Mononoke Hime Quiz

Respond to these rapid questions in our Mononoke Hime quiz and we will tell you which Mononoke Hime character you are. Play it now.

I watch movies for a variety of purposes. One of them is shown here. In tales where myth and dreams are allowed to run wild, I want to see wondrous views that are not accessible in the real world. This possibility is made possible by animation’s freedom from gravity and the constraints of the imaginable. Animation captures the essence of the world while realistic pictures depict its details. Animation creates a new life in and of itself; it is not a “real movie” copy or a shadow of reality. It’s true that a lot of animation is dull and offensive—even to the kids it’s intended for. However, excellent animation can stimulate the intellect. Great artist Hayao Miyazaki created “Princess Mononoke,” a fantastic movie. Do not let preconceived notions about animation keep you from viewing it. It recounts an epic tale that takes place in early Iron Age medieval Japan, when some men were still living in harmony with nature and others were attempting to tame and subdue it. It is not a binary tale of good and evil, but rather the conflict between people, wild animals, and nature gods over a new, emerging order. It is among the pictures I have ever seen with the most inventive visuals. A watchtower guard first notices “something wrong in the forest” at the beginning of the film. A natural disturbance occurs, and a remarkable animal—a kind of boar-monster with flesh formed of snakes that are writhing—leaps out of it. Villagers are attacked, but Ashitaka, the youthful prince of his outcast people, leaps to their defense. When he does manage to kill the beast, his own limb is horribly scarred from being wrapped in snakes.

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The explanation of what took place comes from a wise lady. Before a bullet buried itself in its flesh and turned the monster into a madman, it was a boar deity. Also, from where did the projectile originate? The lady declares, “It is time for our last prince to cut his hair and depart from us.” So Ashitaka embarks on a protracted trip to the West in order to ascertain why nature is out of balance and whether the curse on his arm can be removed. He travels on Yakkuru, a creature that resembles a hybrid of a horse, gazelle, and mountain goat. But you shouldn’t waste any more time and start this Mononoke Hime quiz. Along the journey, there are strange sights and adventures, and we get to see how talented Miyazaki is as an artist. The illustration is not plain; rather, it exhibits some of the “clear line” complexity popularized by Japanese graphic artists two centuries ago, who served as an inspiration for later works like Herge’s Tintin novels. Miyazaki’s art directors traveled to historic woods to create their master drawings, which are majestic and fantastical depictions of nature. (as with the round little forest sprites). The forest spirit, who appears to be a noble beast by day and a glowing light by night, also makes brief, enigmatic cameos. Finally, Ashitaka reaches a region where the wolf deity Moro prowls, and it is here that he first encounters San, a young woman. Although “Princess Mononoke” is another moniker for her, it is actually more of a description since a mononoke is the spirit of a beast. San, a human child reared by Moro as a wolf, rides bareback on the swift white spirit-wolves and aids the pack in its conflict with Lady Eboshi, a powerful ruler whose community is learning how to make iron and is producing weapons with gunpowder. The day when humans, animals, and forest gods all spoke the same language is quickly passing by as Lady Eboshi’s people acquire one type of information while losing another. The lush green forests through which Ashitaka traveled west have been replaced here by a wasteland; trees have been stripped to fuel the smelting furnaces, and on their skeletons, yellow-eyed beasts squat ominously. Lepers manufacture the weapons, while slaves operate the bellows in the forges.

Mononoke Hime Quiz

But things aren’t always clear-cut. The lepers appreciate Eboshi taking them in. Her people benefit from her defense. Even Jigo, a cunning agent of the emperor, occasionally acts for reasons that make some logic. There is a conflict with multiple sides and goals when a nearby samurai enclave wants to conquer the hamlet and its technology. As opposed to action dramatization, this is more akin to mythical history. Also, you will find out which character are you in this Mononoke Hime quiz. “Princess Mononoke” features superb artistic talent. The boar-monster’s writhing skin is a remarkable sight that would be difficult to capture in a live-action movie. The great white wolves are depicted gracefully and without sentimentality; when they show their canines, it is clear that they are not cuddly cartoon characters but rather ferocious predators. Because the film does not focus on violence, some of its stunning moments—like when Ashitaka discovers that his scarred arm has grown so strong that his arrow decapitates an enemy—are all the more startling. The Japanese studio Studio Ghibli is where Miyazaki and his collaborators are employed. A few years ago, Disney purchased the studio’s complete catalog for international distribution. (Disney artists consider Miyazaki a source of inspiration.) The contract stated that Disney could not alter a frame, but there was no issue with dubbing into English because, as Miyazaki cheerfully notes, “English has been dubbed into Japanese for years.” Of course, all animation is dubbed into its original language.

About the quiz

This rendition of “Princess Mononoke” has been skillfully and meticulously dubbed with the help of gifted vocalists, including Billy Crudup as Ashitaka, Claire Danes as San, Minnie Driver as Eboshi, Gillian Anderson as Moro, Billy Bob Thornton as Jigo, and Jada Pinkett-Smith as Toki, a sensible working woman in the village. Also, you must try to play this Mononoke Hime quiz. The story is underpinned by Miyazaki’s profound humanism, which avoids simplistic moral judgments. In a moving scene, the romantically involved San and Ashitaka decide that since they can’t really live each other’s lives, they must give each other space and only interact rarely. There aren’t many animated or live-action love tales in Hollywood that are this philosophical. One of the year’s best movies, “Princess Mononoke” is a remarkable accomplishment and a wonderful experience. My knowledge is based in part on Helen McCarthy’s excellent new work, “Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation” (Stone Bridge Press, $18.95).

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