Some of the most amazing animation I've ever seen

Rating: 9/10 (26 December 1998)

Mononoke Hime is not just another Japanese animation, It is a phenomenon. During it's box office run in Japan last summer it didn't only become the highest grossing Japanese film of the year. But the highest grossing Japanese film... EVER! And believe me, the film definitely does live up to the hype.
The film takes place in 15th century Japan and opens with a warrior named Ashitaka in fierce battle with a Tatari Gama (a huge boar with worms covering it's body). Ashitaka kills the gama and successfully defends his village from it, but in the battle the gama came in contact with his arm, leaving a dark scar. The village doctor tells Ashitaka that it is a curse from the gama and is slowly killing him. Convinced that there must be a cure, Ashitaka leaves the village never to return.
Â Ashitaka later comes to the great forest and finds an iron factory in the middle of it. The factory is run by Lady Eboshi, a woman who employs former prostitutes and lepers, giving them jobs that they would never have in the rest of society. She tells Ashitaka about the constant battle between her people and the gods of the forest, giant wolves, boars, etc that are trying to protect their forest from Lady Eboshi's desire to expand her territory.
One night, the gods of the forest plan an attack on Lady Eboshi's factory. They are accompanied by a girl named San. San jumps into the factory and begins viciously attacking Lady Eboshi. San is injured and winds up unconscious. Ashitaka then feels sorry for her and comes to her aid... taking her unconscious body back to the forest. He then learns about San's past and why she is living with the animals instead of the humans. The two develop a bond as Ashitaka tries desperately to end the constant battle between man and animals in the great forest and at the same time, cure the growing scar on him arm.
My first impressions after watching this film were disbelief that an animated film could have such an impact on me. The story is extremely well done and is geared more towards adults that youngsters (there is plenty of violence here) and the animation (oooh the animation) is SUPERB! I have never seen such beautiful images on the screen for a long, long time, animation simply does not look better than this. I was in awe that all of the elements that make up a great film were all present here... in perfect balance and harmony. It is so well constructed that at times, I totally forgot that what I was watching was animated and not real. The characters are so well written that you are absolutely convinced that they are real people.
Disney and Miramax are planning to release this film here in the states sometime in early '99... I'll definitely be looking forward to seeing this one on the big screen.