Plot
Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her - but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime.
Release Year: 2013
Rating: 8.1/10 (939 voted)
Critic's Score: 87/100
Director: Isao Takahata
Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen
Storyline
An old man makes a living by selling bamboo. One day, he finds a princess in a bamboo. The princess is only the size of a finger. Her name is Kaguya. When Kaguya grows up, 5 men from prestigious families propose to her. Kaguya asks the men to find memorable marriage gifts for her, but the 5 men are unable to find what Kaguya wants. Then, the Emperor of Japan proposes to her.
Writers: Isao Takahata, Isao Takahata
Cast: Aki Asakura -
Princess Kaguya
(voice)
Yukiji Asaoka -
Kitanokata
(voice)
Beau Bridges -
Prince Kuramochi
(voice)
Emily Bridges -
Kita No Kata
(voice)
James Caan -
The Bamboo Cutter
(voice)
Dean Cain -
The Mikado
(voice)
Takeo Chii -
Okina
(voice)
Darren Criss -
Sutemaru
(voice)
Isao Hashizume -
Kuramochi no Miko
(voice)
Hikaru Ijûin -
Abe no Udaijin
(voice)
Takaya Kamikawa -
Ishitsukuri no Miko
(voice)
Kengo Kôra -
Sutemaru
(voice)
Brian Leone -
Villager
(voice)
Caitlyn Leone -
Princess Kaguya (Young)
(voice)
Michael Leone -
Villager
(voice)
Trivia:
At 137 minutes this is the longest film by Studio Ghibli, three minutes longer than Princess Mononoke (1997). See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating: 10/10
I've already watched this film 3 times! I was deeply moved and couldn't
stop crying every time.
I believe that "Princess Kaguya" is the best Ghibli film in the past 10
years because of the beautiful hand-drawn animation and touching story.
Japanese audience and critics are also very positive for this film,
compared to other Ghilbi films.
Hayao Miyazaki is a genius but his recent films are always
controversial since "Haul's Moving Castle".
One of the reason is that he relies on his imagination and makes light
of a script. That's why quite a few people can't fully understand his
recent films and sometimes blame them. ("The Wind Rises" was a tragedy
in this meaning.)
Isao Takahata, the director of "Princess Kaguya", is a very good
director known for "The Grave of Firefly" but not so active since "My
neighbor the Yamada".
His philosophy is very different from that of Hayao Miyazaki. Isao
Takahata thinks the scenario is very important and he prefers realism
to fantasy.
"Princess Kaguya" is based on the Japanese oldest folklore "The Tale of
the Bamboo Cutter". But Isao Takahata transforms it into a universal
humanistic story by describing Princess Kaguya as a realistic girl.
This film contains many fantastic scenes and they play as good eye
candies. But the brilliantly illustrated life and emotions of the
heroine is the most important part in this film. And that's what the
director wants us to try to sympathize.
The beautiful and artistic style of this animation is suitable for this
theme. Because this apparently unfinished animation gives us the room
to imagine by ourselves.
Isao Takahata says, "The animations tend to deprive children of their
own imagination by pushing them someone else's fantasy. We have to make
another animation which let them imagine by themselves".
I can't wait to see the responses from the worldwide audience! Hope you
will like this film too!
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