The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (Kaguya-hime no Monogatari) is a visually stunning and deeply emotional animated film from Studio Ghibli, directed by the legendary Isao Takahata. Released in 2013, this film is based on The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, one of Japan’s oldest folktales.

Takahata’s adaptation brings this classic story to life with a unique hand-drawn watercolor animation style that feels like a moving painting. Beneath its beauty lies a powerful, bittersweet story about life, happiness, and the fleeting nature of human existence.

Movie Details

A Mysterious Arrival

Deep in a quiet bamboo forest, an old bamboo cutter discovers something extraordinary—a tiny, radiant girl inside a glowing stalk of bamboo. Amazed by this miracle, he takes her home to his wife, and together, they decide to raise her as their own daughter.

To their astonishment, the little girl grows at an unnatural speed, transforming from an infant to a young girl within days. Her laughter fills their humble home, and she enjoys playing in the fields with the village children. The other children call her “Little Bamboo”, because of how quickly she grows, and she forms a deep bond with Sutemaru, the eldest boy in the group.

But fate has other plans for the young girl.

From a Simple Life to Nobility

One day, the bamboo cutter finds gold and luxurious silks appearing magically inside the bamboo stalks. Believing it to be a divine sign, he becomes convinced that his daughter is destined for a life of royalty.

Determined to give her the life of a princess, he moves the family to the capital city, where she is taught how to be a proper noblewoman. Servants dress her in elegant kimonos, and teachers instruct her in the ways of high society. Soon, she is given the name Princess Kaguya, a title that distances her from her carefree childhood.

However, Kaguya struggles with this new life. The strict rules of nobility feel suffocating, and she longs for the freedom of the countryside. She remembers running barefoot through the fields, laughing with Sutemaru and the other children—moments that now seem like a distant dream.

Her sadness grows deeper when her parents arrange for suitors to seek her hand in marriage.

The Five Noble Suitors

Kaguya’s beauty soon attracts five powerful suitors, each claiming to love her. But she sees through their empty words, knowing they only desire her for her beauty and status.

To test their devotion, she sets impossible challenges for them:

• One must bring her the legendary stone begging bowl of Buddha.
• Another must find the branch of the jeweled tree from Mount Horai.
• Others must retrieve a robe made of fire-rat fur, a dragon’s colored jewel, and a seashell born from a swallow’s nest.

Each suitor fails in their quest—some by lying, others by trickery or cowardice. Kaguya sees their selfishness and grows even more disillusioned with human nature.

A Love That Could Never Be

As time passes, Kaguya becomes more isolated. The joyful, curious girl who once played in the fields is now trapped in a world that was never truly hers.

One night, overwhelmed with sorrow, she flees the palace and returns to the countryside, desperate to find Sutemaru.

She finds him working in the fields, just as he always did. Seeing him again fills her heart with joy, and for a fleeting moment, she dares to dream of a life where they could be together. Hand in hand, they run away, soaring into the sky, embracing their love and freedom.

But just as quickly as the dream begins, it ends. Reality pulls them apart, and Kaguya is forced to accept that she can never truly be free.

The Celestial Truth

The truth is finally revealed—Kaguya is not of this world. She was sent from the Moon, and soon, her celestial people will come to take her back. She had wished to experience life as a human, to feel love, joy, and sorrow, but now her time is up.

Her parents beg the celestial beings to let her stay, but it is too late. Kaguya, too, is torn—she doesn’t want to leave, but she cannot resist the call of her homeland.

When the Moon’s emissaries arrive, they place a celestial robe on her shoulders, erasing all her human emotions and memories. She looks back one last time, but the love, laughter, and pain she once knew fade away.

As she ascends to the Moon, a single tear falls from her eye—the last piece of her human heart.

What The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Teaches Us

This breathtaking film explores profound themes that touch every heart:

1. The Fleeting Nature of Life – Kaguya’s story is a reminder that life is precious and temporary. No matter how much we cherish our moments, they will eventually slip away.
2. The Burden of Expectations – The film highlights how society’s expectations can strip away one’s true happiness, just as Kaguya was forced into a life that wasn’t hers.
3. The Beauty and Pain of Human Emotion – Unlike the emotionless beings of the Moon, humans experience joy, sorrow, love, and heartbreak—and that is what makes life meaningful.

My Honest Review on The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

This film is unlike any other Studio Ghibli work. The hand-drawn watercolor animation is breathtaking, making each frame feel like a moving Japanese painting. The soft, delicate art style perfectly mirrors Kaguya’s fleeting existence, creating a dreamlike experience.

The music, composed by Joe Hisaishi, enhances the film’s emotional depth. The final song, “When I Remember This Life,” is a heartbreaking melody that lingers long after the credits roll.

FAQ – The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

1. What is the story of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya based on?
It is based on The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, a 1,000-year-old Japanese folktale, considered one of the oldest recorded stories in Japan.

2. Why did Kaguya have to return to the Moon?
Kaguya was originally a celestial being, and her time on Earth was only temporary.

3. What does the ending mean?
The ending is bittersweet, showing that while Kaguya lost her human memories, her final tear proves that her heart remained touched by her time on Earth.