Princess Mononoke

In this animated film written and directed by the legendary Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki, the ties to the idea of human and animal equality are highlighted. The protagonist, the prince of a small village named Ashitaka, has grown up with an understanding that animals must be highly respected, a teaching that has been passed down throughout his village. After having to kill a boar that is possessed by a demon, the demon puts a curse on Ashitaka's arm, which forces the rest of the village to banish him.



Ashitaka leaves the village with his trusty sidekick Yakul, a red elk whom he regards as a sibling. The two reach a far-off town inhabited by humans entirely. The humans are lead by the sinister Lady Eboshi who hopes to produce weapons that can kill the animals living in the forest in order to build her empire.



Opposite Lady Eboshi is the princess of the wolves, a young woman named San. San was raised by wolves and, though she is human, characterizes herself as an wolf and not human. San wishes to stop the Lady Eboshi and her army from taking over the forest, believing that the forest is meant for the animals to inhabit and that the humans should all be eliminated.



Ashitaka stands between these two women of power as a symbol of the unity between humans and animals. He poses as the hero that envisions a forest where both humans and animals live together with no hatred for either kind. Ashitaka desires for neither of these factions to take over the forest, but for both to come together.



This film builds on the idea that humans and non-human animals should all strive to live with each other, instead of trying to have one group stand above the other. Other than focusing on only animals, the movie also gives warning to the industialization of nature and promotes feminism by giving many of the women in the movie important and powerful roles. Like all other Studio Ghibli films, the animation is incredible and so is the background music. This is one of my favoite Hayao Miyazaki films and one of my favorite films ever, and it so happens to fit the theme of this class.