『LIVE（生きろ）』

There is one movie which I totally changed my perception about the story after growing up. The name of the work is ‘Princess Mononoke‘ from Studio Ghibli, one of the most famous animation films in the world.

In my childhood, I never understood the story whenever I watched it. Not only that, it always made me feel creepy and confused. ”Why are animals and human fighting each other?” ”What is the purpose for animals and human to fight?” But actually just a few weeks ago, I watched the film again after a long time. And I realized that I caught what the story wants to tell more deeply.

‘Princess Mononoke’ was released in 1997, and still beyond countries it is loved by people all over the world. In order to get prepared for making this film, it is said that the director Hayao Miyazaki, everyone recognised as a real genius, spent about 16-year to develop his ideas of the film.

What is the message Hayao Miyazaki wants to tell us going so far as spending many years to make this movie?

So this time I would like you to know the story ‘Princess Mononoke‘ and the Japanese anime company ‘Studio Ghibli‘ which produced the film briefly. And then let’s explore the messages of their works which Hayao Miyazaki wants to convey to us.

For those people who have never watched before, I hope this article will be kind of footstep to try to watch!

・Plot of ‘Princess Mononoke’

Setting in the late Muromachi period (about 1300-1500s) Japan, the story follows the young Emishi (one of the Japanese tribes) princess named Ashitaka, the hero of this movie.

One day, he was cursed by Tatari, one of the Japanese demons of nature*, which tried to attack his village. In order to work out on his own destiny rather than just waiting his death, he left his village and traveled to west. And there, he met the people called Tataraba who cut open the forest and make iron, the chief of Tataraba named Eboshi, and a human girl San who lives with the mountain dogs protecting their forests. Then, Ashitaka knew the reasons why Tatari appeared, and he got involved in a struggle between the gods and animals, which try to protect their forests, and the humans who consume nature resources.

*Traditionally Japanese people think about nature as gods, and it is related to Japanese religion ‘Shintoism’.

・About the film company ‘Studio Ghibli’

Studio Ghibli (スタジオジブリ) is a Japanese film studio based in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 1985 by the director Hayao Miyazaki and other three people, and now it is best known for its anime film all over the world.

Feature works of Studio Ghibli (below)

My Neighbor Totoro(となりのトトロ),Spirited Away(千と千尋の神隠し) Kiki’s Delivery Service(魔女の宅急便),Howl’s Moving Castle(ハウルの動く城) Grave of the fireflies(火垂るの墓), The Cat Returns(猫の恩返し)　 ect…

What is the message of this film?

I think the message of ‘Princess Mononoke’ is that “We are living in an irresolvable dilemma, and every creature fight based on each justices.” The system of our world is always what the more each creature try to stick own justices, the more we need to fight and take from others.

The director, Hayao Miyazaki, talked about the purpose of ‘Princess Mononoke’ like this before; “Our purpose of this work doesn’t mean ‘Trying to solve the issues all over the world“. That is because it is definitely ”impossible” to lead the struggles between god of nature and human into ”HAPPY END”. However, even though the world is in the hatreds and slaughters, absolutely there is something worth to living. Something great or beautiful exists forever in our world.”

The film ‘Princess Mononoke’ enable us to not only enjoy the great works of animation but also give some opportunities to think about our society and lives. I am sure that he wants to convey the core message related to our lives so deeply by making the animation film which all generation people are enjoyable.

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