The Art of Princess Mononoke

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Studio Ghibli is known for creating adventures and memorable works of art. Princess Mononoke is one of its many cherished works. From its compelling characters, fantastical creatures, and alluring atmosphere, it’s a film that still leaves Ghibli fans in awe of the content it has. From its focus on the student-teacher relationship of its main stars to its beautiful surroundings, The Boy and The Beast is an impressive and wholesome work of art. This anime follows Ren, a nine-year-old who is shunned by his entire family. With no one to turn to, Ren flees into the city’s streets. When Princess Mononoke was first released in Japan on 12 July 1997, 25 years ago this week, it represented something of a departure for master animator and director Hayao Miyazaki. During the late 80s, Miyazaki had built his reputation (along with the success of Studio Ghibli, which he founded with fellow director Isao Takahata) on films like Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbour Totoro; formally ambitious, thematically rich works, but generally affirming in tone and family-friendly in nature. But something changed during the 90s. Firstly, he began to bristle at the popular idea that Studio Ghibli only makes gentle movies about how great nature is. "I begin to hear of Ghibli as 'sweet' or 'healing,'" he grumbles in Princess Mononoke: How the Film Was Conceived, a six-hour documentary about the film’s production, "and I get an urge to destroy it." Yet even more significant was his growing despair at a world which he had increasingly come to believe was cursed. Unfortunately, Nausicaä’s cast isn’t entirely fleshed out and many feel like they’re there to move the plot forward. At the same time, there are select scenes where the characters perform actions worth remembering and getting excited about. On the other hand, Nausicaä and Princess Mononoke have stories centered around the environment.

Nausicaä is another anime that emphasizes the importance of protecting living organisms and nature. If this sounds up your alley, give it a watch. Hayao Miyazaki’s films can’t be categorized as kids’ stories or adult-focused features. His work always balances seemingly childish stories with grown-up themes, or mature stories with childish flights of fancy. But Princess Mononoke pushes the limits of that balance. It’s certainly the goriest of Miyazaki’s films, rife with blood and severed body parts, and it features some of the most terrifying monster designs in the Ghibli canon. Environmentalism is a primary theme, as the characters struggle to balance human survival with the needs of the nature around them. But the most impressive, frightening part of the film is the way Miyazaki manages to turn one of the film’s driving forces, the fear of the unknown, into a visible force.

Hunter X Hunter balances its dark and cheery atmosphere well. There will be times when the series has our characters compete in harmless challenges and other occasions where their lives are on the line. Some of Hunter X Hunter’s bouts carry more weight and emotion due to how well they’re written or how they tie into the overarching plot of its many story arcs. So what makes this film so amazing? First of all, the obvious: the writer/director and animator: Hayao Miyazaki. Known for revolutionizing the animation world with his non-conventional children's films (Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away), this is his most mature film, and I don't just mean in terms of content. Yes, this film is violent, deep and not for the squeamish but it's beside the point. The story is dark and deeply personal. Miyazaki had stated that after all his more family-friendly films were out, this was the film he felt he just had to make. There is an air of deep seriousness that comes with this film that is hard to miss. Mushishi is like Princess Mononoke as it delves into the importance of preserving and cherishing nature. This anime features a likable protagonist who gives off a relaxing vibe, replicating the areas he visits while traveling. The Boy and the Heron’ Is So Personal, Hayao Miyazaki Needed a Year to Grieve Before Pivoting in a New Direction Formlessness in a world defined by clear lines is inherently strange, and it’s understandable why the people of Irontown might fear the Forest Spirit or the apes, since they can’t understand them. It’s equally clear why the creatures of the forest might fear humanity, who bring a curse down on them with iron weapons, and fear the curse, which corrupts spirits as they’re taken over by blind fear. Ashitaka even makes the nature of the curse explicit, calling it the manifestation of hatred, and explaining that fear and anger only make it grow faster.

He began to think," says Yoshioka, "maybe I should not make this entertaining, light-hearted stuff for children. Maybe I should make something substantial." Additionally, for each anime we’ve reviewed, we’ve included a link that allows you to view our full thoughts about the series to see if it’s worth your time. The New York Times review, written by Janet Maslin, called Princess Mononoke a "landmark feat of Japanese animation", with images, such as plants and flowers springing to life beneath the Shishigami’s hooves, that are "simple, meaningful and ravishingly presented". Nowhere is it mentioned that the film is too long. "And all of a sudden," says Gaiman, "the next thing I hear is that the fancy launch and giant marketing roll-out for Princess Mononoke that had been planned was not going to happen. It was going to roll out in 10 cities with no particular advertising push behind it. Harvey didn’t even show up for the premiere in Hollywood.While you’ll always be afraid for our cast’s lives as they traverse through the abyss, you’ll smile seeing them enjoy themselves during their travels. Besides hunting prey and avoiding beasts, our cast will take time to chat about their struggles with others and meet people with jubilant spirits. And so another entry in to my collection of Studio Ghibli books and I must admit as I sit here reading them and marvelling at the artwork I just wish I was more artistic, they are truly amazing.