‘Princess Mononoke’ Screens In Theatres for 20th Anniversary

{Header image copyright Studio Ghibli, courtesy Fathom Events.}

Note: this article was also published on SciFi4Me.com.

The nostalgia trips continue with Fathom Events, as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of Studio Ghibli’s classic animated feature Princess Mononoke.

Released in Japan in July 1997, and in the U.S. in October 1999, the movie was a critical and financial box office success in Japan. Distributed by Miramax (before Pixar/Disney started their partnership), it didn’t get much box office in theatres, but became a cult sensation on video and is one of the movies that made Studio Ghibli a household name.

Set in the late Muromachi period of Japan, Princess Mononoke follows prince Ashitaka, cursed by a demon that was attacking his village. He heads into the forest for a cure, and meets Princess Mononoke, who was raised by wolves and is fighting her own battle to save her home and the forest spirits and animal gods who live there. Darker than most Studio Ghibli films, the film covers the environmental theme of the fight between nature and civilization.

In partnership with Fathom Events, the film will screen in cinemas on two nights, and like their screening of Spirited Away, one is subtitled and one is dubbed in English. (The English dubbed version was adapted with help by Neil Gaiman.) Additionally, as usual, the cinema screening will have extra: a music video never released in the US will also be included. “On Your Mark”, by Japanese rock duo Chage & Aska, was released in 1994, and the video was written and directed by Miyazaki as a side project while having writer’s block with Princess Mononoke.

Princess Mononoke screens January 5 (the subtitled version) and January 9 (English-dubbed) at 7 pm local time. For more information, including a list of theatres that are showing it and to buy tickets, visit the Fathom Events website.