Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthrals all who encounter her. But, ultimately, she must confront her fate.
Direction
Takahata's final film — eight years of hand-drawn watercolor insanity.
Cinematography
Lines literally dissolve when emotions peak — animation as nervous system.
Score
Joe Hisaishi's sparse piano, like someone's remembering the melody wrong.
Director
Isao Takahata
Aki Asakura
The Princess Kaguya (voice)
Takeo Chii
Sanuki no Miyatsuko (voice)
Nobuko Miyamoto
Ōna / Narrator (voice)
Kengo Kora
Sutemaru (voice)
Atsuko Takahata
Lady Sagami (voice)
Tomoko Tabata
Menowarawa (voice)
Shinosuke Tatekawa
Lord Inbe no Akita (voice)
Takaya Kamikawa
Prince Ishitsukuri (voice)
Hikaru Ijūin
Minister of the Right Abe (voice)
Ryudo Uzaki
Grand Counselor Otomo (voice)
Shichinosuke Nakamura
The Emperor (voice)
Isao Hashizume
Prince Kuramochi (voice)
Tatsuya Nakadai
Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice)
Yukiji Asaoka
Kita no kata (voice)
Tamaki Kojo
Middle Counselor Isonokami (voice)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
JP
