The first trailer of Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata’s Kaguya-hime no Monogatari (The Tale of Princess Kaguya) was revealed on Japanese variety programme. It is the first film Takahata has done for 14 years (My Neighbors the Yamadas was his last), and it also uses the same water colour style of visuals.
The story is a retelling of 10th century Japanese folktale Taketori Monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter), and centres around the moon princess Kaguya, who is discovered as a baby inside the stalk of a glowing bamboo plant.
The film’s release has been delayed as it was meant to open alongside Hayao Miyazaki’s Kaze Tachinu (The Wind is Rising), but it will open in Japan this autumn.
The role of the 13-year-old witch, Kiki, will be played by 16-year-old Fuka Koshiba, who was chosen from approximately 500 candidates, and this will be her first acting job. In order to make sure Kiki’s flying scenes look beautiful, Koshiba is currently doing practice swings with the bokken (wooden sword for practice) 200 times everyday.
Mamoru Hosoda’s The Wolf Children Ame and Yuki will be the first showing at 12.45 p.m; second up is Studio Ghibli’s From Up On Poppy Hill at 3 p.m. Both films are in Japanese with English subtitles. The third film, however, is a surprise and has not yet been named; though it has been listed as “an exciting anime premiere”. This film will be preceded by a cosplay competition judged by a celebrity panel, with prizes for the best dressed. This joint cosplay and film showing event will begin at 5 p.m.
