Kaguya-hime no Monogatari
Summary: Deep in the countryside, a man named Okina works as a bamboo cutter in a forest, chopping away at the hollow plants day after day. One day, he discovers a small baby inside a glowing shoot. He immediately takes her home, convinced that she is a princess sent to Earth as a divine blessing from heaven. Okina and his wife Ouna take it upon themselves to raise the infant as their own, watching over her as she quickly grows into an energetic young girl. Given the name Kaguya, she fits right in with the village she has come to call home, going on adventures with the other children and enjoying what youth has to offer.
But when Okina finds a large fortune of gold and treasure in the forest, Kaguya's life is completely changed. Believing this to be yet another gift from heaven, he takes it upon himself to turn his daughter into a real princess using the wealth he has just obtained, relocating the family to a mansion in the capital. As she leaves her friends behind to enter into an unwanted life of royalty, Kaguya's origins and purpose slowly come to light.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Deep in the countryside, a man named Okina works as a bamboo cutter in a forest, chopping away at the hollow plants day after day. One day, he discovers a small baby inside a glowing shoot. He immediately takes her home, convinced that she is a princess sent to Earth as a divine blessing from heaven. Okina and his wife Ouna take it upon themselves to raise the infant as their own, watching over her as she quickly grows into an energetic young girl. Given the name Kaguya, she fits right in with the village she has come to call home, going on adventures with the other children and enjoying what youth has to offer.
But when Okina finds a large fortune of gold and treasure in the forest, Kaguya's life is completely changed. Believing this to be yet another gift from heaven, he takes it upon himself to turn his daughter into a real princess using the wealth he has just obtained, relocating the family to a mansion in the capital. As she leaves her friends behind to enter into an unwanted life of royalty, Kaguya's origins and purpose slowly come to light.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Available At
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Kaguya-hime no Monogatari Review
Kaguya-hime no Monogatari — Deep in the countryside, a man named Okina works as a bamboo cutter in a forest, chopping away at the hollow plants day after day. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Award Winning, Fantasy conventions as a Movie work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.21). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Kaguya-hime no Monogatari offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Award Winning, Fantasy, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Kaguya-hime
Main
Asakura, Aki
Japanese
Kaguya-hime
Main
Moretz, Chloe
English
Kaguya-hime
Main
Marricchi, Lucrezia
Italian
Kaguya-hime
Main
Alles, Sarah
German
Kaguya-hime
Main
Paulita, Flora
Portuguese (BR)
Kaguya-hime
Main
Yuste, Cristina
Spanish
Kaguya-hime
Main
Sánchez, Analiz
Spanish
Kaguya-hime
Main
Baradat, Claire
French
Kaguya-hime
Main
Thuilier, Coralie
French
Kaguya-hime
Main
Hermann, Lilla
Hungarian
Abe no Udaijin
Supporting
Platt, Oliver
English
Abe no Udaijin
Supporting
Guadagno, Marco
Italian
Abe no Udaijin
Supporting
Emílio, César
Portuguese (BR)
Abe no Udaijin
Supporting
Hohlbein, Hans
German
Abe no Udaijin
Supporting
Béja, Xavier
French
Ayabe no Uchimaro
Supporting
O'Brien, Liam
English
Ayabe no Uchimaro
Supporting
Jellinek, Uwe
German
Ayabe no Uchimaro
Supporting
Solombrino, Gianluca
Italian
Inbe no Akita
Supporting
Segal, George
English
Inbe no Akita
Supporting
Alchieri, Gerolamo
Italian
Staff
Nishimura, Yoshiaki
Producer
Takahata, Isao
Director, Creator, Screenplay
Asari, Naoko
Sound Director
Sakaguchi, Riko
Script
Hashimoto, Shinji
Storyboard, Key Animation
Momose, Yoshiyuki
Storyboard, Setting
Sasaki, Shinsaku
Storyboard
Satou, Masako
Storyboard, Key Animation
An, Mi Kyoung
In-Between Animation
Andou, Masashi
Key Animation
Fujisawa, Shiori
In-Between Animation
Hamada, Takayuki
Key Animation
Hamasu, Hideki
Key Animation
Hashimoto, Haruna
In-Between Animation
Hata, Ayako
Key Animation
Hirota, Shunsuke
Key Animation
Hisaishi, Joe
Music
Horie, Tasuku
In-Between Animation
Inoue, Ei
Key Animation
Kagawa, Megumi
Key Animation