The Important Themes Depicted in Princess Mononoke, Explained
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Princess Mononoke is a complex film that tackles some deep topics, like pain, war, hatred, love, violence, and peace. American studios were shocked when they viewed Princess Mononoke, because they were used to Studio Ghibli’s lighter films with child protagonists. The movie follows Prince Ashitaka and San as they try to stop a bloody war between humans and the gods of the forest.
Hayao Miyazaki was not willing to tone down any of the themes in Princess Mononoke. While the film’s meant for a teenage and adult audience, he said that the questions that Mononoke asks and answers about violence and industrialization are vital. So many nuanced themes are woven into the film; they’re worth examining closely.
Princess Mononoke has many examples of effective leadership, all from different sorts of cultures. Moro is an ancient goddess of the forest who leads the Wolf Clan. She’s very respected by her wolves and the rest of her animal allies in the forest, even when they disagree with her. Moro is driven and clear-sighted; she’s also not afraid to put herself on the line for her cause. She may be fierce, but she’s also nurturing to her children, who will eventually follow in her footsteps when she’s gone. She fosters good ally relationships, she never wavers from her goal, and she balances warrior ferocity with compassion.
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