Princess Mononoke
Movie, 1997, The '90s, Set in Muromachi Japan
Princess Mononoke is #11 of 25 in release order and #11 of 25 in chronological order in the Studio Ghibli.
The story
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 recap
Princess Mononoke (1997) follows Ashitaka, a prince cursed by a demon boar, who is caught in a war between an iron-making town and the forest gods. Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed this Muromachi-era fantasy. Ashitaka (Yōji Matsuda) kills a boar god turned demon by an iron ball lodged in its body, and the wound on his arm will spread until it kills him. His search leads to Irontown, run by Lady Eboshi (Yūko Tanaka), who shelters former brothel workers and lepers and is clearing the forest for iron. She is at war with the wolf goddess Moro (Akihiro Miwa) and San (Yuriko Ishida), a human girl raised by wolves. The monk Jigo (Kaoru Kobayashi) is working with Eboshi to take the head of the Forest Spirit for the emperor. Ashitaka tries to stop both sides.
Princess Mononoke ending explained
Princess Mononoke ends with Eboshi shooting off the Forest Spirit's head, and its giant headless body spreading death across the land as it searches for it. Ashitaka and San take the head from Jigo and return it. The spirit dies at dawn, but green life returns and Ashitaka's curse fades. Eboshi, who loses an arm, vows to build a better town; San stays in the forest, and Ashitaka stays at Irontown, promising to visit.
Post-credits scenes
No. Princess Mononoke has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke is streaming on HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 93%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Whisper of the Heart, before My Neighbors the Yamadas.
- Chronological order: after Whisper of the Heart, before My Neighbors the Yamadas.
Cast
- Yoji Matsuda as Ashitaka (voice)
- Yuriko Ishida as San / Kaya (voice)
- Yuko Tanaka as Eboshi Gozen (voice)
- Kaoru Kobayashi as Jikobo (voice)
- Masahiko Nishimura as Kouroku (voice)
- Tsunehiko Kamijô as Gonza (voice)
- Akihiro Miwa as Mrs. Moro (voice)
- Mitsuko Mori as Mrs. Hii (voice)
- Hisaya Morishige as Chief of Affairs (voice)
- Sumi Shimamoto as Toki (voice)
- Tetsu Watanabe as Wild Dog (voice)
- Makoto Satō as Tatari God (voice)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.