Princess Mononoke: The Art and Making of Japan's Most Popular Film of All Time

About this book

This gorgeously animated film is the brainchild of Hayao Miyazaki, one of Japans most acclaimed directors, and is Japans most successful film ever, breaking the attendance records previously set by E.T. This lavishly illustrated volume tells the story behind the making of the film, and reveals the secrets behind anime, the popular Japanese animation technique. Set in the remote forests of northern Japan, The Princess Mononoke is an eco-fable of medieval times in which industry and civilization struggle against nature and humanity. Hailed as one of the best animated features ever made, The Princess Mononoke is certain to enthrall audiences across the country. Set in the remote splendor of the forests of northern Japan, Princess Mononoke is a spectacular "eco-fable" that pits the forces of industry and civilization against the fierce yet fragile natural environment. Drawing on Japanese folklore, myth, and legend, the filmmakers have created powerful gods and spirits who command a lush forest that is being threatened and polluted by the presence of an ironworks. More a chronicle of the struggle between civilization and nature than a battle between good and evil, Princess Mononoke introduces us to such characters as Prince Ashitaka, Lady Eboshi, and, of course, Princess Mononoke herself.