The seventh feature film from the renowned director Hayao Miyazaki marks what he himself described as his final cinematic journey. It is an epic fantasy that blends brutal truth with delicate beauty, exploring the fragile balance between human need and the living world. Yet to many, Princess Mononoke became not only a landmark in animated cinema but a turning point for global audiences, opening the door for Miyazaki’s work in the West. The film’s enduring influence is evident today as it continues to resonate with audiences, celebrated twenty five years after its initial release, and reissued in Spain to mark the anniversary. It stands as a masterclass in weaving spirituality, violence, humor, and romance into a visually dazzling tapestry.
Princess Mononoke represents a bold artistic detour in Miyazaki’s career while preserving the core elements that define his style: Studio Ghibli’s distinct voice, a Japanese sensibility steeped in folklore, intricate female protagonists, and a vivid environmental message. With roots in early works that softened the edges of his imagination, Miyazaki began to push toward darker, more complex terrain in the early 1990s, reflecting a world he saw as fragile and self-destructive. The film’s tone is uncompromising, earthy, and fierce, a stark departure that still carries the unmistakable warmth and wonder of his storytelling.
Ashitaka, a medieval prince, steps into a siege between a humanity bent on exploiting nature and the forest spirits and beasts fighting for their survival. Along his journey he crosses paths with a boar god who has transformed into a demon, a ruler driven by industrial ambition, a mighty spirit that shifts from deer-like calm by day to an ethereal giant by night, and a fierce young woman forged in the wilderness who embodies the wild harmony between humanity and the natural world. A human warrior raised by wolves, who calls herself a saint, also appears as a pivotal presence, challenging every expectation about loyalty, power, and mercy.
To illuminate Miyazaki’s approach to these intertwined strands of myth and politics—ambitious mercenaries, a world of warfare, and creatures that blur the line between benevolence and menace—the director does more than borrow from Shinto beliefs and Japanese myths. He situates the story amid Japan’s environmental catastrophes and social upheavals, crafting a narrative that refuses to reduce evil to a simple stereotype. The film invites audiences of every age to consider moral ambiguity and shared responsibility, a hallmark that threads through Miyazaki’s entire body of work but is most explicit here. The result is a cinematic voice that speaks across generations, offering danger and beauty in equal measure and inviting viewers to see the world through a lens of empathy and complexity.
like fine wines
Over the quarter century since its release, the shadow of Princess Mononoke has only grown longer. The film’s influence has pervaded a broad spectrum of culture, from television episodes to video games, shaping contemporary storytelling in unexpected ways. The creators of popular animation and even narrative-driven games have cited its impact as a source of inspiration. At the same time, concerns about climate change and the consequences of human activity have intensified, underscoring the film’s core message: solutions emerge through understanding, dialogue, and cooperation across communities and nations. Ashitaka and San do not merely navigate a conflict between people and nature; they model the kind of collaborative thinking that can influence politics, culture, and everyday life. The film’s enduring pessimism about human impact never fully eclipses Miyazaki’s faith in human resilience and the possibility of breakthrough moments where life, even in suffering, still has reasons to endure—an outlook echoed by critics and audiences alike.