of "My Neighbors the Yamadas" created a nostalgic atmosphere of 'home sweet home' unlike any other animated family (Sorry Homer). And now, only a few weeks back, Takahata's magnum opus has given me a fuller appreciation for the late-director's craft. The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a retelling of the classic Japanese folklore "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter". Right from the get-go, the decision to name the film in regard to the princess was a conscious effort to establish that this is Kaguya's story. Miyazaki has been praised for his use of strong, female protagonists, but I find no greater example of an individual, powerful woman than that of Takahata’s Kaguya. The film's watercolor paint palette is the first thing to catch the eye. Reminiscent of "My Neighbor the Yamadas", the watercolor style leaves a lot of open white canvas. The abundance of space goes hand-in-hand with the history behind this 11 century old monogatari (basically a word-of mouth epic passed down generations), as it gives the feeling that this story has been told time and time again, with room for creative liberties as the tale has carved its path to the present day. The tale is ingrained in Japanese history, but that’s not to say the story itself should feel all that foreign to an international audience. A girl born of strange circumstances (in this case, born from a bamboo shoot) is found by a working class family, and is raised to nobility; her otherworldly birth and growth taken as a sign from a higher power that her life is one of divinity. As we follow her through adolescence, the conflicts of nature vs. nurture will consume Kaguya and her family. The setup is familiar, but the presentation of Kaguya’s inner struggles, her desire to live a simple life on the countryside as opposed to a life of calculated aristocracy, is captured brilliantly throughout. By the end of the film, as I’m left reflecting over the grandiose, melancholic climax, I engage a familiar feeling that can further be derived from my total experience with Studio Ghibli. Whether it was Miyazaki or Takahata, the real magic of these films came in the form of the human condition. Kiki’s Delivery Service dazzled me as Kiki took flight for the city of Koriko, but it wasn’t until I saw her struggling to exist on her own in that city that I found a deeper connection. It’s those small human moments - the Okajima family first experiencing fresh pineapple in “Only Yesterday”, the anguish in Mr. Yamada as his son grows up and loses interest in playing catch in “My Neighbors the Yamadas”, the way Mei mimics her sister Satsuki’s every move as any younger sibling would in “My Neighbor Totoro”, Kaguya struggling to accept the silver spoon her father is force feeding her throughout “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” – whether through subtle animation, emotional voice acting, timely music queues, it’s these moments of intense human experience that enchant me time and time again. Even as one of his most fantastical projects, “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” is another of Takahata’s stories about humanity. The discord between one’s ambitions and that of their parents, the helpless feeling of a life earned through circumstance rather than effort, the inconsistent passage of time as life crawls and sprints until the very end, with no indication of a finish line. As the final film made in his time on Earth, Takahata captures that familiar Ghibli magic once again, with one of the greatest animated films to come out this decade. It’s a shame that many will only have been exposed to Takahata’s work after his passing, but there’s reassurance that his influence will continue to expand and touch the hearts of many, many more people. Studio Ghibli has given me so much over the years, and we have Miyazaki, Takahata and all those involved in the productions to thank for these influential works. Thank you Takahata-sensei, may you rest in peace.

When it comes to Studio Ghibli films, they are always on point and never disappointing. Yes, the art style is different (but it wasn't the first time Takahata-san worked with that before -- check out My Neighbour the Yamadas). This film is based on the Japanese folklore (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter). When the young girl was adopted by her new foster parents, she enjoyed the simple life in the mountains with her friends. But when her parents decided to move to the city... she became sadden overtime and had to adapt. (This also includes her father hiring a teacher to teach her how to become a "proper" princess). Sanuki even told Kaguya that she should marry a rich guy to achieve her of "happiness". Her suitors are really desperate and will go through great lengths to win her heart -_-". Kaguya-hime has other matters to deal with in the movie... This includes the Moon wanting to help her escape from Earth. This is one of the movies that was released after Hayao Miyazaki's last film prior to his retirement (The Wind Rises). Isao Takahata has worked with Miyazaki-san. He is responsible for directing My Neighbour the Yamadas & Grave of the Fireflies. If you have watched his previous works, then you know that he brings a lot of feels into his works and this is the one that Studio Ghibli fans should watch ♥