PRINCESS MONONOKE

Princess Mononoke remains one of my all-time favorite films for many reasons; its story, its characters, and mesmerizing beauty. Taking a rather different approach from some of the previous Ghibli films, Mononoke depicts a violent clash of cultures with beautiful animation and intriguing characters. On one side of the conflict is warrior-prince Ashitaka, seeking to bring peace between the humans and the forest, and the Tatara people who wish to destroy the forest for human prosperity. Opposing this are the beast-gods and animals of the forest, along with the mysterious “Princess Mononoke” said to be raised by wolves.

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Mononoke takes inspiration from Japanese folklore and adds its own touch to it. We see the tatarigami (“demon gods” in the English translation) - beasts of the wild turned into cursed monsters by raging hatred for the humans. Perhaps the demon gods symbolize the diseases caused by pollution from the rapidly growing economy of post-war Japan in the 1960s. The Daidarabotchi, a giant supernatural spirit in Japanese mythology, also plays an important part in the story.

 

The characters are amazingly written; every one that is involved in the plot has their own desires and reasons for actions, and their conflicting agendas make for an intriguing and complex story. I can’t vouch for the loyalty of the English translation, as I've never viewed the movie with dubs, but I’m hoping that Neil Gaiman did his job well to convey the subtle interactions between each character.

 

And, of course, a Miyazaki film can’t be praised without mentioning Joe Hisaishi. He has scored every Miyazaki film save for one and is considered a maestro in the Japanese film music industry. The sweeping strings and iconic traditional Japanese-style melodies, along with a powerful vocal performance in the main theme, create the beautiful, otherworldly mood of Mononoke.

 

Princess Mononoke is a legendary Ghibli film that’s moving from start to finish. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

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End Score: 9.5/10

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Note: There is much more bloody violence in Mononoke compared to other Ghibli films(hence the PG-13 rating), so viewer discretion is advised for family viewings.