One of the few anime films seeing widespread theatrical release across the United States, Princess Mononoke wowed critics with its intricate, original plot and excellent animation. Top that off with an all-star cast of voice actors, including actresses Minnie Driver and Gillian Anderson, and you’ve got what the Boston Globe called “Breathtaking” - Princess Mononoke is one of the best anime releases of all time.

Princess Mononoke gives life and meaning to the life around us, specifically, to the animals in the wild. The plot focuses on humanity’s expansion through the wild, on the industrialization of society, and on the relationship of humanity and nature. The protagonist, Ashitaka, is infected with a virus and must travel across the lands to find a cure. He becomes caught up in the battle to save the forest and the animals - who are gods. The principle conflict is between the cunning Lady Eboshi, who wants to rid the world of these animal gods, and Princess Mononoke, a young girl raised by wolves. The epic battle between man and nature contains very powerful messages about the place of nature in the world and the reverence it deserves.

The cast of characters in Princess Mononoke includes a combination of well-developed human characters and powerful animal gods. The protagonist, Ashitaka, begins as a brave but naïve young boy whose unfortunate encounter with an evil virus leaves him with no choice but to flee his homeland. He must wander and search for a cure, for the evil that infects him will devour him as well if nothing is done. His involvement in the battle of man versus nature allows him to see the conflict from both sides’ perspectives, contributing to his deep character development and understanding of the situation. Though he stays hopeful and inherently good, his disposition is tempered by his dawning of awareness of the situation’s true ramifications. Princess Mononoke is another deep character who undergoes a transformation with a humanly, understandable climax. Due to her encounter with Ashitaka, Mononoke is forced to see both sides of the war as well, but her stubborn will and savage upbringing always cloud her judgment. Other support characters, such as Lady Eboshi and the various forest gods, contribute their own views on things, such as the need for industrialization and expansion and the sacredness of the forest. Each person represents a distinct viewpoint that is accented through excellent scripting and powerful reasoning. The combination of the characters makes for a very well-balanced cast. In the end, the cast will show you what you thought was the impossible; how the other person sees things.

Ashitaka is a brave but naïve young boy whose unfortunate encounter with an evil virus leaves him with no choice but to flee his homeland in search of a cure.	Lush, beautiful backgrounds join with the smooth cel animation to provide a cornucopia of visual delights.

Princess Mononoke does not disappoint in the aesthetics department. Featuring gorgeous, colorful visuals, the forest truly comes to life with sharp, colorful cels and smooth animation. Character design is bar none, with each character’s physical traits bearing some resemblance to their personalities, making for an unforgettable combination. The visual splendor never ends: the lush locales keep the eyes busy while the intricate and gripping plot keep the mind busy.

Princess Mononoke was released in the States with a dub boasting an all-star cast of voice actors, including Gillian Anderson, Billy Bob Thornton, Minnie Driver, and Jada Pinkett Smith. Of course, anime buffs scoffed at this and many longed for the dual-language DVD release. After viewing the film in both languages, I am completely and thoroughly satisfied with both. I guess the all-star English cast paid off, because Princess Mononoke’s dubbing proves my theory that dubs are just getting better and better (well, for the most part). The Japanese voice acting is excellent, as usual (did you expect any less?). But the film loses very little if watched in English; for instance, Minnie Driver gives Lady Eboshi a cold, solemn voice with an English accent to set her apart from the people she governs. Billy Crudup’s work as Ashitaka goes over well also. His voice sounds inquisitive and young, but wise and brave at the same time, fitting the character completely.

Joe Hisaishi’s epic score is one that adds that powerful “oomph” to many of Princess Mononoke’s scenes. The mostly classical-influenced score uses many variations of heavy percussion and strings, which accent many of the scenes, mostly in a quiet, underlying sense. Though there are a few standalone pieces that take center stage in the movie, the soundtrack is composed of many pieces that are necessary for the true feeling of the film to be conveyed.

Princess Mononoke proves to be one of the most original and engrossing anime films of all time. Do yourself a favor and witness the war between man and nature, and watch as a young man attempts to see “with eyes unclouded by hate” a world so filled with that hate.

Distributor: Miramax Films
Creator: Studio Ghibli
Released: 1997

Plot: A+
Character Design: A+
Animation Quality: A+
Music: A
Overall: A+