Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke)

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162). Animation World Network

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.awn.com/mag/issue4.08/4.08pages/4.08editor.php3

November 1999

Editorial

by Heather Kenyon

[...]

[...] Animation can be many things and there are two films coming out that will hopefully help shift this perception.

The first is Princess Mononoke. What a refreshing film. I enjoyed the film immensely because the Japanese story telling structure is very unique to a typical US viewer. One sits there really not knowing what to expect next. Talking animal spirits, tree planting monkeys, little white ghosts rattling their heads and an industrialist who is both cruel and kind...What is going to happen next? Well, I can tell you for sure that when I saw Princess Mononoke, I really had no idea, and that was wonderful. The animation is absolutely fantastic, from hand animated rain drops and worm encased demons to the quiet characterization of such characters as Yakul, the protagonist's loyal, silent, red elk. This film is an important film for the questions that it poses and answers regarding nature in an industrial world. No one is good, and no one is bad. (Is Lady Eboshi just a greedy capitalist? No, she takes in society's unwanted and makes them useful.) A middle ground needs to be found between man and Nature. This is a universal theme that we should all be thinking about. It doesn't matter whether you like animation, or even anime, or not. This is an important film in any medium or style. Hopefully, people will go see it and be surprised by its refreshing structure, wonderful animation and universal theme. Let's hope audiences are open-minded and curious enough about Japan's highest grossing film of all time to go see it and it doesn't become The Iron Giant's runner-up, to most worthy but under-attended film of 1999.

[...]

163). Animation World Network

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.awn.com/mag/issue4.08/4.08pages/osmondfeatures.php3

November 1999

Cartoon Movies: Acting Their Age?

by Andrew Osmond

[...]

It may be the next few years decide a 'survival of the fittest' among pseudo-real cartoons, 'ironic' cartoons, and those which follow the conventions of either old or new Disney (the latter perhaps sticking closer to Beauty or Lion King than subsequent experiments). A more attractive possibility is of films combining the virtues of all these approaches, or a cinema, and public, sustaining a variety of animated features. The co-existence in the last few months of pics as diverse as The Prince of Egypt, Disney's Tarzan, South Park, The Rugrats Movie, The Iron Giant and the US version of the Japanese import Princess Mononoke, is surely a ground for optimism. In the meantime, one only hopes Solomon is right in his account of the impatience and adventurousness of the feature animation community.

[...]

164). Animation World Network

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.awn.com/mag/issue4.08/4.08pages/pattenmononoke.php3

November 1999

Princess Mononoke: The Art and Making of Japan's Most Popular Film of All Time - a book review

by Fred Patten

A hallmark of Japan's Studio Ghibli animation company is a coffee-table art book on the production art of each of its features. This text is a translation by Mark Schilling of Ghibli's The Art of Princess Mononoke which accompanied the film's 1997 theatrical release. Hyperion's edition is similarly timed to accompany Miramax's October 29 release of Walt Disney's English- language version of the movie.

[...]

The only thing lacking which would have been helpful is photographs of Miyazaki and the other key creators of Princess Mononoke. One can only wish that "The Art of ..." books on American animated features were this comprehensive.

[...]

165). Hollywood.com

The following are relevant quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://hollywood.com/news/headline_hollywood/princessmonoke.html

November 1999

Headline Hollywood

by Hollywood.com

See video of the celebrities on the red carpet at "Princess Mononoke" Premiere!

Gillian Anderson - Like a 300-year old wolf goddess. [...]
Billy Bob Thornton - We never worked together. [...]
Neil Gaiman - The lips match the motion. [...]
Billy Crudup - We're deprived of diverse art. [...]

[...]

166). Yahoo! Movies

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1800024082&cf=prod

[Note: The text of this page comprises the text provided with Miramax's Press Kit for Princess Mononoke.]

November 1999

Princess Mononoke (1999) - Production Notes

by Miramax Films

Based loosely on Japanese folklore, PRINCESS MONONOKE is the animated tale of a war between encroaching civilization and the beast gods of the forest which threatens to unbalance the forces of nature. Directed by Japan's leading animator, the acclaimed Hayao Miyazaki, PRINCESS MONONOKE is one of only two films to ever break $150 million at the Japanese box office - the other being "Titanic."

Miramax Films presents an English-language dubbed version of PRINCESS MONONOKE featuring the voices of Billy Crudup, Minnie Driver, Claire Danes, Billy Bob Thornton, Jada Pinkett and Gillian Anderson among others. The script was penned by Neil Gaiman, best-selling author and creator/writer of the award-winning monthly DC Comics, Sandman, and animation director Jack Fletcher.

[...]

167). Anime Digital

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.digital.anime.org.uk/heleninterview.html

November 1, 1999

An Interview with Helen McCarthy

by Anime Digital

[...]

With Pokemon being released in Europe and Mononoke Hime being released in the USA (and hopefully Europe soon), that this will increase public awareness of anime and manga and make more people interested?

[...]

Miramax are pushing the Japanese angle on Princess Mononoke, but then it's obvious that this isn't Kansas, Toto, so they have to explain the context to the audience, just as they would for any movie with a non-American setting. Also, because Disney have said they bought the Ghibli movies as part of a World Animation series, a collection of foreign animated movies of real stature, the foreign angle has to be pushed to help the concept to work.

So far, Kiki's Delivery Service has done very well on video for Buena Vista with its mainly juvenile domestic audience, and Princess Mononoke has picked up mostly, though not entirely, positive press and excellent audience reactions at the art-house screenings pre-launch. So there are two markets, the kids' market and the arthouse market, both buying Miyazaki movies, one knowing the material is foreign and maybe liking it partly because of that, the other mostly too young to know or care about the origins and just loving the movie.

[...]

I have absolutely no doubt that the two things that would help get anime into the public consciousness most effectively are high profile marketing campaigns backed up with merchandise availability, and long-running TV series exposure. Both are expensive, so companies need to feel that the medium has a wide appeal, and can sell outside a few thousand fans. So maybe Princess Mononoke and Pokemon will help in that context. Whether they will get what many fans think of as 'good stuff' into the mass market is another question.

[...]

168). The Boston Globe

The following are relevant quotes only.

November 1, 1999

NAMES & FACES
A stately salute

by Carol Beggy and Beth Carney

[...]

A `Haunted' hit

[...] Two films that opened in limited release this weekend posted strong numbers. ''Being John Malkovich'' took in about $650,000 playing in 25 theaters. ''Princess Mononoke,'' an animated blockbuster in Japan, grossed $140,000 on eight screens, including the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline. The US version features the voices of Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, and Billy Bob Thornton.

[...]

169). Variety

The following are relevant quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.variety.com/article.asp?articleID=1117757571

November 1, 1999

B.O. full 'House'
WB redo chills $15 mil; 'Malkovich' tops niche

by Dade Hayes

[...]

The most eye-popping totals, though, came in the limited-release arena. The loftiest per-screen average belonged to "Being John Malkovich," USA's Moebius strip-like comedy starring John Cusack and Cameron Diaz. It rolled up $25,495 on each of 25 screens, for a weekend total of $637,371.

[...]

And Miramax's Japanimation entry "Princess Mononoke" captured $140,000 on just eight screens for a dazzling debut of $17,500 per screen.

[...]

170). The Boston Herald

The following are representative quotes only.

November 3, 1999

Animated about `Mononoke': Frenzy for Japan's `Princess' hits U.S.

by Alicia Potter

Perhaps the simplest way to say ``Princess Mononoke'' isn't your typical animated feature is this: There's no Happy Meal tie-in.

And that's only the start. Created with exquisite hand-painted animated cels, the film plays for more than two hours and features complex characters, downright existential themes and a decapitation or two. As if that weren't enough, not one of the film's animals sings or wears pants.

Obviously, we're not talking Disney.

[...]

The film opened on a limited number of screens nationally on Friday and averaged an impressive box office take of $18,056 per screen. A sneak preview last month at the Brattle Theater sold out in 30 minutes. And at the Coolidge, which has the film exclusively for three weeks, ``Princess Mononoke'' is en route to a $20,000 opening week. That's good considering the competition - Halloween - said Connie White, co-director of the Beacon Cinema Group.

``I think it will get beyond the cult fan base that's already there for Miyazaki and get the attention of the general public,'' White said.

[...]

171). Entertainment Weekly

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.pathfinder.com/ew/daily/0,2514,2164,heresnextstarwars-like.html

November 3, 1999

Family Feudal
Here's the next ''Star Wars''-like epic. Move over George Lucas, says Ty Burr, ''Princess Mononoke'' is a mythic masterpiece

by Ty Burr

One of the greatest animated movies ever made was released in U.S. theaters last Friday. I'll be very curious to see if American audiences can handle it.

The film in question is called "Princess Mononoke" and it's the crowning glory in the career of Japanese master animator Hiyao Miyazaki. Released in Japan in 1997 (where it quickly became the country's top-grossing movie ever, only subsequently knocked out of the No. 1 spot by "Titanic"), "Princess Mononoke" is no Disney-style kiddie show. On the contrary, it's very much NOT for children, given its labyrinthine plot and bouts of cosmic mega-violence. But for any grown-up who can get his or her mind around the vulgar prospect of going to see an animated movie unaccompanied by a knee-high Pokemon junkie, "Mononoke" pays off in spades. Simply put, this is the most richly realized screen fantasy -- of any kind -- in years.

[...]

172). sfbg.com

The following are relevant quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.sfbg.com/AandE/God/46.html

November 3, 1999

City God - Perfect

by Alvin Lu

[...]

The parody finds shape in the crudity of Perfect Blue's animation, which is actually not so low by the industry standard (although going to see the magisterial Princess Mononoke after watching this dirty joke of an animation should open your eyes). [...]

[...]

173). Ain't It Cool News

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=4631

November 4, 1999

Northern Based ANIME Fans!!! A Call To Arms!!! PRINCESS MONONOKE TEST MARKET!!! HELP THE FILM!!!

by Harry Knowles

Hey folks, Harry here. This is the put up or shut up time for Anime fans in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area. If PRINCESS MONONOKE doesn't do well there... The movie will not open wide across the country. Now I know... it is Miramax's duty to open this film and push it as hard as they can.... BUT... It is your duty to get your ass in the damn seat and pay to see the movie. As fans, we want more illustrated cinema... Animated movies that don't pander JUST to kids. It is a form of storytelling, not a genre. So... Here we go. PRINCESS MONONOKE's future lays in the asses of fans in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area... See it often, drag your friends, wear placards and walk the streets. CPR time folks.... A great film needs your support!

[...]

174). The Boston Globe

The following are relevant quotes only.

November 4, 1999

NAMES AND FACES
Streep really fiddles as students learn

by Carol Beggy and Beth Carney

[...]

Royal reception for 'Princess'

And while we're on the subject of Japanese anime, the film "Princess Mononoke" - featuring the voices of Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Billy Crudup, and Gillian Anderson- is packing them in at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Just one of four movie houses in the country with the film, which has achieved cult status in Japan and on the Internet, the Coolidge has been taking calls from around New England, said Connie White, programmer for the theater. "We're just not used to fielding calls from Connecticut with people asking for directions." The theater will be the lone house in the region with the film for two more weeks.

[...]

175). Fandom

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.fandom.com/master_site/Editorial.asp?obj_id=21748&aff_id=0

November 4, 1999

The Making of PRINCESS MONONOKE
Art House Anime Hit Expands Its Release on Friday

by Andrew Osmond

PRINCESS MONONKE (original title MONONOKE HIME) is both the most successful anime in history and the most successful Japanese film to date, having toppled the fifteen-year record held by Spielberg`s E.T. at the Japanese box-office, before being beaten by another U.S. import, TITANIC. The film is not expected to reach the same box office heights in America, which likes its animation more kid-friendly, but it got off to a great start in exclusive engagements last weekend, with an extremely impressive $17,500 per screen average at the box office. On the heels of this impressive debut, Miramax rolls the film out into wider release this Friday.

[...]

176). The Los Angeles Times Calendar

The following are relevant quotes only.

November 4, 1999

Violin Lessons to Tug on the Heartstrings

by Jane Horwitz

[...]

All Teens

[...]

"Princess Mononoke"
(PG-13)--Ravishing animated epic from Japan about ancient struggles between human tribes and forest spirits over the land; dubbed into bland American English, but otherwise terrific. Not for most kids under 10 or 12, with violent battles, warriors' arms and heads lopped off; monsters, wild boar, writhing snakes; mild sexual innuendo.

[...]

177). San Jose Mercury News

The following are relevant quotes only.

November 4, 1999

Films opening Friday

THESE are the films scheduled to open Friday at area movie houses. Full reviews of the new releases will appear in Friday's Eye.

[...]

• Princess Mononoke: This animated film outdrew ``Star Wars'' in Japan. It's big and bloody and how it will play with American audiences remains to be seen. Definitely not for younger kids, by the way. (R)

[...]

178). San Jose Mercury News

The following are relevant quotes only.

November 4, 1999

FAMILY FILMGOER REVIEWS

(Condensed from Jane Horwitz's Family Filmgoer)

[...]

Rated PG-13

[...]

``Princess Mononoke'': Ravishing, mythic animated epic from Japan about ancient struggles between human tribes and forest spirits over the land; dubbed into bland American English, but otherwise terrific. Not for most kids under 10 or 12, with violent battles, warrior's arms and heads lopped off; monsters, wild boar, writhing snakes (phobics note) rampage; mild sexual innuendo.

[...]

179). The Seattle Times

The following are relevant quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.seattletimes.com/news/entertainment/html98/anim_19991104.html

November 4, 1999

Japanese animation storms the mainstream

by Melanie McFarland

[...]

This is anime, or Japanese animation. And it's everywhere.

You see it in most of the video games your kids play. You watch it with them on television, see it reflected in their action figures. If your kid is between the ages of 6 and 12, forget it. He or she probably has "Pokemon," "Dragonball Z" or "Sailor Moon" on the brain. And if Hayao Miyazaki's "Princess Mononoke," opening in theaters tomorrow, does well at the box office, you'll be hearing even more about the genre.

[...]

"Mononoke" is something of an eco-fable, in which technology-worshiping humans in ancient Japan battle the forest gods for dominance. A princess raised by wolves, named San, and a warrior from a distant land find themselves caught in the conflict.

Miyazaki took great pains to perfect "Mononoke's" animation and the plot progression. He also hired known stars such as Minnie Driver, Claire Danes and Gillian Anderson for the film's English voices.

Supreme artistry and story aside, "Princess Mononoke" may still be just another cartoon to American viewers. If "Mononoke" can't storm the gates, another runaway anime phenomenon might: "Pokemon: The First Movie" opens Nov. 12, flanked by collector's card giveaways for the first fans to see the movie. "Mononoke" may be beautiful, but it doesn't have a hulking toy and video-game industry to push it along.

[...]

180). TNT's Rough Cut

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.roughcut.com/talk/movie.chat/dp_991104_transcript.html

November 4, 1999

Hayao Miyazake [sic] Chat Transcript
Movie: Princess Mononoke

by David Poland

[...]

brajlu asks: In the movie, why does Ashitaka use the evil power of the Tatari-gami curse during the fight scenes? This troubles me as I feel that good guys should not use evil weapons.
Hayao Miyazaki: It is impossible to find a human being who is composed entirely of good. Every human being struggles with the good and evil in him or her. I think it's impossible to expect even good people to consist entirely of goodness. In fact, they are good because they struggle with the evil inside them. Even with good people, there is the possibility that in an instant they will change direction. I think that you can find a similar situation in the NATO air strikes over Kosovo.

[...]

181). Contra Costa Times (California)

The following are representative quotes only.

November 4, 1999

Anime explosion
Film style has landed - finally

by Vera H-C Chan

Anime is about to vault into mainstream American pop culture - and its emissaries are a girl raised by giant wolves and pocket-sized monsters.

[...]

Bigger names, though, are behind this month's releases. Parent company Disney is throwing the party and Miramax is acting as the escort for "Princess Mononoke," the aforementioned movie about the girl raised by giant wolves. It's a darkly stunning ecological epic that was bumped aside only by "Titanic" last year as the all-time Japanese box-office champion. The film made its U.S. premiere last week in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston, and opens in wider release today.

Both the film and its creator, Hayao Miyazaki, have elicited critical adulation from the likes of Roger Ebert, James Cameron and Entertainment Weekly. American animators echo their Japanese counterparts when they exalt Miyazaki as a god. "Princess Mononoke" boasts celebrity voices, including Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver and Billy Bob Thornton, while the English-language script comes from the highly regarded "Sandman" comic artist and novelist Neil Gaiman.

[...]

182). Contra Costa Times (California)

The following are representative quotes only.

November 5, 1999

HAYAO MIYAZAKI FILMOGRAPHY

by Vera H-C Chan

"Princess Mononoke" (1997), writer, director

[...]

183). Contra Costa Times (California)

The following are relevant quotes only.

November 5, 1999

REWIND: RANDY MYERS
It's high time adults began to watch anime
There are a lot of terrific movies out there, but wee ones shouldn't be privy to most of them

by Randy Myers

Anime -- Japanese animation -- might finally get some deserved respect with the theatrical release of "Princess Mononoke," a movie Roger Ebert calls one of the best films of the year.

It's about time.

[...]

184). San Jose Mercury News

The following are relevant quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.mercurycenter.com/justgo/special/mononoke/

November 5, 1999

Princess Mononoke // Just Go Entertainment

Based loosely on Japanese folklore, this is the animated tale of the war between the encroaching civilization of man and the beast gods of the forest, which threatens to unbalance the forces of nature. The film features the voices of Claire Danes, Billy Crudup, Minnie Driver, Gilllian Anderson and Jada Pinkett.

[...]

[Note: This page contains links to reviews, articles, and online resources.]

185). Mr. Showbiz

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.mrshowbiz.go.com/reviews/moviereviews/preview/winterpreview99/princessmononoke.html

November 1, 1999

Holiday Movie Preview: Princess Mononoke

[...]

The Buzz: Before Titanic sailed into Japanese waters, homegrown Princess Mononoke was the highest-grossing film ever released in Japan. The Weinstein Brothers decided Miramax needed to get a piece of that action and acquired the U.S. rerelease rights to five films directed by anime god Hayao Miyazaki. Mononoke is the second property acquired in that deal to arrive Stateside; the decidedly less epic Kiki's Delivery Service, a tale of a young teen witch making her way in the world, went straight to video. Miramax was contractually prohibited from editing Miyazaki's masterpiece, which includes enough grim battle sequences and flavorful dialogue that the MPAA rated it PG-13. Though there is a relatively sizeable and extremely enthusiastic market for anime in the United States, Mononoke's main calling card at U.S. theaters is likely to be the presence of the marquee actors and actresses who provided the voices for its English-language dub. Then there's the film's running time, at a whopping 135 minutes, Mononoke is a good 45 minutes longer than most mainstream U.S. animated films. All in all, the commercial forecast looks iffy enough that Miramax is reportedly aiming for a limited release.

[...]

186). Fandom

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.fandom.com/master_site/editorial.asp?action=page&obj_id=22221

November 5, 1999

Hayao Miyazaki and the Art of Anime
The director of PRINCESS MONONOKE redefined Japanese animation

by Andrew Osmond

With Hayao Miyazaki`s PRINCESS MONONOKE expanding into more cities this weekend, American audiences will be getting a chance to look at a kind of animated epic that many of them have never seen before. To most Western viewers, the subject of Japanese animation conjures up images of POKEMON; those with longer memories may recall SPEED RACER, GIGANTOR, and ASTRO-BOY, while a more select group may be aware of "anime" for its more adult aspects: hard- edged cyberpunk science fiction or hardcore sex-and-Gothic horror. This kind of perception is misleading, however. PRINCESS MONONOKE, like the rest of work from Miyazaki`s Studio Ghibil, doesn`t fit into any of these categories; it`s almost a category unto itself, thanks to the company`s dedication to perfecting its craft. So don`t let vague memories of limited movement and bad dubbing scare you away. For those who need a brief crash course in the subject of Japanese animation, we present the following primer.

[...]

187). Philadelphia Inquirer

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online (payment required).

November 7, 1999

'Mononoke' is surprising even its creator

by Steven Rea

It's a mystery to Hayao Miyazaki.

Sure, the revered Japanese animator is accustomed to seeing his beautifully rendered fantasies achieve commercial success in his homeland. But since the release of Princess Mononoke in Japan in 1997, the film has grossed more than $150 million, second only to Titanic in that country's box-office books.

"I always try not to be surprised by the box-office results, good or bad," says Miyazaki, whose previous ink-and-paint masterpieces include Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro. "To be perfectly honest, I still do not know exactly why Mononoke was so well-received. Maybe it's because this film dealt with problems which everybody recognized but kept putting off dealing with."

[...]

188). Yahoo! News Entertainment Headlines

The following are relevant quotes only.

November 7, 1999

Audiences ``Bone'' up at box office

by Dade Hayes (Variety)

[...]

Miramax's animated picture ``Princess Mononoke'' also held up well in its sophomore platform weekend. The minimajor estimates a weekend take of $385,000 on just 38 screens, or about $10,100 per screen. Eight ongoing sites in New York and L.A. dropped about 15%.

[...]

189). Chicago Sun-Times - Movie Answer Man

The following are relevant quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/answ-man/ebert07.html

November 7, 1999

In defense of Japanese animation

by Roger Ebert

[...]

Q. Thanks for your enthusiasm over "Princess Mononoke." I recently defended Japanese animation in my film class, but was shot down viciously by the teacher and others who claimed anime was only "targeted at horny 12-year-old boys." The teacher seemed convinced that the only Japanese cartoon out there was something he called "Rape Man," which, apparently, "everyone over there loves."
Sean Molloy, Rochester, N.Y.

A. Your teacher would not be able to make such statements if he had the slightest knowledge about anime. I have never heard of "Rape Man," and could not find it listed in the Internet Movie Database. How remarkable that it is the only title that has captured his attention. Show him "Grave of the Fireflies" and ask him what he thinks.

[...]

190). Hollywood.com

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.hollywood.com/news/topstories/11-08-99/today/1-1a.html

November 8, 1999

Top Stories - Expansions

by Hollywood.com

Miramax's Dimension Films label's animated "Princess Mononoke" expanded in its second weekend, placing 22nd with an estimated $0.39 million at 38 theaters (+30 theaters; $10,131 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.6 million.

The Japanese cartoon features the voices of Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith and Billy Bob Thornton.

"The holds in New York and L.A. were excellent," said Kaminow. "We were off only 15% in New York and 14% in L.A. (There were) some really strong new markets -- particularly San Francisco, Seattle and Dallas."

191). 5x5 Media - The Critical Eye

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://5x5media.com/eye/inte/ngaiman.shtml

November 8, 1999

Neil Gaiman - Interview

[...]

by Emru Townsend

Emru Townsend: So what was it about Princess Mononoke that grabbed you when you were first presented with it?

Neil Gaiman: First of all, I was intrigued because they wouldn't let me see a video. I thought that was genuinely interesting. No, you can't see a video, we're not showing videos, we're doing screenings. If you want to see it, we'll put on a screening for you. And I thought, I wonder if this will live up to that kind of promise. And so I went to the screening. And I went to the screening not expecting to say yes. It was the last thing that I would particularly want to do, to rewrite somebody else's story or whatever... it was not something that was anywhere on my list of things that I'm planning to do this week, or even this lifetime. But I went to see it, any my jaw dropped. It was astonishing. I'd never seen anything like it. You know, you're talking an epic movie, with a breadth and scale that I thought was quite unbelievable. And having seen it, I came out blinking into the night two hours and thirteen minutes later, and I thought, I've got to do this. And I've got to do this because I think it's wonderful, and if I try and do it, I will do it with love and respect and care. And if I say no, then Harvey [Weinstein] will phone somebody else up. And somebody else may wind up doing it for money. They may wind up doing it as a job, and it won't be done with love or respect or care, it'll be done... you know.

[...]

192). Science Fiction Weekly

November 8, 1999

Site of the Week

As animation master Hayao Miyazaki's film Princess Mononoke finally becomes widely available in America, expect to see the traffic soar at Nausicca.net, an amazing fan-run resource for anyone interested in Miyazaki's work. This unbelievably comprehensive, cleanly designed site is a treasure trove of information for Miyazaki fans of all shapes and sizes.

[...]

193). Science Fiction Weekly

November 8, 1999

Cool Stuff - A review of Helen McCarthy's Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation

[...]

His images are no less compelling in motion. Miyazaki's animated movies, including the touching, tender My Neighbor Totoro, the complex and emotional Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and the visual extravaganza Princess Mononoke, arouse deep emotion in serious animation buffs. Until recently, his films were hard to find in the United States outside of "fansub" rings and the occasional film festival. But Disney's purchase of the U.S. release rights to much of Miyazaki's studio's theatrical output seems to be changing that. Kiki's Delivery Service came out on video in 1998 to rave reviews and strong sales. Mononoke is currently in theaters. Castle in the Sky is reportedly due on video next year.

[...]

But Master shines in the clear, crisp history and the "Origins" sections for each movie, which provide everything from production trivia to Miyazaki's own analysis of his themes. The entire book is light, breezy, compelling to read and easy to understand. It's enthusiastic but not entirely uncritical, informative but not bogged down in minutiae.

[...]

194). EX - The Online World of Anime and Manga

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.ex.org/4.7/06-event_mononoke.html

November 9, 1999

The Remaking of a Myth: Princess Mononoke in America

by Charles McCarter

Article Quote(s)

[...]

A stellar cast provides the English voices for PRINCESS MONONOKE. And if they weren't already, the cast members had become some of Miyazaki's biggest fans by the end of the recording sessions. Here's what the cast had to say about PRINCESS MONONOKE and bringing it to the American public.

[...]

Billy Crudup, who plays Ashitaka, said "The movie was such an entirely different experience; it had a whole new sensibility I had never seen in animation. It also had something profound to say: that there has to be a give and take between man and nature. One of the things that really impressed me is that Miyazaki shows life in all its multi-faceted complexity, without the traditional perfect heroes and wicked villains. Even Lady Eboshi, who Ashitaka respects, is not so much evil as short-sighted."

[...]

Minne Driver, providing the voice for Lady Eboshi, saw the same complexity of life reflected in the film. "It's one of the most remarkable things about the film: Miyazaki gives a complete argument for both sides of the battle between technological achievement and our spiritual roots in the forest. He shows that good and evil, violence and peace exist in us all. It's all about how you harmonize it all."

[...]

Gillian Anderson, a longtime Miyazaki fan, played the wolf goddess Moro. "There is action and violence and yet there is something else, too, an almost indescribable feeling that this is very emotional and deep. It's ultimately about respect for the world and the natural order of things. It's such a spiritual film. The look is so stunning and the characters are so rich and layered. I was very excited to try to capture the wisdom and maternal loyalty of a 400-year-old wolf watching over the forest."

[...]

Perhaps it is Claire Danes, the voice of the Princess herself, who summarizes the feelings of the cast the best. "The film touches on so many fundamental things that touch all of our lives from nature and spirituality to love, friendship and loyalty to bravery and belief. It's all in there and it's all magnificently balanced, not to mention breathtakingly beautiful."

[...]

195). EX - The Online World of Anime and Manga

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.ex.org/4.7/36-book_miyazaki.html

November 9, 1999

Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation

by Charles McCarter

Article Quote(s)

We knew sooner or later that someone was going to write a book in English on Miyazaki, it was simply a matter of time. And then, of course, who was going to do it? Would they get someone who was an anime fan, or someone who simply would throw together a book in time to cash in on the (hopeful) wave of success that PRINCESS MONONOKE will bring?

[...]

The book is a chronological history of Miyazaki's films. The first chapter is an introduction to Miyazaki's life, and it contains a brief biography which fans will no doubt find interesting. This chapter also includes a sort of animation primer, in an attempt to provide the layperson with a sense of all the work required to make an animated feature-length film. The successive chapters cover all the films of Miyazaki from LUPIN III: CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO to PRINCESS MONONOKE. Only Miyazaki's films are covered in this book; Ghibli productions not directed by him are not included.

[...]

196). canada.com news

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.canada.com/cgi-bin/cp.asp?f=/news/cp/stories/19991109/1241029.html

November 9, 1999

Pokemon phenomenon strikes today

by Staff

[...]

The film [Pokemon] is not the finest example of Japanese animation to reach our shores. The recently-opened Prince Mononoke is much better in both story and design.

[...]

197). LA Times

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.calendarlive.com/calendarlive/movies/review_pokemon991110.htm

November 10, 1999

All's Not Right in Pokemon World

by ROBIN RAUZI, Times Staff Writer

[...]

Great Japanese animation "Pokemon" is not. ("Princess Mononoke" is still in theaters, if that's what you're after.)

[...]

198). Yahoo!

The following are representative quotes only.

November 10, 1999

Japanese Cartoon Hopes to Conquer America

By Timna Tanners (Reuters)

[...]

More than a touchy-feely, good-conquers-evil cartoon, ''Princess Mononoke'' pits humans and progress against nature in an epic, mystical battle that leaves both sides in near ruin. The young hero, Ashitaka, is not united with the girl he loves at the end of the movie but watches as Princess Mononoke waves goodbye, returning to the forest on the back of a wolf.

[...]

Unlike most children's entertainment in the United States, Mononoke features many adult themes such as death and characters that are not always good or always bad. Miyazaki said children can appreciate the subtleties in the movie and identify with its young heroes, warrior Ashitaka and the girl raised by wolves, Mononoke.

``I think younger children may understand it more intuitively. Children want answers to questions ... they want to know why there is hatred and violence,'' Miyazaki said. ``We really want to search for the way of life of Ashitaka, not only for the harmony between nature and humans but to reconcile human beings in nature.''

[...]

199). Variety - (Yahoo! News)

The following are representative quotes only.

November 10, 1999

''Pokemon'' movie will be big regardless

By Robert Koehler

[...]

This pacifist spirit of brotherhood echoes the heroics in ``Princess Mononoke'' and other anime titles, but the artistic gap between the Miyazaki masterpiece and this project is huge. Still, both Japanese-spawned works, now coincidentally on U.S. screens, appeal to exactly separate audiences, with ``Mononoke'' just right for the kid who's too grownup for ``Pokemon'' silliness.

[...]

200). Animation-Books

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.animation-books.com/news.htm

November 11, 1999

Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation by Helen McCarthy & The Princess Mononoke: The Art and Making of Japan's Most Popular Film of All Time

By Staff

[...]

This book is a nice first step. A greater general awareness of Miyazaki in the West is rapidly growing, and McCarthy's work will likely ride this crest of rising interest. It is an amazing thing to be an adult and to suddenly discover the animated features of Hayao Miyazaki. It is truly shocking that such masterworks have resisted the attention of the West for such a long time. To anyone who's seen the films of Miyazaki, this book will prove very useful and interesting. And McCarthy's hopes will surely come true. Like Joe Adamson cracking open the door on Tex Avery with KING OF CARTOONS in 1975, she's doing the same for Miyazaki with MASTER OF JAPANESE ANIMATION today. The first of many books.

[...]

THE PRINCESS MONONOKE is a very eco-minded film, though it would be misleadingly trite to say that this is Greenpeace cinema. I think it is best considered a modern myth, and a poignant one on man's relationship with nature. This book is one of those handsome coffee table editions we've come to expect from Hyperion, gathering production materials with lots of vibrant screenshots and minimal text. It 's a wonderful way to revisit the film and especially to study it. The lush forest backgrounds alone will sweep you back into the realm of boar-gods, Shishi Gami, and patches of shimmering tree spirits...

[...]

201). New York Times

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.nytimes.com/99/11/12/news/arts/films4kids.html

November 12, 1999

Taking the Children: Boars, Brides and Violinists Abound

by Peter M. Nichols

Sumptuous animation is the strength of Miyazaki's sprawling tale, set during the Muromachi period in Japan (1392-1573). Otherwise, one needs to look sharp to keep up with all the machinations revolving around Ashataki, a young champion of humankind. Infected by a devil in the shape of a wild boar, Ashitaka is sent to the forest to track demonic forces and cleanse himself of his contamination.

[...]

202). Hollywood.com

The following are relevant quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.hollywood.com/news/topstories/11-15-99/today/1-1a.html

November 15, 1999

Top Stories - Expansions

by Hollywood.com

[...]

Miramax's Dimension Films' animated PG-13-rated "Princess Mononoke" expanded in its third weekend, placing 23rd with an estimated $0.25 million (-36%) at 47 theaters (+9 theaters, $5,212 per theater). Its total is approximately $1 million. The Japanese cartoon features the voices of Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith and Billy Bob Thornton.

[...]

203). Science Fiction Weekly

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue135/letters.html

November 15, 1999

Letters

Last weekend I saw Princess Mononoke for the first time. I thought it was so good that I went back for seconds. Actually, the word "good" (or any other adjective that I can think of) doesn't do the film justice.

[...]

And one point about the animation and the imagery of the movie. Yes, it's beautiful, and that's important. But let's consider why, exactly, so much care was taken to make this movie visually beautiful, in every scene. This movie aims to make the viewer sit back in awe, and to evoke the sacred, in images such as that of the Great Forest Spirit. Thanks to the talent of the artists and animators, Princess Mononoke has been a success in this as well.

[...]

204). TV Guide

November 16, 1999

Minnie Driver's Voice of America

by John Aboud with Jeanne Wolf

[...]

With three performances so close together (in South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, Disney's Tarzan and Miramax's release of the animated Japanese epic Princess Mononoke), you might think Driver was making a specialty of the cartoon trade. "I love listening to different voices," she says, but, "I never actually thought 'Wow, I've got a great voice. I'm going to have a big career in voice-overs.'" In fact, "I spent most of my childhood being told to shut up."

[...]

205). Austin American-Statesman

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.austin360.com/statesman/editions/sunday/life_entertainment_1.html

November 21, 1999

Kitty, Kitty, Bang-Bang (Life & Entertainment)

by Leigh-Ann Jackson

[...]

Momoko's recent success is just one example of the blossoming presence of Japanese pop culture in the United States. Arthouse movie theaters across the country are screening 1997's "Princess Mononoke," the first example of Japanese anime to get top-dollar celebrity voice-overs from the likes of Claire Danes and Minnie Driver. Hundreds of Sanrio outlets nationwide are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hello Kitty. And as for Pokemon -- well, that phenomenon needs no explanation.

[...]

Last month's Austin Film Festival screening of Hayao Miyazaki's dramatic epic "Princess Mononoke" proved the appetite of Austin otaku -- die-hard anime fans. Before the Paramount Theatre's doors opened, hordes of eager fans of Japan's Walt Disney wrapped themselves around the corner to get a sneak peek at what is widely considered the genre's masterpiece. "Princess Mononoke" is the highest grossing anime film in Japan's history. American grosses -- over half a million dollars opening week -- are similarly remarkable considering the star-studded English version played at a mere eight theaters across the country. (It arrives in Austin Wednesday.)

[...]

206). Time Magazine

The following are representative quotes only; the full text is available online at:
http://www.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/articles/0,3266,34340,00.html

November 22, 1999

Amazing Anime

by Richard Corliss

[...]

Finally this worldwide cult is colonizing the U.S. For a decade, animania has sprouted vagrantly in the land of Walt Disney and Hanna-Barbera, its true believers convening in comic-book stores, on the Web and at conventions like last month's Anime Weekend Atlanta. But the form needed a blockbuster and a benediction from the critics. Enter Pokemon (nuff said) and Princess Mononoke, a daunting ecological epic by anime god Hayao Miyazaki, now being released by art-house arbiter Miramax Films. All the latter movie did, in 1997, was become the highest-grossing film in Japanese history (later topped only by Titanic).

So what is anime? Easier to ask: What isn't it? An American cartoon is simple to define. It's Disney--the Disney style of romantic realism, questing kids and cute critters. Anime is all kinds of differents. "There isn't a single artistic style in anime," says Helen McCarthy, British author of four books on the subject, including Hayao Miyazaki: Films, Themes, Artistry. "The major difference from Disney-style animation is the limitless possibilities existing in anime." If you can dream it, anime-tors can draw it.

[...]