Princess Mononoke (1997)
1997 • TMDB 8.3 • 2h 14m • Adventure, Fantasy, Animation
Overview
When a demon-possessed boar god attacks his village, young prince Ashitaka slays the beast — but the dying god’s curse takes root in his arm, a wound that will spread and kill him. Exiled, Ashitaka journeys west to find a cure, and walks straight into a war between the forest and the world of iron. In the mountains he meets San, a fierce young woman raised by the wolf god Moro, who fights to protect the ancient forest, and Lady Eboshi, the iron-town leader whose furnaces and guns are carving into the gods’ home. Neither side is simply evil, and Ashitaka refuses to choose one — he fights to make both see that hatred only breeds more hatred. With sweeping hand-drawn landscapes, terrifying gods, and one of Joe Hisaishi’s greatest scores, Princess Mononoke is Hayao Miyazaki’s most powerful epic: a story about nature, industry, and the hard, hopeful work of living together.
Director & Cast
- Director: Hayao Miyazaki
- Yoji Matsuda as Ashitaka (voice)
- Yuriko Ishida as San / Kaya (voice)
- Yuko Tanaka as Eboshi Gozen (voice)
- Kaoru Kobayashi as Jikobo (voice)
- Masahiko Nishimura as Kouroku (voice)
- Tsunehiko Kamijô as Gonza (voice)
- Akihiro Miwa as Mrs. Moro (voice)
- Mitsuko Mori as Mrs. Hii (voice)
- Hisaya Morishige as Chief of Affairs (voice)
Why Watch Princess Mononoke?
Because it is Miyazaki at his most ambitious and most grown-up. The action is thrilling, the forest is breathtaking, and the film refuses easy villains — it asks you to understand both sides of a conflict that feels more relevant every year. A landmark of animation that rewards every rewatch.
Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf6c6n35wr4.
Where to Watch
In the US, Princess Mononoke streams on HBO Max and the HBO Max Amazon Channel, and is available to rent from $3.99 (Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home) or buy from $11.99 (Amazon Video, Fandango At Home) and $14.99 (Apple TV Store). Check current availability on JustWatch US.
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Poster: TMDB. Rating and runtime verified on TMDB. Streaming status checked on JustWatch US, October 29, 2026.
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