The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Blu-ray Movie Review

"I know nothing of my past. I don't even know who I am or where I came from..."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown February 17, 2015

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is director and Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata's first film in fourteen years, and very likely his last. It's also one of his finest. A work of stunning minimalism, subtle complexity and aching beauty, it's a magnificently animated, sincerely penned masterpiece that defies the demands of the masses with a deceptively simple 10th century canvas that puts most modern CG-animated films to shame. For a film so steeped in tradition, it's free of traditional constraints, favoring fluid impression over precise line technique, association over exposition, and deep emotion over superficial practicality. It's joyous and exuberant, yet all at once somber and sobering, with gorgeous watercolor hues that surge and relent as effortlessly as the narrative; a restrained but fearless narrative that doesn't shy away from the lushness of life, the melancholy of mortality or the sorrow of sacrifice. If Studio Ghibli doesn't survive the retirement of its founders, it will, at the very least, have gone into that good night having produced two radiant, expertly crafted swan songs: Miyazaki's The Wind Rises and Takahata's The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.

When a bamboo cutter (Takeo Chii, James Caan) discovers a tiny, glowing girl nestled inside a bamboo shoot, he takes her home to his kindly wife (Nobuko Miyamoto, Mary Steenburgen), recognizing the divine nature of the child. Adopting her as their own, the elderly couple are amazed as the little girl begins to grow at an astonishing rate, and become even more convinced that she's a gift from the heavens and should be raised as a princess. Approaching young womanhood, Kaguya (Aki Asakura, Chloë Grace Moretz) is swept away from her life and friends -- among them the loyal Sutemaru (Kengo Kora, Darren Criss) -- to the capital, where she soon finds herself the center of attention, be it from suitors, priests, princes, political ministers, the noble Lady Sagami (Atsuko Takahata, Lucy Lui), or the emperor (Nakamura Shichinosuke II, Dean Cain) himself. Rejecting the proposals, lessons and lifestyles so many are determined to thrust upon her, Kaguya slowly descends into a deep depression before learning who, and what, she really is. Now, with the help of Sutemaru, she must face a difficult choice that may not be a choice at all.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a deliberately paced, meticulously faithful adaptation of "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter," one of the oldest surviving works of Japanese literature. It doesn't apologize for its scope or scale, nor does it waver when its plotting becomes as densely packed as it is (arguably) overpopulated. The story does border on convoluted at times, no doubt. However, Takahata and co-writer Riko Sakaguchi maintain such a taut through-line that Kaguya's plight is nothing short of riveting, with the pressures of parental expectations and traditional gender and cultural assignments informing her development, maturation and, eventually, her empowerment, supernatural or otherwise. This isn't a tale with glass slippers, ballroom dances, love songs atop flying carpets, or charming princes who break spells with a kiss. From the outset, there's a nagging sense that all is not well between the universe and Kaguya; that her time with humans isn't meant to last. It's a sad, fleeting glimpse of happiness thwarted, of a destiny reluctantly accepted, of a life unfulfilled, written and animated with a delicate touch that's so bright and airy it seems at stark, brilliantly realized odds with the suffering of the princess's journey.

The remaining elements fall in near-perfect place. The animation is as simple as hand-drawn feature animation comes, yet boasts such expressive warmth, frugal regalia, and presence of form and movement that an enormity is conveyed in every ingloriously sketched, gently brushed picture. It's as if the humble imagination of a child has been brought to inexplicably vivid life by a seasoned storyteller; quaint in presentation but masterful in execution. The Japanese voice cast is also excellent -- without exception -- and the English actors aren't too far behind. (Dubbing nitpicks are a dime a dozen. Kaguya isn't Ghibli's best but certainly isn't its worst either.) Joe Hisaishi's score resonates, lingering on the mind long after the credits have rolled. And the whole of the film is greater than the sum of its parts, which brings us back to Takahata. Universal's Blu-ray release includes the feature-length documentary, "Isao Takahata and His Tale of the Princess Kaguya," and it's not to be missed. Detailing the 80-year old filmmaker's inspirations, vision, passion and, quite often, exhaustion, it serves as a wonderful testament to everything that makes the Oscar-nominated film a spectacular achievement in animation. And it all begins and ends with the man who helped lay the foundations of one of the most revered and influential animation studios of all time; a studio that will sadly never be the same once Takahata joins Miyazaki in retirement.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Pristine as it is proficient, Universal's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is, quite simply, gorgeous. Though the film's watercolor palette is subdued on the whole, dazzling splashes of color punctuate the proceedings, particularly once Kaguya leaves the soft greens and browns of the forest and travels to the city. Contrast and clarity are striking as well, even if Takahata's chosen aesthetic doesn't exactly lend itself to strong lines and revealing textures. Still, what the animators have created has been beautifully preserved, without anything that might raise red flags or be cause for concern. The image is incredibly clean, without a hint of grain to be found, yet none of it is due to noise reduction or any invasive technique. It's the animators' original art, without alteration or enhancement. The encode doesn't falter either. There isn't anything in the way of macroblocking, banding, noise, aliasing or ringing, and I didn't notice anything out of sorts. This is a flawless presentation whose only imperfections are those that trace back to the artist's pen and brush.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Despite a misprint on the back cover, the Blu-ray release of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya does indeed feature two lossless options --- English and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround -- as it should. Both mixes are terrific, with clean, clear dialogue, perfectly prioritized soundscapes, and full, immersive experiences. LFE output is strong and supportive. The rear speakers envelop the listener in the sounds of the forest, the capital city, the countryside, snowy fields, stormy villages, and heavenly clouds, while Joe Hisaishi's score engages and delights, enhancing but never overwhelming. Dynamics, directionality and cross-channel pans are exquisite as well, leaving next to nothing to criticize. Universal's AV presentation is magnificent.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Isao Takahata and His Tale of the Princess Kaguya (SD, 86 minutes): While a DVD copy of the feature film is included, a second DVD is devoted to this very candid feature-length documentary that details the production of director/co-writer Isao Takahata's latest. Setting out with the small goal of creating his "magnum opus," the humble, soft-spoken, oft-times weary Takahata doesn't shy away from the camera, even when tired or frustrated, and presses on, even when he has a script and voice cast but no drawings with which to inspire them. It's a wonderful glimpse into Takahata's corner of Studio Ghibli, a revealing look into the filmmaker's creative process, and a must-see component of Kaguya's Blu-ray release (not to mention one that pairs perfectly with The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness).
  
  Please note, however: this version of "Isao Takahata and His Tale of the Princess Kaguya is unfortunately an 86-minute edited version of a much longer documentary. Not ideal by a long shot.
• Announcement of the Completion of the Film (HD, 40 minutes): Far more substantial than a simple "announcement" video, Nippon Television's Taichi Masu hosts a press panel featuring the staff and voice cast of The Tale of Princess Kaguya. Participants include President of Nippon Television Network Corporation Yoshio Okubo, director/co-writer Isao Takahata, co-writer Riko Sakaguchi, theme song composer Kazumi Nikaido, Aki Asakura (Princess Kaguya), Kengo Kora (Sutemaru), Nobuko Miyamoto (The Bamboo Cutter's wife), Tomoko Tabata (Me no Warawa), Ryudo Uzaki (Minister of the Military) and Takaya Kamikawa (Prince Ishitsukuri).
• Japanese Trailers and TV Spots (HD, 14 minutes): A lengthy collection of previews and promos.
• US Trailers (HD, 3 minutes): Additional marketing, as seen in the US.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya joins The Wind Rises as two of Ghibli's finest. Isao Takahata delivers a masterclass in minimalism so compelling, so absorbing, so wonderfully, beautifully made, that it boggles the mind and challenges every notion that hand-drawn animation is inferior to CG animation. Universal's Blu-ray edition of the Oscar-nominated film is outstanding too, thanks to a flawless video presentation, an excellent pair of lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks, and a solid complement of extras. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is yet another must-see Studio Ghibli film available via another must-own Blu-ray release.