There is no shortage of films going over their intended or hoped-for budget. Anything can happen, including a change of cast to unexpected delays in the production schedule. There are also movies that, in advance, can expect a larger budget than usual, whether because of star power or the scale of the production itself. Then there are more unique films, like Isao Takahata’s masterpieceThe Tale of the Princess Kaguya.
This feature film took several years to be released, and the challenges involved made the budget skyrocket. Ten years after its initial release, this is howThe Tale of the Princess Kaguyaended up being the most expensive anime film ever made.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
The Story Behind Princess Kaguya
After discovering a miniature girl inside a bamboo shoot, a bamboo cutter and his wife decide to adopt and raise her as their own daughter. Young Kaguya grows supernaturally quick, and she begins to enthrall all those around her, drawing the admiration of many, including five suitors. However, she is bound by her fate, and made to atone for her past crime. The ‘crime’ or ‘sin’ is left open to interpretation by the audience, but this element hangs over Kaguya’s existence as she moves into adulthood.
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The movie is based on the classic Japanese folktale “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter,” written by an unknown author in either the late 9th or early 10th century, during Japan’s Heian period. The story is considered the oldest surviving work in the ‘monogatari form’ (an extended prose narrative tale comparable to epic literature).The Tale of the Princes Kaguya adds depth to the fable by crafting abittersweet coming-of-age storywith a positive feminist message exploring independence, introspection, and societal barriers that Kaguya experiences.
Studio Ghibli, the renowned Japanese Animation Studio founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, along with producer Toshio Suzuki, is the studio behindThe Tale of the Princess Kaguya. The movie is the 20th animated fantasy drama produced by them, and was directed by Isao Takahata.
Why Did Tale of the Princess Kaguya Cost So Much?
The primary reason thatThe Tale of the Princess Kaguyacost so much money to make was its labor-intensive approach to animation. To capture authenticity by re-envisioning the classic folklore, the traditionalsumi-e watercolor painting techniquewas used. Characterized by graceful long strokes and minimalist, evocative watercolors with charcoal outlines, the process of bringing this animation style to fruition was time-consuming, and in the age of computer graphics, much more expensive.
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The film’s production started in 2005-2006, with the producer spending 18 months to set the groundwork and get a team together. The movie was then released in 2013, taking several years to complete. This affected the budget, which came to approximately $49.3 million (US) or ¥5 billion to get the film to completion (around $64 Million in 2023, when accounting for inflation). This made the movie the most expensive anime, and eventhe most expensiveJapanese film ever made.
In 2014, a documentary was released,Isao Takahata and His Tale of the Princess Kaguya, which further explored the creative process. The documentary is available for rent on Apple TV for those interested in further learning about the long process and the challenges the studio met with to complete the production.
Rent Isao Takahata and His Tale of the Princess Kaguya on Apple TV
The Legacy of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Given the amount of work put into the project by Isao Takahata and his team, one would hope the labor of love paid off for the studio. Unfortunately, the movie only brought in a worldwide box office gross of $24,638,337 and a subsequent $3.42 million in physical sales. This means the film fell short of its budget and was made at a loss (in other words, a flop).
There are many reasons for this, notably the budget. Still,The Tale of the Princess Kaguyaalso had a limited release and presented a niche anime style and story that struggled to appeal to a global audience.
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However, that is not to say that the film did not leave behind an important legacy, and the earnings did not reflect the profoundly deep story presented in a wholly original animated style that paid homage to rich Japanese artistic history. The movie was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year at the 2015 Oscars, losing toBig Hero 6(a baffling choice when comparing the two).
However, it did gain 13 wins and 38 nominations at various award ceremonies and festivals, vindicating the work put into the project through greater recognition. It was highly praised by critics as well, receiving 4 stars on Roger Ebert’s website as well as other rave reviews, and holds the rare boast ofa perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoesover 98 critic reviews.
The most significant influence left behind by the project, though, was its continued celebration of traditional Japanese storytelling techniques and art. Its universal themes have continued to inspire various creators and works of art. Looking at it financially, the film may not have been a success, but continuing the story’s legacy and re-creating it for a modern audience is undeniably important.
