Mononoke Hime
Summary: When an Emishi village is attacked by a fierce demon boar, the young prince Ashitaka puts his life at stake to defend his tribe. With its dying breath, the beast curses the prince's arm, granting him demonic powers while gradually siphoning his life away. Instructed by the village elders to travel westward for a cure, Ashitaka arrives at Tatara, the Iron Town, where he finds himself embroiled in a fierce conflict: Lady Eboshi of Tatara, promoting constant deforestation, stands against Princess San and the sacred spirits of the forest, who are furious at the destruction brought by the humans. As the opposing forces of nature and mankind begin to clash in a desperate struggle for survival, Ashitaka attempts to seek harmony between the two, all the while battling the latent demon inside of him. Princess Mononoke is a tale depicting the connection of technology and nature, while showing the path to harmony that could be achieved by mutual acceptance.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
When an Emishi village is attacked by a fierce demon boar, the young prince Ashitaka puts his life at stake to defend his tribe. With its dying breath, the beast curses the prince's arm, granting him demonic powers while gradually siphoning his life away. Instructed by the village elders to travel westward for a cure, Ashitaka arrives at Tatara, the Iron Town, where he finds himself embroiled in a fierce conflict: Lady Eboshi of Tatara, promoting constant deforestation, stands against Princess San and the sacred spirits of the forest, who are furious at the destruction brought by the humans. As the opposing forces of nature and mankind begin to clash in a desperate struggle for survival, Ashitaka attempts to seek harmony between the two, all the while battling the latent demon inside of him. Princess Mononoke is a tale depicting the connection of technology and nature, while showing the path to harmony that could be achieved by mutual acceptance.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Available At
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Mononoke Hime Trailers
Mononoke Hime Pictures
Mononoke Hime Review
Mononoke Hime — When an Emishi village is attacked by a fierce demon boar, the young prince Ashitaka puts his life at stake to defend his tribe. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Action, Adventure, Award Winning, Fantasy conventions as a Movie work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.67). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Mononoke Hime offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Action, Adventure, Award Winning, Fantasy, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Ashitaka
Main
Matsuda, Youji
Japanese
Ashitaka
Main
Crudup, Billy
English
Ashitaka
Main
Kim, Yeong Seon
Korean
Ashitaka
Main
Adriano, Peterson
Portuguese (BR)
Ashitaka
Main
Dumond, Cédric
French
Ashitaka
Main
Lippai, László
Hungarian
Ashitaka
Main
De Angelis, Lorenzo
Italian
Ashitaka
Main
Quarta, Alessandro
Italian
Ashitaka
Main
Brem, Alexander
German
Ashitaka
Main
Suárez, Luis Leonardo
Spanish
Ashitaka
Main
Robles, David
Spanish
Ashitaka
Main
Bonilla, Carlos Enrique
Spanish
San
Main
Ishida, Yuriko
Japanese
San
Main
Danes, Claire
English
San
Main
Jeong, Mi Sook
Korean
San
Main
Méry, Virginie
French
San
Main
Saltarelli, Joy
Italian
San
Main
Crispim, Fernanda
Portuguese (BR)
San
Main
Lenghi, Laura
Italian
San
Main
Von Lerchenfeld, Stefanie
German
Staff
Suzuki, Toshio
Producer
Miyazaki, Hayao
Director, Theme Song Lyrics, Screenplay, Creator
Gaiman, Neil
Script
Hisaishi, Joe
Theme Song Arrangement, Theme Song Composition, Music
Andou, Masashi
Animation Director, Character Design
Arias, Michael
Special Effects
Awata, Tsutomu
Key Animation
Cannarsi, Gualtiero
ADR Director
Encinas, David
In-Between Animation
Endou, Masaaki
Key Animation
Fletcher, Jack
ADR Director
Futaki, Makiko
Key Animation
Imura, Kenji
Production Assistant
Ina, Ryoko
Background Art
Inamura, Takeshi
Key Animation
Itagaki, Shin
2nd Key Animation, In-Between Animation
Itou, Michihiro
Sound Effects
Kagawa, Megumi
Key Animation
Kanada, Yoshinori
Key Animation
Kato, Takao
Sound Effects