Princess Mononoke 1997

Movie · 2h 14m

13+ Ages 12-14

Editor

Excellent

PG-13

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Cast: Yoji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yuko Tanaka, Kaoru Kobayashi, Masahiko Nishimura, Tsunehiko Kamijô, Akihiro Miwa, Mitsuko Mori, Hisaya Morishige, Sumi Shimamoto, Tetsu Watanabe, Makoto Satō, Akira Nagoya, Kei Iinuma, Tsuzuki Kayako

Adventure Fantasy Animation

What's the Story?

Ashitaka, a prince of the disappearing Emishi people, is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. Along the way, he encounters San, a young human woman fighting to protect the forest, and Lady Eboshi, who is trying to destroy it. Ashitaka must find a way to bring balance to this conflict.

Content Ratings

What's in the title & why it matters

Language Mild

2/5

Mild language includes some uses of "damn." The English dub adds some uses of "bastard" and one use of "piss."

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking Mild

2/5

some alcohol use.

Violence & Scariness Moderate

3/5

Violence is graphic but consistently brief. Limbs and heads are shot off with arrows in several scenes, shocking but quick. A man has his arm severed by a sword, and another is shot in the chest with an arrow, though distance and brevity limit the detail. Animal deaths and suffering are depicted frequently and intensely throughout.

Sex, Romance & Nudity Mild

1/5

The main male character is seen in his underwear. Some cleavage is shown, non-sexual and not exaggerated.

Diverse Representations Mild

2/5

Flow & Focus Mild

2/5

Positive Role Models Mild

2/5

Products & Purchases Mild

1/5

Where to Watch

HBO Max

Photos & Videos

1 / 6

The Review

Written by Parent Guide Plus Editors

Princess Mononoke is a hand-drawn animated film exploring the conflict between human industry and nature. Its characters resist simple moral categorization, with Lady Eboshi a notable example. Pacing is a point of division, with some finding the runtime repetitive. Story coherence also drew mixed reactions, though the film's handling of ethical ambiguity and coexistence is widely praised.