Princess Mononoke

Despite often being considered a touchstone of his sparkling career, Princess Mononoke is something of an outlier when it comes to Hayao Miyazaki’s films. The film lacks a clear-cut protagonist, is tonally more mature than, for example, My Neighbour Totoro, and opts for an explicitly period setting. Princess Mononoke is therefore an epic to rival those of Kurosawa, as Ashitaka, a young prince, becomes involved in a conflict between Lady Eboshi and San, a human girl raised by wolves. Despite its idiosyncrasies, however, Mononoke exemplifies the core of Miyazaki’s beliefs. The power and importance of nature, for instance, is brought to the fore here, both through dialogue and Studio Ghibli’s unparalleled visual compositions. Ashitaka and San also reflect Miyazaki’s boundless faith in youth, anticipating fan-favourite characters such as Spirited Away’s Chihiro as they fight against Eboshi’s future of industrial brutality. Nevertheless, Princess Mononoke is, as suggested, perhaps one of Studio Ghibli’s more adult films; this isn’t to say it lacks the studio’s characteristic warmth, yet its characters are sterner and the messaging more direct than Miyazaki’s traditional fare. However, what emerges in Princess Mononoke is a narrative for all time: its faith in nature, community, and youth and appeal to boundless generations is — perhaps now more than ever — crucial.

Sam Ripley

Even by the standards of animation legends Studio Ghibli, Princess Mononoke is something special. Set against a backdrop of distinctly Japanese fantasy but drawing inspiration from everything from Medieval history to cinema’s great Westerns, it tells the story of Ashitaka, a melancholic prince who must search for a way to stop the curse that is threatening his village. As he travels further from home, Ashitaka is confronted with untrustworthy allies and strange monsters. His quest eventually brings him to the heart of a conflict between the industrial Irontown and the forces of nature itself. Princess Mononoke uses these fantasy tropes to construct something truly unique. It’s thrilling but not throwaway, provocative but not dour, and its inspiring soundtrack and gorgeous visuals will stay with you long after the credits have rolled. Now almost two decades old, Hayao Miyazaki’s magnum opus has lost none of its magic.

Charlie Roberson