Anthony's Film Review - Princess Mononoke (1997)

The animation is beautiful and the underlying messages and themes are powerful...

The 1997 anime film Princess Mononoke is a fantasy adventure that ultimately teaches us things about ourselves and the world we live in. It's a story that takes place in a world far away from us while serving as an allegory about our own real world. Ultimately, it provides a few timeless lessons we can take to heart. Of course, if you don't want to look for underlying themes like I did, that's fine, too. The film can also be admired simply for its breathtaking visual beauty and the way it makes characters so lifelike. Really, Princess Mononoke works on both a superficial and deep level and can please many types of audiences.

The story takes place in a land that is not unlike that of historical Japan. A young villager named Ashitaka finds himself in a life-and-death struggle against a demon attacking his village, specifically a vicious vengeful boar god. Although he wins the battle by killing the monster, he pays an unsettling price. The demon had wounded his right arm, leaving him with a curse that, if not stopped, will ultimately devour and kill him. Ashitaka now has no choice but to leave his village and travel far into the realm where the boar god had come from, in hopes of finding a cure for his curse.

He, along with his trusted elk Yakul, initially has a few encounters with other people, whether friend or adversary. But it is not long before the story sets up the central conflict that puts Ashitaka right in the middle. On one side of the conflict is Irontown, a fortress where its inhabitants work to mine iron ore and forge new weapons, namely powerful rifles. Its people are led by Lady Eboshi, who is no doubt a fearless leader. On the other side is a forest inhabited by animals such as wolves and apes and by little spirit creatures. As for the ruler of thus realm, there are actually several characters who can be seen as leaders, including the powerful Forest Spirit, various animal gods, and a human girl named San raised by wolves.

Right away, one can see what kind of conflict this is: humans versus nature. The humans in Irontown hate the forest creatures for killing some of their own, while the forest dwellers see humans as a threat to their habitat. Even if you can argue which side had started the conflict, it doesn't matter in the end. Both sides exhibit hate for one another. Ashitaka sees this as well and decides that the right thing to do is to forge peace between them and prevent an all-out war.

Doing so is definitely not easy. The tension does escalate to a rather bloody climax where the outcome is most likely a major loss for both sides equally. This is where we wonder if everyone is truly doomed. By this time, it's difficult to not care about the major characters, no matter which side of the conflict they're on. I will say this, though. The way it ends is rather powerful, and it will likely you satisfied. I will say more on this.

Princess Mononoke was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, a legendary animator who could be thought of as the Walt Disney of Japan. You can tell that he is passionate about achieving both breathtaking visuals and meaningful storytelling. The result is a film that is beautiful and lifelike. I will also admit that this was the very first feature-length anime film I ever watched, not just my introduction to Miyazaki, and I am glad I dove into anime with this one. I am sure that anyone who watches Princess Mononoke, whether a first-time anime viewer or a die-hard anime enthusiast, will definitely want more.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about Princess Mononoke, visit the Internet Movie Database.