This epic, animated 1997 fantasy has already made history as the top-grossing domestic feature ever released in Japan, where its combination of mythic themes, mystical forces, and ravishing visuals tapped deeply into cultural identity and contemporary, ecological anxieties. For international animation and anime fans, Princess Mononoke represents an auspicious next step for its revered creator, Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service), an acknowledged anime pioneer, whose painterly style, vivid character design, and stylized approach to storytelling take ambitious, evolutionary steps here.

Set in medieval Japan, Miyazaki's original story envisions a struggle between nature and man. The march of technology, embodied in the dark iron forges of the ambitious Tatara clan, threatens the natural forces explicit in the benevolent Great God of the Forest and the wide-eyed, spectral spirits he protects. When Ashitaka, a young warrior from a remote, and endangered, village clan, kills a ravenous, boar-like monster, he discovers the beast is in fact an infectious "demon god," transformed by human anger. Ashitaka's quest to solve the beast's fatal curse brings him into the midst of human political intrigues as well as the more crucial battle between man and nature.

Miyazaki's convoluted fable is clearly not the stuff of kiddie matinees, nor is the often graphic violence depicted during the battles that ensue. If some younger viewers (or less attentive older ones) will wish for a diagram to sort out the players, Miyazaki's atmospheric world and its lush visual design are reasons enough to watch. For the English-language version, Miramax assembled an impressive vocal cast including Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup (as Ashitaka), Claire Danes (as San), Minnie Driver (as Lady Eboshi), Billy Bob Thornton, and Jada Pinkett Smith. They bring added nuance to a very different kind of magic kingdom. Recommended for ages 12 and older. --Sam Sutherland

Don't be fooled into thinking that cartoon movies = kiddie entertainment only. Princess Mononoke is my 8 yr-old son's favourite anime film (with Spirited Away a close second) but be warned, it's got some gore!

As the virus attacks the Prince's system, it invests him with amazing strength - and his arrows can take off arms and heads. Not always at a distance either! These scenes are not frequent.

I've been trying to put my finger on what Western viewers find unusual about these Japanese films and I think that it is the ambiguity about good and evil. We like our goodies to be good and our baddies to be bad, but in PM it is more complicated than that - just like in real life! For example - the Forest God not only gives life, he takes it away.

It's an excellent film. It's a movie for enjoying together with your kids and it will prompt discussion about nature, death, environmentalism, economic progress etc. Just don't forget about the gore before you let them watch it!

Not just the best studio ghibli film but the best film ever. The storyline is brilliant. The animation is breath taking and to top it off the characters are excellent.
I would recommend this film to anyone anime fan or not.

I was extremely disappointed with this film. I didn't connect with the characters very well and found the storyline a little weak. Nowhere as good as Spirited Away. :-(

if not the best. Spirited Away may have been the commercial breakout and it was a great film - but at times the narrative wandered from a coherent storyline into seemingly random dreamlike events and motivations.

Mononoke suffers from none of this - events unfold according to motivations both expected and surprising, but always natural, involving you in the story and giving the characters substance. The journey into the world of Miyazaki's imagination - a world which is always beautiful and fantastic - is relaxing and enjoyable with no jolts or bumps from inscrutable actions or events.

Classic storytelling at it's best.

Brilliant, and fantastic animation but fairly menacing for children. Our boys, 5 and 8 were a bit disturbed, although they enjoyed it the 5 year old wouldn't go to bed on his own. If your kids are of a delicate disposition or under 10 they may be scared.
Great for adults though!