FILM · 1997 · JAPAN
もののけ姫
- Directed by
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Runtime
- 134 min
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli, dentsu, Tokuma Shoten
104 archived facts 7 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Ashitaka, a prince of the disappearing Emishi people, is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. Along the way, he encounters San, a young human woman fighting to protect the forest, and Lady Eboshi, who is trying to destroy it. Ashitaka must find a way to bring balance to this conflict.
104 Interesting Facts About もののけ姫
Interesting Facts (17)
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When the English-dubbed version was shown at TIFF, Hayao Miyazaki introduced his film to the audience: "With Princess Mononoke, I deliberately threw out all the rules of entertainment filmmaking, so it will take some time for a true evaluation of this film to emerge. I hope you enjoy all of its ridiculously long 2 hours and 13 minutes."
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Disney/Miramax, which released the film in North America, was contractually obliged not to edit any footage for its North American release. They wanted to but were refused. Although they kept to their part of the deal not to cut the film, they released it in the theaters they had promised and expressed surprise that it earned so little from ticket sales.
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Production Story (30)
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When the English dubbed version was screened at TIFF, Hayao Miyazaki introduced his film to the audience, saying: "With Princess Mononoke, I intentionally threw out all the rules of entertainment movie-making, which is why it will take some time for a true evaluation of this film to emerge. I hope you will enjoy all of the ridiculously long 2 hours and 13 minutes."
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Disney/Miramax, which released the film in North America, was contractually obligated not to edit any footage out for its North American release. They asked to, but were refused. Although they kept their end of the bargain in not editing the film, they did release it into far fewer theaters than promised and expressed surprise that it had made little money at the box office.
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When Harvey Weinstein obtained the North-American distribution rights to Princess Mononoke, he approached director Hayao Miyazaki and insisted on a shorter version of the film that would be better attuned to American audiences. However, Miyazaki was still so upset by the heavily cut version of his Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) (released as 'Warriors of the Wind') that he angrily left the meeting. Several days later, Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki sent a katana sword to Weinstein's office with 'NO CUTS' embedded into its blade. The film was later released in the USA in its uncut version. When asked about the incident in an interview, Miyazaki simply smiled and stated "I defeated him".
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Contrary to what some may think, the English-language dialogue in the American version is not a direct translation from Japanese to English. One only has to turn on Literal Japanese-to-English translation subtitles on the region-1 DVD to see that dialogue was paraphrased into comfortable American English.
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Neil Gaiman, in Anglicizing the script, chose to simplify some plot elements to provide a cultural context for phrases and actions not well known outside of Japan. Specific terms like Jibashiri and Shishigami, for example, are changed to the more general Mercenary and Forest Spirit. On the English language DVD, the subtitle options have a literal translation of Hayao Miyazaki's script in addition to Gaiman's adaptation.
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Mononoke means angry or vengeful spirit. Hime is the Japanese honorific word that means princess, which, in the rules of Japanese grammar, is placed after a person's name instead of before, as is the custom in many Western languages. When the film's title was translated into English, it was decided that Mononoke would be left as a name rather than translated literally. This also explains why Ashitaka mostly calls the princess by her real name 'San' instead of Mononoke.
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When Harvey Weinstein acquired the North American rights to Princess Mononoke, he wanted the film shortened. Miyazaki had not forgotten the butchered version of Nausicaä; he left the meeting in anger. Days later, producer Toshio Suzuki sent a sword to Weinstein's office with the words 'NO CUTS' written on it. The film was released uncut. Miyazaki said with a smile, 'I defeated him.' Disney/Miramax could not cut a single scene due to the contract, but they said they were surprised by its low gross after showing the film in very few theaters.
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Behind the Scenes (6)
Characters & Cast (34)
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Japanese mythology tells that dogs/wolves are always male-voiced, and cats are always female-voiced, regardless of sex. For this reason, a man, Akihiro Miwa provides the voice of Moro the mother wolf in the Japanese version. His casting is perhaps an in-joke to his career as a female impersonator. In the English dub, however, Moro is voiced by a woman (Gillian Anderson).
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In Japanese mythology, dogs and wolves always speak with a male voice, while cats always speak with a female voice, regardless of their gender. That is why in the Japanese version Moro, the wolf mother, is voiced by a man: Akihiro Miwa. This choice may be a nod to Miwa's fame as a female impersonator. In the English dub, Moro is voiced by Gillian Anderson.
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When Harvey Weinstein acquired the North American distribution rights to Princess Mononoke, he insisted on a shortened version of the film. But Miyazaki was still furious about the cut version of Nausicaä and walked out of the meeting. Shortly afterward, producer Toshio Suzuki sent Weinstein's office a sword bearing the words 'NO CUTS.' The film was released in the US uncut. Miyazaki later said, 'I defeated him.' Disney/Miramax contractually committed to not cutting a single frame, but it released the film in far fewer theaters than promised.
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While anglicizing the script, Neil Gaiman provided cultural context for expressions unfamiliar outside Japan. Terms such as Jibashiri and Shishigami were changed to Mercenary and Forest Spirit. The English DVD includes both Gaiman's adaptation and a literal translation of Miyazaki's script.
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Princess Mononoke was Japan's submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 1998, competing in that category because no Animated Feature category existed at the time. It did not receive a nomination and held that distinction until Weathering with You (2019), which was also not nominated.
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Easter Eggs & References (1)
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The creative teams of Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008), Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) and Star Wars: Rebels (2014) cited San as an inspiration for Ahsoka Tano. There are quite a few similarities between the two characters such as their spiritual connection to nature and life as well as their fighting and movement style.
Deeper Meaning (7)
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Japanese mythology holds that dogs/wolves always have a male voice regardless of gender, while cats always have a female voice. For this reason a man, Akihiro Miwa, provides the voice of the mother wolf Moro in the Japanese version. The casting may be a joke about his career as a female impersonator. In the English dub, however, Moro is voiced by a woman (Gillian Anderson).
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Mononoke means an angry or vengeful spirit; Hime is a Japanese honorific meaning princess. By grammar it follows a personal name, while in Western languages it is usually used first. When the film's title was translated into English, Mononoke was not translated literally but left as a name. This is why Ashitaka mostly calls the princess by her real name, San, and does not say Mononoke.
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When Ashitaka intervenes in the fight between Lady Eboshi and San (at around 51 minutes into the film), Eboshi says she is fed up with Ashitaka's cursed right arm and shouts, 'let me cut off that cursed thing!' Later in the film (at around 1 hour 50 minutes), Eboshi loses her right arm to Moro.
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Career & Awards (9)
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Was the official submission of Japan for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' (now 'International Feature') category of the The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998) in 1998, as the category for 'Animated Feature' wasn't created until 2001. The film did not secure the nomination and was the only Japanese anime film submitted in this category until Weathering with You (2019) in 2019 which also failed to secure a nomination.
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Princess Mononoke was the first animated film ever to receive the Japan Academy Prize for picture of the year. Only one other animated film has ever received this award (Spirited Away (2001), 2002). Prior to 2007, there was no category for Best Animation of the Year, which was won by The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) in its first year.
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Princess Mononoke became the first animated film to win Japan's Academy Prize in the official category of the year. Only one animated film has won this award since (Spirited Away (2001), 2002). Before 2007 there was no category for Best Animation of the Year, which The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) won in its first year.
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It was Japan's official submission for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category (now 'International Feature Film') at the 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998), because the 'Animated Feature' category was not created until 2001. The film failed to secure a nomination and, until Weathering with You (2019), was the only Japanese anime film submitted in this category that also failed to secure a nomination.
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