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Princess Mononoke, to give this Japanese anime feature its English title, is the strongest of the films of Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle) that I have yet to see. Set in sixteenth century Japan, it follows the story of Prince Ashitaka, cursed from a battle with a terrifying boar-demon, on his quest to cure himself, and the encounters he has with the industrial, personified in trigger happy Lady Eboshi, and the wild, in the eponymous 'Monster Princess'.
At over two hours in length, this is no throwaway children's adventure story, and indeed the PG rating it received in Britain in no way anticipates the violence in the story; blood is a recurring theme, and there is a great deal of dismemberment and decapitation, as well as a hoard of terrifying demons and gods of the natural realm. Developed from Miyazaki's original script, the story is typically unpredictable and features a host of, to Western eyes at least, completely innovative encounters. It possibly reads as a parable for the destruction of nature by industry, although the symbolism and realisation is so complex as to feel that Miyazaki has produced a complete, epic fairy tale, with all the hidden meanings and emotions thus inherent.
As ever with Studio Ghibli productions, the animation is astonishing throughout. The life breathed into the natural world is amazing, from the huge lush landscapes down to the tiny details. There is also a terrific sense of pace to many of the action scenes, unusual in animation for often featuring a roving camera that swoops and flies along with the action. The whole thing is held together by a lush, sweeping score from the inimitable Joe Hisaishi. Moving from minimalist ticks and thumps to sweeping orchestral mayhem, he cements his place as one of the best composers of film music in the world today.
As a point of principle I watched this film in Japanese, subtitled in English, but for those disinclined to do so, there is apparently one of the finest examples of translation and dubbing in modern cinema, so this should be no reason not to watch.
Many will be familiar with Spirited Away, the Oscar-winning fantasy animation that was to be Studio Ghibli's next production. In that film, a modern-day setting was juxtaposed with the fantasy world into which the central character is drawn. While brilliant, I personally feel that Miyazaki's best is when these elements are distilled into their own stories. My Neighbour Totoro is a delightful fantasy about childhood that is given a completely non-fantastical setting, inhabited by strange creatures such as the 'Kittenbus'. Princess Mononoke steals Totoro's crown as my favourite Miyazaki feature, and indeed may be the best animated film I have ever seen.
5/5
At over two hours in length, this is no throwaway children's adventure story, and indeed the PG rating it received in Britain in no way anticipates the violence in the story; blood is a recurring theme, and there is a great deal of dismemberment and decapitation, as well as a hoard of terrifying demons and gods of the natural realm. Developed from Miyazaki's original script, the story is typically unpredictable and features a host of, to Western eyes at least, completely innovative encounters. It possibly reads as a parable for the destruction of nature by industry, although the symbolism and realisation is so complex as to feel that Miyazaki has produced a complete, epic fairy tale, with all the hidden meanings and emotions thus inherent.
As ever with Studio Ghibli productions, the animation is astonishing throughout. The life breathed into the natural world is amazing, from the huge lush landscapes down to the tiny details. There is also a terrific sense of pace to many of the action scenes, unusual in animation for often featuring a roving camera that swoops and flies along with the action. The whole thing is held together by a lush, sweeping score from the inimitable Joe Hisaishi. Moving from minimalist ticks and thumps to sweeping orchestral mayhem, he cements his place as one of the best composers of film music in the world today.
As a point of principle I watched this film in Japanese, subtitled in English, but for those disinclined to do so, there is apparently one of the finest examples of translation and dubbing in modern cinema, so this should be no reason not to watch.
Many will be familiar with Spirited Away, the Oscar-winning fantasy animation that was to be Studio Ghibli's next production. In that film, a modern-day setting was juxtaposed with the fantasy world into which the central character is drawn. While brilliant, I personally feel that Miyazaki's best is when these elements are distilled into their own stories. My Neighbour Totoro is a delightful fantasy about childhood that is given a completely non-fantastical setting, inhabited by strange creatures such as the 'Kittenbus'. Princess Mononoke steals Totoro's crown as my favourite Miyazaki feature, and indeed may be the best animated film I have ever seen.
5/5
3 comments:
I know!!! Princess Mononoke is really best animated film I have ever seen!!!! It`s rulez!!
Great work.
I love this film.
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