“Princess Mononoke” is a great initiation story coupled with a very strong ecological message and a more contemporary resonance than ever before. It is a true gem from Studio Ghibli and its creator Hayao Miyazaki. To watch or rewatch on Netflix.
In this magnificent story by Hayao Miyazaki, Ashitaka, the future leader of the Emishi clan, sets out to find the deer god in order to lift a curse placed on his body. His search leads him to an encounter with Princess Mononoke, who fights against humans to protect the sacred forest, which is home to giant animals and other folkloric creatures.
Premiering in Japan in July 1997, “Princess Mononoke” received a triumphant reception with no fewer than 17 million visitors. A colossal record for an animated film in the land of the rising sun. With this film, set in feudal Japan in the 15th century, in the Muromachi era, Miyazaki-San’s work – and more broadly the Ghibli productions – achieved its real breakthrough with the general public.
Of great visual power, elegant, where ancestral legends brilliantly mix with historical references, Princess Mononoke is also a great initiation story coupled with a strong ecological message.
Because in this story, in which humans and nature confront each other with all their might, the protagonist tries by all means to avoid an escalation of the conflict by working for harmony between humans and gods without having to dominate the other to survive and thrive.
Studio Ghibli
“I was not satisfied with the image that Studios Ghibli conveyed of man in relation to his environment. In particular, the gentle, idyllic way we showed the relationship with nature. “I think that in the relationship between man and nature there is a terrible aspect, something much greater…” said Miyazaki, who took three years to deliver this dark and even violent work, not intended for the very young audience was.
It is hardly surprising that viewers, especially those at AlloCiné, rank this work among the top 3 animated films by Ghibli. Even 26 years after its release, the film’s message is still as strong as it was on day one. And with a resonance that is more relevant than ever.