There's something I like about Japanese mythology and their idea of polytheism or gods. Unlike the God of monotheism, who is all powerful creator god—the Japanese mythical gods are much, much weaker, more present in direct action and are usually tied to some spiritual idea of a sort. Forests, rivers, mountains and the like. And their jurisdiction and guardianship are usually bound to such features. They can come into being when a lot of people start believing in them and similarly they fade away when none of their worshippers remain. They are not all omnipotent, can be killed and engage in clash with mortals if dispute over dominion arises.
This is something Princess Mononoke bewildered me with; the first time I watched it 9 years ago. I loved the idea of such a myth that comes with so many diverse possibilities.
The story goes like this—
Somewhere around 1300s to 1400s, a prince of a clan gets cursed by a demon. Turns out, the demon was a boar god, poisoned by human crafted metal object, got corrupted and turned into a demon. To lift his curse, the prince leaves his village in search for the boar gods origin with hope of finding clues that might aid him. While the curse would ultimately kill him, it also gave him superhuman strengths, which helps him in his journey.
He learns about a Deer god, the great spirit of the forest who can lift his curse. But he's not the only one who's after the deer god. A town of outcasts and their gallant lady leader leader want the deer god dead and they plan to sell its head to the emperor. The head is believed to have the power to grant immortality. And there's another side, a wolf god and a human child raised by it—they are trying to save the forest from humans and keep the calm of the nature intact. Battles emerge from all sides. The prince gets thrown into the midst of it all.
The story is one thrilling journey and an epic fantasy tale! While I can only imagine it was not targeted at 10 year olds like Spirited Away was, I believe people of all ages can jump right in. Aptly it was quite popular too, one of the few films that made anime a known genre in the western world. Miyazaki's usual style is surely present, the amazing framing details, the hand drawn goodness. I particularly taken to the forest spirit, named as 'Kodama'. They are harmless creation of the nature and they usually refer to the health of a forest. If they are present, it its likely forest is healthy or vice versa. In the film they are referred as cute little ghost like apparitions, always jerking their heads and looking from odd angles like tiny children with never ending curiosities.
Through an adventurous epic fantasy tale, the eternal fight of nature vs industrial societies becomes prominent. The town people produce iron and they require clean land which results in deforestation. This is why the other side, gods and guardians of the forest engage in battle with them to drive them away.
Yet, the town cannot be labeled as the villain, even though it served the purpose of antagonists. The town is made of social outcasts and an impressive progressive society in such a time. It took all kinds of people the civilized world didn't want to bother with, from lepers to former prostitutes and their struggle to survive and prosper as a united people is no joke.
The film is full of meaningful conflicts, yet with healthy doses of 'ma'. I have revisited some portions of the films many times over the years and it has become one of my most cherished animated films of all time.
