Review of Hayao Miyazaki's ‘Princess Mononoke'
Set in the Muromachi Period of Japan, we are quickly introduced to our protagonist, Prince Ashitaka, who, after killing an evil beast to protect his village, is laid with a curse that sets him out on a journey to find the Forest Spirit that looms in the dangerous forests of the far West. He meets several people along the way and learns about them and the way they look at the world. Miyazaki's film is an adventurous journey that does not wish to reveal everything at once as much as it takes its own time to allow you to connect to the characters and narrative at hand. In doing so, he is able to deliver a powerful message about both: The need to conserve nature as well as human nature.
Relevant as ever, Miyazaki's stunning film engulfs you into a world that has characters that feel like they actually exist. There is no clear-cut villain or a hero in this film, a rare sight in the animated film genre (especially for films that cater to a younger audience). In fact, the older one grows, the more they realise that the meaning of the story only deepens. There is a justified reason behind each character's actions and beliefs. Hence, our protagonist remains conflicted on which side to pick throughout the film. He wishes to understand those around him without hatred, and to do so, he observes the world he is surrounded by.
Every frame is meticulous, and the image born out of imagination feels truly authentic. Aided to this is the film's sound design and score, which authentically captures the essence of Japan over six hundred years ago. Even in times that lacked concrete buildings and electricity, deforestation was present, in order to obtain minerals from under the soil. It was a banal process that brought with it a blinding greed that saw an endless thirst for power that could never be quenched. The film's third act turns especially brutal, it is a loud cry to prevent the harm of animals and nature.
Miyazaki's ability to seep in the elements of fantasy with the real creates images that are not just visually stunning but also a reminder that he is an artist whose genius can never be replicated. To celebrate his art is to celebrate the very essence of life itself. For Miyazaki, life of all kinds is important, and for life to exist, we must coexist.
The writer, Rudrangsh Gupta, is a freelance filmmaker and enjoys keeping a keen eye out for moving stories that are shown with a unique lens.
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The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
Review of Hayao Miyazaki's ‘Princess Mononoke'
It was only recently, with the advent of the rising usage of AI, that the 'Ghibli Filter' trend took the internet by storm. Amidst this, arrived the release of the recently remastered 'Princess Mononoke', which reminded the world once again that no matter how much artificial intelligence may try, it can never quite understand the emotional depth and capture the true essence that lies in each perfect hand-crafted frame made by Hayao Miyazaki and the artists at Studio Ghibli. Set in the Muromachi Period of Japan, we are quickly introduced to our protagonist, Prince Ashitaka, who, after killing an evil beast to protect his village, is laid with a curse that sets him out on a journey to find the Forest Spirit that looms in the dangerous forests of the far West. He meets several people along the way and learns about them and the way they look at the world. Miyazaki's film is an adventurous journey that does not wish to reveal everything at once as much as it takes its own time to allow you to connect to the characters and narrative at hand. In doing so, he is able to deliver a powerful message about both: The need to conserve nature as well as human nature. Relevant as ever, Miyazaki's stunning film engulfs you into a world that has characters that feel like they actually exist. There is no clear-cut villain or a hero in this film, a rare sight in the animated film genre (especially for films that cater to a younger audience). In fact, the older one grows, the more they realise that the meaning of the story only deepens. There is a justified reason behind each character's actions and beliefs. Hence, our protagonist remains conflicted on which side to pick throughout the film. He wishes to understand those around him without hatred, and to do so, he observes the world he is surrounded by. Every frame is meticulous, and the image born out of imagination feels truly authentic. Aided to this is the film's sound design and score, which authentically captures the essence of Japan over six hundred years ago. Even in times that lacked concrete buildings and electricity, deforestation was present, in order to obtain minerals from under the soil. It was a banal process that brought with it a blinding greed that saw an endless thirst for power that could never be quenched. The film's third act turns especially brutal, it is a loud cry to prevent the harm of animals and nature. Miyazaki's ability to seep in the elements of fantasy with the real creates images that are not just visually stunning but also a reminder that he is an artist whose genius can never be replicated. To celebrate his art is to celebrate the very essence of life itself. For Miyazaki, life of all kinds is important, and for life to exist, we must coexist. The writer, Rudrangsh Gupta, is a freelance filmmaker and enjoys keeping a keen eye out for moving stories that are shown with a unique lens.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Time of India
Top 10 anime that will make you speak Japanese fluently
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News18
17-07-2025
- News18
This X Post Hit 1.1 Billion Views: People Share Fascinating Lore About Themselves
Last Updated: The post about sharing lore about yourself was made on April 1. It has since racked up over a billion views and countless replies. Seen it yet? A one-line post made on X by a user asking people to share a lore about themselves has clocked 1.1 billion views. On April 1, a user, who goes by the handle @frozenaesthetic, took the Elon Musk-owned platform and wrote: 'Share a piece of lore about yourself". Folks from all around the world have since interacted with the post and continue to share bizarre facts or spectacular trivia about them that the world may not know. Before we proceed any further, here's the sneak peek at the original post. We have picked some of our favourite responses from the never-ending viral thread. Wordle A user named Steven Cravotta claimed that at 17, he created a mobile app called Wordle. He shared that the app had 100K downloads before he gave up on the project. 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'X does not pay creators directly for views but rather for impressions from verified (X Premium) users engaging with their content, primarily through its Ads Revenue Sharing program. Estimates suggest creators earn approximately $8–$9 per million verified impressions, so 1 billion verified impressions could yield roughly $8,000–$9,000, though actual earnings depend heavily on engagement, audience demographics, and the proportion of verified users." Grok also confirmed the post (this article is based on) may not be the most viewed post on X of all time. It revealed that a user @spizzleayyo's 'lol" registered 2 billion views. However, Grok asked us to verify its response. About the Author Anurag Verma Anurag Verma, News Editor at works independently for the Viral section. Bollywood, Cricket, Science, Tech, YouTube, Reddit, Meme Origins and everything Pop-culture are his forte. He covers More News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 17, 2025, 14:13 IST News viral This X Post Hit 1.1 Billion Views: People Share Fascinating Lore About Themselves Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
