Tales of the Night (film)

Plot

Every night, in a small theater, a girl, a boy, and an elderly cinema technician gather to tell stories. Before each tale begins, the three of them agree on which characters the boy and girl will play. They also pick a time period and a country, and the technician brings reference materials. Using a computer-controlled machine, they create costumes and accessories, then perform the story on stage.

The Werewolf

The first story is set in medieval Europe. Two sisters both love the same prince. He is engaged to the older sister, which deeply saddens the younger one, who has loved him her whole life. The prince confesses to his betrothed that he turns into a werewolf during the full moon.

Displeased, she tricks him into transforming in front of her, then steals the gold necklace that can turn him back. She throws it into a well and tells everyone the prince was killed by the wolf of the woods. The younger sister uncovers the truth and exposes her sister’s cruelty.

Tijean and Beauty-Not-Knowing

The second story takes place in the West Indies. While exploring a deep cave, Tijean ends up in the land of the dead. The shadow of an old man tells him how to defeat three monsters: a giant bee, a giant mongoose, and a giant iguana.

Tijean makes his way to the king’s court, where the eldest princess, Beauty-Not-Knowing, is about to be married. Because he overcame the monsters without killing them, he is judged unworthy of the princess and sentenced to death by the "big chopper." While in the dungeon, the king gives him three impossible tasks. Luckily, the three animals whose lives he spared come to his rescue.

The Chosen One and The City Of Gold

The third story is set in Aztec times. In a city built of gold, the people worship a being called the Benefactor. In exchange for gold, they must offer a human sacrifice: the most beautiful woman in the land.

One day, a stranger arrives. After learning of this sinister practice, he decides to stop the killing. He believes there is a way to defeat the Benefactor, but a prophecy warns that the city will collapse when the Benefactor falls.

Did You Know?

• Five of the tales are adapted from the series Dragons and Princesses, which aired on Canal+ Family at the end of 2010.
• The sixth tale, "The Doe-girl and the Architect's Son," was created specifically for the film.
• In Japan, it is the fourth feature directed by Ocelot in the Ghibli Museum Library.