It’s equally clear why the creatures of the forest might fear humanity, who bring a curse down on them with iron weapons, and fear the curse, which corrupts spirits as they’re taken over by blind fear. The melting spirit heals barren land and lifts Ashitaka’s curse, and in death, it restores life to the forest.įormlessness in a world defined by clear lines is inherently strange, and it’s understandable why the people of Irontown might fear the Forest Spirit or the apes, since they can’t understand them. Though Eboshi’s attack briefly makes it universally dangerous - the black goo it bleeds kills anything it touches - it isn’t an evil force of nature. It grows into a sort of blue liquid colossus, and becomes translucent in a way reminiscent of the curse that warps multiple characters throughout the film. Its face changes, and its entire form changes when Lady Eboshi decapitates it. The film’s Great Forest Spirit initially appears as a deer with a human-like face, but that appearance doesn’t remain consistent. They can’t be clearly seen, and they don’t respond to reason or negotiation.īut while they’re malevolent, not all of the film’s mysterious entities are enemies. Of all Princess Mononoke’s creatures, they most represent the unknown. Their features are nebulous, denoted only by changes in color rather than the typical black outlines. And though the apes do appear clearly, they’re also portrayed as formless in their encounter with San and Ashitaka. The curse manifests in purplish-black tendrils that vary in length, strobe between solidity and opacity, and occasionally even give off a menacing glow. Neither do the apes who attempt to eat Ashitaka, to increase their power. The film follows Ashitaka’s journey as he meets with both the people of Irontown and the gods who rule the forest, who are all seen clearly, as if to emphasize the clarity of their needs and demands.īut the curse that afflicts the boar god Nago, and spreads to Ashitaka, doesn’t have such a definite shape. That makes it all the more notable when elements of Princess Mononoke stray from those clearly defined lines in order to emphasize the mystery of some spirits and forces. That clear, detail-oriented style is a major part of what distinguishes Studio Ghibli, and what sets its films apart from ordinary anime, at least in Miyazaki’s personal philosophy. Ghibli films normally render characters and their environs in meticulous detail. The forest gods, in turn, are trying to keep their home and its inhabitants safe from human depredations.Īshitaka, pursued by the cursed Nago. There are no real villains in the story - Lady Eboshi, who rules Irontown, is doing her best to provide for her people, who are already social outcasts. The protagonist, Ashitaka, manages to bridge the gap between the two societies entirely because he’s an outsider who can see both sides of the ongoing fight. As a result, they almost destroy each other. The human city of Irontown, built deep past normal human boundaries in a wild forest, comes into conflict with the gods of the forest because they fail to communicate with and understand each other. Ultimately, most of the film’s bloodshed stems from fear of the unknown.
But the most impressive, frightening part of the film is the way Miyazaki manages to turn one of the film’s driving forces, the fear of the unknown, into a visible force.
Environmentalism is a primary theme, as the characters struggle to balance human survival with the needs of the nature around them. It’s certainly the goriest of Miyazaki’s films, rife with blood and severed body parts, and it features some of the most terrifying monster designs in the Ghibli canon. But Princess Mononoke pushes the limits of that balance. His work always balances seemingly childish stories with grown-up themes, or mature stories with childish flights of fancy. Hayao Miyazaki’s films can’t be categorized as kids’ stories or adult-focused features. Read all of the stories on our Ghibli Guide page. With Studio Ghibli’s library now on digital and streaming services, we’ve surveyed the studio’s history, impact, and biggest themes.
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