In Japan's Muromachi period, the young Emishi warrior Ashitaka kills a rampaging boar god to save his village — and is cursed by the dying creature's corrupted flesh, which will spread through his body and kill him. Cast out from his home and told to seek the source of the curse in the west, Ashitaka travels into a land at war with itself. Lady Eboshi rules Irontown — a prosperous settlement built by outcasts, lepers, and former brothel workers, whose ironworks have been systematically destroying the surrounding forest to smelt ore. The forest is defended by animal gods of enormous power: the wolf goddess Moro, her pack, and the human girl she raised as her own — San, who calls herself a wolf and hates humanity without reservation. Caught between them, Ashitaka sees with unclouded eyes: Lady Eboshi is not a villain, San is not simply a hero, and the Great Forest Spirit whose deer form walks by day and whose luminous giant form walks by night may not be able to survive what is coming regardless of what anyone chooses. The conflict has no clean resolution. That is precisely the point. Princess Mononoke is the 1997 theatrical film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, produced by Studio Ghibli. It became the highest-grossing film in Japanese box office history upon release — one of only two films to break ¥15 billion at the Japanese domestic box office, alongside Titanic — and remains one of the most celebrated animated films ever made. It was the first animated film to win the Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year. The English adaptation was written by Neil Gaiman and features a Hollywood cast headlined by Claire Danes, Billy Crudup, Gillian Anderson, Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton, and Jada Pinkett Smith. Originally released in North America theatrically by Miramax Films in 1997; the Miramax/Buena Vista DVD (July 2000) was the first North American home video release with Japanese audio after fan campaigns successfully reversed a decision to omit it. The GKIDS Collector's Edition Blu-ray (May 14, 2019) is the definitive collector's release — housed in a hard slipcase with a 40-page book featuring essays by Glenn Kenny alongside Miyazaki's poems about the characters, and the film's soundtrack on CD for the first time in North America. Notable Staff & Voice Talent Director / Screenplay: Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)Producer: Toshio SuzukiMusic: Joe HisaishiStudio: Studio GhibliEnglish Adaptation: Neil Gaiman (Sandman, American Gods, Coraline) Japanese Cast:• Yoji Matsuda as Ashitaka• Yuriko Ishida as San / Princess Mononoke• Yuko Tanaka as Lady Eboshi• Kaoru Kobayashi as Jigo• Masahiko Nishimura as Koroku• Mitsuko Mori as Moro English Dub Cast (Miramax / Disney):• Billy Crudup as Ashitaka• Claire Danes as San / Princess Mononoke• Gillian Anderson as Moro• Minnie Driver as Lady Eboshi• Billy Bob Thornton as Jigo• Jada Pinkett Smith as Toki• Keith David as Okkoto• Tress MacNeille as additional cast DVD Features (Miramax / Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2000) • English & Japanese Audio (Japanese audio restored after fan campaign)• "Princess Mononoke in the USA" — Documentary with Miyazaki & Toshio Suzuki at U.S. Film Festivals (~20 min)• Theatrical Trailer• English Voice Cast Interviews• Note: Original DVD release (2000) did not include Japanese audio; re-pressed with Japanese track after Nausicaa.net fan campaign Blu-ray Features (GKIDS Collector's Edition, May 14, 2019) • Hard Slipcase Packaging• 40-Page Hardcover Book — Essays by Glenn Kenny, Miyazaki's Poems About the Characters, Production Images, Statements from Miyazaki & Toshio Suzuki• Original Film Soundtrack on CD — First North American CD Release• Original Japanese Storyboards• "Princess Mononoke in the USA" Documentary (~20 min)• Original Japanese Trailers & TV Spots• Behind the Microphone — English Dub Recording Featurette• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 / Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Spoken Languages: English & Japanese Audio, English Subtitles Edition Details Japanese Title: もののけ姫 (Mononoke Hime)Runtime: ~134 MinutesDirector: Hayao MiyazakiDVD Release Year: 2000 (U.S. Miramax / Buena Vista Home Entertainment — Japanese audio restored after fan campaign); Disney reissue 2012Blu-ray Release Year: 2014 (Disney remastered Blu-ray + DVD Combo) / 2017 (GKIDS standard Blu-ray) / 2019 (GKIDS Collector's Edition with hard slipcase + 40-page book + soundtrack CD)Original Release Date (Japan): July 12, 1997Publisher: Miramax Films / Buena Vista Home Entertainment (DVD) / GKIDS / Shout! Factory (Blu-ray)Rating: PG-13Region: Region 1 (DVD) / Region A (Blu-ray) — North AmericaNote: Highest-grossing Japanese film ever upon release. First animated film to win Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year. English adaptation by Neil Gaiman. Original DVD Japanese audio track restored after successful Nausicaa.net fan campaign.Genre: Fantasy, Action, DramaThemes: Industry vs Nature, Forest Gods, Ambiguous Morality, Muromachi Period Japan, Neil Gaiman English Adaptation Media assumed VG+ unless otherwise noted.
