"The Tale of Princess Kaguya": A thorough review of a masterpiece of beauty and profundity

The Tale of Princess Kaguya - Studio Ghibli's Masterpiece

Studio Ghibli's "The Tale of Princess Kaguya" is an animated film released in 2013, based on Japan's oldest literary story, "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter." This film is the first work by legendary animation director Isao Takahata in 14 years, and is especially highly regarded among Ghibli works for its high level of completion and beauty. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of this film, as well as recommended points.

story

"The Tale of Princess Kaguya" is the story of Princess Kaguya, born from a bamboo tree, who laughs, cries, rejoices, gets angry, and seeks the brilliance of life during her short time on Earth. Why did she choose Earth, what were her thoughts, and why did she have to leave for the Moon? What was the sin and punishment hidden behind it all? This work depicts the true story of Princess Kaguya.

Princess Kaguya is born from a bamboo and quickly grows into a beautiful young woman. She rejects her many suitors one by one, and returns to the moon on the night of the full moon. But why does she leave her heart on Earth and grieve over returning to the moon? This work depicts the inner thoughts of Princess Kaguya, revealing her true story.

Commentary

Studio Ghibli's "The Tale of Princess Kaguya" follows the traditional storyline of "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" but reconstructs the story from a new perspective by depicting the inner thoughts of Princess Kaguya. Director Isao Takahata has described this work as "one of my achievements to date," and its groundbreaking visual expression has been a hot topic even before its release.

This film is the most ambitious work in Ghibli's history, taking eight years to make and costing 5 billion yen. It was made by assembling some of Japan's best staff and opening a new studio, and it is the realization of Takahata Isao's half-century-old dream, a man who has repeatedly "destroyed and created" animation.

Aki Asakura was chosen from hundreds of auditioners to play the main character, Princess Kaguya, and she beautifully portrayed her joys and sorrows. The cast also includes a stellar cast, including Kengo Kora as her childhood friend Sutemaru, the late Takeo Chii as the old man who raises Princess Kaguya, and Nobuko Miyamoto as her foster mother.

The music was composed by Joe Hisaishi, who participated in a film directed by Isao Takahata for the first time at the strong request of the director. The theme song was sung by Kazumi Nikaido, a practicing Buddhist monk living in Hiroshima, whose "Voice of Life" brings the film to a close with overwhelming generosity.

cast

• Princess Kaguya - Aki Asakura
• Sutemaru - Kengo Kora
• Old man - Takeo Chii
• Grandmother - Nobuko Miyamoto
• Sagami - Atsuko Takahata
• Girl - Tomoko Tabata
• Akita Shrine - Shinsuke Tatekawa
• Prince Ishitsukuri - Takaya Kamikawa
• Minister of the Right Abe - Hikaru Ijuin
• Grand Minister Otomo - Ryudo Uzaki
• Middle Counselor Ishigami - Tamaki Furushiro
• Gomon - Nakamura Shichinosuke
• Prince Kurumamochi - Isao Hashizume
• The North - Yukiji Asaoka
• Old Charcoal Burner - Tatsuya Nakadai

Main Staff

• Produced by: Saiichiro Ujiie
• Production Representative - Yoshio Okubo
• Planning - Toshio Suzuki
• Original story - "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter"
• Original story, screenplay - Isao Takahata
• Screenplay - Riko Sakaguchi
• Music: Joe Hisaishi
• Character design, animation design - Osamu Tanabe
• Art - Kazuo Oga
• Animation director: Kenichi Konishi
• Painting and pattern drawing - Masaya Saito
• Video inspection - Maiko Nogami
• Color designation - Yukiko Kakita
• Director of photography - Keisuke Nakamura
• Special sponsors - KDDI, Aiful Home
• Special cooperation - Lawson, Yomiuri Shimbun
• Publicity Producer - Akito Takahashi, Tomoko Hosokawa
• Produced by: Seiji Okuda, Naoya Fujimaki, Ryoichi Fukuyama
• Produced by: Koji Hoshino, Studio Ghibli
• Producer: Yoshiaki Nishimura
• Director: Isao Takahata
• Distributor - Toho

Main Characters

• Princess Kaguya
• Sutemaru
• Old man
• Grandmother
• Sagami
• Girl
• Akita
• Prince Ishitsukuri
• Right Minister Abe
• Minister of State, Otomo
• Middle Counselor Ishigami
• Gomon
• Prince Kurumamochi
• North
• Old man charcoal burner

Theme songs and music

• Theme song "Memories of Life"
• Lyricist: Kazumi Nikaido
• Composed by: Kazumi Nikaido
• Sung by: Kazumi Nikaido
• Insert song 1 "Children's song"
• Lyrics: Isao Takahata, Riko Sakaguchi
• Composer - Isao Takahata
• Insert song 2 "Song of the Heavenly Maiden"
• Lyrics: Isao Takahata, Riko Sakaguchi
• Composer - Isao Takahata

Rating and Recommended Points

"The Tale of Princess Kaguya" has captivated many audiences with its beautiful images and deep story. Below, we will introduce the evaluation and recommended points of this work in detail.

Beautiful images

The greatest appeal of this film is its beautiful visual expression. Director Isao Takahata incorporated traditional Japanese painting techniques to create beautiful landscapes that resemble ink paintings. The beauty of the scenes in which Princess Kaguya grows up and where she returns to the moon is particularly overwhelming. The use of color is also exquisite, skillfully expressing the emotions of the story.

Deep story

"The Tale of Princess Kaguya" is not just a beautiful film, but also has a deep story. By depicting the inner thoughts of Princess Kaguya, it portrays her joys and sorrows, as well as the experiences she has had throughout her life on Earth. The theme of her sin and punishment also deeply touches the audience. Through this film, director Isao Takahata questions the meaning of seeking the brilliance of life.

A stellar cast

The cast of this work is also not to be missed. Asakura Aki, who plays Princess Kaguya, beautifully portrays her joy and sorrow. In addition, a gorgeous cast including Kora Kengo as Sutemaru, Chii Takeo as the old man, and Miyamoto Nobuko as the old woman liven up the story. Chii Takeo's passionate performance in this work, which was his last work, is particularly outstanding.

Inspirational Music

Joe Hisaishi's music also adds to the charm of this work. His beautiful melodies skillfully express the emotions of the story, moving the audience deeply. In addition, Kazumi Nikaido's theme song, "Memories of Life," closes the film with overwhelming inclusiveness. Her "singing voice of life" resonates deeply in the hearts of the audience.

Recommended points

"The Tale of Princess Kaguya" is a work that combines beautiful images, a deep story, a gorgeous cast, and moving music. It is especially recommended for the following people:

• Those who want to enjoy beautiful images
• Those who want to experience a deeper story
• Those who want to enjoy the performances of a splendid cast
• If you want to listen to inspiring music
• People who are interested in Japanese culture and traditional stories

This work can be said to be Studio Ghibli's masterpiece and is loved by many audiences. Please watch it at least once in the theater and experience its beauty and depth.

Additional Information

"The Tale of Princess Kaguya" was released on November 23, 2013, and has a duration of 137 minutes. It was distributed by Toho and produced by Studio Ghibli. The copyright is © 2013 Hata Jimusho, Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTK.

This work has received many awards, proving its high acclaim. In particular, its nomination for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature demonstrates its high international acclaim. It also won many film awards in Japan, acknowledging its high level of completion.

"The Tale of Princess Kaguya" holds a special place in the history of Studio Ghibli, and can be considered the last work of director Isao Takahata. This work, which realized his dream of more than half a century, continues to inspire many audiences. Please watch it at least once and experience its beauty and depth.