Princess Mononoke Review: Nature and Industry at War
9/10 — Princess Mononoke (1997)
Pros
- Rich, lush animation
- Morally complex characters
- Hisaishi's score
Cons
- Dense plot
- Violence for younger viewers
Prince Ashitaka, cursed by a demon boar, travels west to find a cure and is caught between the industrial Irontown and the forest gods and wolf-girl San. Hayao Miyazaki’s film is more violent and morally complex than most of his work.
What works
The animation is lush and detailed, with the forest spirits and the Great Forest Spirit unforgettable. Nobody is purely good or evil: Lady Eboshi is a compassionate leader who destroys the forest. Joe Hisaishi’s score is epic.
Where it falters
The plot is dense, and some of the violence, with severed limbs and heads, may be too much for young children.
Verdict
A majestic, thoughtful fantasy for older viewers.
