Princess Mononoke

“The trees cry out as they die, but you cannot hear them.” A breathtaking masterpiece. This is one of my four favourites, and watching again absolutely cemented that. At its core, it’s about the clash between nature and humanity, but it’s never simple good vs evil. Both sides have reason, Lady Eboshi fights for her people, and the forest fights to survive. Miyazaki shows the cost of progress and the curse of hatred, all while reminding us how fragile balance really is. Ashitaka’s journey to “see with eyes unclouded by hate” hits hard, he’s caught between two worlds, just trying to understand instead of destroy. Every frame is stunning, every scene feels alive. The music, the emotion, the scale: unreal. Foolish people lead, and others easily follow. A world full of pride and blindness; humans, gods, and spirits all acting out of anger, fear, or vengeance. Lady Eboshi believes she’s building a better future, yet destroys everything around her to do it. The samurai and townsfolk fight wars they don’t even understand. Even the gods, meant to be wise, are consumed by rage. No one is truly evil, just lost in their own convictions. It’s a reminder of how easily people, when driven by pride or pain, can justify destruction in the name of progress or revenge. A story about coexistence, compassion, and the curse of violence. Still one of the greatest animated films ever made.