The latest effort from Studio Ghibli and writer-director Isao Takahata, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, boasts a beautiful animation style that's all too uncommon in recent years, and befits the film's story inspired by one of Japan's most beloved folktales.  You'll know in an instant whether or not the sweeping, hand-drawn animation is your cup of tea, but the studio's pedigree should be reason enough to take a look at the first trailer for the English language version.  The story revolves around the titular princess, a tiny girl found inside a stalk of bamboo, who rapidly matures and mystifies those around her, but must inevitably pay the price for her crime.

Featuring the English voice cast of Chloe Grace Moretz, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Darren Criss, and Lucy Liu, The Tale of Princess Kaguya opens Stateside on October 17th.  For more on the film, be sure to check out Matt's review from TIFF, as well as Steve's recent interview with Takahata himself.  Hit the jump to watch The Tale of Princess Kaguya trailer.

Check out the English-language version of The Tale of Princess Kaguya trailer below, and click over to Apple to view in HD:

Synopsis:

Legendary Studio Ghibli cofounder Isao Takahata revisits Japan’s most famous folktale in this gorgeous, hand-drawn masterwork, decades in the making. Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter (James Caan) and his wife (Mary Steenburgen), a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady (Chloë Grace Moretz). The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her – but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime. From the studio that brought you Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and The Wind Rises comes a powerful and sweeping epic that redefines the limits of animated storytelling and marks a triumphant highpoint within an extraordinary career in filmmaking for director Isao Takahata.