Princesses Aren’t Just a Disney Thing
In the world of movies, many a time, people do not take animated films seriously. If your cast is animated (in this case, cell drawn) people will overlook the work put into it. A movie that you should not overlook though is the 1997 anime classic, Princess Mononoke. Created by animation genius Hayao Miyazaki and with an English script adaptation written by Neil Gaiman, somebody who has never seen this movie can imagine how beautiful it is. Something that makes it even more beautiful: it passes the Bechdel Test.
Though the main character is a banished prince, the two strongest characters are a leader of an industrial town and a young woman fighting for a sacred forest. Ashitaka, the main character travels to Iron Town after rescuing two injured soldiers to return them home. There he meets Lady Eboshi, the strong willed leader who knows that her women work just as hard as her men. That is all great that she’s bringing equality to a group of women in the Muromachi period of Japan, but the big issue is that Iron Town is on the turf of the forest gods, and San, their princess is not happy with it.
Mononoke Hime, the Japanese title of the movie translates to “spirit princess,” literally proving that San is a princess of the gods. As time passes, San, Ashitaka, and Eboshi become intertwined and slowly the plot becomes less about Ashitaka breaking a toxic curse and more about protecting the forest and defying the gods. What makes this movie so important to me is just how much of a feminist movie this is. If you are familiar with Miyazaki, you will know that all of his female characters are well rounded and are independent, the women are able to stand on their own two feet, and they are never sacrificed for the glory of their male counterparts. If you know nothing about the director, now you know (If you have never watched a Miyazaki film, I urge you to watch Castle in the Sky and Spirited Away). Each woman has their own name and their own personality, even the women we see for a brief moment. Lady Eboshi, herself is extremely complex. As sharp as the fire arms she makes, Eboshi also has a soft side. Outside of Iron Town, there is a commune of lepers that Lady Eboshi takes supports She also has a history of hiring brothel girls so they could live a better life. Harsh with a kind heart, something we usually do not see from a “dragon lady.”
Many people claim that Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney and his studio, but in reality, Ghibli is so much more. The stories are more engaging than any Disney film I have seen, and even the movies focused more towards children have multiple story lines and complex characters. So even if there are kids afoot, I would suggest a Ghibli film. However, Princess Mononoke is not a children’s film. It is rated PG-13 because the images are brutal and dark. If you are interested in a complex fantasy movie with fascinating characters, Mononoke is something to watch. If the kids are around, watch My Neighbor Totoro or Ponyo, which were made specifically with children in mind. Do not think of this movie as an animated movie but an award winning film. Princess Mononoke is a visually stunning film that few can compare to. With a deep message of internal strength, protection of the Earth, and of course girl power, there is nothing not to love about this movie. There is even a semi-happy ending (it’s really about how you look at it). I urge you to watch this film, and if none of this has gotten you interested in this masterpiece, maybe the idea of Gillian Anderson voicing a giant white wolf may interest you. Plus, the score is absolutely stunning.
-Teresa Navarro
Though the main character is a banished prince, the two strongest characters are a leader of an industrial town and a young woman fighting for a sacred forest. Ashitaka, the main character travels to Iron Town after rescuing two injured soldiers to return them home. There he meets Lady Eboshi, the strong willed leader who knows that her women work just as hard as her men. That is all great that she’s bringing equality to a group of women in the Muromachi period of Japan, but the big issue is that Iron Town is on the turf of the forest gods, and San, their princess is not happy with it.
Mononoke Hime, the Japanese title of the movie translates to “spirit princess,” literally proving that San is a princess of the gods. As time passes, San, Ashitaka, and Eboshi become intertwined and slowly the plot becomes less about Ashitaka breaking a toxic curse and more about protecting the forest and defying the gods. What makes this movie so important to me is just how much of a feminist movie this is. If you are familiar with Miyazaki, you will know that all of his female characters are well rounded and are independent, the women are able to stand on their own two feet, and they are never sacrificed for the glory of their male counterparts. If you know nothing about the director, now you know (If you have never watched a Miyazaki film, I urge you to watch Castle in the Sky and Spirited Away). Each woman has their own name and their own personality, even the women we see for a brief moment. Lady Eboshi, herself is extremely complex. As sharp as the fire arms she makes, Eboshi also has a soft side. Outside of Iron Town, there is a commune of lepers that Lady Eboshi takes supports She also has a history of hiring brothel girls so they could live a better life. Harsh with a kind heart, something we usually do not see from a “dragon lady.”
Many people claim that Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney and his studio, but in reality, Ghibli is so much more. The stories are more engaging than any Disney film I have seen, and even the movies focused more towards children have multiple story lines and complex characters. So even if there are kids afoot, I would suggest a Ghibli film. However, Princess Mononoke is not a children’s film. It is rated PG-13 because the images are brutal and dark. If you are interested in a complex fantasy movie with fascinating characters, Mononoke is something to watch. If the kids are around, watch My Neighbor Totoro or Ponyo, which were made specifically with children in mind. Do not think of this movie as an animated movie but an award winning film. Princess Mononoke is a visually stunning film that few can compare to. With a deep message of internal strength, protection of the Earth, and of course girl power, there is nothing not to love about this movie. There is even a semi-happy ending (it’s really about how you look at it). I urge you to watch this film, and if none of this has gotten you interested in this masterpiece, maybe the idea of Gillian Anderson voicing a giant white wolf may interest you. Plus, the score is absolutely stunning.
-Teresa Navarro
#FLAWLESS