Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-hime)

Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network, Dentsu and Studio Ghibli present

In ancient times the land lay covered in forest.

Here dwelt the spirits of nature from time immemorial.

PRINCESS MONONOKE

Yakul!

Ashitaka!

Oracle says to get back to the village.

The Old Man, too.

- Something's wrong. - The birds are gone.

The animals too.

I'll go to him. You'd better go now.

Something's coming.

- What is it? - Don't know. It's not human.

Oracle summoned everyone back to the village.

There!

A demon god!

Yakul, run!

It'll attack the village!

Ashitaka!

Don't touch it! Its curse will be on you!

Yakul!

Quiet your rage, I beg you!

O forest god who cannot be without name, why do you rampage so?

- A monster! - Run!

Stop! Leave our village in peace!

Stop! Still your rage!

Get up!

- It's down! - Ashitaka!

Bring Oracle!

Stoke the fire!

Ashitaka.

Don't touch it. It's no ordinary wound.

He's hurt! Where's Oracle?

All of you, stay back!

Oracle!

Pour this water on it, slowly.

O raging god unknown to us...

...I bow before you.

Where you have fallen, we will raise a mound and perform rites.

Bear us no hate. Be at peace.

Hear me, loathsome humans!

You shall know my agony and my hatred.

This is very, very bad.

The boar-spirit came from far to the west.

A poison within him goaded him on, rotting his flesh...

...drawing evil as he ran, making a demon of him.

Prince Ashitaka...

show us your right arm.

Oracle!

Ashitaka, are you ready to face your destiny?

Yes. I was resolved when I let my arrow fly.

The poison will seep into your bones and you will die.

Can nothing be done?!

He fought for the women and the village!

To simply wait for death...

We cannot change our fate.

But we can rise to meet it.

Look.

This was deep in the boar's body.

His suffering was terrible.

The iron shattered his bones and tore his entrails.

What else could have made him that way?

Something sinister waits in the lands to the west.

If you journey there and search for evil with eyes unclouded...

you might find a way to lift the curse.

More than 500 years have passed...

since the Emperor drove us into this land.

Now we hear how his power fades...

and the fangs of his Shoguns are broken.

But the blood of our tribe likewise grows thin.

And now, bitter fate... the youth who was one day to lead us

must journey far to the west.

The Law forbids us to watch you go. Farewell.

- Ashitaka. - Kaya, you can't be here.

I don't care. Remember me with this.

Your jewel dagger.

It will protect you.

You'll always be in my heart. Always, without fail.

And you in mine, Kaya.

Fighting?

Head them off!

There's one, get him!

His head is mine!

Stop!

My arm!

Don't let him get away.

Stay back. Let me pass!

A demon!

The mark is getting darker.

This gruel tastes like hot water.

There he is!

Is this enough?

This isn't money.

Give me back my rice!

Here, let me take a look.

Woman, this is pure gold!

If it's coins you want, I'll pay you.

Give me this.

Listen, is there a money-changer here?

No?

I'm a simple priest, but I'd say this is worth three sacks of rice.

Hey, wait!

That's mine, give it back!

Wait, don't be in such a hurry.

No need to thank me. It is I who should thank you.

I saw how you dealt with those samurai.

You fight like one possessed.

You see them too? Keep your gold hidden.

Hearts have grown hard throughout the land.

They'll rob you in your sleep. Shall we run?

So the boar became a demon...

I followed its tracks, but lost them in the village.

I'm not surprised.

Look around you.

This used to be a fine village.

There was a flood, maybe, or a landslide. I'm sure many died.

The land teems with bitter ghosts...

...dead from war, sick or starved and fallen where they stood.

A curse, you say? This world is a curse.

Ah, this is good!

I shouldn't have gotten into that fight. I killed two men.

You helped me escape.

Give me your bowl. You need food.

Everyone dies.

Some now, some later.

Hmm, an elegant bowl.

You remind me of the Emishi of old.

A brave people far to the east...

who used stone arrowheads and rode red elk.

The trick is to avoid the jaws of death.

Or so my master used to say.

Eat, my boy. It's your rice.

Look at this.

What is it?

It was in the body of the giant boar.

This is what killed him.

Far to the west, deep in the mountains...

is a forest where none may tread.

- The forest of the Deer God. - The Deer God?

They say the beasts there are giants, as in ages past.

I knew he'd go...

It's not far now. Stay on your guard.

They're coming.

The wolves!

Calm the oxen. Don't rush. Form ranks.

Keep your powder dry!

Wait until they're close.

Number One, fire!

Number Two, fire!

That was too easy.

Those were just the pups. Where's the mother?

It's Moro.

Come on, Moro!

Got her!

She's immortal. She won't die from that.

She did some real damage.

Let's get going.

What about those who fell?

Form ranks and move out.

He's breathing.

Hang on!

My name is Ashitaka! I come from the east.

Are you ancient gods from the forest of the Deer God?

Leave!

A kodama? Are they here, too?

Don't move. You're hurt.

They won't harm you. They're a sign the woods are healthy.

They'll bring the Deer God.

The Deer God? The giant wolf?

No, far bigger. The mother of all beasts.

It's gone!

Yakul's not afraid. There's no danger here.

Please let us pass through your woods.

Let's go back. Please!

There's a trail across the river. We'll never get through these woods.

The current's too strong to cross.

If we don't get help soon, this man will die.

Are you guiding us or getting us lost?

Sir, these sprites aren't helping us.

There are more of them!

What a magnificent tree. Is she your mother?

That girl and the wolves... so this is where they live...

We're getting in deeper, sir. This way leads into the other world.

Yes, let's take a rest.

Footprints.

Three toes... still fresh.

What's wrong, sir?

Are you all right? You're awfully pale.

I told you!

Did you see something?

No, forget it.

Hang on a little longer.

I'm sorry.

It's gone.

What is this? I feel much stronger.

Hey! It doesn't hurt.

I'm cured! No, it's broken.

Sir, you're a genius. We're back at the ironworks!

- It's a castle. - Lady Eboshi's ironworks.

They melt sand into iron.