For decades, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya has stood as one of Studio Ghibli’s most hauntingly beautiful achievements, as a watercolor dream that turned an ancient folktale into an unforgettable meditation on life, longing, and loss. Yet, new revelations from the late Isao Takahata’s personal archives suggest that the beloved film was never meant to stand alone.

Recently uncovered manuscripts from NHK One reveal that Takahata, who passed away in 2018, once planned a prequel to The Tale of the Princess Kaguya . The discovery stunned fans and scholars alike, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the creative mind behind one of Ghibli’s greatest films. What emerged from the long-lost notes was a portrait of a director still wrestling with the emotional heart of his masterpiece,

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