PRINCESS MONONOKE
aka MONONOKE HIME

Year: 1999 (1997)
USA: Miramax Films
UK: Barbican
Cast: Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Gillian Anderson, Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton, Jack Fletcher, Jada Pinkett, Corey Burton, Keith David, John DeMita, John Di Maggio, Alex Fernandez, Pat Fraley, John Hostetter, John Rafter Lee, Tress MacNeille, Matt McKenzie, Michael McShane, Matt K Miller, Adam Paul, David Rasner, Dwight Schultz
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Country: Japan
Languages: Japanese (English subtitles) / English dubbed version
USA: 135 mins
UK: 133 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for images of violence and gore
UK Certificate: PG
USA Release Date: 24 November 1999
USA Release Date: 29 October 1999 (Limited Release)

Synopsis

PRINCESS MONONOKE is the mythological tale of a war between encroaching civilization and the beast gods of the forest..

In a remote mountain village far away in Northern Japan, the young warrior Ashitaka (Billy Crudup), is forced to kill a monster to protect his village. Too late, he discovers that the boar-like creature he killed is a protector-god of the forest. In killing the demon boar, Ashitaka has brought upon himself a curse, its sign: a twisted scar on his right forearm that is slowly spreading.

He embarks on a mission to seek out the Tatara clan lead by Lady Eboshi (Minnie Driver) in an attempt to unravel the mystery of the curse before it claims his life. On his journey he is becomes embroiled in a fierce feud between to two warring factions of humans and a race of forest- gods trapped in the middle.

Amidst a battle he sees San, the Princess Mononoke (Claire Danes), a young woman raised by wolves - the adopted daughter of the wolf-god Moro (Gillian Anderson) - who is prepared to die to defeat the humans. Ashitaka is unwillingly drawn into this war and he strives to find a middle ground where forest creatures and humans can live together in peace.

This hugely successful Anime production was originally released in 1997 in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, then the English dubbed version of PRINCESS MONONOKE was released in the USA during 1999 and now finally released by The Barbican in the UK. The director Hayao Miyazaki was also personally responsible for over half of the144 000 hand drawings used to create this epic tale.