Quartile rating: 8.5/10 · 2 ratings
Ashitaka, a prince of the disappearing Emishi people, is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. Along the way, he encounters San, a young human woman fighting to protect the forest, and Lady Eboshi, who is trying to destroy it. Ashitaka must find a way to bring balance to this conflict.
Princess Mononoke is a landmark of animated filmmaking and one of Miyazaki's most ambitious works. The plot is genuinely exceptional — morally complex, refusing easy villains, weaving environmentalism, industrialization, and spirituality into a rich tapestry that stands apart from conventional fantasy narratives. The cinematography (hand-drawn animation) is breathtaking, with sweeping forest sequences, ferocious battle scenes, and the haunting imagery of the Forest Spirit that remain iconic decades later. Novelty is high: no other film quite occupies this tonal and thematic space — neither fully pro-nature nor anti-human, drawn in a style that is distinctly Miyazaki yet uniquely dark and epic for its time. Acting (voice performances) is solid and committed but not a particular standout — the Japanese cast is strong but the performances serve the story rather than elevating it. The ending, while emotionally resonant, is somewhat abrupt and leaves threads only partially resolved, earning a measured score rather than a top mark.