Princess Mononoke

Updated: 12/11/2025, 10:23:50 AM Wikipedia source

Princess Mononoke is a 1997 Japanese animated historical fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Set in the Muromachi period of Japanese history, the film follows Ashitaka, a young Emishi prince who journeys west to cure his cursed arm and becomes embroiled in the conflict between Irontown and the forest of the gods, as well as the feud between Lady Eboshi and a human girl raised by wolves named San. Produced by Toshio Suzuki, animated by Studio Ghibli, and distributed by Toho, it stars the voices of Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yūko Tanaka, Kaoru Kobayashi, Masahiko Nishimura, Tsunehiko Kamijō, Akihiro Miwa, Mitsuko Mori, and Hisaya Morishige. Miyazaki began developing early concepts in 1980 and later considered basing a film on the Japanese literary classic the Hōjōki (1212); elements of both evolved substantially into the eventual film. After taking a break to direct On Your Mark (1995), he led the production with a budget of ¥2.35 billion, making it the most expensive animated film at the time. Some computer-generated imagery and other digital techniques were used in conjunction with hand-drawn animation, a first for Miyazaki. The film explores themes of environmentalism and societal diversity, partly inspired by Miyazaki's readings into novel historical and cultural studies, and presents a feminist portrayal of its characters. It also blends fantastical elements with its depiction of medieval Japanese history, influenced by the jidaigeki style. The score was composed by Joe Hisaishi, a longtime collaborator of Miyazaki's. Princess Mononoke was theatrically released in Japan on July 12, 1997, and broke several box office records. Suzuki led the film's marketing, then the largest advertisement campaign in Japan. It eventually became the highest-grossing film in the country. Following a distribution deal struck between Tokuma Shoten and Walt Disney Studios, it was the first of Studio Ghibli's films to be released internationally and was given to Miramax Films to be dubbed into English and distributed in North America. Neil Gaiman wrote the translation, making significant alterations for its American audience; the dub underperformed at the box office. As of 2025, the film has grossed US$212.2 million through various theatrical and home media releases. It received a broadly positive critical response in both Japan and the United States and earned a number of major Japanese accolades, including top awards at the Mainichi Film Awards and the Japan Academy Film Prize. Its sustained popularity and cultural impact have since made it a cult film.

Infobox

Japanese

もののけ姫

Transcriptions

TranscriptionsRevised HepburnMononoke-hime

Revised Hepburn

Mononoke-hime

Directed by

Hayao Miyazaki

Written by

Hayao Miyazaki

Produced by

Toshio Suzuki

Starring

mw- Yōji Matsuda Yuriko Ishida Yūko Tanaka Kaoru Kobayashi Masahiko Nishimura Tsunehiko Kamijō Akihiro Miwa Mitsuko Mori Hisaya Morishige

Cinematography

Atsushi Okui

Edited by

Takeshi Seyama

Music by

Joe Hisaishi

Productioncompany

Studio Ghibli

Distributed by

Toho

Release date

July 12, 1997 (1997-07-12)

Running time

133 minutes

Country

Japan

Language

Japanese

Budget

¥2.35 billion

Box office

US$212.2 million

Tables

mw- Characters and voice cast · Voice cast

English

Character name

English

Character name

Japanese

Voice actor

Japanese(1997)

Voice actor

English(1999)

Ashitaka

Character name

Ashitaka

Character name

Ashitaka (アシタカ)

Voice actor

Yōji Matsuda

Voice actor

Billy Crudup

San

Character name

San

Character name

San (サン)

Voice actor

Yuriko Ishida

Voice actor

Claire Danes

Lady Eboshi

Character name

Lady Eboshi

Character name

Eboshi Gozen (エボシ御前)

Voice actor

Yūko Tanaka

Voice actor

Minnie Driver

Jigo

Character name

Jigo

Character name

Jiko-bō (ジコ坊)

Voice actor

Kaoru Kobayashi

Voice actor

Billy Bob Thornton

Kohroku

Character name

Kohroku

Character name

Kōroku (甲六)

Voice actor

Masahiko Nishimura

Voice actor

John DeMita

Gonza

Character name

Gonza

Character name

Gonza (ゴンザ)

Voice actor

Tsunehiko Kamijō

Voice actor

John DiMaggio

Toki

Character name

Toki

Character name

Toki (トキ)

Voice actor

Sumi Shimamoto

Voice actor

Jada Pinkett Smith

Wolf

Character name

Wolf

Character name

Yama-inu (山犬)

Voice actor

Tetsu Watanabe

Voice actor

Unknown

Nago

Character name

Nago

Character name

Nago no Kami (ナゴの守)

Voice actor

Makoto Satō

Voice actor

John DiMaggio

Cattleman Leader

Character name

Cattleman Leader

Character name

Ushikai no Osa (牛飼いの長)

Voice actor

Akira Nagoya

Voice actor

Unknown

Moro

Character name

Moro

Character name

Moro no Kimi (モロの君)

Voice actor

Akihiro Miwa

Voice actor

Gillian Anderson

Oracle

Character name

Oracle

Character name

Hī-sama (ヒイ様)

Voice actor

Mitsuko Mori

Voice actor

Debi Derryberry

Okkoto

Character name

Okkoto

Character name

Okkoto-nushi (乙事主)

Voice actor

Hisaya Morishige

Voice actor

Keith David

Character name		Voice actor
English	Japanese	Japanese(1997)	English(1999)
Ashitaka	Ashitaka (アシタカ)	Yōji Matsuda	Billy Crudup
San	San (サン)	Yuriko Ishida	Claire Danes
Lady Eboshi	Eboshi Gozen (エボシ御前)	Yūko Tanaka	Minnie Driver
Jigo	Jiko-bō (ジコ坊)	Kaoru Kobayashi	Billy Bob Thornton
Kohroku	Kōroku (甲六)	Masahiko Nishimura	John DeMita
Gonza	Gonza (ゴンザ)	Tsunehiko Kamijō	John DiMaggio
Toki	Toki (トキ)	Sumi Shimamoto	Jada Pinkett Smith
Wolf	Yama-inu (山犬)	Tetsu Watanabe	Unknown
Nago	Nago no Kami (ナゴの守)	Makoto Satō	John DiMaggio
Cattleman Leader	Ushikai no Osa (牛飼いの長)	Akira Nagoya	Unknown
Moro	Moro no Kimi (モロの君)	Akihiro Miwa	Gillian Anderson
Oracle	Hī-sama (ヒイ様)	Mitsuko Mori	Debi Derryberry
Okkoto	Okkoto-nushi (乙事主)	Hisaya Morishige	Keith David

Music releases for Princess Mononoke [178] · Music

July 22, 1996

Release date

July 22, 1996

English title

Princess Mononoke Image Album

Japanese title

もののけ姫イメージアルバム

Estimated units

75,000

June 25, 1997

Release date

June 25, 1997

English title

"Princess Mononoke"

Japanese title

もののけ姫

Estimated units

605,000

July 2, 1997

Release date

July 2, 1997

English title

Princess Mononoke Soundtrack

Japanese title

もののけ姫サウンドトラック

Estimated units

500,000

July 8, 1998

Release date

July 8, 1998

English title

Princess Mononoke Symphonic Suite

Japanese title

交響組曲もののけ姫

Estimated units

80,000

Release date	English title	Japanese title	Estimated units
July 22, 1996	Princess Mononoke Image Album	もののけ姫イメージアルバム	75,000
June 25, 1997	"Princess Mononoke"	もののけ姫	605,000
July 2, 1997	Princess Mononoke Soundtrack	もののけ姫サウンドトラック	500,000
July 8, 1998	Princess Mononoke Symphonic Suite	交響組曲もののけ姫	80,000

Accolades received by Princess Mononoke · Reception › Accolades

Kinema Junpo

Award / Publication

Kinema Junpo

Year

1997

Category

Best Ten (Critics' Choice)

Recipient

Princess Mononoke

Result

Runner-up

Best Ten (Readers' Choice)

Award / Publication

Best Ten (Readers' Choice)

Year

Won

Best Director (Readers' Choice)

Award / Publication

Best Director (Readers' Choice)

Year

Hayao Miyazaki

Category

Won

52nd Mainichi Film Awards

Award / Publication

52nd Mainichi Film Awards

Year

Best Film

Category

Princess Mononoke

Recipient

Won

Best Animation Film

Award / Publication

Best Animation Film

Year

Won

Japanese Movie Fans' Choice

Award / Publication

Japanese Movie Fans' Choice

Year

Won

10th Nikkan Sports Film Awards

Award / Publication

10th Nikkan Sports Film Awards

Year

Best Director

Category

Hayao Miyazaki

Recipient

Won

Yūjirō Ishihara Award

Award / Publication

Yūjirō Ishihara Award

Year

Princess Mononoke

Category

Won

1st Japan Media Arts Festival

Award / Publication

1st Japan Media Arts Festival

Year

Grand Prize in Animation

Category

Won

7th Tokyo Sports Film Award

Award / Publication

7th Tokyo Sports Film Award

Year

Best Director

Category

Won

Osaka Film Festival

Award / Publication

Osaka Film Festival

Year

Special Award

Category

Won

21st Fumiko Yamaji Award [ja]

Award / Publication

21st Fumiko Yamaji Award [ja]

Year

Cultural Award

Category

Toshio Suzuki

Recipient

Won

15th Golden Gross Award [ja]

Award / Publication

15th Golden Gross Award [ja]

Year

Gold Award

Category

Princess Mononoke

Recipient

Won

39th Japan Record Awards

Award / Publication

39th Japan Record Awards

Year

Best Composer

Category

Joe Hisaishi

Recipient

Won

Best Album Production

Award / Publication

Best Album Production

Year

Princess Mononoke Soundtrack

Category

Won

21st Japan Academy Film Prize

Award / Publication

21st Japan Academy Film Prize

Year

1998

Category

Picture of the Year

Recipient

Princess Mononoke

Result

Won

Special Award

Award / Publication

Special Award

Year

Yoshikazu Mera

Category

Won

40th Blue Ribbon Awards

Award / Publication

40th Blue Ribbon Awards

Year

Special Award

Category

Princess Mononoke

Recipient

Won

22nd Hochi Film Awards

Award / Publication

22nd Hochi Film Awards

Year

Special Award

Category

Won

12th Takasaki Film Festival [ja]

Award / Publication

12th Takasaki Film Festival [ja]

Year

Best Director

Category

Hayao Miyazaki

Recipient

Won

Elan d'or Awards

Award / Publication

Elan d'or Awards

Year

Special Prize

Category

Princess Mononoke

Recipient

Won

28th Annie Awards

Award / Publication

28th Annie Awards

Year

2000

Category

Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production

Recipient

Hayao Miyazaki

Result

Nominated

4th Golden Satellite Awards

Award / Publication

4th Golden Satellite Awards

Year

Best Animated or Mixed Media Film

Category

Princess Mononoke

Recipient

Nominated

27th Saturn Awards

Award / Publication

27th Saturn Awards

Year

2001

Category

Best Home Video Release

Recipient

Won

36th Nebula Awards

Award / Publication

36th Nebula Awards

Year

Best Script

Category

Nominated

Award / Publication	Year	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
Kinema Junpo	1997	Best Ten (Critics' Choice)	Princess Mononoke	Runner-up
		Best Ten (Readers' Choice)	Princess Mononoke	Won
		Best Director (Readers' Choice)	Hayao Miyazaki	Won
52nd Mainichi Film Awards		Best Film	Princess Mononoke	Won
		Best Animation Film		Won
		Japanese Movie Fans' Choice		Won
10th Nikkan Sports Film Awards		Best Director	Hayao Miyazaki	Won
10th Nikkan Sports Film Awards		Yūjirō Ishihara Award	Princess Mononoke	Won
1st Japan Media Arts Festival		Grand Prize in Animation		Won
7th Tokyo Sports Film Award		Best Director		Won
Osaka Film Festival		Special Award		Won
21st Fumiko Yamaji Award [ja]		Cultural Award	Toshio Suzuki	Won
15th Golden Gross Award [ja]		Gold Award	Princess Mononoke	Won
39th Japan Record Awards		Best Composer	Joe Hisaishi	Won
39th Japan Record Awards		Best Album Production	Princess Mononoke Soundtrack	Won
21st Japan Academy Film Prize	1998	Picture of the Year	Princess Mononoke	Won
21st Japan Academy Film Prize		Special Award	Yoshikazu Mera	Won
40th Blue Ribbon Awards		Special Award	Princess Mononoke	Won
22nd Hochi Film Awards		Special Award	Princess Mononoke	Won
12th Takasaki Film Festival [ja]		Best Director	Hayao Miyazaki	Won
Elan d'or Awards		Special Prize	Princess Mononoke	Won
28th Annie Awards	2000	Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production	Hayao Miyazaki	Nominated
4th Golden Satellite Awards	2000	Best Animated or Mixed Media Film	Princess Mononoke	Nominated
27th Saturn Awards	2001	Best Home Video Release		Won
36th Nebula Awards	2001	Best Script		Nominated

References

Japanese: もののけ姫, Hepburn: Mononoke-hime
Japanese: タタラ場, Hepburn: Tataraba; named after the Japanese tatara furnace.
See § Conflicts of nature, technology, and humanity for further information.
Equivalent to ¥2.4 billion in 2019
Japanese: アシタカせっ記, Hepburn: Ashitaka Sekki. Napier alternatively translated this title as The Tale of Ashitaka.
Equivalent to ¥2.65 billion in 2019
Equivalent to ¥1.53 billion in 2019
Equivalent to ¥2.7 billion in 2019
Equivalent to ¥11.5 billion in 2019
The film was overtaken as the highest-grossing film in Japan shortly afterward by Titanic (1997).
The potential editing of Princess Mononoke by Miramax Films has been the subject of rumor. The Guardian's Xan Brooks rep
Released as a single by Yoshikazu Mera featuring the vocal theme song
Shared with Sayuri Yoshinaga's Second Movement, Shimizu Yasuaki's Bach Box, and Neon Genesis Evangelion (all 1997)
Princess Mononoke was the first animated film to be nominated for, and receive, this award.
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