Princess Mononoke (1997)

Princess Mononoke (1997)

Dir. Hayao Miyazaki

There's often an environmental message in Hayao Miyazaki's works, but it's much more aggressive in Princess Mononoke than in any Ghibli film that he'd made prior, and because of that it feels less safe.

It's Nature versus Industry in a war that neither side can win. Trapped in the middle is a village Prince named Ashitaka. The youth is unwilling to take sides, but at the same time is determined to put an end to the conflict. He's even prepared to die, if necessary.

The girl with the warpainted face on the cover is San. She sides with the animals, which gives her a very direct focus, initially, but, for reasons that are too spoilery to go into, she's also one of the more interesting characters.

The story has more action scenes than is the norm for a Ghibli work, but on balance the fantastical coexists with the historical elements well, and each one gets its own colour palette that reflects its traditionally perceived beauty.

The divisive lines that exist in settings and characters ensure that the film's primary concerns remain ever-present, but it may feel a little heavy-handed to some folks. What I think most people will be able to agree upon is that it's a stunning work of art, with a deft use of shadow and movement. It's beautifully edited, too, accentuating each scene with relevance to the whole. (Speaking of which, I don't think it's a coincidence that the threat comes from the West.)

On a personal note, Princess Mononoke is the first Ghibli film that I ever saw, thanks to a friend at University who both recommended and lent to me his personal VHS copy. It's unlikely that he'll ever read this, but if he does, I want him to know that I'll be forever grateful. He's also the reason that I discovered Satoshi Kon, who became my favourite anime director of all time.