Princess Mononoke (1997)
Animated storytelling perfected.
Presentation:
When it comes to anime fantasy epics, this is one of Hayao Miyazaki’s greatest, just behind Spirited Away. This animated film looks timeless with its rich hand drawn art style with more epic stakes. I can’t name one fault in this film - It has compelling leads, villains, visual design, complex storytelling, everything that makes cinema great. We have signature elements that make Japanese anime so memorable like spirits, dancing gracefully between the lines of family and adult animation. Miyazaki is truly a master of creating family films that appeal to children as well as adults.
Conclusion:
If you’re watching this for the first time, it will feel like you have infiltrated a hidden world with a completely different cinematic language. Wildly imaginative and entertainingly creative, Miyazaki delivers an anime epic worthy of its place alongside traditional cinema. It surpasses live action in many ways, taking full advantage of the medium that allows mystical and supernatural elements. And still, an epic in every sense of you’d expect, you’ll wish there was a sequel to continue on the story. Perhaps some things are too perfect and better left untouched. No cuts!
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The greatest animated sci-fi film.