Set to debut on Netflix in 2026, Cosmic Princess Kaguya! brings one of Japan’s oldest and most iconic legends to life.
In 2013, Studio Ghibli adapted the classic Japanese tale The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, also known as The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, into an acclaimed animated film. Thirteen years later, Netflix is set to reimagine the legend with a new sci-fi adaptation called Cosmic Princess Kaguya!, marking director Seigo Yamashita’s debut feature-length anime.
Cosmic Princess Kaguya!
Chou Kaguya-hime!, or Cosmic Princess Kaguya! in English, has been announced by Netflix as a modern retelling of Japan’s oldest folktale, blending music, fantasy, and contemporary animation to bring the timeless legend to a new generation.
Scheduled for release on January 22, 2026, the movie' soundtrack will feature compositions by kz (livetune) and 40mP, along with contributions from renowned artists ryo (supercell), yuigot, Aqu3ra, and HoneyWorks. Watch the trailer below!
Shingo Yamashita’s debut in Cosmic Princess Kaguya!
But why is Cosmic Princess Kaguya! generating so much anticipation? Because the movie marks Shingo Yamashita’s debut as a feature-length anime director.
If the name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, Yamashita has worked as a key animator on some of the most iconic anime of the past decade. This list includes Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Naruto Shippuden, Soul Eater, Pokémon: Twilight Wings, Seitokai Yakuindomo, and Chainsaw Man. We’re not talking about just any director. Yamashita is considered one of the most prominent and innovative animators in the industry.
He was also the opening animation director of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1, which entered the list of the 100 most viewed anime openings in the world, having now more than 75 million views on YouTube.
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is a classic monogatari (Japanese prose narrative). It was written in the late 9th or early 10th century, during the Heian period, by an unknown author. It tells the story of Kaguya-hime, a moon princess discovered as a baby inside a glowing bamboo stalk.
As she grows, her extraordinary beauty draws suitors, including the Emperor of Japan, but she rejects them all with impossible challenges. At the tale's end, Kaguya-hime reveals her celestial origins and returns to the Moon.
Studio Ghibli adaptation
In 2013, Studio Ghibli adapted the story into an animated film, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. The movie earned a lifetime gross of $703,232, ranking as one of Studio Ghibli’s 21 most successful releases. The movie may not have been a blockbuster, but Netflix saw something special in it.
The Cosmic Princess Kaguya! trailer’s stunning visuals and captivating soundtrack promise a compelling anime experience. We are eager to see how it unfolds.
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