The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

Play trailer

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

PG

Released Oct 17, 2014

2h 17m

Fantasy

Anime

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

97 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

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.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 22, 2015

Full Review

Tara Brady

Irish Times

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

Rated: 4/5

Mar 20, 2015

Full Review

Andrew Osmond

Sight & Sound

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.

Mar 20, 2015

Full Review

Mat Brunet

AniMat's Review (YouTube)

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

Rated: 9/10

Nov 8, 2024

Full Review

Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

Leave it to the great Isao Takahata to return with not only the best animated film I’ve seen this year, not only the best overall film I’ve seen this year, but one of the most beautiful film experiences I’ve ever had...

Jun 17, 2024

Full Review

Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

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

Rated: 10/10

Nov 29, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Lucas O

Rating: 87%. This was truly a beautiful story, and props to the writers because I do not know how they come up with this stuff. Very unique. I will say the animation threw me off at first because I was thinking of Spirited Away Animation, but this was like a pastel drawing or a watercolor style animation. I didn't like that as much, but it was still beautiful and had some signature Studio Ghibli animation aspects, such as the movement and character styles. There were so many themes and deeper meanings. I did find myself on the edge of confusion at times, but eventually it became clearer. I also enjoyed the voice acting and music, as they both were done beautifully.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

Full Review

Fer S

It is very good, it just gets slow around the middle, but the story hooked me enough to keep watching and I think it was worth it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

Full Review

Daniel B

I feel like this story has basically been told before, where objects have to be brought.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

Full Review

Nitsan F

Wow this is unbelievably boring.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/06/25

Full Review

Shaked G

A bice movie, a special animation, but It does not make this movie so good, just good, but the story about kaguya and her strict father and the fate that requires her to be a princes makes the movie wonderful.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

Full Review

Bradley R

In a world where beauty and melancholy intertwine, I found myself captivated by the enchanting visuals of "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya." The animation, distinct from typical Studio Ghibli fare, drew me in with its watercolor-like artistry, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that felt both nostalgic and fresh. As the story unfolded, I was struck by the poignant journey of the princess, whose mysterious origins and bittersweet fate lingered long after the credits rolled. The film’s unique narrative structure, devoid of conventional storytelling, offered a refreshing perspective that resonated deeply with me. Watching it on a streaming platform, I was reminded of the power of animation to convey profound emotions, making this film a true masterpiece that I wholeheartedly recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/03/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

New on DVD & Blu-Ray: Birdman, The Theory of Everything, and More

2015 Oscar Nominations

Best Reviewed Movies by Genre 2014

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now