The 2013 animated film, THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA, is a historical fantasy co-written and directed by Isao Takahata. It adapts the 10th-century Japanese literary tale known as The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. A miniature girl is discovered by a bamboo cutter inside a radiant bamboo shoot. Deemed a divine presence, the bamboo cutter and his wife decide to raise her as their own, naming her "Princess." She experiences rapid growth, earning the village children's nickname "Takenoko." Sutemaru, the eldest among Takenoko's friends, forms a close bond with her.
