Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke is a Japanese Anime movie about a struggle between supernatural guardians of a forest and humans who need its resources.

Fast Facts

1. Director/Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
2. English dub stars: Claire Danes, Billy Crudup, Billy Bob Thornton, Gillian Anderson
3. Run Time: 134 min.
4. Japanese Release: July 12, 1997
5. U.S. Release: October 29, 1999
6. English adaptation writer: Neil Gaiman
7. Placed #6 on Roger Ebert's Top 10 Films of 1999
8. Rated PG-13 for violence

Plot

The story begins with Emishi prince, Ashitaka, fighting off an angry injured boar god. He comes in contact with the boar god and is marked by his anger and hatred. Ashitaka is told that the mark will spread from his arm and eventually kill him. So he travels from where the boar came from to find a cure.

He travels to a forest where a neighboring kingdom uses for its resources. The humans are clearing the trees and killing the forests inhabitants. The gods of the forest are becoming angry.

He meets with Lady Eboshi, the leader of the human settlement. She is portrayed as a good leader who takes care of her sick, providing work for her lepers, and gives honest work to ex-brothel girls.

In the forest he meets a wild girl named San, adopted daughter of the wolves. She hates the humans and comes to attack them. The humans try to kill her but Ashitaka saves her and he is injured in the battle. He takes her back to the forest and she nurses him back to health.

The struggle between the forest creatures and humans becomes heated and a huge battle begins. Ashitaka tries to maintain the peace but is not able to prevent the battle.

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