Kaguya-hime no Monogatari (2013 film) is a beautiful aesthetically Japanese animated film directed by Isao Takahata and produced by Studio Ghibli which takes its inspiration by the Japanese Folktale, the “Tale of Bamboo Cutter” which dates back to the 10th century. This moving narrative has what can be described as an analysis of self, the human relationships and what it means to be human in an earth which is transitory.
An elderly bamboo cutter, Okina, no children walks in one of the rural villages’ forests and finds a shining bamboo tree and inside it there is a girl who looks like a toy and is pretty. Seeing this as a kind of blessing from Heaven, he welcomes her home to his wife Ouna. Her peculiar condition even in childhood allows the couple without children to raise the girl in their warm family as “Princess”. She rapidly being growing before their eyes, amazes them more every time – now she is a little cell missing the boundaries of her mother in the palm of her father.
The girl grows up at an outstanding speed, soon she turns into a young woman who is attractive and has energy. The small children in the village surrounding them start calling her ‘Little Bamboo’ as the couple’s growth is fast; she engulfs this name as the children her childhood. The playful time these children spend with the girl is depicted as care free with endless sunshine and green fields. Looking after her surroundings and ‘N’ encompasses nature values brings the articulate embrace of emotions.
Okina, however, discovers more and more treasures within the bamboo grove, for example, gold and silk, interpreting all these as divine signs fate is to provide Princess with opportunity to get, a beautiful life. With all the riches he has collected, he relocates his family to the capital and builds an ostentatious mansion. Contrary to expectations, however, moving to upper,” aristocratic life tables the start of internecine wars of the Princess.
She is given the name, “Kaguya-hime” and is taught the ways of the gentry by Lady Sagami. These were necessary tasks which Kaguya completed successfully but always considered them as burdens and longed for the simple life back in the village. Numerous admirers in the wealthy class pursue Kaguya due to her radiant beauty, but she has no desire to be wed. In order to discourage them, she orders each one of them to perform an impossible chore: bring back Buddha’s stone bowl or a garment woven from the fur of an extremely rare fire rat. Despite their elaborate claims, the suitors all fail, revealing their superficial intentions.
All This begins to make Kaguya remember where she really comes from which is a space being from the moon who has been sent to Earth since it was considered punishment for her. Her stay on planet earth has had its plus and drawbacks as well since she has enjoyed feeling human emotions like love and beauty but also feelings like sadness and greed and other factors that disrupt peace. Eventually, she does have to face her true origins and so she does have moon officials to bring her back.
During the peak of the drama, the other worldly creatures of the moon appear to retrieve Kaguya. She wears a heavenly outfit that takes her complete history of life on earth and the affection for her foster parents and all the attachments she had with the human race. Although the ending of the film is sad, there is happiness in the idea of going back home. Kaguya looks at earth for the last time and with this last glance, tears start to flow which reflects her love but also regrets the fact how she has to leave.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Isao Takahata
- Producer: Yoshiaki Nishimura
- Screenplay: Isao Takahata, based on the original work \”The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.\”
- Music: Joe Hisaishi
- Animation Studio: Studio Ghibli.
Voice Cast (Japanese):
Aki Asakura in the role of Princess Kaguya, Aki’s voice covers the feelings of Kaguya from her happiest moments to her most miserable ones.
Takeo Chii in the role of Okina the loveable and positive bamboo cutter.
Nobuko Miyamoto in the role of Ouna, the sweet adopted mother.
Kengo Kora in the role of Sutemaru – one of Kaguya’s childhood friends symbolizing her desire to escape.
Atsuko Takahata in the role of Lady Sagami – an austere tutor of Kaguya who introduces her to the principles of an aristocrat.
Voice Cast (English Dub):
- Chloë Grace Moretz in the role of Princess Kaguya.
- James Caan in the role of Okina.
- Mary Steenburgen in the role of Ouna.
- Darren Criss in the role of Sutemaru.
IMDb Ratings
The Tale of Princess Kaguya rates highly, earning a commendable score of 8.0/10 on IMDb, showing its critical appreciation and a huge fan base. The film’s superb hand-drawn animations, heartwarming in many aspects, make it a precious gem of modern’s animation. The animation style, which is based on traditional Japanese sumi-e ink wash painting, depicts that momentary beauty of everything makes every single scene a remarkable piece.
Reviewers and viewers have praised Isao Takahata, for his capability to create purely humanistic plot which is set on the background of folk details encasing the narrative. The story addresses the human condition in general as it deals with the topics of social standards, freedom of an individual, and the unescapable loss — a perfect tale for all kinds of ages. However, some of the audience feel that there’s a gradual pacing as the film showcases its emotional aspects in subtle ways. Most of the people who have seen it though possess a different opinion regarding the movie with its ending that is deep and heartbreaking along with its contemplative nature.
Even so, we have not failed to mention the weighty ending and the melancholic nature of the story which captures the majority who have seen it.
Analysis
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a profound reflection of the most profound aspect of the human experience, which is being alive. On the one hand, it combines the basic features of human society, and on the other, Kaguya’s life on the other hand contains an undomesticated twist. The film not only condemns the obsession with material possessions and strong class divisions but also praises the subtle and ordinary beauty that is enjoyable in a rather transitory state. During Kaguya’s nostalgic and mournful adventure, Takahata sets the audience into the reality of transitory fleeting pleasures.
The emotions generated by the film are further emphasized with the hand-drawn animated style throughout the film. The impressionistic and soft style depicted Kaguya that makes her quite delicate and unusual looking especially when her character is depicted in moments that is filled with emotions. A memorable scene is when Kaguya Kaguya’s agony turns into something different as she races out of the mansion in haste and back to the countryside.
Certainly, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya goes beyond its source of a fairy tale and poses a serious reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the gravity of human feelings. It is still one of the most artistic and moving films produced by Studio Ghibli.
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