The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya concludes with Princess Kaguya, revealed to be a celestial being from the Moon, reluctantly returning to her heavenly home after her adoptive parents' attempts to keep her on Earth fail. Despite her love for earthly life and the people she's bonded with, she is compelled to leave, erasing her memories of Earth to avoid sorrow. The ending is bittersweet, emphasizing the fleeting beauty of life and the inevitability of loss. The film's final scenes show her adoptive father, Okina, chasing her in vain, while her mother, Ouna, clings to her robes, symbolizing the pain of separation and the enduring love between them.
The Ending Explained
The climax of The Tale of The Princess Kaguya unfolds as celestial beings descend to reclaim Kaguya, revealing her true origin as a being from the Moon. Despite her pleas to stay, she is stripped of her earthly memories and emotions, forced to return to her sterile, eternal existence. This moment is devastating for her adoptive parents, particularly Okina, who had dedicated his life to securing her happiness through wealth and status, only to realize too late that her true joy came from simplicity and love. The celestial procession's cold, mechanical demeanor contrasts sharply with the vibrant, imperfect beauty of Earth, underscoring the film's themes of transience versus immortality.
Kaguya's final moments on Earth are marked by heart-wrenching goodbyes. She begs the Moon beings for a little more time, but they insist her attachment to Earth is a mistake. As she ascends, her adoptive mother, Ouna, desperately clings to her robe, embodying the raw, human grief of losing a child. The robe tears, a symbolic representation of the irrevocable separation between the mortal and divine. This scene is especially poignant because it highlights the film's central conflict: the tension between earthly impermanence and celestial eternity. Kaguya's return to the Moon is not a triumphant homecoming but a sorrowful resignation, as she loses the very emotions that made her life meaningful.
The final scenes shift to Okina, who, in a futile attempt to reclaim his daughter, chases the celestial procession into the night. His earlier obsession with social status and wealth is rendered meaningless in the face of his loss. Meanwhile, Ouna collapses, weeping, as the villagers watch in awe and sorrow. The film's last shot lingers on the empty bamboo grove where Kaguya was first found, now devoid of magic, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of wonder and love. The ending suggests that while Kaguya's time on Earth was brief, its impact was profound, leaving an indelible mark on those who loved her.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
Why did the Moon beings erase Kaguya's memories?
- Possible Answer: To prevent her from suffering the pain of longing for Earth, as celestial beings are meant to exist without attachment.
- Alternative Interpretation: The Moon represents a cold, unchanging existence where emotions are seen as a weakness or impurity.
What was the significance of Kaguya's robe tearing?
- Possible Answer: It symbolizes the irreversible separation between her celestial and earthly identities.
- Alternative Interpretation: The torn robe represents the fragment of her humanity that remains, even as she is forced to leave.
Did Kaguya truly forget everything, or does some part of her remember?
- Possible Answer: The film implies total erasure, but her final glance back at Earth suggests a lingering, subconscious connection.
- Alternative Interpretation: Her memories may exist in a dormant state, waiting to resurface if she ever returns.
What does Okina's futile chase signify?
- Possible Answer: It mirrors his earlier misguided attempts to control Kaguya's destiny, now rendered meaningless.
- Alternative Interpretation: His desperation underscores the universal human struggle against inevitable loss.
Personal Opinion
The ending of The Tale of The Princess Kaguya is one of the most emotionally resonant conclusions in Studio Ghibli's repertoire. It masterfully blends sorrow with a quiet acceptance of life's impermanence, refusing to offer easy consolation. The animation's delicate, watercolor-like style amplifies the fragility of Kaguya's existence, making her departure all the more poignant. While some might find the ending unbearably sad, its beauty lies in its honesty-love and loss are intertwined, and the fleeting nature of joy is what makes it precious. The film's message is clear: to live fully means to embrace both the joy and the heartbreak of mortal existence, something Kaguya experiences in her brief, radiant time on Earth.
In my view, the ending elevates the film from a simple folktale adaptation to a profound meditation on what it means to be human. The contrast between the Moon's cold perfection and Earth's messy, vibrant life is striking, and Kaguya's forced return feels like a tragedy not just for her, but for the celestial beings who cannot comprehend the value of fleeting emotions. It's a testament to director Isao Takahata's genius that such a melancholic ending leaves the viewer with a sense of awe rather than despair-a reminder to cherish the transient beauty of our own lives.