Incredible animation is expected -- the viable plot was not!

Rating: Null/10 (1 January 2000)

Finding good anime is usually a hit-and-miss process. I am far too often disappointed. The movies are often loaded with nonsensical dialog, poor voice-actor choices and dubbing, and plot lines so twisted that you need to keep notes. But Princess Mononoke is a different matter. The animation is the usual high quality that I expect from anime, with an attention to detail that is so precise that you often forget you are watching animation. Halfway through the movie, you begin to wonder what these cartoons are doing in such lush environs. The voices are well-chosen, and don't grate as much as in most dubbed-anime. The lip sync isn't first-rate, but isn't annoying, either. Finally, the most important difference, is that Japan has finally succeeded in sending us a plot that is actually quite understandable, and quite engaging. If you are looking for an alternative to the standard Disney fare, this is an excellent place to start.