Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki has achieved nearly legendary status due to his acclaimed anime features. Princess Mononoke was highly anticipated in Japan, and shortly after release broke all-time box office records in that country. However, those records were soon swept aside by James Cameron's Titanic.

It was not until 1999 that Princess Mononoke was released in the U.S., newly dubbed in English by Miramax with 'voice talent' featuring second-tier famous American actors. The dubbing is low key, however, without any actors imposing their trademark personalities onto the characters, a la Robin Williams or (shudder) Gilbert Gottfried. (I have not seen the Japanese language version, which, although likely different, may or may not be better.)

It would have been ironic, if unlikely, had the film had surpassed the American box office gross of Titanic. Titanic also had fourteen Academy Award nominations, while Princess Mononoke had none.

But with each passing year, Titanic looks more and more silly, while the acclaim for Princess Mononoke continues to grow. The film is now high within the IMDB top 250 at #102, while the Titanic sunk soon after making the list.

Perhaps the praise is overdone. Princess Mononoke, in terms of its animation, is not a landmark film. The Toy Story films had better animation, as did the classic Disney films from 1937 through 1940 (especially Snow White and the Seven Dwarves). Even Tarzan (1999) was more visually stunning than Princess Mononoke, although the latter film was much better due to its superior script, story, themes and characters.

The quality of animation is not always critical. South Park was a great movie because of its inspiration, in spite of its jarring 'construction paper' animation style. Princess Mononoke might not rival the graphics of Disney movies, with their hundred million dollar budgets. But the drawings are much more than functional, and the story is so engrossing that the difference won't matter. Even when the wolves and boars talk while they look like they should be growling.

Superficially, Princess Mononoke appears to be one of those politically correct cartoons. It has strong female characters, it condemns prejudice, and it promotes forest conservation. However, these themes are not treated casually. The plot, and the relationship between the characters, becomes so complex that it demonstrates how intractable these problems are.

Prejudice exists not merely between the humans and the animals, but amongst the humans and animals themselves. Concubines and lepers willingly endure hard labor in service of their champion, Lady Eboshi, as she is the only person who will give them a purpose. Meanwhile, the wolves, boars and apes get along only grudgingly.

The film has many strong female characters, especially San, the Princess Mononoke, and Lady Eboshi. But these women are far from perfect. San and Eboshi detest each other to the point of murder. Eboshi half jokingly claims to wish to rule the world, and her thirst for power and resources has disrupted the equilibrium between man and nature.

Our hero, though, is a young man, Ash*taka. In contrast to the other characters, he follows film convention. He is earnest and actively seeks harmony between the opposing forces. He sees with eyes 'unclouded with hate', as does only one other significant character, Jigo. Jigo is a good-natured but cynical Samurai who cheerfully does the Emperor's bidding, as long as it in his best interest.

Lady Eboshi is the most interesting character. She quickly sees the potential of Ash*taka. She neither opposes him nor tries to recruit him. Instead, she merely tries to explain her actions, which she knows he disapproves of.

Finally, Princess Mononoke is no tree-hugging film. The conflict between the forest and the iron works is unsolvable, with the subjugation of the forest seen as inevitable. Even the animals know that their number is up, and they prefer to go down fighting.

The dire, heavily marketed Pokemon films have given anime a bad name. Fortunately, director Miyazaki has found the way to rescue the genre, through story and characters. (76/100)

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8