The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2013 · Movie · PG · 137 min · ★ 8.1 · 95% critics
A bamboo cutter and his wife discover a tiny girl inside a glowing stalk, and she quickly grows into a young woman who captivates everyone around her. As her life shifts between simple countryside joy and the expectations placed on her, she’s forced to face where she truly belongs and what her future holds.
Based on The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
Also known as The Tale of Princess Kaguya · The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
Where to watch
Streaming on HBO Max.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Original title
- かぐや姫の物語
- Years
- 2013
- Release date
- 2013-11-23
- Language
- Japanese
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 137 min
- Critic score
- 95/100
- TMDB rating
- 8.1/10 (1,993 votes)
- Box office
- $24,706,166
- Budget
- $49,000,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a heartfelt, folktale-inspired drama with a gentle pace, big emotions, and a distinctive hand-drawn look; Not for you if you need fast action or a straightforward, upbeat ride like Wolf Children.
Pros: gorgeous watercolor-like visuals; deeply emotional story; immersive music and atmosphere | Cons: slow pacing at times; long runtime; ending feels unclear
Themes
- princess
- historical
- japanese woman
- based on fairy tale
- japanese folklore
- anime
- fantasy
- cruel
Awards & recognition
- Asia Pacific Screen Award — Best Animated Feature Film · 2014
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award — Best Animated Film · 2014
- Mainichi Film Award — Best Animation Film · 2013
- Academy Award — Best Animated Feature · 2015 · nominated
- Annie Award — Best Animated Feature · 2015 · nominated
Show all 10 awards →
- Annie Award — Music in a Feature Production · 2015 · nominated
- Annie Award — Directing in a Feature Production · 2015 · nominated
- Japan Academy Prize — Animation of the Year · 2014 · nominated
- Online Film Critics Society Award — Best Foreign Language Film · 2014 · nominated
- Online Film Critics Society Award — Best Animated Film · 2014 · nominated
Cast & crew
Aki Asakura
as The Princess Kaguya (voice)
Takeo Chii
as Sanuki no Miyatsuko (voice)
Nobuko Miyamoto
as Ōna / Narrator (voice)
Kengo Kora
as Sutemaru (voice)
Atsuko Takahata
as Lady Sagami (voice)
Tomoko Tabata
as Menowarawa (voice)
Shinosuke Tatekawa
as Lord Inbe no Akita (voice)
Takaya Kamikawa
as Prince Ishitsukuri (voice)
Hikaru Ijūin
as Minister of the Right Abe (voice)
Ryudo Uzaki
as Grand Counselor Otomo (voice)
Directed by Isao Takahata