Princess Mononoke was released in Japan in 1997, upon its release it became the highest grossing movie in the country only to be over taken by James Cameron’s Titanic.
Princess Mononoke is set in ancient Japan, the story begins with Prince Ashitaka who defends his village from a giant boar god that has been twisted by hate of humans. The Boar God Nago infects Ashitaka’s arm creating a demon mark that will slowly spread and infect the rest of his body eventually killing him but this curse also spreads and makes Ashitaka stronger in situations where anger and hate manifest.
After killing the Boar God it is discovered an iron ball had caused Nago to become a demon. Now aware of his fate Ashitaka is banished from his village and makes his way to find a cure.
On his travels he discovers the metal ball came from a fortress village called Iron Town. This settlement is situated near the great forest that is protected by Forest Guardians the wolf clan which is lead by Moro. He also then learns Moro adopted a young human girl San that she has raised as her own.
Lady Eboshi is the leader of Iron Town, although she is companionate by taking in lepers and buying prostitutes their freedom to come and live in under her care she is hated by most animal gods. Lady Eboshi was responsible for Nago’s transformation into a Demon by shooting him with her rifle. The humans at Iron Town were exploiting the forest and its surroundings for its precious metals for their guns and explosives. This has lead to the fighting between the Forest Guardians and Humans.
During the same evening San begins her solo attack on Iron Town seeking Lady Eboshi to exact revenge on her for shooting Moro and destruction she has caused on the forest. Ashitaka stops the fight and takes San with him to the Great Forest but also suffers a shot from a bullet by an accident leaving him to bleed badly only the strength from the curse enables him to carry San towards the forest.
Losing consciousness San takes pity on him slowly falling for him by saving his life she takes him to the lake in the middle of the Forrest where the Forest Spirit heals his wounds. When he awakes the blind Boar God Okkoto has arrived with his clan, they plan a foolish attack against the humans.
Moro tells Ashitaka to leave but returns to save San who has gone with the boars to fight the humans. Lady Eboshi has planned to capture the head of the Forest Sprit hoping it would then leave the animals weak and stupid. Okkoto left wounded by the battle travels to the lake in the forest with San, hoping to be healed by the Forest Sprit but the humans follow him disguised as his boar clan wearing their skins. At the lake Moro is slowly dying from her previous encounter with Lady Eboshi, Okkoto now consumed by the rage that affected Nago. Lady Eboshi shots the Forest Sprit and the monk Jigo takes his head.
The Forest Sprit takes both Moro and Okkoto life not before Moro bites Eboshi’s arm but still leaving her alive. Ashitaka and San retrieve the head of the Forest Spirit which as a gift cures Ashitaka’s curse, returns grass and nature back to barren landscape created by the humans. Iron Town is also destroyed prompting Lady Eboshi to rebuild a better town and to live in harmony with animals and their surroundings. San returns to the forest due to her unforgiving nature of humans but Ashitaka remains with the villagers of Iron Town telling her he will visit her.
