Its environmental messages, dynamic characters, and immersive world-building have earned Many fan theories exist surrounding the fantasy anime film, but Hayao Miyazaki, the movie's creator, just confirmed one of the biggest points of speculation with certainty.
In an article posted on Kotaku.com, famed Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki addressed some of the most pressing questions fans have surrounding Princess Mononoke, primarily, the rumor that leprosy is a major plot point in the film. With this announcement, Miyazaki has made it known that one of his intentions with the film was to raise awareness about the effects of leprosy after all.
Princess Mononoke Was Intended to Educate Viewers on the Effects of Leprosy
Miyazaki Even Consulted With Individuals Who Had Leprosy to Make the Movie More Accurate
Many of the people in Irontown in Princess Mononoke were confirmed by Hayao Miyazaki to have leprosy, which is why they are depicted wearing bandages on their bodies. Although this detail is relatively subtle, and not obviously indicative of leprosy, also called Hansen's disease, Miyazaki references the characters' illness in the film using the word "gyobyo," which translates to "incurable disease" in Japanese. Throughout the film, the characters who are living with this illness unfortunately face judgment and mistreatment from others who do not understand the nature of their disease and make no effort to sympathize with them.
“While making Princess Mononoke, I thought I had to depict people who are ill with what’s clearly called an incurable disease, but who are living as best they can." - Hayao Miyazaki
Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli films often discuss complex issues, like environmentalism and the negative effects of war, for example. It was clear that Princess Mononoke dealt with disease in some form or fashion, shown through the characters at the Tatara factory, but until Miyazaki's confirmation, the specifics of their disease were unknown because they were not outright stated in the film itself. Miyazaki revealed in the interview that he had leprosy specifically in mind when writing Princess Mononoke, and he even ensured his portrayal of the illness would be as accurate as possible by consulting with people who had leprosy.
All of Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli Films Contain Powerful Messages
Miyazaki Set Out to Help Battle the Stigma Against Individuals With Leprosy
Before making Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki even visited a Tokyo sanatorium himself and gathered experiences and firsthand from individuals who have actually had Hansen's disease at one point or another in their lives. Miyazaki's dedication to creating an authentic picture of the illness, the adverse effects it can cause, and the discrimination those affected sometimes face because of their ailment is clear through his commitment to accuracy and respect towards these individuals in the film. There is, unfortunately, still a sizable stigma surrounding diseases like leprosy, and Princess Mononoke was Miyazaki's way of attempting to combat some of that societal judgment and raise awareness.
Princess Mononoke Is a Studio Ghibli Masterpiece, But It Almost Bankrupted the Studio
Princess Mononoke is one of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki's best films, but it was nearly their last film because of the cost to make it.
Miyazaki's official confirmation that some of Princess Mononoke's characters have leprosy came shortly before World Leprosy Day, which falls on January 31. Each year, this day occurs on the final Sunday in January and was designed to publicize information about leprosy to people who may not be familiar with the disease. Princess Mononoke was released on October 29, 1999, but the fact that certain characters in the film had leprosy was not revealed until 2016, when Miyazaki began speaking about what motivated him when writing Princess Mononoke and the characters and storylines included in the movie.
Princess Mononoke Also Discusses Environmental Problems
Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli Films Are Known For Contributing to Cultural Conversations
Leprosy awareness is not the only issue Miyazaki set out to tackle with Princess Mononoke, as he also heavily focused on environmental themes and awareness in the film. The 1999 film was ahead of its time as it delved into the repercussions of mistreating the natural environment, which is a topic that is every bit as relevant today as it was over twenty years ago. One of the key draws of Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli films is their cultural relevance, even decades after their initial release, and Princess Mononoke is an excellent example of how his movies go beyond mere entertainment, and make an important impact on society.
Source: Kotaku.com
Princess Mononoke
- Release Date
- July 12, 1997
- Runtime
- 133 Minutes
- Director
- Hayao Miyazaki
Cast
Yôji Matsuda-
Yuriko Ishida
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Hayao Miyazaki
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