While seeking to cure himself of a curse, young warrior Ashitaka stumbles into a conflict between the people of Iron Town and Princess Mononoke, a girl raised by wolves, who will stop at not... Read allWhile seeking to cure himself of a curse, young warrior Ashitaka stumbles into a conflict between the people of Iron Town and Princess Mononoke, a girl raised by wolves, who will stop at nothing to prevent the destruction of her home.While seeking to cure himself of a curse, young warrior Ashitaka stumbles into a conflict between the people of Iron Town and Princess Mononoke, a girl raised by wolves, who will stop at nothing to prevent the destruction of her home.
- Awards
- 14 wins & 6 nominations total
- Ashitaka
- (voice)
- San
- (voice)
- …
- Eboshi-gozen
- (voice)
- Ashitaka
- (English version)
- (voice)
- Jigo
- (English version)
- (voice)
- Lady Eboshi
- (English version)
- (voice)
- Gonza
- (English version)
- (voice)
- …
- San
- (English version)
- (voice)
- Kohroku
- (English version)
- (voice)
- Toki
- (English version)
- (voice)
- Moro
- (English version)
- (voice)
- Okkoto
- (English version)
- (voice)
- …
- Additional Voices
- (English version)
- (voice)
- Kaya
- (English version)
- (voice)
- (as Tara Charandoff)
- …
- Additional Voices
- (English version)
- (voice)
- (as Julia DeMita)
- Hii-sama
- (English version)
- (voice)
- …
- Additional Voices
- (English version)
- (voice)
- Additional Voices
- (English version)
- (voice)
The animation is spectacular, and unusual, with new elements even for Miyazake and marks a new departure for style which you can see continued in his next film, Sen to Chihiro - more nature, more wild, more jamming on elements from Japanese myth and folklore. And, continuing the trend to be more personal, concerned with ethics and character, and less sci-fi. There are at least half a dozen well developed characters threaded through the story, and their animation is wonderful in displaying subtle character.
The original Japanese soundtrack has some amazing singing and draws upon some of the best talent available for voices - in Japan, Miyazake is universally known and this was a masterpiece carefully crafted. Japanese television documented a lot of the production. The English translation drew on some good talent but they seem not to have "gotten it" quite so intensely as the Japanese crew.
If you haven't seen Miyazake, give it a try (but maybe look at Sen to Chihiro first, or even Laputa or Kiki's Delivery Service, for easier and lighter introduction to his work). Some say he is the Japanese Disney, but I don't like that. His work has a depth and sophistication that goes beyond Disney cute. There is no other animation like it. This is truly an adult work: children might like some of the visuals, but I doubt that many kids below teen age will have any idea what it is all about, and even adults will get more out of this each time you see it again.
- TanjBennett
- Apr 14, 2003
- Permalink
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Harvey Weinstein obtained the North-American distribution rights to Princess Mononoke, he approached director Hayao Miyazaki and insisted on a shorter version of the film that would be better attuned to American audiences. However, Miyazaki was still so upset by the heavily cut version of his Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) (released as 'Warriors of the Wind') that he angrily left the meeting. Several days later, Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki sent a katana sword to Weinstein's office with 'NO CUTS' embedded into its blade. The film was later released in the USA in its uncut version. When asked about the incident in an interview, Miyazaki simply smiled and stated "I defeated him".
- GoofsWhen Ashitaka first visits the Forest Spirits home, he spots the Spirit's traces (shape of his hooves) underneath the water surface. But later in the movie, the spirit is seen as a walking surface, which is regarded as a goof. It isn't. The spirit, shishigami, can do whatever it pleases.
- Quotes
Osa: Life is suffering. It is hard. The world is cursed. But still, you find reasons to keep living.
- Crazy creditsThere are no opening credits.
- Alternate versionsWhen aired on Canadian cable channel, YTV, a slightly different earlier "rough-cut" version of the English dub aired instead of the theatrical version. This version features some different dialogue such as in the scene where Lady Eboshi first sees San, she calls her "Wolf beast" instead of "Princess Mononoke". The singing of the movie's theme is also left in Japanese and not dubbed into English for this version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Princess Mononoke: How the Film Was Conceived (1998)
- SoundtracksMononoke-Hime/Princess Mononoke Theme Song
(Japanese vocal version)
Lyrics By Hayao Miyazaki
Vocals by counter-tenor Yoshikazu Mera
Music composed by Joe Hisaishi
Music performed by Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Hiroshi Kumagai
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- La princesa Mononoke
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- ¥2,400,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $10,877,464
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $144,446
- Oct 31, 1999
- Gross worldwide
- $176,563,412