The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

Name: The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Animation
Released: October 17, 2014
Duration: 137 min
Rating: 89
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, James Caan, James Marsden, Mary Steenburgen

2014

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Universal acclaim based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 248 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 248 Ratings

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The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya

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Movie Details & Credits

GKIDS | Release Date: October 17, 2014 | PG

Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, James Caan, James Marsden, Mary Steenburgen

Summary: 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. [Gkids]

Director: Isao Takahata

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Animation

Rating: PG

Runtime: 137 min

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Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

Aug 22, 2014

Emotions and moods are anchored to specific moments of stillness, and we feel them all the more intensely because of it. Read full review

100

RogerEbert.com Glenn Kenny

Oct 16, 2014

The Tale of Princess Kaguya is both very simple and head-spinningly confounding, a thing of endless visual beauty that seems to partake in a kind of pictorial minimalism but finds staggering possibilities for beautiful variation within its ineluctable modality. It’s a true work of art. Read full review

100

Peter Rainer

Nov 21, 2014

This delicate, hand-drawn marvel is lyrical and heartbreaking in ways that most live-action movies never approach. Read full review

Ty Burr

Nov 13, 2014

It’s a gentle epic, based on a 10th-century Japanese folk tale, that uses pencils, ink, and impressionistic washes of color to convey a glowing visual otherworld, one that stands in contrast both to Takahata’s earlier work and the hard-edged lines and bright tones of much anime. Read full review

Time Out London Alex Dudok de Wit

Mar 17, 2015

Notwithstanding the fairytale set-up, this is not exactly a children’s film. ‘Kaguya’ demands patience and open-mindedness. In return, it offers an achingly nostalgic meditation on what it means to love, age and depart from this world with dignity. A fitting farewell. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Oct 23, 2014

It's the best kind of fairy tale — tough, deep and meaningful, with a heroine who stays true to herself in spite of shallow temptations. Read full review

Ben Nicholson

Sep 10, 2014

Taking Eastern watercolours as inspiration, the aesthetic is impressionistic and painterly with a fluidity that imbues the piece with an intrinsic magic. Read full review

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User Reviews

ibbste

Oct 17, 2014

It's astonishing. A prime example of how much poetic beauty, grace and wonder a film can inspire with so little. Mr. Takahata designs the film with minimal impressionistic dream scribbles that makes the whole thing like like a delicate precious jewel that is humbling to view — not with itsIt's astonishing. A prime example of how much poetic beauty, grace and wonder a film can inspire with so little. Mr. Takahata designs the film with minimal impressionistic dream scribbles that makes the whole thing like like a delicate precious jewel that is humbling to view — not with its story of divinity, but its strange, wonderful tale of humanity. That this same sense of passionate sensitivity went into developing the princess herself into a fully developed and emotionally complicated woman rarely seen in film, animated or otherwise, helps it to transcend to the level of an unqualified masterpiece. It's my favorite movie of the year.… Expand

12 of 15 users found this helpful123

mstaub87

Oct 18, 2022

like japanese films, and this one is definitely one of the best japanese movies seen for recent months.. a lot of beautiful scenes, nice cast, interesting story, recommend without any hesitation!!!!!!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Giovanyx

Mar 24, 2016

A animated film strongly emotional. This history put face to face traditions and freedom development in a lovely and nostalgic environment with a really awesome concept art. It proves how can mix a lot of feelings, lonely, happiness, sadness and love. It deserves every tear.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

reellm

Jan 5, 2015

5/5★ Drawn in a delicate watercolor style that bleeds from the edges and utilizing simple charcoal-like lines to convey complex emotions, this Studio Ghibli film is a wonderful example of how film can be art. Princess Kaguya's tale is told in a frank and realistic manner and with an5/5★ Drawn in a delicate watercolor style that bleeds from the edges and utilizing simple charcoal-like lines to convey complex emotions, this Studio Ghibli film is a wonderful example of how film can be art. Princess Kaguya's tale is told in a frank and realistic manner and with an un-Disney like lack of cutesy characters. It's a film that treats its audience and subject matter with maturity and respect.
The care in every moment is obvious, the story is heartbreaking and proof that it's the films that don't have a happy ending that are most memorable.
Verdict: Watch.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

NerdConsultant

Mar 24, 2015

Overall, my thoughts are that this film is excellent. It’s genuinely a brilliant animated film that keeps up Studio Ghibli’s reputation and if this is to be Isao Takahata’s final film, he is going out on a brilliant film, and this is by far his best work to date. My only major complaintOverall, my thoughts are that this film is excellent. It’s genuinely a brilliant animated film that keeps up Studio Ghibli’s reputation and if this is to be Isao Takahata’s final film, he is going out on a brilliant film, and this is by far his best work to date. My only major complaint with the film is that a few of the darker moments feel the film should have warranted a PG rating rather than the U rating that it did get and I think a few parents might be a bit shocked by some of the things that are allowed in Japanese kids films. I was aware that there were plans to censor certain scenes of this film, but I am happy to say that the film is completely uncut in its British release and it’s all the better for it. The film gives us excellent characters, a brilliant but hard hitting storyline that offers us no easy answers and I really think that everyone will be emotionally affected by the end. It’s a brilliant, but sombre piece. I’m not sure that it will appeal to as large an audience as past Ghibli films have, mainly on its distinct Japanese sensibility and culture. However, for me personally it was damm near brilliant. Particular praise goes to Chloe Grace Moretz for her excellent performance as well as the rest of the brilliant ensemble cast and the amazing animation and film score. I am firmly in the belief that as much as I liked Big Hero 6 this film should have won the Oscar.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

rpm

Mar 16, 2015

I read somewhere that of the Academy Award nominated Animated Feature Films, Big Hero 6 (the winner) garnered something like 85% of the vote, followed by How to Train Your Dragon 2 with 15% of the vote, followed by all the others including Tale of Princess Kaguya getting 0 votes. I'm notI read somewhere that of the Academy Award nominated Animated Feature Films, Big Hero 6 (the winner) garnered something like 85% of the vote, followed by How to Train Your Dragon 2 with 15% of the vote, followed by all the others including Tale of Princess Kaguya getting 0 votes. I'm not sure if this is in fact true, but if so it is a travesty. Tale of Princess Kaguya was one of the best animated films I've ever seen, and Big Hero 6, while slickly animated, is ridiculously predictable and uninteresting (and this coming from someone who loves origin stories).

The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a very simple, heartfelt tale based on The Bamboo Cutter, a Japanese folktale from long ago. The standout element visually is the hand drawn watercolor style of animation. My favorite moments in this film are when the animation style changes to mirror the main character's emotional states. These moments are simply amazing and to me represent some of the best animation I have ever seen.

I think The Tale of Princess Kaguya is for everyone to enjoy no matter what your age, gender, or cultural background is.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

strangers

Apr 19, 2021

I've watched and loved many Studio Gbili movies. Plus positive reviews of this movie. So with high expectations going in sustained at first by the first half hour being pleasant and the art is beautiful. The next part of the movie is gruelingly depressing including people being unreasonablyI've watched and loved many Studio Gbili movies. Plus positive reviews of this movie. So with high expectations going in sustained at first by the first half hour being pleasant and the art is beautiful. The next part of the movie is gruelingly depressing including people being unreasonably stupid to keep the movie on it's senseless trajectory, including at least two inexplicable timeline resets that make you scream what just happened?!?

Ending in a deeply depressing. If you are like me, you will feel like your mind was just **** I got such a headache now.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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