Princess Mononoke. The Muromachi Era is a division of Japanese History running from 1336 to 1573. It is known as the Ashikaga Period after the Shogun of the same name who ruled the Country (the story is narrated in the manga and anime “The Elusive Samurai”). It was a time of constant conflict between the followers of the emperor and the Shogunate. Shintoism saw a renewed interest and an emphasis of maintaining the Emperor as the Divine descendant of Amaterasu. The Goddess of the Sun and origin to the Imperial House. The native religion of Japan coexisted together with Buddhism the same way as the Emperor was dealing with the Shogun.
By the end of the Muromachi Era Japan welcomed the first Europeans. The Portuguese landed on the Island of Tanegashima. Famous today in Japan to be the location of the Space program rocket launching, it holds another infamous reputation as the Island of Japan to see the first arrival of fire weaponry.
Cannons and muskets made the Southern Clans wealthiest and the wars between them much more deadly than ever before. But an important point in history for Feudal Japan. And even when centuries have to pass eventually the forces germinate in the South and rouse against the Last Shogun.
Miyazaki Hayao on Location Scouting
The legendary Director conceived the first idea for Princess Mononoke after the release of The Castle of Cagliostro. Maybe the best movie of Lupin III co written and directed by Miyazaki Hayao. Published later in 1983 a series of drawing sketches show a Princess living in the deepness of a forest together with a beast.
Hunting for such an environment, Miyazaki traveled to Yaushima. The island is right in the vicinity of Tanega Shima and home to some of the oldest trees in Japan. Populated at least since the Jomon Era. The art director and background artists Oga Kazuo went in the other direction. North of Tokyo. Into the Mountains of Shirakami Sahsi in Tohoku. The Emishi people populated the Land and it is the starting point to Ashitaka’s quest. Giving the character the Emishi unique style of horse archery.
A Tale from Japan
Usually inspired by European Literature and the Old Continent architecture, Princess Mononoke was the first Japanese style movie by Miyazaki Hayao. But he never wanted to make a history accurate movie. And the changing of eras for different demographics are presented here too. The same way he portrayed the last days of the miners in his celebrated Laputa: Castle in the Sky.
He tried to create a tale about the Jomn, the Emishi and Yamato confronting to forge the nowadays identity of the Japanese people. San together with the Kami-wolf Moro representing the Jomon people from Yakushima and the communion with the Shinto Olympus of Gods. Meanwhile, the Emishi people in the pride of Ashitaka. And the Yamato people conquered the weaponry and wealth of the Western to create Japan. And the wars involving firearms were giving the start to the Sengoku period ending Muromachi with a continuous civil uprising and Clan wars. This common theme in the Studio Ghibli’s identity depicting the development clashing to older eras is seens as a violent force in Princess Mononoke. Maybe the rawest out of their movies together with Grave of the Fireflies.
But the heart of the Studio is presented here as the loss of Innocence of both protagonists, San and Ashitaka. A wonderful depiction of love growing from the hate-like childhood incarnation of feelings into a connection that lasts forever in their lives. Even Miyazaki once compared the movie to the old light hearted ones and said “I feel these days children are being born without being blessed. Then how could us adults pretend to be happy in front of them?
Princess Mononoke
The movie was released in Japan on July 12, 1997. Hisaishi Joe composed the score. The movie was the first time for the composer and Miyazaki Hayao to work almost in pairs. Giving the score a much more dramatic and incidental feeling. It was the first Anime movie in Japan to break records setted by Hollywood productions in the box office. And the first animation film to win the Japan Academy prize for best picture. The Magazine Animage ranked the movie in their list of 100 Best Anime Films of all times.