English Dub Review: ‘Cosmic Princess Kaguya’

Overview:

Netflix has recently dropped the English dub for the Netflix Original Anime film, Cosmic Princess Kaguya, a slightly futuristic fairy tale written for the AI generation.

Our Take:

Many anime fans are familiar with the story, or at least the character, of Princess Kaguya, a princess sent to Earth from the Moon who is adopted by a bamboo cutter, who must one day be escorted back to the Moon. Versions of the story have been recounted in all sorts of media, from Doraemon to even Sesame Street. In this modern update of the story, viewers are introduced to Iroha, a modern girl who juggles school and work with exploring a video game world and enjoying AI idols.

If Iroha doesn’t immediately bring to mind a moon princess, that’s because she’s the bamboo cutter, something that becomes obvious when a “shooting star” gifts her with a mysterious baby that grows into a teenager nearly overnight. Adopting the name “Kaguya” for herself, this newcomer then tries to make it as a live-streamer to support the two of them.

With the story set in a not-too-distant future, things really pick up as Kaguya begins to explore the virtual world Iroha often escapes to. Together, they hope to win a contest with AI idol, Yachiyo, complete with games and ghosts from the past. Through it all, Kaguya also wants to avoid the fate of the princess from the original story, leaving the Earth and even her memories behind, especially as it becomes clear she actually is the original moon princess. Of course, viewers might soon start to question just who is who in this story.

The original story is given a brief recap at the start of the story, complete with traditional art, but viewers might appreciate certain beats of the story if they are familiar with Japanese folklore. Kaguya even gets a few marriage proposals from otakus, as well as the fittingly-named Mikado, referencing her suitors from the original story. The money she brings in from live-streaming also brings to mind some of the magical financial help the original bamboo cutter got. There are also a few shout-outs to other stories. For example, Sailor Moon fans can probably figure out why the story keeps bringing up bunnies.

Despite the fairy tale trappings, the story is a serious one, dealing with themes of escapism, fighting fate, societal pressure, and handling a work-life balance. This actually fits the story well, as Kaguya’s tale is often used as a metaphor for grief, especially the loss of a child. That said, there can be a feeling that the story tries to make too many points at once. Let’s just say most people aren’t going to fix their financial problems with live-streaming, even if this is a fairy tale.

Without giving too much away, the ending can also be a mixed bag for some, as the characters constantly try to change Kaugya’s fate. At one point, the film even cuts to the credits, all for Iroha to adamantly refuse to stop the story there. While the film’s eventual ending is fine on its own, some viewers might feel the story probably could have ended a bit sooner.

Viewers might also go in expecting a lavish space opera, but the world’s “magic” is mostly left to virtual reality. That said, the slightly futuristic setting really works well for the story overall, allowing the characters to deal with relatable issues, but also have fun when it comes to all that the artificial world.

With a story focusing on idols, holographic or not, it is inevitable that music gets a bit of a focus. The English dub actually translates these songs, which might put off some fans, but everything is still well-done.

AI can be a touchy subject for modern audiences, but it proliferates the story from idols to even food. It even plays into the story’s ultimate ending. In a way, it reflects the theme of accepting change in life, and if the characters can accept their new artificial overlords, then so could the viewer.