The film's opening sequence has vocal narration to focus the audience and introduce the plot. This is a very story-line and narrative heavy film, and follows a distinctive plot cycle, so in this way is not abstract.
The film's mise-en-scene places it in ancient feudal Japan, in the countryside. It features a few small villages and towns as locations of habitats, but much of the action takes place within a forest setting. The landscapes and backgrounds are gorgeously hand painted and epic in scale. The colour palette is overwhelmingly green, and I like how Miyazaki uses colours to evoke senses and feelings in the audience. Hand-drawn movement of pouring water is beautifully done and looks realistic. The language is simple and relatively primitive to give the sense of a different language common to people. There is a lack of modern technology and only primite weaponry is being invented and used. Trading takes place with stock rather than money.
Sound The music is a wonderful backdrop to the film, utilising both the western and pentatonic scale. It is mainly classical and melodic. Silence and natural sound are used as a counter-point to the score and dialogue. It highlights points of tension. I noticed this distinctly while watching the film, which did not include many ambient sounds like footsteps, etc.
Characters Miyazaki always tries to break conventions with his heroes and heroines, in this case the main character of Ashitaka is a melancholic, earnest boy rather than a typical brave man. San, the title character, follows the lead of previous Miyazaki heroines in being fierce and brave, and wise beyond her age. We see much development take place in her character as she learns to distance herself from hatred. She is portrayed alongside Lady Eboshi, a town ruler and commander of an army. She has a strong and secure personality which is atypical of a woman from that era. She dresses as a prostitute of the time, but has more ownership of her position. Character design came after the drawing of initial storyboards.
Anthropomorphic animals appear in the form of spirit gods. Moro, a giant wolf god, acts as San's adoptive mother. She can speak and reason, and cares for her daughter. The Great Forest Spirit uses metamorphosis to change into the Nightwalker, so varies between a fanciful deer creature and a spirit.
Theme A central theme of 'Mononoke' is the environment. It has a political statement to make and a clear moral message. Humans are a destructive force against nature. It is very similar to both 'Origin' and 'Nausicaa' in this sense, and reminded me well of them. In Taylor's themes it could probably be described as fairytale, political and primal. common people and industrial workers feature mainly as characters, rather than nobles and gentry.
Miyazaki says that the scar Ashitaka carries symbolises illness such as AIDS that ravage the modern world, making the protagonist a hero for a contemporary generation as well as his own.
I most enjoyed the very human element of this film. The story is emotional and moving; the audience is plunged into it and feels attached to a focus that has a contemporary appeal. The characters and humane and tender, and so instantly likable and easy to make a strong connection with.
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