Studio Ghibliis no stranger to critical acclaim, box office triumphs, and timeless artistry. With legendary titles likeSpirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, andHowl’s Moving Castle, the studio has become synonymous with the pinnacle of animated storytelling. Yet within its rich catalog lies a quieter masterpiece withThe Tale of the Princess Kaguya. This hand-drawn marvel, directed by Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata, is often forgotten in favor of flashier, more commercially successful films. But behind its graceful aesthetic and folklore roots lies the astounding fact that it is possibly the most expensive anime movie ever made.
That record-setting budget, estimated at around $50 million, stands in stark contrast to the film’s modest box office returns.Unlike Miyazaki’s sweeping epics that command attention and fill theaters,The Tale of thePrincess Kaguyawas a quiet, contemplative swan song.And though it did not turn a profit, its artistic value, historical significance, and emotional power make it a standout achievement in animation. From its painstaking production process to its unexpected financial footprint,The Tale of the Princess Kaguyais an underrated gem that deserves far more attention than it has received.
A Legendary Budget for a Legendary Tale Adapted by Ghibli
Why Kaguya’s Stunning Animation Came at Such a High Cost
When Studio Ghibli greenlitThe Tale of the Princess Kaguya, they were not just investing in a film, they were investing in a legacy.The project was a deeply personal endeavor for Isao Takahata, who returned to directing after a 14-year hiatus.He took on the beloved 10th-century Japanese folktaleThe Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, one of the oldest stories in Japanese literature, with the intent of capturing its essence in an entirely fresh way. That ambition came at a steep cost, quite literally.
With its $50 million price tag,The Tale of the Princess Kaguyalikely holds the record for the most expensive anime production ever.To put that in perspective, evenYour Name, one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time, cost less than half that to make. Takahata’s meticulous approach to the film’s hand-drawn aesthetic, designed to mimic traditional Japanese ink wash painting, required immense time and labor. Animators often redrew entire sequences to capture the spontaneity of brush strokes, creating a loose, sketch-like visual style that broke from conventional anime norms.
Unfortunately, that artistic risk did not translate into commercial success. Upon its release in 2013, the film brought in only about $24 million domestically and less than $30 million globally.For a Studio Ghibli feature, especially one with a budget this size, it was a box office disappointment.But the financial loss only tells part of the story. From a creative standpoint,The Tale of thePrincess Kaguyaremains one of the studio’s most visually daring and emotionally deep films.
Isao Takahata’s Final Bow with The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
The Quiet Genius Behind Ghibli’s Other Masterpiece
What makesThe Tale of the Princess Kaguyaespecially poignant is thatit served as the final film of Isao Takahata, one of Ghibli’s two founding pillars. While Hayao Miyazaki often stood in the spotlight, Takahata’s contributions were no less profound. From the devastating realism ofGrave of the Firefliesto the whimsical nostalgia ofOnly Yesterday, his work consistently explored the complexities of human emotion through grounded, thoughtful storytelling.
Takahata poured a lifetime of experience intoThe Tale of the Princess Kaguya. The film is a masterclass in restraint and introspection, meditating on themes of freedom, societal expectation, and the ephemeral nature of joy. It moves slowly, deliberately, offering moments of quiet beauty rather than adrenaline or spectacle. In many ways, it mirrors Takahata’s own artistic journey as it is subtle, philosophical, and fiercely uncompromising.
Released in the shadow of Miyazaki’sThe Wind Rises, which came out the same year,The Tale of thePrincess Kaguyastruggled to gain momentum.
That the film failed to achieve widespread commercial success only deepens the tragedy of its legacy. Released in the shadow of Miyazaki’sThe Wind Rises, which came out the same year,The Tale of thePrincess Kaguyastruggled to gain momentum. And whileThe Wind Riseswas heralded as Miyazaki’s “final” film at the time, Takahata’s swan song received relatively muted attention, especially outside of Japan. Given that it would become his last work before his death in 2018, the industry’s tepid response feels like a missed opportunity to fully celebrate one of anime’s greatest visionaries.
Yet in retrospect,The Tale of the Princess Kaguyafeels like the perfect final statement from a director like Takahata. It is meditative and melancholic, speaking not just to the heart of a centuries-old folktale, but to the soul of a man who dedicated his life to capturing fleeting human truths through animation.
The Ghibli Masterpiece That Time Might Finally Recognize
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is Underrated, Unforgettable, and Slowly Gaining the Love It Deserves
Despite its underwhelming box office performance,The Tale of the Princess Kaguyahas slowly earned the recognition it deserves. It received a 2015 Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, competing against Hollywood heavyweights likeBig Hero 6andHow to Train Your Dragon 2. Although it did not win, its inclusion alone signaled a level of critical respect that has only grown over time.
Much of the film’s staying power comes from its timeless art style. In an age when animation is often dominated by digital polish and hyperreal visuals,The Tale of thePrincess Kaguyastands apart with its rough, watercolor-like animation.Scenes like Kaguya’s desperate escape through the woods, rendered in a whirlwind of frantic brushstrokes and raw emotion, feel more like moving paintings than traditional anime. It is a rare example of animation being used not just to depict a story, but to amplify the emotional state of its characters through the medium itself.
Additionally, the film’s themes are universally relatable. Kaguya’s struggle between earthly desire and cosmic fate touches on the core conflict between freedom and duty, between what people want and what society expects. It is a message that transcends time and culture, and one that feels especially poignant in our modern age of burnout, performance, and pressure to conform.
In the years since its release,The Tale of the Princess Kaguyahas developed a small but passionate fanbase. Its beauty and depth continue to attract viewers who discover it on streaming platforms or through word of mouth. Though it may never reach the cultural saturation ofMy NeighborTotoroorSpirited Away, its influence is quietly growing, and deservedly so.
