As the co-founder of Ghibli, Takahata is far behind his old partner Hayao Miyazaki in terms of number of works, fame, and box office performance. Regrettably, following his sudden death at the age of 82 in early April this year, this work that was released in 2013 has become his posthumous work.
Low-key personality, insisting on a realistic style that does not incite the emotions of the audience; different from Miyazaki Hayao's style of painting, has been running through every work in different periods. For example, the following 4 parts:
This time, the chief painter of "Kaguya Hime" is Osamu Tanabe who worked with him to produce "Yamada-kun". I also like the story and style of this film very much.
It was 14 years after "Yamada-kun" was released, Takahata Hoon, who released a new movie again, continued to show the Buddhist rhythm of directing in the production of "Kaguya Hime". From the documentary "Takahata Hoon [Kaguya Hime] The Legend of 933 Days", we can learn:
The producer and voice actor of the film died one after another during the long production process
Even when the movie is about to be released, the director keeps adjusting the storyboard. The slow pace of production made even Hayao Miyazaki in the next building find it incredible. Fortunately, the work is still smoothly presented before our eyes in the end. The documentary also revealed that the two of them had been working together for more than 50 years and had disagreements on many occasions due to various opinions. Even the two old urchins had been working separately in the office building for many years, only meeting occasionally to communicate.
There was a conflict between the two in the creative process. It has long been heard, this time it is officially confirmed.
But in fact, the first to discover Hayao Miyazaki's talents, boldly use the unknown Hisaishi Joe, and it was the older Takahata Ho who wooed Toshio Suzuki to form Ghibli. In my opinion: Without him, there would be no Ghibli
"Kaguya" was originally planned to be released in July of the same year with Hayao Miyazaki's "Wind Up". The poster and trailer have already been shown in theaters. But half a year before the release, it suddenly announced the postponement of the release.
This not only increased production costs, but also Takahata's work has always been well received, to the chagrin of Nishimura Yoshiaki and Suzuki Toshio, who were in charge of the production. As a result, the domestic box office in Japan was only 1/6 of "Wind Up", and the box office suffered a disastrous loss and serious losses.
However, thanks to the release schedule of the two works, they were nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 86th and 87th Oscars respectively.
But in the end they were defeated by the world’s hottest "Frozen" and "Big Hero 6" respectively.
Spoiler dividing line
Imprisoned humanity
"Kaguya Hime" is adapted from the Heiankyo era and has been widely circulated since the era of Heiankyo, a myth that no one in Japan knows: "Taketori Monogatari"
The Heianjing era was probably between our Tang and Song dynasties. I believe that the story of Chang'e flying to the moon spread from China to Japan during that period
At that time, Hokkaido and Okinawa were not included in the scope of Japan.
The part of the original story telling the origins of Mount Fuji was completely discarded and replaced by additional characters. Takahata, who was nearly 80 years old, chose to delete the more legendary elements. I just want the audience to focus more on the experience that happened to Kaguya Ji.
At the beginning of the film, Kaguya Ji was discovered and adopted by an elderly couple who had depended on each other. Breaking their initial peaceful and ordinary life, their daughter immediately became their greatest emotional sustenance.
Kaguya Ji also grew up at a different speed than ordinary people in their old age. In the process, bamboo weavers continued to gain huge wealth and gorgeous costumes in the bamboo forest. Clothing was not only a luxury at the time, but in my understanding, it was also an important guide to improve their aesthetic standards.
No matter from the appearance of Kaguya Ji, or everything that happened suddenly. All are secretly manipulated by the "God", this external force is powerful and full of temptation.
Faced with such a wealth of material, the old man thought it was the "God" who guided them to raise the little girl into an admirable noble princess. He decides to build a mansion in the capital and asks a tutor to provide Kaguya with the "best" education. The little girl who grew up in the mountains was forced to leave her playmates and the bamboo forest.
The tutor full of feudal ideas constantly instilled her the standards that she should have to become a princess . From words and deeds to moral and talent skills, to appearance, while being educated, they are more restricted . Let Kaguya Ji in adolescence be full of resistance and constantly questioning.
Originally known as "Bamboo Shoot", she can emit dazzling white light no matter what day or night; therefore, the old scholar changed her name to: Kaguya Ji
At the banquet celebrating her naming, she, who was supposed to be the protagonist, was unable to attend or even appear because of traditional etiquette. Suspicions and negative emotions accumulated to the extreme, and she finally ran away desperately on the moonlit night. This period of highly impactful sub-mirror presentation has become the most recognized climax of the whole film.
But after venting, she was persuaded by the farmer's view of reincarnation when she was young. Suddenly, she knew what she didn't understand, as her adoptive father wanted - "grow up". Reluctantly accept the tutor to pluck out the eyebrows one by one and blacken all the teeth .
The title of the princess gave her one chain after another.
Not so much makeup, this aesthetic standard is naked confinement!
The adoptive father never asked for anything in return, and thanked the gods for his mentality. Transformed into a desire to be recognized by the society, and asked her daughter to marry a social talent in a proper way. In the end, she even urged her to become an imperial concubine to improve her social status. The adoptive mother is more willing to return to the simple life of men farming and women weaving.
From ancient times to the present, regardless of the East and the West, women have almost been defined as tools or accessories or even burdens for inheritance.
Be educated, domesticated, imprisoned; leading to neglect of self-worth
Ironically, Kaguyahime's distinctive personality is what attracts the emperor the most.
Completely opposed to the adoptive father’s wishful flattery
Passionate, unforgivable sin
There are a lot of poetic blank shots in the film. In my opinion, it is not only the director who sets off the passage of time by showing the changes of the four seasons; it also implies that Kaguya Ji, who was exiled to the world, recognizes and nostalgia for various things in the world. And leave enough space for the audience to think after each paragraph. This is completely different from Hayao Miyazaki, who often takes the audience into the role.
Before puberty, Kaguya Ji's experience showed the ignorance of family education, secular concepts, and feudal thoughts; after entering puberty, the director began to show another stage towards adulthood, longing for love.
The shock of growth awakens her memory of identity
Kaguya remembered that when she was in the Moon Palace, she met a companion who had visited the world
Her predecessors’ obsession with the world made her curious and was demoted to the world.
And what the other person will never forget is love
After awakening, she also became curious about love, the most precious value of people.
In her pursuit of the 5 nobles, she playfully instructed them
Accept the marriage as soon as possible to offer the rare treasures mentioned by the various populations
As a result, she was attracted by Prince Shizuo’s sweet words and handsome appearance, and she was moved with emotion.
Fortunately, my mother saw through it in time to avoid harm
Compared with other suitors, what Kaguya Ji can't forget is Samaru, who has long been in love with her childhood sweetheart. Shemaru, who has been married and has a family, has been living a life of displacement since childhood, eating and sleeping, sneaking and touching dogs. Perhaps because of this freedom, Kaguya Ji, who longed for love, had the courage to elope with her, but she still couldn't get rid of her destiny.
The so-called gods define love as a crime
Kaguya Ji was demoted to the world because of her passion, and the suitor suffered or even died because of her passion.
In their eyes, passion is the root of crime and punishment, absurd!
The music producer and arranger of this film is Takahata's old partner Joe Hisaishi , and the performance is performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. It is worth mentioning that the Guzheng performance part is performed by a performer from Beijing: Jiang Xiaoqing .
At the end of the 1980s, in the award-winning "Last Emperor", she had already participated in the music part.
Now she is proficient in Japanese and is also invited to participate this time.
The "Music of Heaven and Human" gathered together with Kaguya Ji being taken back to the Moon Palace is pleasant and brainwashed. But looking back, the more I thought about it, the more I felt that there was a problem.
This is obviously sad and happy!
On August 15th, Kaguya Ji officially became the night of her adulthood. A group of gods descended from the sky, preparing to take Kaguya Ji back to the moon palace in the image of Buddha.
Kaguyaji, who has experienced all kinds of things in the world, has mixed feelings at this time, and she doesn't want it. At the same time, the bamboo-cutters who have been raising for many years also tried their best to obstruct them.
Against the backdrop of the brisk soundtrack, the trio’s soft and hard pleading to the gods formed an unusually strong contrast with the expressionless gods. Others are confused and completely unconscious.
Which god is this? It's just the god of death here
The women in the film are constantly being defined and restricted by feudal concepts.
But in fact, it is women who give birth to life, grow up, and are protected.
Whether it is an elderly woman who can breastfeed without being pregnant, Kaguya Ji who has been able to take care of her children since she was a child;
Even protect young sows. Both show the abilities of women, but also praise the dedication and greatness of beautiful women.
Hidden in the dark, in stark contrast to this is
Throughout the story, the male characters are alluded to as feudal ignorant and impotent voyeurs!
Regardless of the old gentleman who named Kaguya Ji, or a group of drinkers and suitors; to the married bamboo weaver, Shizuo prince, and even the emperor have no heirs. Only through curtains, door cracks, and outer walls, women can be lewdly discussed and spied, and they are scrambling to worship Kaguya Ji.
Their power benefited from the feudal hereditary system. Through your partner, you can demonstrate or even enhance your status. The only fertile Shemaru is Kaguya Ji's true passion. This contrast is full of sarcasm and fearful thinking.
Ghibli's swan song
The film ended with the ending song "Memory of Life" sung by Nikaido Kazumi. This is not only the posthumous work of Director Takahata, Hayao Miyazaki also announced his retirement again before the release of "The Wind Is Up".
The Ghibli Museum, located in the suburbs of Tokyo, has benefited from the opening up of tourism policies in recent years and has welcomed more and more visitors. However, the animation studio has been silent for many years.
Last year, the film’s producer Nishimura Yoshiaki and Miyazaki’s lover Mibayashi Hiromasa jointly launched a non-Ghibli work.
Except for the traces of the original studio, the degree of completion in all aspects is difficult to break through or even level.
For example, the two creators who have already gotten high this year, one sealed the pen, and the other passed away. Suzuki Toshio also no longer participates in the production work.
The famous overseas Hayao Miyazaki has long become synonymous with Ghibli. Except for Takahata, who has been insisting on his own style, all operations are basically based on Hayao Miyazaki's reputation. Although the painters stood on the shoulders of giants, they couldn't go farther and jump higher.
Studio Ghibli was once popular all over the world with its aura of stories and sharp style of painting. As the three get old, this kingdom of dreams and fantasies is so helpless when faced with the predicament of no one to succeed.
Off-site
In the original story, Kaguya Ji left the elixir given by the god of the moon to the emperor before he left the world, and he cherished and hid the elixir on the top of the sacred mountain. Later, the sacred mountain was called: the undead mountain, and then there is the current Mount Fuji, FUJISHAN.
In Japanese, the pronunciation of "Fuji" is almost the same as "Fuji". [Mountain] is the same as the honorific name of human [さん] SAN, which is generally used as a honorific name for people or living objects or animals.
It is said to be a mountain other than Mount Fuji in Japan. Basically they are called 【やま】YAMA, such as Wakayama 【わかやま】WAKAYAMA. It means that Mount Fuji is sacred and full of life.
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