もののけ姫（Princess Mononoke) {Wk 4}

 

Studio Ghibli movies are always such an amazing and awe-inspiring movie as an artist because each and every second and frame of the movies are usually hand-drawn and colored. Princess Mononoke was an especially good movie because of the emotions and the message behind the movie. In short, the movie is a mythological representation of the industrial era taking over the world. The story follows a young tribesman named Ashitaka who comes into contact with this corruption that is causing an imbalance in the harmony between man and nature and the gods. Ashitaka must find the source of the corruption and see the world with unclouded eyes. I absolutely loved the cinematography of this movie but like all Studio Ghibli movies it is a big long if you've already watched the movie once. So unless you are a big Studio Ghibli fan with a lot of free time this movie is a fairly good one-time only movie to watch which I'd only watch again for nostalgia in the future.

As far as outcomes related to my Japanese studies, as an artist, the movie goes to show how unique of an art style that Hayao Miyazaki-sensei has and that any of his work both in film and on paper is easily recognizable but also supremely talented. The movie had such high detail for some scenes that it astounds me that these films were drawn by hand for each and every scene from the motion of the characters and creatures and scenery but as well as the highly detailed still-backgrounds. The unique clothing shows both Miyazaki's style but as well as his encapsulation of this transition from ancient Japan to a more modern setting. The buildings, the clothes, and even the traditions of Ashitaka's hometown and Iron Town go to show how similar and different Japan was as it changed eras. I thoroughly was enthralled by the art more than the language which goes to show how beautifully enchanting Japanese movies can be.