Hi, everyone, this is Ian. It’s been a long time since I wrote the blog post in English, but here we are.

Today’s topic features Princess Mononoke – a movie crafted by the renowned director Hayao Miyazaki -, which outlines Prince Ashikata’s, who is cursed by demonic spirits as he attempts to find the cure, unlikely adventure into a village experiencing a conflicting choice between iron and environment. As we shall see later, Princess Mononoke reflects a moral dilemma in current society…

Whilst portrayed through an animated landscape this movie is able to reveal the struggle between an ideological utopia as desired by the “animal gods” and a materialistic pursuit favoured by Lady Eboshi and her followers. Although the message is intricate, and perhaps even subtle, Miyazaki potentially partakes in the perspective of the “animal gods” where a symbiotic coexistence between nature and humanity engenders a much more utilitarian success. This partiality can be deduced from Miyazaki’s detailed portrayals of bloodshed and villainous humans, which are effective tools in inciting viewers’ negative emotions toward humans’ incessant destructions of natural preserves. Thus, Princess Mononoke is a critique on current society.

As much as I respect Miyazaki’s warnings in Princess Mononoke, I do not fully subscribe to his ideology. I consider capitalistic gain to be more important than natural protection since it is the underpinning concept and the fundamental operative of current society. From my perspective, the concerns for natural environment should not impede the necessary progress humans intend as we evolve as a better species.

Overall, the contents and drawings are very representative of Miyazaki’s style, so I would definite recommend this movie. Simply put, Princess Mononoke is a classic for both newcomers and followers of Miyazaki’s animations alike.

That will do it for this blog post. See you next time!