Parents' Guide to

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Beautifully animated Japanese folktale for older kids.

Movie PG 2014 137 minutes
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 6+

Based on 6 parent reviews

nduns
nduns Adult
March 15, 2015
age 8+

Ghibli, you've done it again

I love it when Ghibli tries a new style, and while this doesn't take full advantage of its unique art, IMO, it's still very impressive to look at. The story is also very good. Yes, we've seen this kind of plot many times, especially from Disney, but it's executed very well. My only real gripe is that I feel this film kind of loses steam during some moments after Kaguya enters her new palace. What I mean is that while the setups are very good and realistic, I feel like the film focuses a little too much on them. Like the suitors going out to acquire rare items for Kaguya. This should have taken 10 minutes at most to tell, but the film spends 25 minutes on it and after a while, I felt myself wishing the film would focus on something else. Still, this is a really beautiful and well-written film that I can't recommend enough. Though a quick warning for parents: There's a scene near the beginning where the mother character breastfeeds Kaguya and you see her exposed breast and nipple for about a minute worth of screentime, so if you're opposed to your kids seeing that sort of thing, that's something to look out for. Otherwise, there's nothing else your kid probably couldn't handle.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
doctora
doctora Parent of 6-year-old
October 20, 2022
age 9+

Like a delicate flower and tender bamboo stalk

An incredibly drawn film that brings the viewer in and entices you and allows you to care deeply about the characters. The animation draws you in (haha) and allows you to see yourself in the story and to become heavily invested in each character. Although the film is over two hours it does not feel laborious to watch. The time goes by quickly as we follow the princess and root for her happiness. The film has complicated themes that are handled gracefully, but are definitely for older children. There is still a sense of wonder in the artistry, the performance, and the storytelling. Who do you ultimately root for? An intricate journey with no clear hero or preferred outcome.
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE TALE OF PRINCESS KAGUYA retells an ancient Japanese folk tale about an elderly bamboo cutter (voiced by James Caan in the English dubbed version) who finds a tiny, magical princess sprouting from a shining bamboo stalk. Shocked by the discovery, he runs home with the tiny princess in his hand. There, the old man and his wife (Mary Steenburgen) watch as the she transforms into a baby. The baby grows faster than other kids and is soon a delightful, curious girl out enjoying the forest with the local boys. One day, the bamboo cutter finds that the bamboo is shining again, this time with treasure. With his newfound fortune, the bamboo cutter moves to the city to give his princess a proper "young lady's" education, complete with an uptight royal governess. Despondent about moving away from her beloved country home, Kaguya's (Chole Grace Moretz) only joy is an outdoor garden she tends for herself. When she comes of age, tales of her beauty reach the highest levels of Japanese society, and five titled men vie for her hand in marriage. But Kaguya still misses her first crush, Sutemaru (Darren Criss), from her childhood home.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (14):

Director Isao Takahata's (Studio Ghibli co-founder) poignant hand-drawn adventure is gorgeously animated. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is sure to make audiences think about everything from parent-child relationships to the oppressive trappings of class to the far-reaching consequences of ignoring your child's potential. This is far from the typical happily-ever-after stories many families are used to seeing, but fans of Japanese animation may not be surprised by the serious themes and at times heartbreaking scenes.

The animation stresses the beauty of the natural and the ridiculousness of the artificial. The story does the same, largely in the form of the governess' demands that Kaguya pluck her eyebrows, blacken her teeth, pull up her hair, and never, ever run -- which are all depicted as ludicrous (much like in Brave). Kaguya yearns for the forest, for freedom, and for her beloved Sutemaru, who treated her as an equal, not a prize to possess. Parents may feel a pang of sadness as they relate with both the Bamboo Cutter, who does what he thinks is best for Kaguya's future, and his wife, who understands that what her daughter wants is her forest home and quiet moments of happiness.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of Japanese animation. Why is it so appealing?

  • The studio behind The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Studio Ghibli, is known for offering alternatives to mainstream Hollywood movies. What sets them apart from animated movies made in the United States?

  • What do you think the message of this fairy tale is? Were you surprised by the way the story ended? What would you have liked to happen?

  • How do the characters in The Tale of Princess Kaguya demonstrate compassion? Why is this an important character strength?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate