Princess Mononoke

The visuals are absolutely stunning and the animation is insane. Every single frame feels alive, and the landscapes are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen in an animated movie. The world building is also extraordinary. It creates a world that feels ancient and mysterious, and I was completely invested in it from the beginning. I especially loved all of the different creatures, and the Forest Spirit in its elk form was easily my favorite. It has such a unique design and every scene with it feels peaceful but also a little unsettling. What really surprised me, though, was how much depth the story has. Instead of making the humans or the animals the obvious villains, the movie shows that both sides have understandable reasons for what they’re doing. Lady Eboshi is destroying the forest, but she’s also giving people who have nowhere else to go a place to belong. The movie is really about how hatred and the need to destroy your enemy only make things worse, while understanding the other side is the only way forward. I think that’s what makes the film so memorable. It tells an exciting story while also leaving you with a lot to think about long after it’s over. I think this is Ghibli’s best film, although every time I watch Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro, I start to second-guess myself.