Can’t wait for Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. Spirited Away is my favorite movie. When Hollywood is so focused on commercialization, Spirited Away is a work of art in every sense. Howl’s Moving Castle is also really good and beautiful yet painful in its own way. Ghibli is focused day on quality first and foremost. Haven’t seen any studio achieve that level of artistic merit in animation, though Cartoon Saloon definitely comes close. Side note. About Miyazaki’s infamous anime was a mistake quote, look into what he actually said. It makes a lot more sense.
Hollywood nowadays is mostly shit, they make over 1000 shows a year with only 10 actually worth watching but there'll be around 100 animes a year with around 50 of them worth watching (just an example).
Hahahaha, nooo. And I say that as a guy that love some anime. Ghibli stuff is majestic, there is plenty of cool anime around. But there is just as much drivel and crap as any other media.
This is one of my favorite movies. Ashitaka does have a much more subtle ark than other characters, and he is steeped in Japanese culture. There are alot of concepts at play in Japanese lit and films which can be missed by us westerners. Firstly, there is the concept of "Wa", the idea that there is a natural harmony that is meant to be upheld, the status quo, if you would. Form this stems the concept of "Giri", ones duty to their own social circles. So when Ashitaka is infected at the start of the movie, everyone knows he must leave or else disrupt the Wa. This plays into the concept of "Gaman", that one should willingly endure pain or hardship without complaint, more so, suffering can be a character building experience. Ashitaka acts as a protagonist for balance, trying to stop what he thinks is wrong and to maintain the Wa, but ultimately fails when the great forest spirit dies. The forest is reborn, but the spirits have moved on, a new age has begun and a new balance must be found. And I feel this has much to do with the concept of "Mono-no-aware", which is the idea that the beauty of things often lies in their impermanence, and our awareness of such a fleeting nature. Earlier in the movie, the great forest spirit, who with every step created life, breathes death into a flower, in one of the most beautifully haunting moments in film, and without words sums up the truth that balance means of life and death too, beginnings and endings, things have whither away, things have to move on. When ashitaka first saves San in the iron town, it is about balance, she is of the forest, he performs a noble dut, stoicly. But then he sees her as an outcast too and identifies with her. When he dives into the demon hog to save her it isn't just about balance. It is an emotional choice, possibly the first real one he makes, because it isn't just about what he should do, it's about what he wants to do, and more than he cares for his own life, or his own honor, he cares about her and dives into certain demise for her. At the end, Ashitaka settles into the idea of "Wabi-sabi", that there is beauty in the imperfections of life. So in the end he must move on as well, and while he may return to San time and again, he doesn't stay. He knows there is to be some new sort of balance they must find, and while the forests spirits may be gone, he is still not of the forest, not like San. So he must move on, but now he is unburdened by societal expectations, free from suffering, and while nothing may have ended the way he would have thought or wanted, thats the way it goes, life is imperfect, but it's knowing that that makes it beautiful. This may have been a bit long, but this story has meant so much to me over the years and in learning more about Japanese culture, it seems to have become all the more deep. There are of course dozens of other concepts I didn't mention or completely missed, but... the more you know, right. If you read this, thanks, and hope I could help shed a little light. Keep up the good work Daniel. And finish watching Attack on Titan already.
Wow, I am really impressed how detailed this is and how much it opened my eyes. When Daniel said that Ashitaka didn't have that much of a character arc, I first agreed, but then I found your comment. I typically dont read long comments, but for some odd reason, I read yours and I don't regreat it. While reading, I thought about the movie and the things you pointed out and more and more realised that He certainly does have a character arc, a subtile one, but it still is one. That Shows to me how beautiful and amazing this Story is written. If I did any spelling or grammar mistakes, please forgive me, English is not my native Language and while writting this I am pretty exhausted.
if you look at a side character of the refugees on the lake after the whole thing blows over, when Kohoku says "I didnt know the forest god made the flowers grow" you see one of the lepers hold up a healed hand from their bandage, meaning the forest god healed them as well in turn. its a nice message.
Princess Mononoke is one of my favorite movies of all time. It manages to handle a subject matter of environmentalism, nature , war and human nature a lot better than a majority of movies nowadays. I'm looking at you, James Cameron with your Avatar movie. It's a film that has touched me to where the novel I am working on takes plenty of inspiration from it.
@@SantosAl I'm of the belief that people don't actually like Avatar that much. Its relative effect on culture has been remarkably minimal for one of the highest grossing movies of all time. People watched it to see what 'the future' of cinema would look like.
Haha so true. Loved Avatar for it's visuals, hated it for it's content. Final grade? C- I'd score it lower but the people who designed the look did an excellent job. The storytelling was trash though.
I don't get all the hate, I loved Avatar and it was absolutely beautiful and amazing, when I first saw it I thought it was the most realistic movie I'd ever seen, although I've seen movies with slightly better work and animation I still love Avatar to this day and the Graphics and CGI easily holds up in quality to this day. Not the best but definitely One of the best.
youve seen only three ghiblis???? you are in a for a treat, daniel!! If you havne't seen "Nauiscaa of the valley of the wind", the first ghibli one unofficially, there are predecessor thumbprints to mononoke all over that one. it was the proto mononoke.
Nauiscaa is my favourite Miyazaki film its not a Ghibli film but i do see where your coming from...however he really should watch it anyway,i also think Daniel would love Laputa
Nausicaa actually has a manga version that's even better. I'd say it's Miyazkis magnum opus. The movie doesn't even give you half of the story and shies away from a lot of the darker scenes. And especially the world building in the manga is incredible.
I am all for the Ghibli review. But I would also recommend the work of Makoto Shinkai if Mononoke and Ghibli and stylistically your vibe. Kimi no Na wa (Your Name) is by all accounts a great film, and Shinkai is frequently compared to Miyazaki. Glad to revisit this classic, though.
Weathering With You is another that is just bewilderingly lovely. I can’t count the times I cried during the screening I went to this winter. The backgrounds-skies and landscapes with the light falling through them just so-took my breath away. You can definitely feel the Ghibli-inspiration in Makoto Shinkai’s works, but he is making something his own and so very worthy of praise.
Mononoke is one of my all time favourites, the world depicted in it is incredibly engaging and unique. For some other great movies from Japanese directors I'd recommend stuff by Satoshi Kon, films like Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers, Millenium Actress or Paprika.
Laputa: Castle In The Sky is a must-see if you haven’t! One of my favourite films of all time and the film that started me on a lifelong animé obsession. It might look a bit dated now but anything one wants to happen in a fantasy happens in this film!
It is honestly an absolutely fantastic masterpiece of both picture and sound. It is my all time favorite movie of all time, and I don’t particularly like anime
0:22 Bookshelf Number 1 frustrates me. I keep looking at the placement of A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie but all I can see is Daniel Greene's face with a new haircut, which makes him look like the 6th member of the Backstreet Boys.
Princess Mononoke is one of my favourite Ghibli films. I found Lady Eboshi to be one of the most complex characters I've watched or read. It was amazing to see how San and Lady Eboshi's motives overlapped - both of them only wanted to protect their home - and how it led to the war. I could rewatch this anime many times over and still be awed by it. I can't wait for your review of Howl! That's my other favourite :) So excited for this series!
Mononoke is one of most popular Ghibli’s for I feel the most obvious reasons? Like it touches on such an important topic of our relationship with the world. The artistic direction and fantastical features amplified the otherness of nature and was so integral to the conversation to humanity vs nature and ecology. The overlaid convergence of both aspects and “sides” in Mononoke and her emotional attachment to the natural was so good. Esp vs the industrial revolutions and accelerated progress of humanity affecting and in a way disrespecting nature because it comes down to human selfishness which is STILL an issue right now and continues to be. The gray areas of the characters are SO IMPORTANT for this convo because humanity does have to progress but also need to remember the Earth is not just for us. It shouldn’t take nature being personified emotionally for us to respect nature as it is, but it’s what the story does to enforce that idea. The story rewards rewatching through time and generations because the topic is so universal and there’s always things we can do to appreciate and treat nature better as a whole at any age. Defo a good way to broach topics of the relationship to nature to kids.
Daniel, you definitely need to watch more Ghibli movies! Princess Mononoke is my all time favourite, I've seen it first when I was a child and even then it left me absolutely in awe and in deep thoughts on the issues it raises. Besides, it's such a well realised fantasy world and story, and it is so very unique. I'm really excited for your series of Ghibli movie reviews, there are so many gems among them (I ADORE Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away, but also - My Neighbour Totoro, Ponyo and - not so well known - Porco Rosso). As an adult I feel like they shaped me in a way, the themes of destruction and disconnecting from nature, war, humanity's development and its price, those movies are all so timeless and universally important. I still look for those topics and themes in the media I consume, and I think I have Ghibli studio and Miyazaki to thank for. As for the criticism of Princess Mononoke - I don't think there's much to say on that. For a non-Japanese viewer, or just someone who hasn't had much experience with watching anime, there might be certain cultural barrier at first, but it is an issue with every type of media one's not used to. After crossing this treshold the immersion is just fantastic, you just have to let go of some preconcieved notions and let the movie itself grip you. The gory themes might be much, I woudn't advise watching it with small children. The boar covered in gross, meandering, pulsating worm-like tentacles was a bit much for my imagination back when I was 12 or 13. It is still shocking now, but just works so well within the movie aesthetic and truly packs a punch.
I really love Ashitaka’s selflessness threw out the story. He was ready to give his life for people who didn’t care about him or his life. His literal character has inspired me to be more like him, more so then any other character in film or literature has.
Princess Mononoke is god tier. Definitely watch Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, that's up there as one of my favorite Miyazaki films as well, along with Howl's Moving Castle. So glad you are getting into more Ghibli films! Looking forward to your weekly reviews!
You'll definitely love watching more Ghibli movies. My first Ghibli movie was Castle in the Sky. Changed my whole perspective on animated movies. Some aren't just cartoons for kids. Some have real meaning and are a joy to watch. Like all Ghibli movies.
I love Ghibli movies and I am glad you will be reviewing them (upvote people!! upvote!!). I cannot wait until you see Howl's Moving Castle which is by the way based on a book by Diana Wynne Jones, which is more of a children's story but a great book non the less. Keep up the amazing work Daniel! I love your videos and you bring me the news I really want to hear ! Cheers!
In 15 hours you received 550+ comments and they're all positive. We want more Ghibli reviews. Keep it up! I see everyone recommending all of the well loved films. They are all wonderful. The one film I have yet to see anyone mention, is my favorite and it's not nearly as popular as the others. The Cat Returns was my first Ghibli movie. I think you like cats, so you should do yourself a favor and watch The Cat Returns. It doesn't have some great lesson to learn like most Ghibli films, but it is definitely a fun one.
Really enjoyed this review. I love all of the Miyazaki films. Mononoke is one of my favorite of his, my number one being Porco Rosso. Please keep these coming. Cheers.
All of the Ghibli films I've seen are fantastic, but my top three have to be 1: Spirited Away 2: Howl's Moving Castle and 3. Princess Mononoke. Great storytelling and it's different enough from everything else that it's basically its own genre at this point. Looking forward to seeing more of your Ghibli reviews in the future
Ayyyyy I watched Princess Mononoke like daily growing up, super happy to see you make a video on it! I would definitely also recommend Castle in the Sky if you haven't seen it.
A lot of people watched PM before and have their nostalgia goggles on when thinking about it now, but I watched it for the first time a couple months ago as an adult. I love anime and animation in general and have watched SG films before so I may have some bias. I agree with every single thing Daniel said in this vid, especially about thinking about the movie for days afterwards. I love that it doesn’t try to convince you that one side is right, but leaves you feeling like it’s your responsibility to find a new way. Remember, this movie is over 20 yrs old, this was a time when the ozone layer was a huge issue- something we dealt with! It is also amazing how well it holds up these days compared to other shows and movies, animated or not.
I've been going Studio Ghibli nights once a week at my place for about a year now! It doesn't matter which one we watch it always leads to a great discussion afterwards
Loved the video and I just subscribed! Another beautiful one, besides Nausicaa (which several people have already mentioned), is Laputa: Castle in the Sky. I highly recommend it, but honestly any Ghibli movie is going to be amazing so I’m looking forward to the videos!
Yes, please review all the ghibli films. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is my favorite ghibli movie, has some similar themes to Mononoke but the world is completely different(more sci-fi). Really hope you make this a series, I'll watch every week.
First. Awesome vid. More of this please. Second. I remember going to see this in theatres and being mesmerized. It is one of the most complete stories done so well.
Definetely looking forward to more Ghibli stuff! I've been watching those lately. I can recommend Nausicaä and Castle In The Sky, they are awesome and go real hard on Ghibli's "nature is good", "war is bad" mottos
Fantastic movie in the most heart-rending, depressing way. Sort of like Schindler's List: everyone should watch it once, no one can bear to watch it twice. Check it out, Daniel! It'll make your face leak.
Good to see you in the new place, the hair looks fine too. Wonderful review of a great movie. This is a cool new video series idea. If you haven't seen Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Spirited Away yet, watch one of them next. Nausicaa has similar environmental themes and Spirited Away has spirits. Finally, I'm not a fan of the background music even though it is very subtle. It distracts me and I imagine that people who have hearing difficulties might have issues with it too. Also, have you considered setting up captions so your videos would be more accessible to people with disabilities and non-English speaking watchers? Merphy recently adopted them too.
I would love to hear your thoughts on more Studio Ghibli movies! I'd advocate for two of their earlier films: Castle in the Sky and Kiki's Delivery Service. I think they have fantasy elements just like Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and My Neighbor Totoro, but aren't discussed as often as the latter ones. Castle in the Sky is more of an adventure story and Kiki's is more of a slice of life/coming of age, but I think they're total delights!
DANIEL you came at the perfect time. I'm in the middle of writing an essay for a uni course which is about our ecological crises and how animism, particularly from Japanese folk Shinto and other indigenous religions, may be a grassroots response to tackling them in the future. My lecturer really honed in on how this is actually Miyazaki's philosophy and is the intention behind almost all of his films, so I'm doing my essay on whether or not western audiences have been sort of baptised in a sense, of animistic beliefs through watching Miyazaki's Ghibli films and whether or not it's helped them reassess their relationship with nature. So here I am right, 3 mental breakdowns into my essay, bawling my eyes out, and then your video pops up and your entire quote from 8:51-9:46, perfectly explains my entire essay argument. You're someone of a western audience who, after watching a Miyazaki film that has an entire plot based off principles of animism, began to literally reassess your relationship with nature and you said that shit OUT LOUD. You don't know how many reviews I've had to sift through to try and find quotes of people grasping the bare minimum of the animistic ideologies of a Ghibli film and physically stating "I have reassessed my relationship with nature" or even just "It made me want to reassess my relationship with nature". So to have you explicitly state exactly this so eloquently, thank you, dude. thank you so fucking much. Thank you for literally uploading this exactly when I needed it lmao anyways it's due in two days and I have another 2000 words to write so wish me luck
would love to see a ghibli series! mononoke is one of my favourite films of all time - and no matter how often i watch it i am just constantly blown away! i would love to see you review nausicaa - it’s sort of the prototype mononoke, so it’d be interesting to see which you prefer and what similarities and differences you draw.
I think Nausicaa is Ghibli's greatest fantasy/scifi. The world has a lot of detail, the forest is fascinating, the story is tight and well paced, and the characters are well written.
Princess Mononoke is a fantastic movie. I totally love the high quality of the animation, and the story is beautifully told and imaginative. And I think your haircut looks fine dude.
Princess Mononoke was the first Miyazaki film I saw as a kid and I fell in love. Of the other films I’ve seen, the haven’t been as good, but I still really like howles moving castle and spirited away.
I love this film, easily one of the best animated films ever. I'd suggest watching Castle in the Sky as soon as possible, the first film made under the Ghibli banner.
You're on for an amazing ride. Every single Miyazaki movie is wonderful. I hope you'll also review Proco Rosso, a favorite of mine (although not really fantasy).
My personal favorite Ghibli films are The Tale of Princess Kaguya, Only Yesterday (both of which are directed by Isao Takahata rather than Miyazaki), and Kiki's Delivery Service. They're not fantastical and spectacular like the Ghibli projects that get talked about a lot more, but they're gorgeous in their own ways and affect me emotionally more than any of the others. Definitely check them out - especially Kaguya!
Daniel, your reviews are getting better mate. Also your production quality of your vids have improved a lot since I first subscribed. You have grown a lot since then. You should be real proud of yourself. Keep it up.
Thanks for the review. It's nice to see my favorite film get some love. I hope this convinces at least one person out there on the internet to watch the movie. Looking forward to more Studio Ghibli reviews and news about upcoming films.
I watched Princess Mononoke as a kid, and it was moving even back then, when I didn't understand it that much. Now I rewatched it as a teenager, and I can easily say that it's one of my favorite movies ever, if not THE favorite one. It's beautiful. It's terrifying. And it's something that gives hope, too. I just love it.
Ghibli films have such a fantastic way of telling stories. I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying them. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the various films you watch. Enjoy them all and definitely watch them with open heart and open mind.
YES!!! Studio Ghibli is GOD TIER when it comes to story telling. Always blows me away when I watch any of their work. Really glad you are getting to watch their work. Great review.
This is awesome. I literally cannot wait to hear your thoughts on The studio Ghibli series. Spirited away is my favorite, but it's been so long since I've seen princess mononoke that I need to go back and revisit it. Thanks for the thoughtful great in-depth reviews!
Princess Mononoke is a 10/10 movie for me, best Ghibli film and one of my favourite movies of all time. Please consider watching Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (or even read the manga), it has very similar themes as Princess Mononoke. If you want something lighthearted and feel good, watch Kiki’s Delivery Service. If you want something completely devastating, watch Grave of the Fireflies.
This is my favorite movie ever it resonate with so much aspect of my life. I'm living as a forest manager balancing the exploitation of forests and the protection of natural structures in the same forests. I also have only praise for this movie. I sincerely think it should be watched by all for more people to understand to fragile balance we need to maintain when utilizing nature resources. It showcase the power of animation who can shatter any boundaries to tell a story. Good review i will watch more of your animation content for sure. (sorry for my bad english)
I watched Princess Mononoke when I was a young teenager for the first time and it fundamentally changed the way I viewed stories. I also feel like a lot of studio ghibli movies can do that but this one did it for me. Its one of the best movies I've ever seen.
Mononoke is my favorite film of all time. A close second is Spirited Away (you will likely call your parents after watching it). Howl's is also amazing, and makes me wish Billy Crystal did more voice over work. Enjoy the ride! Ghibli is amazing.
Princess Monoke is one of my favorite movies ever, I watched it as a pre-teen and it really boosted my love of wolves to an actual obsession. I always have an afterthought when stating that it's my fav Ghibli film because it doesn't include that kind of peaceful, feel-good vibe the others do, that usually comes with the romanticization of mundane things. However, no matter how many times I watch it, I get shivers and feel like crying in awe at its dramatic and tragic beauty.
Princess Mononoke is easily one of my favorite films of all time, but I'd consider Laputa: Castle in the Sky to be my all-time favorite. I hope you watch it in the future and do a review on it!
To this day princess mononoke is one of the first films I point to in my never ending plea for more animated fantasy adaptations. With the scope of style and technique available in animation the true depth of detail found in fantasy can be met. Daniel hits the nail on the head in this video, the colour and detail helps you immerse you in this world almost as well as the thousand descriptors found in the wheel of time. I know thats a bold statement, im just real passionate about fantasy animations inspired by ghibli.
Yay! I’m looking forward to this series! Not sure if you’ve already seen Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, but I’m excited to hear your thoughts for this Ghibli story. It also features complex characters, abuse of nature, political struggles and magical flora and fauna :) It is also a published manga series which differs a bit from the animated film. Anyway, thanks for another fun video!
That's the one thing I love about Ghibli films and traditional eastern story telling in general, is that there aren't many clear cut "evil villains". There are opposing sides, differing viewpoints, and difficult people, but not many characters are set up as a decided antagonist. The major conflict is within the main characters, and characters who might seem like the bad guys often join the good guys later (i.e. Vegeta, the squad in Spirited Away, etc.)
This is a special movie for me because of the way it hit me in my more formative years. I'm glad to see you've enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to seeing you make a video about Spirited Away.
Woot! I remember commenting that you should watch this a while back. Not sure if that was what did it but so happy to see this on your channel! I watched this movie as a kid, and it was one of those movies that has never really left me since then. Every time I come back to it I’m still just as immersed as when I was a kid. Try to get Totoro in there at some point as well if you haven’t seen it yet!
I love all the Studio Ghibli movies that I have seen and am glad that they are all on HBO Max so I can see the rest that I haven't had a chance to before. Howl's Moving Castle is one of my favorites. I also love the book, it is loosely based on the book but I highly recommend reading it and watching the movie.
Ooh boy you’re in for a treat! I watched most of the Ghibli movies available on Netflix for the first time during quarantine, and it’s insane how consistantly great they are! I think you will love Laputa: Castle In The Sky. It’s tied for my favorite Ghibli movie along with Princess Mononoke.
Dude! I think you're the only one else that has even recommended Castle In The Sky. I think it's easily the tie for best Miyazaki film along with Princess Mononoke.
Michael Harris Yeah, for sure the most rewatchable and fun one. It has everything that is Ghibli - enviromentalism, strong female characters, flying vehichles, floating castles, pirates, magic and amazing music.
YesS!!!!!!!!!!! Hayao Miyazaki is a genious story teller! I also love how his stories always have subtle (or not so subtle in the case of Princess Mononoke) environmental messages.
You should watch Whisper of the heart! It's not fantasy, but it's about young adults exploring their artistic side. It's a very gentle movie, but I do feel to the right audience it can make a great impact. Also, Porco Rosso probably the most mature film in the Ghibli cannon apart from Kaze Tachinu.
This is my favorite Ghibli film. It's a wonderful slice of life film with great characters and fantastic music. And I think Daniel will relate the the themes.
Princess Mononoke is one of my favourite movies of all time, it juggles a variety of themes a lot better than some films have recently. It is beautiful to look at, the English dub is done well. I have a feeling this film will stay with me forever and what a brilliant review as well, you have done this film justice.
PM is right up there, top 5 for me. I've seen most of them and still think the best ones are Laputa and Nausicca because of the worlds and the imaginative design of elements. But then there are different types of Ghibli stories. Some of them are more slice of life type movies, a few are historically themed.
I looooove studio ghibli movies! My favorite it Howl’s moving castle, but I think that Princess Mononoke is the overall best made one. There’s so many good ones so I think it would be really cool if you made a series reviewing and watching them!!😄
Absolutely top tier fantasy. The world had depth, character, and charm. Amazing. You constantly wanted to know more about everything which is the best thing a story can do.
I saw Princess Mononoke in the theater many years ago. It is one of my favorite movies and it hooked me on Studio Ghibli. I watch every movie I can find from them!
You should watch and read Nausicaa soon after Mononoke as they deal with similar themes! Nausicaa is an important case because the film and the manga tell two different stories with two wildly different tones and conclusions.
Yaaay a video serie that i actually know the content jajaja Amazing analisis Daniel. Tahnks for telling us what films you are going to watch next so we can tag along. Here in Argentina all Ghibli movies are in Netflix.
Dude, I LOVE Princess Mononoke! I swear if someone wanted to give me the perfect gift, it's hafta be the entire Studio Ghibli library of animated films 🎥 So glad you're enjoying their movies as well 🤗
Princess Mononoke is one of my all time favorites and Ashitaka is one of my favorite protagonists specifically because he isn't used as some sort of obtuse mouthpiece for the creator. I'm so happy you enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next few reviews.
When I was young, my brothers friend let him borrow princess mononoke and spirited away for a week, and I watched both movies about 5 times in that week. I absolutely adore these films, and you can be damn sure I'll be tuning in to watch the other reviews for these movies.
Loved this video. I'm looking forward to seeing more. I'd be especially interested in your take on the Ghibli film "Pom Poko" it has a good mixture of ridiculous humour and serious topics.
Dude, don't sleep on Nausicaa or Laputa, although you can't go wrong with Ghibli really. Weirdly that might have been one of my favourite of your videos, even though I generally come here for book reviews. Loved it.
Can’t wait for Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. Spirited Away is my favorite movie. When Hollywood is so focused on commercialization, Spirited Away is a work of art in every sense. Howl’s Moving Castle is also really good and beautiful yet painful in its own way. Ghibli is focused day on quality first and foremost. Haven’t seen any studio achieve that level of artistic merit in animation, though Cartoon Saloon definitely comes close.
Side note. About Miyazaki’s infamous anime was a mistake quote, look into what he actually said. It makes a lot more sense.
Agreed, this goes for all the other Miyazaki quotes too.
Secret World of Ariety. 😥
I'm also interested in book vs movie comparison when it comes to Howl's Moving Castle.
Hollywood nowadays is mostly shit, they make over 1000 shows a year with only 10 actually worth watching but there'll be around 100 animes a year with around 50 of them worth watching (just an example).
Hahahaha, nooo. And I say that as a guy that love some anime. Ghibli stuff is majestic, there is plenty of cool anime around. But there is just as much drivel and crap as any other media.
This is one of my favorite movies. Ashitaka does have a much more subtle ark than other characters, and he is steeped in Japanese culture. There are alot of concepts at play in Japanese lit and films which can be missed by us westerners.
Firstly, there is the concept of "Wa", the idea that there is a natural harmony that is meant to be upheld, the status quo, if you would. Form this stems the concept of "Giri", ones duty to their own social circles. So when Ashitaka is infected at the start of the movie, everyone knows he must leave or else disrupt the Wa. This plays into the concept of "Gaman", that one should willingly endure pain or hardship without complaint, more so, suffering can be a character building experience.
Ashitaka acts as a protagonist for balance, trying to stop what he thinks is wrong and to maintain the Wa, but ultimately fails when the great forest spirit dies. The forest is reborn, but the spirits have moved on, a new age has begun and a new balance must be found. And I feel this has much to do with the concept of "Mono-no-aware", which is the idea that the beauty of things often lies in their impermanence, and our awareness of such a fleeting nature.
Earlier in the movie, the great forest spirit, who with every step created life, breathes death into a flower, in one of the most beautifully haunting moments in film, and without words sums up the truth that balance means of life and death too, beginnings and endings, things have whither away, things have to move on.
When ashitaka first saves San in the iron town, it is about balance, she is of the forest, he performs a noble dut, stoicly. But then he sees her as an outcast too and identifies with her. When he dives into the demon hog to save her it isn't just about balance. It is an emotional choice, possibly the first real one he makes, because it isn't just about what he should do, it's about what he wants to do, and more than he cares for his own life, or his own honor, he cares about her and dives into certain demise for her.
At the end, Ashitaka settles into the idea of "Wabi-sabi", that there is beauty in the imperfections of life. So in the end he must move on as well, and while he may return to San time and again, he doesn't stay. He knows there is to be some new sort of balance they must find, and while the forests spirits may be gone, he is still not of the forest, not like San. So he must move on, but now he is unburdened by societal expectations, free from suffering, and while nothing may have ended the way he would have thought or wanted, thats the way it goes, life is imperfect, but it's knowing that that makes it beautiful.
This may have been a bit long, but this story has meant so much to me over the years and in learning more about Japanese culture, it seems to have become all the more deep. There are of course dozens of other concepts I didn't mention or completely missed, but... the more you know, right.
If you read this, thanks, and hope I could help shed a little light. Keep up the good work Daniel. And finish watching Attack on Titan already.
Wow, I am really impressed how detailed this is and how much it opened my eyes. When Daniel said that Ashitaka didn't have that much of a character arc, I first agreed, but then I found your comment. I typically dont read long comments, but for some odd reason, I read yours and I don't regreat it. While reading, I thought about the movie and the things you pointed out and more and more realised that He certainly does have a character arc, a subtile one, but it still is one. That Shows to me how beautiful and amazing this Story is written.
If I did any spelling or grammar mistakes, please forgive me, English is not my native Language and while writting this I am pretty exhausted.
Such a lovely and insightful comment! ❤️ Thank you!
Please watch "Nausicaa" and "Grave of the Fireflies" love that you are getting into this type of content!!!
I don't think HBO Max has the rights to Grave of the Fireflies, so that may be tougher for him, agree though!
I'm trying to find grave of the fireflies legally for years, any idea where I can watch it?
M. Vipsanius Agrippa the full version is on RUclips
@@couchpotatoe91 it's available in both DVD and Blu-Ray formats on Amazon. BR is under $20 and DVD is $12
@@arolemaprarath6615 yeah we'll have a sobbing mess as a video when he watches grave of the fireflies.
if you look at a side character of the refugees on the lake after the whole thing blows over, when Kohoku says "I didnt know the forest god made the flowers grow" you see one of the lepers hold up a healed hand from their bandage, meaning the forest god healed them as well in turn. its a nice message.
Wow, for real? I think never noticed that - been a long time since I watched it though!
😧👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Princess Mononoke is one of my favorite movies of all time. It manages to handle a subject matter of environmentalism, nature , war and human nature a lot better than a majority of movies nowadays. I'm looking at you, James Cameron with your Avatar movie. It's a film that has touched me to where the novel I am working on takes plenty of inspiration from it.
I honestly never understood why people liked Avatar so much. It was just so meh.
S.A. It’s so bad. You strip away the visuals and it is boring and one note.
@@SantosAl I'm of the belief that people don't actually like Avatar that much. Its relative effect on culture has been remarkably minimal for one of the highest grossing movies of all time. People watched it to see what 'the future' of cinema would look like.
Haha so true. Loved Avatar for it's visuals, hated it for it's content. Final grade? C- I'd score it lower but the people who designed the look did an excellent job. The storytelling was trash though.
I don't get all the hate, I loved Avatar and it was absolutely beautiful and amazing, when I first saw it I thought it was the most realistic movie I'd ever seen, although I've seen movies with slightly better work and animation I still love Avatar to this day and the Graphics and CGI easily holds up in quality to this day.
Not the best but definitely One of the best.
Fun Fact : Neil Gaiman wrote the english dub of this anime ;)
Wait, really?
THAT makes sense
@@kirawasadiver How so?
@@SantosAl mononoke is my favouite miyazaki dub. and gaiman is one of my favourite authors.
@@kirawasadiver ahhh ok, I thought you meant that you could tell from the writing or something :)
youve seen only three ghiblis???? you are in a for a treat, daniel!! If you havne't seen "Nauiscaa of the valley of the wind", the first ghibli one unofficially, there are predecessor thumbprints to mononoke all over that one. it was the proto mononoke.
And it is just so beautiful. Though also kinda tragic considering how old it is and how little society has learned since then.
Nauiscaa is my favourite Miyazaki film its not a Ghibli film but i do see where your coming from...however he really should watch it anyway,i also think Daniel would love Laputa
Nausicaa actually has a manga version that's even better. I'd say it's Miyazkis magnum opus. The movie doesn't even give you half of the story and shies away from a lot of the darker scenes. And especially the world building in the manga is incredible.
@@trullsengar9382 The Manga version has indeed an amazing story!!! It's beautiful too.
@@wildfire160 completely agree. My two favourite Miyazaki films right there. It alternates which I think is best depending on mood.
I am all for the Ghibli review. But I would also recommend the work of Makoto Shinkai if Mononoke and Ghibli and stylistically your vibe. Kimi no Na wa (Your Name) is by all accounts a great film, and Shinkai is frequently compared to Miyazaki.
Glad to revisit this classic, though.
Weathering With You is another that is just bewilderingly lovely. I can’t count the times I cried during the screening I went to this winter. The backgrounds-skies and landscapes with the light falling through them just so-took my breath away. You can definitely feel the Ghibli-inspiration in Makoto Shinkai’s works, but he is making something his own and so very worthy of praise.
Mononoke is one of my all time favourites, the world depicted in it is incredibly engaging and unique. For some other great movies from Japanese directors I'd recommend stuff by Satoshi Kon, films like Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers, Millenium Actress or Paprika.
Tokyo Godfathers is my favorite Christmas movie. And it now has an English dub, making it even more accessible!
Yes Ive just watched Paprika! It was very good! ☺️👏🏾🧡
Millenium Actress is such a great movie. Satoshi Kon's death was one of if not the biggest tragedies in anime history.
I just watched Perfect Blue for the first time. So good.
Satoshi Kon makes classics
Laputa: Castle In The Sky is a must-see if you haven’t! One of my favourite films of all time and the film that started me on a lifelong animé obsession. It might look a bit dated now but anything one wants to happen in a fantasy happens in this film!
New office is looking fresh! I'm excited that you're doing Ghibli films especially since they're on HBO Max now so I can rewatch. :)
I need to watch this movie. I’ve been meaning to forever.
You wont be disappointed. This movie changed my mind forever and blew me away!
It is honestly an absolutely fantastic masterpiece of both picture and sound.
It is my all time favorite movie of all time, and I don’t particularly like anime
It's my absolute favorite movie and had a great impact on me. I only wish I could watch it for the first time again.
Congratulations on your new apartment! It may be just me, but the fact that your two bookshelves are two different colors is driving me insane.
0:22 Bookshelf Number 1 frustrates me. I keep looking at the placement of A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie but all I can see is Daniel Greene's face with a new haircut, which makes him look like the 6th member of the Backstreet Boys.
Nooooo! Why did you do this to me?! I could have continued staring at his hair and never noticed the shelves... You've ruined me.
@@brandonbahr7005 Daniel Greene's shelves are the stars of the show. His hair is just the extra, LOL.
Princess Mononoke is one of my favourite Ghibli films. I found Lady Eboshi to be one of the most complex characters I've watched or read. It was amazing to see how San and Lady Eboshi's motives overlapped - both of them only wanted to protect their home - and how it led to the war. I could rewatch this anime many times over and still be awed by it. I can't wait for your review of Howl! That's my other favourite :)
So excited for this series!
Mononoke is one of most popular Ghibli’s for I feel the most obvious reasons? Like it touches on such an important topic of our relationship with the world. The artistic direction and fantastical features amplified the otherness of nature and was so integral to the conversation to humanity vs nature and ecology. The overlaid convergence of both aspects and “sides” in Mononoke and her emotional attachment to the natural was so good. Esp vs the industrial revolutions and accelerated progress of humanity affecting and in a way disrespecting nature because it comes down to human selfishness which is STILL an issue right now and continues to be. The gray areas of the characters are SO IMPORTANT for this convo because humanity does have to progress but also need to remember the Earth is not just for us. It shouldn’t take nature being personified emotionally for us to respect nature as it is, but it’s what the story does to enforce that idea. The story rewards rewatching through time and generations because the topic is so universal and there’s always things we can do to appreciate and treat nature better as a whole at any age. Defo a good way to broach topics of the relationship to nature to kids.
Daniel, you definitely need to watch more Ghibli movies!
Princess Mononoke is my all time favourite, I've seen it first when I was a child and even then it left me absolutely in awe and in deep thoughts on the issues it raises. Besides, it's such a well realised fantasy world and story, and it is so very unique.
I'm really excited for your series of Ghibli movie reviews, there are so many gems among them (I ADORE Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away, but also - My Neighbour Totoro, Ponyo and - not so well known - Porco Rosso).
As an adult I feel like they shaped me in a way, the themes of destruction and disconnecting from nature, war, humanity's development and its price, those movies are all so timeless and universally important. I still look for those topics and themes in the media I consume, and I think I have Ghibli studio and Miyazaki to thank for.
As for the criticism of Princess Mononoke - I don't think there's much to say on that. For a non-Japanese viewer, or just someone who hasn't had much experience with watching anime, there might be certain cultural barrier at first, but it is an issue with every type of media one's not used to. After crossing this treshold the immersion is just fantastic, you just have to let go of some preconcieved notions and let the movie itself grip you. The gory themes might be much, I woudn't advise watching it with small children. The boar covered in gross, meandering, pulsating worm-like tentacles was a bit much for my imagination back when I was 12 or 13. It is still shocking now, but just works so well within the movie aesthetic and truly packs a punch.
OMG can’t wait for your Ghibli reviews . You also HAVE to watch Castle In the Sky ! Hoping you’re well😄
I really love Ashitaka’s selflessness threw out the story. He was ready to give his life for people who didn’t care about him or his life. His literal character has inspired me to be more like him, more so then any other character in film or literature has.
Princess Mononoke is god tier. Definitely watch Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, that's up there as one of my favorite Miyazaki films as well, along with Howl's Moving Castle. So glad you are getting into more Ghibli films! Looking forward to your weekly reviews!
Daniel: "I have only watched 3 of them"
Me: Oh well, time to bring my pitchfork and gather the mob.
I only have a hatchet, can I still come along?
@@SantosAl The more the angrier.
Im in.
@@berserker8884 Your name is all you need to bring.
Rabble rabble, I'm prepared, rabble rabble
You'll definitely love watching more Ghibli movies. My first Ghibli movie was Castle in the Sky. Changed my whole perspective on animated movies. Some aren't just cartoons for kids. Some have real meaning and are a joy to watch. Like all Ghibli movies.
I love Ghibli movies and I am glad you will be reviewing them (upvote people!! upvote!!). I cannot wait until you see Howl's Moving Castle which is by the way based on a book by Diana Wynne Jones, which is more of a children's story but a great book non the less.
Keep up the amazing work Daniel! I love your videos and you bring me the news I really want to hear ! Cheers!
In 15 hours you received 550+ comments and they're all positive. We want more Ghibli reviews. Keep it up!
I see everyone recommending all of the well loved films. They are all wonderful. The one film I have yet to see anyone mention, is my favorite
and it's not nearly as popular as the others. The Cat Returns was my first Ghibli movie. I think you like cats, so you should do yourself a favor and watch The Cat Returns. It doesn't have some great lesson to learn like most Ghibli films, but it is definitely a fun one.
Dude, can’t wait for the spirited away review! Castle in the Sky is my favorite ghibli movie, it’s so fucking cool
Really enjoyed this review. I love all of the Miyazaki films. Mononoke is one of my favorite of his, my number one being Porco Rosso. Please keep these coming. Cheers.
OH MY GOODNESS PLEASE MAKE THIS SERIES!!!! My two favorite Ghibli films are Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind and Castle in the Sky
Nausica of the valley of the wind, castle in the sky and Princess Mononoke are my fav Ghibli films for sure!!
I have not seen this one in so many years or watched anime but now I am dying to rewatch it. Super excited about this series idea Daniel.
All of the Ghibli films I've seen are fantastic, but my top three have to be 1: Spirited Away 2: Howl's Moving Castle and 3. Princess Mononoke. Great storytelling and it's different enough from everything else that it's basically its own genre at this point. Looking forward to seeing more of your Ghibli reviews in the future
Ayyyyy I watched Princess Mononoke like daily growing up, super happy to see you make a video on it! I would definitely also recommend Castle in the Sky if you haven't seen it.
A lot of people watched PM before and have their nostalgia goggles on when thinking about it now, but I watched it for the first time a couple months ago as an adult. I love anime and animation in general and have watched SG films before so I may have some bias. I agree with every single thing Daniel said in this vid, especially about thinking about the movie for days afterwards. I love that it doesn’t try to convince you that one side is right, but leaves you feeling like it’s your responsibility to find a new way. Remember, this movie is over 20 yrs old, this was a time when the ozone layer was a huge issue- something we dealt with! It is also amazing how well it holds up these days compared to other shows and movies, animated or not.
I've been going Studio Ghibli nights once a week at my place for about a year now! It doesn't matter which one we watch it always leads to a great discussion afterwards
Loved the video and I just subscribed! Another beautiful one, besides Nausicaa (which several people have already mentioned), is Laputa: Castle in the Sky. I highly recommend it, but honestly any Ghibli movie is going to be amazing so I’m looking forward to the videos!
Yes, please review all the ghibli films. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is my favorite ghibli movie, has some similar themes to Mononoke but the world is completely different(more sci-fi). Really hope you make this a series, I'll watch every week.
Mononoke is my favorite film of all time. Thank you for covering this film, you put into words everything that makes this movie special to me.
Castle in the Sky is my second favorite Ghibli Film! You should definitely do that one as well
Princess Mononoke is my favorite Ghibli movie, and I'm happy to see someone else singing its praises
First. Awesome vid. More of this please. Second. I remember going to see this in theatres and being mesmerized. It is one of the most complete stories done so well.
Definetely looking forward to more Ghibli stuff! I've been watching those lately. I can recommend Nausicaä and Castle In The Sky, they are awesome and go real hard on Ghibli's "nature is good", "war is bad" mottos
You should try “Grave Of the fireflies” probably the only movie I have ever cried in
Worst movie ever! And the only one i can't rewatcht! 20 years later the end break my heart! I can't forget this film
Fantastic movie in the most heart-rending, depressing way. Sort of like Schindler's List: everyone should watch it once, no one can bear to watch it twice. Check it out, Daniel! It'll make your face leak.
Possibly the most depressing work of fiction i've ever experienced. What a film
Any idea what streaming companing has it? I've been wanting to watch it for years!
@@couchpotatoe91 Hulu has it
Good to see you in the new place, the hair looks fine too. Wonderful review of a great movie. This is a cool new video series idea. If you haven't seen Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Spirited Away yet, watch one of them next. Nausicaa has similar environmental themes and Spirited Away has spirits.
Finally, I'm not a fan of the background music even though it is very subtle. It distracts me and I imagine that people who have hearing difficulties might have issues with it too. Also, have you considered setting up captions so your videos would be more accessible to people with disabilities and non-English speaking watchers? Merphy recently adopted them too.
I don't think he moved because he wanted to.
I would love to hear your thoughts on more Studio Ghibli movies! I'd advocate for two of their earlier films: Castle in the Sky and Kiki's Delivery Service. I think they have fantasy elements just like Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and My Neighbor Totoro, but aren't discussed as often as the latter ones. Castle in the Sky is more of an adventure story and Kiki's is more of a slice of life/coming of age, but I think they're total delights!
DANIEL you came at the perfect time. I'm in the middle of writing an essay for a uni course which is about our ecological crises and how animism, particularly from Japanese folk Shinto and other indigenous religions, may be a grassroots response to tackling them in the future. My lecturer really honed in on how this is actually Miyazaki's philosophy and is the intention behind almost all of his films, so I'm doing my essay on whether or not western audiences have been sort of baptised in a sense, of animistic beliefs through watching Miyazaki's Ghibli films and whether or not it's helped them reassess their relationship with nature.
So here I am right, 3 mental breakdowns into my essay, bawling my eyes out, and then your video pops up and your entire quote from 8:51-9:46, perfectly explains my entire essay argument. You're someone of a western audience who, after watching a Miyazaki film that has an entire plot based off principles of animism, began to literally reassess your relationship with nature and you said that shit OUT LOUD. You don't know how many reviews I've had to sift through to try and find quotes of people grasping the bare minimum of the animistic ideologies of a Ghibli film and physically stating "I have reassessed my relationship with nature" or even just "It made me want to reassess my relationship with nature". So to have you explicitly state exactly this so eloquently, thank you, dude. thank you so fucking much. Thank you for literally uploading this exactly when I needed it
lmao anyways it's due in two days and I have another 2000 words to write so wish me luck
would love to see a ghibli series! mononoke is one of my favourite films of all time - and no matter how often i watch it i am just constantly blown away! i would love to see you review nausicaa - it’s sort of the prototype mononoke, so it’d be interesting to see which you prefer and what similarities and differences you draw.
I think Nausicaa is Ghibli's greatest fantasy/scifi. The world has a lot of detail, the forest is fascinating, the story is tight and well paced, and the characters are well written.
Princess Mononoke is a fantastic movie. I totally love the high quality of the animation, and the story is beautifully told and imaginative. And I think your haircut looks fine dude.
Princess Mononoke was the first Miyazaki film I saw as a kid and I fell in love. Of the other films I’ve seen, the haven’t been as good, but I still really like howles moving castle and spirited away.
I love this film, easily one of the best animated films ever. I'd suggest watching Castle in the Sky as soon as possible, the first film made under the Ghibli banner.
You're on for an amazing ride. Every single Miyazaki movie is wonderful. I hope you'll also review Proco Rosso, a favorite of mine (although not really fantasy).
My personal favorite Ghibli films are The Tale of Princess Kaguya, Only Yesterday (both of which are directed by Isao Takahata rather than Miyazaki), and Kiki's Delivery Service. They're not fantastical and spectacular like the Ghibli projects that get talked about a lot more, but they're gorgeous in their own ways and affect me emotionally more than any of the others. Definitely check them out - especially Kaguya!
This film is a masterpiece and one of my favorites of all time. Commenting and upvoting to support the channel and for more Ghibli videos.
Daniel, your reviews are getting better mate. Also your production quality of your vids have improved a lot since I first subscribed.
You have grown a lot since then. You should be real proud of yourself.
Keep it up.
Thanks for the review. It's nice to see my favorite film get some love. I hope this convinces at least one person out there on the internet to watch the movie. Looking forward to more Studio Ghibli reviews and news about upcoming films.
YESSSSSSSS! PLEASE KEEP DOING THESE and even more kinds of film reviews😭🙏
I watched Princess Mononoke as a kid, and it was moving even back then, when I didn't understand it that much. Now I rewatched it as a teenager, and I can easily say that it's one of my favorite movies ever, if not THE favorite one. It's beautiful. It's terrifying. And it's something that gives hope, too. I just love it.
Sounds really cool! Hope you do a review of Howl's Moving Castle, which is my fave Ghibli
Ghibli films have such a fantastic way of telling stories. I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying them. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the various films you watch. Enjoy them all and definitely watch them with open heart and open mind.
YES!!! Studio Ghibli is GOD TIER when it comes to story telling. Always blows me away when I watch any of their work. Really glad you are getting to watch their work. Great review.
Absolutely love the idea of reviewing these films. I hope you continue the series!
Longing forward to the "Daniel reviews Ghibli movies" series! While not a Ghibli film, I'd also love to see you review Ghandahar
This is awesome. I literally cannot wait to hear your thoughts on The studio Ghibli series. Spirited away is my favorite, but it's been so long since I've seen princess mononoke that I need to go back and revisit it. Thanks for the thoughtful great in-depth reviews!
Princess Mononoke is a 10/10 movie for me, best Ghibli film and one of my favourite movies of all time. Please consider watching Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (or even read the manga), it has very similar themes as Princess Mononoke. If you want something lighthearted and feel good, watch Kiki’s Delivery Service. If you want something completely devastating, watch Grave of the Fireflies.
Hoping this does well enough to continue this series. Really enjoyed your perspective and your review!
Must watch laputa!!!! It was my first experience of ghibli, one of my favourite films ever!!
This is my favorite movie ever it resonate with so much aspect of my life. I'm living as a forest manager balancing the exploitation of forests and the protection of natural structures in the same forests. I also have only praise for this movie. I sincerely think it should be watched by all for more people to understand to fragile balance we need to maintain when utilizing nature resources. It showcase the power of animation who can shatter any boundaries to tell a story. Good review i will watch more of your animation content for sure. (sorry for my bad english)
Mononoke is my all-time favorite from studio ghibli!!
I watched Princess Mononoke when I was a young teenager for the first time and it fundamentally changed the way I viewed stories. I also feel like a lot of studio ghibli movies can do that but this one did it for me. Its one of the best movies I've ever seen.
Mononoke is my favorite film of all time. A close second is Spirited Away (you will likely call your parents after watching it). Howl's is also amazing, and makes me wish Billy Crystal did more voice over work. Enjoy the ride! Ghibli is amazing.
Goa watch grave of the fireflies.
Youre list might change.
Princess Monoke is one of my favorite movies ever, I watched it as a pre-teen and it really boosted my love of wolves to an actual obsession. I always have an afterthought when stating that it's my fav Ghibli film because it doesn't include that kind of peaceful, feel-good vibe the others do, that usually comes with the romanticization of mundane things. However, no matter how many times I watch it, I get shivers and feel like crying in awe at its dramatic and tragic beauty.
"Iron" town...."Stark" difference. I see you, Daniel.
Not sure if it was intentional but it’s funny nonetheless
I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY TO SEE ANY TITLE AS MUCH AS I HAVE WITH THIS ONE! HOLY WHEELS I LOVE YOU NOW!
Princess Mononoke is easily one of my favorite films of all time, but I'd consider Laputa: Castle in the Sky to be my all-time favorite. I hope you watch it in the future and do a review on it!
To this day princess mononoke is one of the first films I point to in my never ending plea for more animated fantasy adaptations. With the scope of style and technique available in animation the true depth of detail found in fantasy can be met. Daniel hits the nail on the head in this video, the colour and detail helps you immerse you in this world almost as well as the thousand descriptors found in the wheel of time. I know thats a bold statement, im just real passionate about fantasy animations inspired by ghibli.
Yay! I’m looking forward to this series! Not sure if you’ve already seen Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, but I’m excited to hear your thoughts for this Ghibli story. It also features complex characters, abuse of nature, political struggles and magical flora and fauna :) It is also a published manga series which differs a bit from the animated film. Anyway, thanks for another fun video!
My friends and I rewatched it the day you posted this video. What are the odds?
One of the best films of all time. Fundamental to my development.
That's the one thing I love about Ghibli films and traditional eastern story telling in general, is that there aren't many clear cut "evil villains". There are opposing sides, differing viewpoints, and difficult people, but not many characters are set up as a decided antagonist. The major conflict is within the main characters, and characters who might seem like the bad guys often join the good guys later (i.e. Vegeta, the squad in Spirited Away, etc.)
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is my favourite Ghibli film, it's phenomenal and you NEED to check it out if you haven't already
This is a special movie for me because of the way it hit me in my more formative years. I'm glad to see you've enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to seeing you make a video about Spirited Away.
Woot! I remember commenting that you should watch this a while back. Not sure if that was what did it but so happy to see this on your channel! I watched this movie as a kid, and it was one of those movies that has never really left me since then. Every time I come back to it I’m still just as immersed as when I was a kid. Try to get Totoro in there at some point as well if you haven’t seen it yet!
I love all the Studio Ghibli movies that I have seen and am glad that they are all on HBO Max so I can see the rest that I haven't had a chance to before. Howl's Moving Castle is one of my favorites. I also love the book, it is loosely based on the book but I highly recommend reading it and watching the movie.
Ooh boy you’re in for a treat! I watched most of the Ghibli movies available on Netflix for the first time during quarantine, and it’s insane how consistantly great they are! I think you will love Laputa: Castle In The Sky. It’s tied for my favorite Ghibli movie along with Princess Mononoke.
Dude! I think you're the only one else that has even recommended Castle In The Sky.
I think it's easily the tie for best Miyazaki film along with Princess Mononoke.
Michael Harris Yeah, for sure the most rewatchable and fun one. It has everything that is Ghibli - enviromentalism, strong female characters, flying vehichles, floating castles, pirates, magic and amazing music.
I don't like video often, but if I could, I'd do it 1000 times for this one ! I'm so glad Daniel is doing this !
YesS!!!!!!!!!!! Hayao Miyazaki is a genious story teller! I also love how his stories always have subtle (or not so subtle in the case of Princess Mononoke) environmental messages.
You should watch Whisper of the heart! It's not fantasy, but it's about young adults exploring their artistic side. It's a very gentle movie, but I do feel to the right audience it can make a great impact.
Also, Porco Rosso probably the most mature film in the Ghibli cannon apart from Kaze Tachinu.
This is my favorite Ghibli film. It's a wonderful slice of life film with great characters and fantastic music. And I think Daniel will relate the the themes.
Princess Mononoke is one of my favourite movies of all time, it juggles a variety of themes a lot better than some films have recently. It is beautiful to look at, the English dub is done well. I have a feeling this film will stay with me forever and what a brilliant review as well, you have done this film justice.
PM is right up there, top 5 for me. I've seen most of them and still think the best ones are Laputa and Nausicca because of the worlds and the imaginative design of elements. But then there are different types of Ghibli stories. Some of them are more slice of life type movies, a few are historically themed.
I looooove studio ghibli movies! My favorite it Howl’s moving castle, but I think that Princess Mononoke is the overall best made one. There’s so many good ones so I think it would be really cool if you made a series reviewing and watching them!!😄
Absolutely top tier fantasy. The world had depth, character, and charm. Amazing. You constantly wanted to know more about everything which is the best thing a story can do.
Definitely watch Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. It's an extremely good movie.
I saw Princess Mononoke in the theater many years ago. It is one of my favorite movies and it hooked me on Studio Ghibli. I watch every movie I can find from them!
You should watch and read Nausicaa soon after Mononoke as they deal with similar themes! Nausicaa is an important case because the film and the manga tell two different stories with two wildly different tones and conclusions.
Yaaay a video serie that i actually know the content jajaja
Amazing analisis Daniel. Tahnks for telling us what films you are going to watch next so we can tag along.
Here in Argentina all Ghibli movies are in Netflix.
Dude, I LOVE Princess Mononoke! I swear if someone wanted to give me the perfect gift, it's hafta be the entire Studio Ghibli library of animated films 🎥 So glad you're enjoying their movies as well 🤗
Princess Mononoke is one of my all time favorites and Ashitaka is one of my favorite protagonists specifically because he isn't used as some sort of obtuse mouthpiece for the creator. I'm so happy you enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next few reviews.
Studio Ghibli films are absolutely amazing! My favorite has always been Kiki’s Delivery Service. Would love to see a series on these movies!!
When I was young, my brothers friend let him borrow princess mononoke and spirited away for a week, and I watched both movies about 5 times in that week. I absolutely adore these films, and you can be damn sure I'll be tuning in to watch the other reviews for these movies.
this review is just fantastic. absolutely perfect summation of this beautiful film
Loved this video. I'm looking forward to seeing more. I'd be especially interested in your take on the Ghibli film "Pom Poko" it has a good mixture of ridiculous humour and serious topics.
Don't stop the series pls!
Dude, don't sleep on Nausicaa or Laputa, although you can't go wrong with Ghibli really.
Weirdly that might have been one of my favourite of your videos, even though I generally come here for book reviews. Loved it.