The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

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The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

PG,

2014,

2h 17m,

Fantasy/

Anime

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Watchlist

100%

95 Reviews

Tomatometer

90%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

95 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A tiny nymph found inside a bamboo stalk grows into a beautiful and desirable young woman, who orders her suitors to prove their love by completing a series of near-impossible tasks.

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Critics Consensus

Boasting narrative depth, frank honesty, and exquisite visual beauty, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a modern animated treasure with timeless appeal.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Mar 22, 2015

4/5

A poignant gem, very different in tone to the director's most celebrated works, Grave of the Fireflies and Only Yesterday, but no less worthy of praise and admiration.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Mar 20, 2015

4/5

The impression is of a continuous series of watercolours, similar to the narrative scroll revealed to Kaguya in a key scene.

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Andrew Osmond

Sight & Sound

Mar 20, 2015

While the characters feel very simplified at times, there are scenes that put great weight on performance and subtle expressions, in a way that's nearer to the classical Disney tradition than most Japanese animation.

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Mat Brunet

AniMat's Review (YouTube)

Nov 8, 2024

9/10

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is an animated film that is as beautiful as the titular princess herself.

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Nov 29, 2023

10/10

This is anime-as-arthouse cinema, thoughtfully and gracefully composed.

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Jordan Brooks

Vague Visages

Aug 1, 2023

As in many Studio Ghibli films before it, the male director is speaking directly to his male audience, pleading with them to treat the women in their lives with the respect and equality they deserve.

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Poe R

Feb 22, 2019

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya features beautiful animation, beautiful music and a story that runs too long. Perhaps it's just because I'm not as familiar with Japanese folklore, but I also found it to be a little confusing. My kids weren't very pleased with the ending, either. I'm glad I saw it, but I probably won't be watching it again.

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Kylo R

Oct 22, 2018

The first Ghibli film I haven't enjoyed, I mean that's generous i was bored to tears and my kids really lost interest in the second half. It's one of those kids films that is actually aimed at hipster film critics. This is a stinker and lasts well over 2 hours, avoid.

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Draco W

Sep 23, 2018

The fantastic story and unique animation are beautiful. However, some of the themes and opposition distracted.

Finn S

Jul 29, 2018

I loved this. So different. So special. So unique. Truly a once in a lifetime experience, like nothing I've ever seen before.

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Ron W

Jul 7, 2018

Isao Takahata pulls so punches with a story that is mesmerizing and surprisingly sobering. occasionally the story drags and feels like it gets a little lost but all an all it is a truly beautiful metaphor on excepting life as it is, or refusing to.

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Rey S

Jun 18, 2018

The best movie released by Studio Ghibli.

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Isao Takahata

Director

Chloë Grace Moretz

The Princess Kaguya

James Caan

The Bamboo Cutter

Mary Steenburgen

The Bamboo Cutter's Wife

Darren Criss

Sutemaru

Lucy Liu

Lady Sagami

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Synopsis

A tiny nymph found inside a bamboo stalk grows into a beautiful and desirable young woman, who orders her suitors to prove their love by completing a series of near-impossible tasks.

Director: Isao Takahata
Producer: Yoshiaki Nishimura
Screenwriter: Isao Takahata, Riko Sakaguchi
Distributor: GKIDS
Production Co: Studio Ghibli
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Some Violent Action|Partial Nudity)
Genre: Fantasy, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 2014, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Nov 25, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 14, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $681.1K
Runtime: 2h 17m

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