Princess Mononoke is a film by Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation film company which was founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
Before Princess Mononoke, Studio Ghibli made several other popular films, such as Kiki’s Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro. These films were gentler and sweeter in nature, and so the public started making assumptions that Studio Ghibli only makes gentle films about nature and “healing” films.
After hearing these assumptions, Miyazaki stated that, “I get an urge to destroy it.” Coincidentally, at that time Japan was going through some sort of existential crisis. There was a recession, the country had just been hit by one of the worst earthquakes for Japan, and a terrorist group planned a saurin gas attack on the Tokyo Metro. Affected by all this, Miyazaki began to reflect on whether or not he should carry on making light-hearted cute films or make something more significant.
Princess Mononoke takes place in 14th century Japan which is known as the Muromachi period. It reveals the story of Ashitaka, a prince that was cursed by the last words of a dying boar god. He travels across the land in order to find a cure for his curse, hoping to meet the Shishigami, a deer-like forest spirit with the power of life and death. He discovers a ravaged world on his travels and needs to find a way to navigate through the lands.
Different from Miyazaki’s previous works, Princess Mononoke displays treacherous spectacles and violence. Blood and aggression are a part of human nature, says Miyazaki, and so children should acknowledge this and not be afraid.
Before Princess Mononoke, Studio Ghibli made several other popular films, such as Kiki’s Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro. These films were gentler and sweeter in nature, and so the public started making assumptions that Studio Ghibli only makes gentle films about nature and “healing” films.
After hearing these assumptions, Miyazaki stated that, “I get an urge to destroy it.” Coincidentally, at that time Japan was going through some sort of existential crisis. There was a recession, the country had just been hit by one of the worst earthquakes for Japan, and a terrorist group planned a saurin gas attack on the Tokyo Metro. Affected by all this, Miyazaki began to reflect on whether or not he should carry on making light-hearted cute films or make something more significant.
Princess Mononoke takes place in 14th century Japan which is known as the Muromachi period. It reveals the story of Ashitaka, a prince that was cursed by the last words of a dying boar god. He travels across the land in order to find a cure for his curse, hoping to meet the Shishigami, a deer-like forest spirit with the power of life and death. He discovers a ravaged world on his travels and needs to find a way to navigate through the lands.
Different from Miyazaki’s previous works, Princess Mononoke displays treacherous spectacles and violence. Blood and aggression are a part of human nature, says Miyazaki, and so children should acknowledge this and not be afraid.
