A Studio Ghibli Record-Setting Movie for Rotten Tomatoes Gets Theatrical Re-Release

In 2013, Studio Ghibli released The Tale of Princess Kaguya — a gorgeously animated retelling of a classic Japanese myth. Next month, the film will return to U.S. theaters as part of GKIDS’ annual Ghibli Fest event.

As detailed on GKIDS’ website, The Tale of Princess Kaguya will be screened in select theaters on Monday, Nov. 25 and Wednesday, Nov. 27. The first November screening will feature the film’s English dub, which stars Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass) as Kaguya, James Marsden (Disney’s Enchanted) as Prince Ishitsukuri and James Caan (The Godfather) as Kaguya’s father, The Bamboo Cutter. The second screening will feature the original Japanese language track with English subtitles. The film is one of Ghibli’s most unanimously acclaimed works. Over a decade after its release, it maintains a 100% “fresh” score on the popular film review site Rotten Tomatoes and was reportedly the first film of the decade to achieve this distinction. It is also one of the very few animated films on Rotten Tomatoes to hold this rating (alongside the likes of Disney’s 1940 version of Pinocchio and Pixar’s Toy Story).

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Two of Studio Ghibli’s Most Underrated Films Get U.S. Theatrical Re-Release in November

The Tale of Princess Kaguya was directed by Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata (Only Yesterday, Grave of the Fireflies), who served as a mentor and guide for Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron) at the beginning of the latter’s career. Takahata’s fantasy masterpiece is based on an ancient Japanese story called The Moon Princess. GKIDS briefly summarizes the film’s plot: “Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her — but ultimately, she must confront her fate, the punishment of her crime.” Notably, the film earned the title of Best Animated Feature at the 2014 Mainichi Film Concours and at the CFCAA (Chicago Film Critics Association Awards). It was also nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 87th annual Academy Awards.

Additionally, Ghibli fans will also have the opportunity to see Takahata’s environmentally-conscious comedy film, Pom Poko, in North American theaters next month. Released in 1994, the film draws inspiration from the shapeshifting ‘tanuki’ in Japanese folklore. GKIDS describes the film’s plot: “The tanuki spend their days playing idly in the hillsides and squabbling over food – until the construction of a huge new Tokyo suburb clears the nearby forest and threatens their way of life. In an effort to defend their home, the tanuki learn to transform into humans and start playing tricks to make the workers think the construction site is haunted, ending in a spectacular night-time spirit parade with thousands of ghosts, dragons and other magical creatures descending on the city…” The film’s English language screening will be held on Sunday, Nov. 24. The original Japanese version will be shown on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

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Tickets for the upcoming U.S. showings of The Tale of Princess Kaguya and Pom Poko are available now. Studio Ghibli’s film library is also available via Max or Netflix, depending on the viewer’s geographical region.

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  Discovered inside a glowing bamboo shoot by a humble bamboo cutter, a tiny princess magically transforms into a human baby. As she grows at an astonishing rate, her adoptive parents attempt to transform her into a noble princess, leading her through a life filled with societal expectations, only for her to struggle with her mysterious origin and the desire for a simpler life.

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  This animated film from Studio Ghibli centers on a group of tanuki (Japanese raccoon dogs) in suburban Tokyo, who use their shape-shifting abilities to fight against urban development that threatens their forest home. Through humor and fantasy, the story reflects on environmental issues and the impact of modernization on traditional habitats.

Sources: Rotten Tomatoes, GKIDS site: Ghibli Fest 2024 Section (Princess Kaguya and Pom Poko)