The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

I am coming to the (rather late) realisation that Ghibli studios produce the best anime. All (meaning very few) Ghibli animations I have watched are insightful, bordering on inspirational with a zest that flows from their art. Their stories are always a good plot (ones I have watched) and they leave me with a tingly feeling in my chest.

Screensnip

The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a Japanese historical fantasy based on the story of ‘The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter’ set in the 10th century of Japan. A bamboo cutter finds a small girl in a glowing bamboo shoot and he and his wife raise her as their own, believing her to be a divine being. Kaguya grows really fast and blossoms into a beautiful woman whose beauty is unrivaled and sought by many renowned men in the Capital including the Emperor. However, Princess Kaguya is only close to one man by the name of Sutemaru.

This animation has to be the best I have seen in a while. The art is also something I haven’t seen before but it did nothing to subtract from the story, rather it was the charm of the plot. Princess Kaguya's (earthly) parents, especially her father, took whatever good fortune that he found as a sign to give the Princess a noble life. I mean who can blame him, how do you interpret finding gold and fine clothes in a bamboo otherwise? Good fortune?

However, I think the Princess didn’t really want luxury. It showed in her excitement for all things of the forest and her sprightly legs. I also thought while watching the movie that Kaguya is quite knowledgeable. Men of noble birth professed love to her in the sweetest of tongues and she was wise with her words putting them to the test. Of course, she is a divine being. She is wise. Wrong! The subtle message sent by her trembling hands behind the veil told a different story. She was scared. She was still a young woman after all. A young woman of humble origins faced with the interests of powerful men.

I love the numbers used in this movie. The one about the bugs and then at the end when she was whisked back up to her rightful place; that was a beautiful melody. This movie is 8.5/10 for me. Two hours and seventeen minutes long, The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a wholesome masterpiece of candid storytelling and vibrant artistry that just warms your soul.