Japanese Anime: Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke is a highly acclaimed anime film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, known for its stunning animation and powerful story. The film was first released in Japan in 1997 and has since gained a worldwide following. The movie is set in the late Muromachi period of Japan and follows the story of Ashitaka, a young warrior who becomes embroiled in a struggle between the human settlement of Iron Town and the animal gods of the forest, led by the fierce Princess Mononoke.

When Princess Mononoke was first released in Japan on 12 July 1997, 25 years ago this week, it represented something of a departure for master animator and director Hayao Miyazaki. During the late 80s, Miyazaki had built his reputation (along with the success of Studio Ghibli, which he founded with fellow director Isao Takahata) on films like Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbour Totoro; formally ambitious, thematically rich works, but generally affirming in tone and family-friendly in nature. But something changed during the 90s.

There are happy-go-lucky children's movies, and then there's "Princess Mononoke" — the two are not the same. Prior to the release of what some consider his magnum opus, famed animator Hayao Miyazaki was primarily known for sweet, albeit emotionally complex, children's films like "Kiki's Delivery Service" and "My Neighbor Totoro." With 1997's "Princess Mononoke," he took a darker turn, honing in on the horrors of war and environmental destruction. 

"Princess Mononoke," the most successful anime film in Japanese history, breaks most of the animation rules Walt Disney lived by. Hayao Miyazaki's wondrous 14th-century tale about the never-ending battle between man and nature isn't the usual bouncy and compact 75 minutes but a leisurely (though action-packed) 21/4 hours.