I love how the movie shows the plight of the last Emishi village at the beginning. A foreshadowing of what humans would do to the animals + spirits of the forest.
@@comradekenobi6908 I did a Walk Japan tour & besides a few sacred pilgrimage trails like the Kumano Kodo, the trees of Japan are ALL grown quite recently for timber. So pretty much most of the trees aren't ancient trees. They've just been growing & chopping & replanting them. There are swathes of bald naked mountains in Japan.
@@Jumpoable yeah i know but Japanese nature are in alot more good shape in comparison to many countries also could you send me this picture of bald Japanese mountains? sounds interesting
Princess Mononoke was my favorite of the Ghibli films and also the first one I ever watched. After seeing this video, I'll have to give it another watch.
The ending seemed like a compromise that got nothing accomplished. It's not that iron town and the forest can't live in harmony, it's that it feels there was no real resolution to the story.
@@mr.gunzaku437 hmm. I rationalized it as a story being told. The reason why there are no longer spirits and deities left in Japan. Why the enishi are gone, because of their prince sacrifice. The death of the deer God resulting in total destruction is a lesson that the peoples and the nature around them must live in balance and respect.
This channel is a hidden gem. Honestly, Shogunate has one of the best narration voices I've ever come across. Perfectly formulated and engaging as one ever could aspire to be.
Definitely one of Miyazaki's best films, if not his most complex. For how grey he is able to make all sides, characters, how he shows humanity in Eboshi, Jigo, rage in the boars, animals of the forest. Captures the struggles of Ashitake and San. Add in how this had Neil Gaiman himself doing the translation, the ever great story of someone sending a sword to Harvey Weinstein the bastard that said no cuts. The ever beautiful animation, scenery, colouring we have come to expect from Studio Ghibli all these years, the themes of environment, destruction of humanity and respecting the spirits, nature. A classic that never feels like it drags at anypoint and one even non animation films should watch.
I was just showing someone the gloriousness of Princess Mononoke today. I love seeing someone's reaction when they see this movie for the first time, and how thet get so wrapped up in the story/world. It honestly makes every re-watch fresh.
Pictures only was the correct choice. Ghlibi has been even been territorial over Joe Hisaishi’s soundtrack for Mononoke to this day. Can’t believe we’re already past Sekigahara. Now onto Sanada Yukimura’s glorious final stand.
Btw one thing regarding the role of the Emperor per Steve Alpert who worked on the localization. He says that Miyazaki gave him a list of notes to help explain certain things and among them was that at the time Princess Mononoke happens the Emperor was broke and made spare money selling his name to people. So the fact that Jigo claims to be working for the Emperor means nothing. His motives and his patron are intended to be a mystery.
I first heard of the emishi from you of setting the stage series. When hearing you talk about of their fate is finally connected the dots with Princess Monoke. I thank you for that
You’re not going to believe this, but today is my birthday and i was planning on watching this movie today since I got it as a present! Thanks for the upload and keep up the good work!
Really happy that you made a video on this. Mononoke-hime is still my favorite film from Studio Ghibli and possibly my favorite film ever. It's great to learn more about the history and folklore behind the story.
The Deer God/Spirit of the Forest is a Yatsukamizuomitsuno - a deer with a tree on its head who is actually worshipped in some parts of Japan. It has roots in Buddhism and represents the transformative power of the world with power over life and death. It is neither good nor evil.
I thought it was a Kirin because I think the Chinese translations for it is Kirin/ Qilin. & I was like, wow Miyazaki is so creative, cuz that's some trippy Qilin' Kirin LOL.
A great movie review your ability to create word pictures is stellar. I've never seen this film and only tangentially was aware of it. Now, I will have to find the Japanese version of this film to get it's true impact. As always, I learn, no matter what the subject of your video is about.
Def one of my favourite movies, grew up with it and it's beautiful soundtrack and it holds such a special place in my heart. If you haven't watched it please do, it will definitely be worth your time.
You don't have to include music from the film in for this clip, for those who watched this , even if you watch it only once, the music stay in your head forever and that work with all Ghibli's studio movie great animation great music and great story is that why it's hard to forget after each movie. So just the title alone make you think of all soundtrack in the movie.
I'm glad my posts in your movie chat a while back on the discord server helped inspire you a bit to make this gem of a video. I can't wait to see more of your content my man keep up the good work. You deserve 100k.
Easily my favourite Ghibli film. I watched it at a special viewing on its release over here in the UK. It's one of those movies, kinda like older Tarantino films, that you really need to watch more than once to fully appreciate everything it's trying to say.
One of my regrets in life is that I missed the opportunity to see this film on the big screen. The 2 dollar theater (it showed films that were classified as "second run" meaning they were no longer new but not yet out on DVD and VHS) had it playing for 1 week. And I thought it looked interesting but didn't know much about the film so I went to something else. A few weeks later I saw it at Blockbuster and rented it. The film was amazing and I have always wished that I had the chance to go back and see it in the theater.
How don't you have a million subscribers yet? Because your channel is awesome. Your videos have taught me so much about Japanese history, and is my go to place for learning more about it.
This and Mirai are my favourite animated movies. They are beautiful to watch and have a depth to them more than many anime can establish with 20+ episodes...
I'm not a huge Ghibli fan, but the first time I saw Princess Mononoke I had indulged in some, let's say, mind-expanding fungi, and it absolutely blew me away with its visual splendour. It's remained one of my favourite animated films, and subsequent watches allowed me to enjoy its historical and philosophical aspects. Glad to see you covering this, man.
I always found it starnge how in so many Japanese works of fiction "hatred" is so big a theme. Even though few such works actually go to such length as to show us hatred being a problem. I know it's probably something from Bhuddism and Japanese understand it well, but to me it still seems poorly explained. Like the main driver of conflict in Princess Mononoke seems to be human ambition vs laws of nature, fight over natural resources, maybe greed of the new vs pride of the old, I could even read some environmentalist conflicts into it. But hatred itself is really a byproduct which is easily dealt with once those other issues are solved.
I think Jigo just uses Emperor's name for clout. Indeed, by that time Emperor was essentially relegated to signing papers for money, and didn't have money to promise mountains of gold. So, Jigo uses aura of authority for his own (or his hidden patron) goals.
Haven’t watched the vid yet, but hoping that you mention the emishi riding red elks and use stone arrow heads. Either way I’m going to have to play the soundtrack and play shogun 2 now!
Sweet. Very cool breakdown. Hope you can do videos within fair use without fearing demonetization or other punishment from TH-cam. I sure wish bigger channels would protest by stopping making new videos for TH-cam. Ask their fans, who watch all the time to support Patreon for one month, so that channel could protest TH-cam. The only thing that will change the irresponsible practices of TH-cam is loss of money from advertising, and the threat of an Exodus to a different platform. TH-camrs are very weird about a channel changing where one watches the videos. I don’t understand why so many people seem to act like clicking a link to a another site would be such a difficult change.
Wonder what does the samurai thugs under Lord Asano would want with the resource-exploited lands of Irontown, after laying wastes along many villages on the way to Irontown? Clearly, it's not more than just the resources or the weapons that his foe in Lady Eboshi possesses, but is it simply a powerful obstacle in his endless path of ambition & conquest?
I think you would have made a video of much lesser quality if you had included footage from the movie. Your narration over the still pictures was an excellent choice.
Thank you. I always thought the film was set in a Japan in an alternate universe because of the presence of the Emishi/ Ainu (I thought they had been wiped out like even before the Heian period or pushed to Hokkaido), hoary ancient nature spirits... & then they had guns so I was like HUH? Fantasy & steampunk? LOL. I'm glad Miyazaki actually based the story in a specific period in Japanese/ human history to showcase the conflict between human cultures/ race, between man & technology, between man & nature, and you missed one: man & Spirit/ God.
I agree with you, this didn't feel like the Sengoku period to me either, but earlier and probably in an alternate reality. Also the Shogunate's math doesn't work; if the Emishi were supposedly defeated 500 years ago, the events of Princess Mononoke would play out in the late Kamakura period.
The tribe is in relative exile since the 38 Year War, launched by the Emperor and the first Imperial shoguns, to subjugate or assimilate the Emishi and expand the Yamato Japanese to settling in & beyond the Kanto Plains into the northern region that is rural Tohoku, which makes it 500 years and so before the epic movie begins... That historical background is the story
It’s a darn good movie yo. Available on netflix. Saw the movie 🍿 but found it confusing. Ur explanation is esplendito. Sure hope ashitKa and mononoke tie the knot and get adopted by d ashikaga shogun.
My neighbors are a witch/warlock couple. Nice in public but evil behind closed doors. Loud with weird friends, that aren't respectful to children. When I rented this movie finally on my nephew's bday, I immediately realized these fat devil nerds next door are exactly the pig demon. Hate works that way; we can pick up that evil feeling and it will consume us into becoming child hating "adults." I've seen it consume my loyal friends and I get worn out by it over time, but I can fight it off. Hardest part is my brother and mom have been consumed by the same spirit long ago and won't stand against evil. I encourage everyone to make nature their religion. It's common sense and can overcome Babylon industry and abominable feelings,thoughts and desires. May you be guided to the worldwide brother/sisterhood who has always helped each other, regardless of personal relationship with heaven. From the shintos of Japan, to the Hebrew essenes. From Celtics to native Americans to the avadhutas of India. We can overcome fear with nature
There is a lot of debate over that. But although they are similar, recent findings show the Ainu would have been in Hokkaido long before the Emishi fled there. They were likely two different cultures.
The Ainu and the Emishi are most likely related as both are descended from Jomon people. There were Emishi tribes living in southern Hokkaido beside Tohoku region of northern Honshu. The Emishi tribes that refused to be assimilated into Japanese society fled to Hokkaido where they intermarried with the ancestors of Ainu and Nivkh people who settled in Hokkaido. This amalgamation gives birth to Ainu culture. In a way, the Ainu can be considered as descendants of the Emishi. Japanese people of Northern Honshu can also be descended from the Emishi that assimilated into Japanese culture. A society of winter hunters in Tohoku region known as Matagi share many common culture with the Ainu especially in bear worship. Their hunting vocabulary has many terms of Ainu origins which could be originally Emishi terms. The Matagi can be considered to be also descended from the Emishi as well.
"As it portrays the destruction of our environment, while we are in pursuit of our own selfish aims." Ah yes the pursuit of the selfish aim of protecting your community from the attacking enemy clans. Truly they should feel ashamed of their selfishness of wanting to protect themselves smh.
I love how the movie shows the plight of the last Emishi village at the beginning. A foreshadowing of what humans would do to the animals + spirits of the forest.
I don't think anyone else besides Miyazaki could have done it better!
@@TheShogunate I know! It was like a PERFECT movie!
It’s kind of funny since Japan still is 67% forest and mountains
@@comradekenobi6908 I did a Walk Japan tour & besides a few sacred pilgrimage trails like the Kumano Kodo, the trees of Japan are ALL grown quite recently for timber. So pretty much most of the trees aren't ancient trees. They've just been growing & chopping & replanting them. There are swathes of bald naked mountains in Japan.
@@Jumpoable yeah i know but Japanese nature are in alot more good shape in comparison to many countries
also could you send me this picture of bald Japanese mountains? sounds interesting
Princess Mononoke was my favorite of the Ghibli films and also the first one I ever watched. After seeing this video, I'll have to give it another watch.
I loved the movie but was disappointed by the ending ): but that’s just my opinion
The ending seemed like a compromise that got nothing accomplished. It's not that iron town and the forest can't live in harmony, it's that it feels there was no real resolution to the story.
@@mr.gunzaku437 hmm. I rationalized it as a story being told. The reason why there are no longer spirits and deities left in Japan. Why the enishi are gone, because of their prince sacrifice. The death of the deer God resulting in total destruction is a lesson that the peoples and the nature around them must live in balance and respect.
My fav is Chihiro.
This channel is a hidden gem. Honestly, Shogunate has one of the best narration voices I've ever come across. Perfectly formulated and engaging as one ever could aspire to be.
Definitely one of Miyazaki's best films, if not his most complex. For how grey he is able to make all sides, characters, how he shows humanity in Eboshi, Jigo, rage in the boars, animals of the forest. Captures the struggles of Ashitake and San.
Add in how this had Neil Gaiman himself doing the translation, the ever great story of someone sending a sword to Harvey Weinstein the bastard that said no cuts.
The ever beautiful animation, scenery, colouring we have come to expect from Studio Ghibli all these years, the themes of environment, destruction of humanity and respecting the spirits, nature.
A classic that never feels like it drags at anypoint and one even non animation films should watch.
I was just showing someone the gloriousness of Princess Mononoke today. I love seeing someone's reaction when they see this movie for the first time, and how thet get so wrapped up in the story/world. It honestly makes every re-watch fresh.
Pictures only was the correct choice.
Ghlibi has been even been territorial over Joe Hisaishi’s soundtrack for Mononoke to this day.
Can’t believe we’re already past Sekigahara. Now onto Sanada Yukimura’s glorious final stand.
Speaking of Sekigahara, does anyone know if that Sekigahara movie that came out a few years was any good?
Btw one thing regarding the role of the Emperor per Steve Alpert who worked on the localization.
He says that Miyazaki gave him a list of notes to help explain certain things and among them was that at the time Princess Mononoke happens the Emperor was broke and made spare money selling his name to people. So the fact that Jigo claims to be working for the Emperor means nothing. His motives and his patron are intended to be a mystery.
I first heard of the emishi from you of setting the stage series. When hearing you talk about of their fate is finally connected the dots with Princess Monoke. I thank you for that
Princess mononoke is the soul of Japanese history in popular media and the soul of animation made in Japan.
You’re not going to believe this, but today is my birthday and i was planning on watching this movie today since I got it as a present! Thanks for the upload and keep up the good work!
Really happy that you made a video on this. Mononoke-hime is still my favorite film from Studio Ghibli and possibly my favorite film ever. It's great to learn more about the history and folklore behind the story.
The Deer God/Spirit of the Forest is a Yatsukamizuomitsuno - a deer with a tree on its head who is actually worshipped in some parts of Japan. It has roots in Buddhism and represents the transformative power of the world with power over life and death. It is neither good nor evil.
I thought it was a Kirin because I think the Chinese translations for it is Kirin/ Qilin. & I was like, wow Miyazaki is so creative, cuz that's some trippy Qilin' Kirin LOL.
A great movie review your ability to create word pictures is stellar. I've never seen this film and only tangentially was aware of it. Now, I will have to find the Japanese version of this film to get it's true impact. As always, I learn, no matter what the subject of your video is about.
This film is in my top 5 for sure. Everything you said was spot on, I really appreciate the effort and depth of thought.
I study English literature, and one of our courses I have is World Literature; your channel is a blessing to me
Def one of my favourite movies, grew up with it and it's beautiful soundtrack and it holds such a special place in my heart. If you haven't watched it please do, it will definitely be worth your time.
I love Princess Mononoke and its so cool to hear more about the history behind it. Especially having watched StoryDive’s video.
how do we know you are honest in your claims of liking princess mononoke and not just someone impersonating a fan of the show?
You have no idea how much I've wanted to see this video be made. Mononoke is my favourite film ever cause its ghibli+samurai
This movie is the one that made me interested in japanese history XD.
Awesome video!
I've watched this movie like three times. People should definitely watch it.
Glad I get to see this before youtube takes it down
Hopefully they wont. I didn't use anything from the film besides pictures.
This is my all time favorite movie. Soon I will tattoo the art work of princess Mononoke. Truly amazing movie and beautiful story
Your explanation of this film is most welcome. I didn't get it when i watched it some years ago. I learn so much from you. Arigato Senpai.
You don't have to include music from the film in for this clip, for those who watched this , even if you watch it only once, the music stay in your head forever and that work with all Ghibli's studio movie great animation great music and great story is that why it's hard to forget after each movie. So just the title alone make you think of all soundtrack in the movie.
is and always be my favourite studio ghibli film
Beautifully crafted video. I love your content, I find it so fun and relaxing to watch. ❤️
I'm glad my posts in your movie chat a while back on the discord server helped inspire you a bit to make this gem of a video. I can't wait to see more of your content my man keep up the good work. You deserve 100k.
Had no idea of the context of the movie, thank you so much!
Easily my favourite Ghibli film. I watched it at a special viewing on its release over here in the UK. It's one of those movies, kinda like older Tarantino films, that you really need to watch more than once to fully appreciate everything it's trying to say.
Thanks for giving me historical insight into my favourite movie ^^
Just rewatched Princess Mononoke maybe 2 weeks ago and since then have introduced/reintroduced several friends to it. this video is right on time
One of my regrets in life is that I missed the opportunity to see this film on the big screen. The 2 dollar theater (it showed films that were classified as "second run" meaning they were no longer new but not yet out on DVD and VHS) had it playing for 1 week. And I thought it looked interesting but didn't know much about the film so I went to something else. A few weeks later I saw it at Blockbuster and rented it. The film was amazing and I have always wished that I had the chance to go back and see it in the theater.
I was lucky enough to get to see it at a special viewing on its release over here in the UK. Seeing it on the big screen was definitely worthwhile.
What I've learnt from this film: when a girl holds a blade to your throat, tell her she's beautiful.
Thanks for the video 👍🏻
How don't you have a million subscribers yet? Because your channel is awesome. Your videos have taught me so much about Japanese history, and is my go to place for learning more about it.
good video it's nice
This and Mirai are my favourite animated movies. They are beautiful to watch and have a depth to them more than many anime can establish with 20+ episodes...
I’m gonna saved this video to show people the TH-cam algorithm actually works.
Thank you for the video, now I can better articulate the questions my 6 yr old asks about the movie. God bless!
I'm not a huge Ghibli fan, but the first time I saw Princess Mononoke I had indulged in some, let's say, mind-expanding fungi, and it absolutely blew me away with its visual splendour. It's remained one of my favourite animated films, and subsequent watches allowed me to enjoy its historical and philosophical aspects. Glad to see you covering this, man.
You don't need shrooms to enjoy Princess Mononoke. Trying watching it without plant aid.
Great piece 👏
"Samurai thugs". Pretty much sums it up.
I always found it starnge how in so many Japanese works of fiction "hatred" is so big a theme. Even though few such works actually go to such length as to show us hatred being a problem. I know it's probably something from Bhuddism and Japanese understand it well, but to me it still seems poorly explained. Like the main driver of conflict in Princess Mononoke seems to be human ambition vs laws of nature, fight over natural resources, maybe greed of the new vs pride of the old, I could even read some environmentalist conflicts into it. But hatred itself is really a byproduct which is easily dealt with once those other issues are solved.
I think Jigo just uses Emperor's name for clout. Indeed, by that time Emperor was essentially relegated to signing papers for money, and didn't have money to promise mountains of gold. So, Jigo uses aura of authority for his own (or his hidden patron) goals.
I have dreamed about this video
Could you also cover Samurai Champloo & the last of the Ryukyu?
Haven’t watched the vid yet, but hoping that you mention the emishi riding red elks and use stone arrow heads.
Either way I’m going to have to play the soundtrack and play shogun 2 now!
Thank you.
Anyway, I'm sure that part of the action in this movie takes place around the future site of the castle in Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind.
Sweet. Very cool breakdown. Hope you can do videos within fair use without fearing demonetization or other punishment from TH-cam.
I sure wish bigger channels would protest by stopping making new videos for TH-cam.
Ask their fans, who watch all the time to support Patreon for one month, so that channel could protest TH-cam.
The only thing that will change the irresponsible practices of TH-cam is loss of money from advertising, and the threat of an Exodus to a different platform.
TH-camrs are very weird about a channel changing where one watches the videos. I don’t understand why so many people seem to act like clicking a link to a another site would be such a difficult change.
Do you think that Irontown was supposed to represent, or at least be based on the Ikko Ikki of the era? They seem to share some aspects.
Wonder what does the samurai thugs under Lord Asano would want with the resource-exploited lands of Irontown, after laying wastes along many villages on the way to Irontown?
Clearly, it's not more than just the resources or the weapons that his foe in Lady Eboshi possesses, but is it simply a powerful obstacle in his endless path of ambition & conquest?
I think you would have made a video of much lesser quality if you had included footage from the movie. Your narration over the still pictures was an excellent choice.
This is some interesting stuff
I always wanted to know when exactly that movie took place in history!
I think it is somewhere between 1550-1560
Could be!
Lovely
Ah probably my favorite Ghibli film objectively outside of My Neighbor Totoro (more for sentimental reasons due to being my first anime movie) 😉
Thank you. I always thought the film was set in a Japan in an alternate universe because of the presence of the Emishi/ Ainu (I thought they had been wiped out like even before the Heian period or pushed to Hokkaido), hoary ancient nature spirits... & then they had guns so I was like HUH? Fantasy & steampunk? LOL.
I'm glad Miyazaki actually based the story in a specific period in Japanese/ human history to showcase the conflict between human cultures/ race, between man & technology, between man & nature, and you missed one: man & Spirit/ God.
I agree with you, this didn't feel like the Sengoku period to me either, but earlier and probably in an alternate reality. Also the Shogunate's math doesn't work; if the Emishi were supposedly defeated 500 years ago, the events of Princess Mononoke would play out in the late Kamakura period.
Didnt even know that ashitaka was from the nativ emishi tribe
THANK YOU, for the last 30 seconds or so, making a clear, direct statement about how this relates to our present pre-apocalyptic trajectory.
Wow...
I know that Emperor in this anime movie sent the tribe to exile.
I was wondering about the story behind it...
The tribe is in relative exile since the 38 Year War, launched by the Emperor and the first Imperial shoguns, to subjugate or assimilate the Emishi and expand the Yamato Japanese to settling in & beyond the Kanto Plains into the northern region that is rural Tohoku, which makes it 500 years and so before the epic movie begins...
That historical background is the story
Can you do a review of "spirited away" (please)
I am surprised Shogunated didn't mention the Mori Flag
It's upside down in the film haha
@@TheShogunate Oh okey haha
Arent the abe once considered savages by imperial japanese government? Can you do a video on the hayato, kumaso and azumi clans.
It’s a darn good movie yo. Available on netflix. Saw the movie 🍿 but found it confusing. Ur explanation is esplendito. Sure hope ashitKa and mononoke tie the knot and get adopted by d ashikaga shogun.
My neighbors are a witch/warlock couple. Nice in public but evil behind closed doors. Loud with weird friends, that aren't respectful to children. When I rented this movie finally on my nephew's bday, I immediately realized these fat devil nerds next door are exactly the pig demon.
Hate works that way; we can pick up that evil feeling and it will consume us into becoming child hating "adults." I've seen it consume my loyal friends and I get worn out by it over time, but I can fight it off. Hardest part is my brother and mom have been consumed by the same spirit long ago and won't stand against evil.
I encourage everyone to make nature their religion. It's common sense and can overcome Babylon industry and abominable feelings,thoughts and desires. May you be guided to the worldwide brother/sisterhood who has always helped each other, regardless of personal relationship with heaven. From the shintos of Japan, to the Hebrew essenes. From Celtics to native Americans to the avadhutas of India. We can overcome fear with nature
Are the Ainu people descendants of the Emishi, or do they have a different origin?
There is a lot of debate over that. But although they are similar, recent findings show the Ainu would have been in Hokkaido long before the Emishi fled there. They were likely two different cultures.
The Ainu and the Emishi are most likely related as both are descended from Jomon people. There were Emishi tribes living in southern Hokkaido beside Tohoku region of northern Honshu. The Emishi tribes that refused to be assimilated into Japanese society fled to Hokkaido where they intermarried with the ancestors of Ainu and Nivkh people who settled in Hokkaido. This amalgamation gives birth to Ainu culture. In a way, the Ainu can be considered as descendants of the Emishi. Japanese people of Northern Honshu can also be descended from the Emishi that assimilated into Japanese culture. A society of winter hunters in Tohoku region known as Matagi share many common culture with the Ainu especially in bear worship. Their hunting vocabulary has many terms of Ainu origins which could be originally Emishi terms. The Matagi can be considered to be also descended from the Emishi as well.
Carry on my wayward son.
FUCK YEA THE SHOGUNATE.
YOU'RE A SCHOLAR MAN.
KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO.
Hmm are the Emishi the same as Ainu?
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
🤠👍🏿
I just heard a Tom Hanks ad for Biden. No wonder why his son has problems.
"As it portrays the destruction of our environment, while we are in pursuit of our own selfish aims."
Ah yes the pursuit of the selfish aim of protecting your community from the attacking enemy clans. Truly they should feel ashamed of their selfishness of wanting to protect themselves smh.