Princess Mononoke: Cyclicity, and the Importance of Character Motive

[@nubcake67]

Princess Mononoke is Studio Ghibli's masterclass in subtext and "show, don't tell." All the characters are perfectly portrayed and you understand their motivations and actions, with barely a modicum of backstory or lore. You don't need to tell your audience why characters do something and spoon-feed it to them, just show them and they'll figure it out. This is why Mononoke is my favorite Ghibli film and my go-to for introducing someone to anime. It's one of the few films that I rate as "perfect."

[@Marunius]

Yeah, unlike in for instance the Joker where the director must have thought the viewers are idiots. Great comment nubcake!

[@635abhishek6]

The important lesson is not what happening in a movie it`s why... well said.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thank you :)

[@scotthintze5901]

This is my best Ghibli movie ever. The writers make good characters and it's mind boggling to tell who's the hero and villain. It's like Bambi meets Seven Samurai. You have the forest animals against humans in a battle over the forest.

[@FormalBandicoot]

It's my favourite too, though Spirited Away and Porco Rosso are close

[@jays114]

This is absolutely fantastic content, man. You deserve much more views.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thanks a lot! I agree lol

[@58jn89]

@@FormalBandicoot You guy's think there will be another Princess Mononoke movie sequel? Because it was a greatest movie of all time. And plus do you guy's think that Princess Mononoke is a Disney princess? Because princess mononoke is a part of Disney even though she's ghibli. San is a princess like a Disney princess and San's princess dress will look similar to Pocahontas princess dress from Pocahontas 2. Do you guy's agree with that idea?

[@morgacl]

This is why “Princess Mononoke” is my favorite Miyazaki film. Excellent analysis!

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thanks a lot :)

[@domrodino5067]

This is such a great video. I just watched this movie for the first time yesterday and you go into details that I didn’t even think about. Great work.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thanks so much :) If you haven't checked out their other films, I strongly recommend Spirited Away and Porco Rosso

[@dolria1]

The greatest anime movie of all times, greatest then all others masterpieces. The peak of Hiyao miazaki career. His greatest achievement. He may be a bad dad like his son Goro always stated, but he is the greatest story-teller and animator of all time. For Me, Mononoke - hime is the greatest of his achievements. Nothing comes close to it. Its the most perfect animated movie with layers upon layers of philosophy and Theology and story-craft that more million years human kind can't achieve that. Mononoke hime is like the perfect movie.

[@jennerg1474]

every video essay on this film is amazing because of Mononoke's godly soundtrack alone

[@FormalBandicoot]

The music works super well too, beyond just being excellent

[@FasterthanLight11]

These Ghibli analyses are great but how come no one ever mentions how after the removal of the Spirit's head he is only able to kill? It seems pretty cut and dry that losing one's head, or rather giving into hate (Lady Oboshi's rage at the spirits stopping her from expanding her vision) and Greed (Our favorite mercenary), will cause rampant destruction. And even if it is restored you are left with only a devastated world after the fact. This is of course getting away from the overall arc of magical nature giving away to scientific humanity. In this regard Miyazaki and Tolkien had similar views.

[@58jn89]

You guy's think there will be another Princess Mononoke movie sequel? Because it was a greatest movie of all time. And plus do you guy's think that Princess Mononoke is a Disney princess? Because princess mononoke is a part of Disney even though she's ghibli. San is a princess like a Disney princess and San's princess dress will look similar to Pocahontas princess dress from Pocahontas 2. Do you guy's agree with that idea?

[@FasterthanLight11]

@@58jn89 no and no pretty much.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Hey, sorry. Woulda responded sooner but my video was briefly copyright claimed. Well, I did sorta mention the loss of its head causing people to pay a price, though you're right, I never focused on the fact that headless, it is pure death. Interesting.

[@58jn89]

@@FasterthanLight11 oh yes it does need a sequel. I mean don't you want to seek a second movie of the movies what's going to happen next?

[@58jn89]

@@FormalBandicoot You guy's think there will be another Princess Mononoke movie sequel? Because it was a greatest movie of all time. And plus do you guy's think that Princess Mononoke is a Disney princess? Because princess mononoke is a part of Disney even though she's ghibli. San is a princess like a Disney princess and San's princess dress will look similar to Pocahontas princess dress from Pocahontas 2. Do you guy's agree with that idea?

[@katespadeglasses]

As a Japanese, there are a few points I want to make. 1) This narrative you describe of motive - action - result, is a very western ideal of story telling. The idea that you need to find an ending or conclusion in itself is very western. Please learn about the Japanese notion of “wabisabi” - finding beauty and meaning in imperfection. Something perfect and hence, complete, comes to an end. That’s why there is beauty in the incomplete. So rather than focusing so much on the conclusive narrative and trying so desperately to find a conclusion, accept the incompleteness. Think about how the story made you feel in the end. 2) I also think this notion of assigning roles to each character is highly western. Try looking at the collective in a broader sense, as opposed to the individual. This is not a story with a single villain, a single hero, or a single protagonist. Each person harbors love and hate within themselves in their own ways. We can empathize with and condemn every character for various traits and actions. No ONE side is wrong, they are all fighting for what they want to protect. Though each opposing side shares so much in common, they simply fail to see eye to eye. This story is much more than a plot acted out among a few characters, it makes a statement about our nature as humans. Nevertheless I enjoyed your video, and it’s very interesting to see the story the way you see it through your perspective, which differs from mine. Thank you for sharing your thoughts :)

[@kupalisky3553]

Watched for the first time last night, and that's how I saw it. It was pretty clear that there no real villains or heroes. The message I was reading into was that all life is simultaneously in conflict with, but also dependent on one another and the breaking of the natural balance can lead to calamity. But even after calamity there is rebirth, but as you say that rebirth is also imperfect. Thanks for sharing "wabisabi", I'm going to read up on it.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Hey, sorry this took me so long to reply to, I do try to reply to most comments I appreciate the perspective of someone who is Japanese. With that in mind, I would like to think my video does support the idea of that broader sense. I do go into specific intents of characters, but particularly in the topic of who the "villain" is, I would argue that there is no real villain ("...beyond a straight forward villain, if you still consider her one"). My idea is to show that her rationale behind her actions is what moves her from what a normal movie would see as a villain to something more gray. Not villainous, just a different goal than others. Perhaps I should have enforced that concept more in my script, I do realize I talk mostly about single character goals. I'd just also think the comment about animals and humans *both* being animals and why the Forest Spirit is supportive of both would support my agreement with you too.

[@lucieirl]

do you mind if i use a few of these points for an essay I'm writing? we get to review a film of choice and your perspective is very useful to a British girl!!

[@othrsdmusic]

One of the most stupid comments I've read on a video essay. Did you even watch this video? :')

[@johntorri9172]

This video is almost as feel good as Princess Mononoke!

[@FormalBandicoot]

[@aryanpatel6379]

You deserve more views!

[@FormalBandicoot]

Haha thanks, man. I agree!

[@josephlowry4320]

You done an amazing job dude an lot of great information about Princess Mononoke, it's an amazing film to watch and learn.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thanks so much :)

[@FormalBandicoot]

Edit: huzzah, I won the appeal. Screw you, Ghibli, you have no choice but to let people listen to me love you Edit 2: On March 6th, Ghibli tried a copyright claim again. Only went through the first stage this time before I won, so that's nice. Welcome back. Again. _________________ This video is currently under an appeal for fair use, so there's a chance it won't be here in the next 30 days, and I'll receive a strike. While I'm aware Ghibli has been militant in the past about their content, I've seen other videos that use just as much footage as I have, as well as audio. When writing my appeal, KZbin did tell me to comply with my country's fair dealing laws (Canada), not Japan's. I looked through them extensively and believe my video falls within them pretty easily. That said, copyright laws are very muddled, so there's nothing surefire.

[@YongyoonKim]

Typical Canada. Godspeed, you black emperor.

[@wolfdeguerre9952]

@@YongyoonKim the skyline was beautiful on fire, all twisted metal stretching upwards, everything washed in a thin orange haze. i said: "kiss me, you're beautiful - these are truly the last days."

[@levijm890]

Its still here dont worry : P

[@Atamastra]

@@YongyoonKim Good... god! That is one esoteric reference! I only knew one other person who knew that band.

[@gabrielag638]

man! what a great voice!

[@FormalBandicoot]

I hate you so much

[@mobbs6426]

Ozai is actually quite an interesting take on evil for evils sake. His grandfather wanted dominion in a misguided attempt to spread the prosperity of the fire nation. His father, born to this war would develop more fascistic tendencies, and Ozai, his son, would likely be raised with an indomitable spirit to finally acheive his grandfather's grand vision and see the family legacy through. As one note as he is, it's the characters around him that flesh him out. His second rate (not to us) brother Iroh, his exiled son and wife and his psychotic daughter, all show his failings adding something of a 3D element to this trope. He's already lost everything we'd consider important and still presses on. He's there to be the bottom of the barrel, the lowest our characters can possibly sink, the end product of 100 years of war. He works so well, because he can't be reasoned with. If it doesn't aid the cause, it's useless to him. Aang has the ability to get through to people, but it's not going to work on Ozai, his mere existence is a threat, so what reason can he possibly offer besides his own subjugation. It adds to his intimidation factor rather than feeling like a trope

[@Ironawesomeness11000]

Great video! Keep this up and the view will follow soon!

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thanks :) Mind if I ask, where did you find the video? I suddenly got a spike of about 1000 views since yesterday morning, not sure why haha

[@synysterpain]

@@FormalBandicoot your vid showed up to me, once I liked a few other ghibli related vids lol

[@laralou594]

beautiful Video!

[@JDazell]

We must be careful not to apply western narrative traits onto non-western narratives. The western goal oriented narrative doesnt describe the meaningful substance behind the unfolding action in most Japanese animation.

[@Charlie-hv3dh]

Found this video and loved it, really sad to see you haven’t uploaded in awhile, but damn you really did something with this video :)! Hope someday you’ll come back to make another video! Gonna tell my friend who loves anything ghibli or especially Princess Mononoke! This video deserves more attention!!

[@FormalBandicoot]

I really appreciate that. Unfortunately, you might notice a similar trend of gaps between many of my other videos. Between either being in school and working part time, or working full time between semesters, a lot of my spare time is spend on more leisure. I want to keep making videos, but it's a fair amount of work and I also have some self-doubt every time I work on one. Buuuuut, I do have a script I'm working on finishing up, along with another project that is going to be quite long but is in the works!

[@aravindvinayakan]

Fantastic video! I'm honestly shocked your channel isn't bigger given the super high quality video I just watched! Will be coming back for more :)

[@FormalBandicoot]

Appreciate it! It doesn't help how seldom I upload videos, though with the new one recently, I'm hoping to do it a bit more often. I've said that before lol

[@aravindvinayakan]

@@FormalBandicoot I have faith in you! Go forth and create amazing videos!

[@samidejong106]

This is a great video. Subbed

[@ferrarifan9406]

Amazing video about a fantastic movie!

[@FormalBandicoot]

thanks :)

[@TheKnightXavier]

Great video man! I was trying to figure out recently a reason why the Forest Spirit didn't cure Ashitaka's curse early on. What you shared makes a lot of sense! :) I had similar feelings.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was actually something I'd never really considered until I was writing the video and considering the motives. Could just be nonsense as far as Miyazaki is concerned, but I'd like to think there's some merit to it

[@bubblegumpop715]

Thank you for this! Extremely well-thought and the video itself is superb.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thanks a lot :)

[@fitrianabakh]

I’ve watched this movie for the 9th time like seriously no cap. this movie is the best of the best of anime films history periodt-

[@1gnore_me.]

children are going to be studying princess mononoke in schools 50 years from now

[@karim0302]

Interesting! The Dynamic Cyclicity concept made me think of Dan Harmon's story circle. It's essentially about the changing (or sometimes unchanging) beliefs of a character and the journey they go on to set this change in motion. Have you heard of it?

[@FormalBandicoot]

Hmm, no I actually haven't heard that before

[@Matt_Kole]

Really good analysis

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thank you so much :)

[@dr.shylesh]

Best explanation! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@dimostychalas9716]

Every Princess Mononoke video essay intro ever: 0:55

[@FormalBandicoot]

It's just too fitting!

[@dimostychalas9716]

@@FormalBandicoot ikr

[@chimedemon]

I do agree with this, though I don't think that all villains NEED to be complex, just take the original Malificent. the newer movie was shit because they tried to make her more complex, while she originally was just EVIL just to be evil, and it was really fun. I think Overly Sarcastic Productions explains it best when they say " good writing is writing that WORKS" but other than that, great video! I love your stuff!

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thanks a lot :) I have been thinking about this more. I think the motives are important and helpful but you're right, a straightforward villain can (and has) work, as long as that villain comes across as really believing their goal. It's certainly possible to have some world domination character just wanna do it for fun, so long as they make us believe it--and of course they need some other character traits. Unleeeess you go full cheese and do over the top evil, which is a whole other discussion. Now I'm rambling

[@kolauttaja1850]

I watch this for the music and for the main characters

[@suheylkarakaya4238]

That was a nice analysis.

[@FormalBandicoot]

I'm glad you liked it :)

[@near6003]

First! Keep up the great content man :D

[@voldagar]

Love the channel. Thanks for watching.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thanks for watching!

[@TheFriendlyAnarchist]

This is really good. Subbed.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thanks a bunch :)

[@jahimjauh-hey5653]

Why the 8 dislikes? This video was interesting.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Can't say I disagree! But what can ya do? Not everyone will agree, I suppose :)

[@laralou594]

please more ghibli analyses!🌤

[@FormalBandicoot]

Haha I'll think about it. I didn't have many plans to do movies, but if I did, there are several Ghibli movies I'd love to talk about

[@jacobmcdonald8911]

A+

[@navinshirodkar9439]

I loved your video. It was really good. Thanks for making it. :) Also could you please cover Nauscaä Of The Valley Of The Wind and Castle In The Sky ? Pleaaassseeeee.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Thanks :) Hmm, we'll see. I didn't have many intentions on doing non-gaming content, save for a few ideas I have at the moment. I do love Castle in the Sky, though. If I did another Ghibli film it would likely be Spirited Away or Porco Rosso

[@candide1065]

I really wish the submissive Miyazaki-disciples would get more creative someday instead of always sounding the same when glorifying every blade of grass in sleepy uncle miyazakis work.

[@pumpkingamebox]

Ghibli won’t survive without Miyazaki. I hope the close the studio when he dies. And remove any chance it suffering Disney’s fate.

[@nhonguyen5968]

Good

[@daveodell700]

Motivation is everything. Eboshi has corrupt motivations (power/greed) and although her compassion towards the prostitures/lepers is admirable, it comes from Eboshi recognizing them as an untapped resource rather than kindness in her heart. Would she help the prostitutes/lepers if she was not receiving something VERY valuable in return? Unlikely. Again, her motivation is revelatory. Like most people, once they make it through the ‘crisis’ they revert to their original motivations. Eboshi got what she wanted, and although she lost her arm that was a small price to pay for getting EVERYTHING she wanted. Her ‘kindness’ is about using/manipulating people, and it doesn’t make her an honorable person. She will continue to use/manipulate. Her motivation is power, and people with that motivation will risk all they have to hold on to it.

[@FormalBandicoot]

I think in a sense you're right, but keep in mind she does end the movie saying she wants to rebuild iron town and be better. It comes across as her learning a lesson, so you're right that there was a lot of selfishness in her

[@daveodell700]

@@FormalBandicoot I agree, if we treat it only as a moralistic fairytale. But if we are applying as a metaphor to real life, and you were so opposed to ‘God’ that you would try to destroy him or his creations, so full of bitterness and hate that you take pleasure in destruction...well that is hard to come back from even when things go wrong. She wants to rebuild iron town. She killed a God. She received no ‘punishment’ other than losing her arm, which she did to herself. I have met people like this, that can only corrupt and destroy the good in the world. They rarely change. It’s a deep loathing of good in the world and a desire to reshape life in their own image. They wish to replace God with themselves. It’s fear/self-loathing.

[@danielborngesser3631]

At 7:35 you spelled Ashitaka, Ahistaka

[@FormalBandicoot]

Oh good fucking god how did I not notice that

[@LiamDaLemon]

I think the nights king is a great villain, being within a world entirely composed of grey characters. The white walkers represent climate change, the elephant in the room that everybody ignores in order to focus on (the more lucrative) game of thrones. He's meant to be a big bad boi that originates from, and therefore embodies, mankind's actions against nature. Sometimes a character can afford to be less complex in their dialogue and actions if the narrative around them is interesting.

[@FormalBandicoot]

I guess it just seemed like they didn't *do* with him. I can see the allusion to climate change but that falls flat with how he's defeated. I can be okay with mindless villains, I did put Ozai too and Avatar is excellent. Still, felt like there could have been more with the Night King

[@LiamDaLemon]

@@FormalBandicoot hmm think I disagree with you there, I liked the idea a normal person defeated him, and I think it made sense ultimately narratively (but another convo for another time I suppose), and I don't think he's mindless, he's cold and calculating. I enjoyed most of GOT up until the next episode of the final series tbh 🤷🏻‍♂️ but just diff opinions I guess

[@FormalBandicoot]

@@LiamDaLemon fair enough, glad you enjoyed it. I think after season 5 I disliked it more as it went on unfortunately

[@LiamDaLemon]

@@FormalBandicoot yeh I understand the dislike after there was less source material, the vibe was slightly different, makes sense... For me personally it was when Scorpion bolts started knocking dragons out the sky for shock value, and how they handled dany's descent (which had so much potential to be brilliant/ tragic) that I found myself thinking F this shit... And the general dialogue in that last episode 😑🙈 I cringe thinking about Sam's monologue

[@supercoolredlamb]

San must be lady Eboshi's daughter. She want's her daughter back from Moro.

If a movie character's motive does not have to make sense to the audience, then you are not watching a movie but studying some sychos.

[@FormalBandicoot]

Well the point is more that the rationale doesn't have to be agreeable, it just has to seem like they genuinely believe it. Having a character believe something that would seem insane to other people is palatable as long as it's believable that they believe it

[@papasscooperiaworker3649]

Do you still make videos? You haven't uploaded in half a year >:

[@FormalBandicoot]

I think I've actually had a larger gap in time before, haha. I still have many ideas and things in the work, but I also began attending college in 2018 (in my last year now) and was working full time during the breaks Other than that, I'm not terribly diligent with the videos out of some confidence issues, truth be told. But don't worry, I'd like to have at least one more done by the end of the year, and many more next year!

[@papasscooperiaworker3649]

@@FormalBandicoot Oh, I see! I completely understand why you haven't uploaded as much and it's alright ^^ Your reasons for not being active lately are valid- I was just wondering if you were still here hehe Anyway, thank you for clarifying. I enjoyed this video a lot and would love to see more whenever! You can have a break for as long as you need, as your health comes first. You deserve to be okay. Thanks again, take care (:

[@FormalBandicoot]

@@papasscooperiaworker3649 Well you were right to ask, several of my earlier videos end with me saying "gonna try to reduce the gap", I'm just bad at that. Glad you enjoyed it though!

[@58jn89]

You guy's think there will be another Princess Mononoke movie sequel? Because it was a greatest movie of all time. And plus do you guy's think that Princess Mononoke is a Disney princess? Because princess mononoke is a part of Disney even though she's ghibli. San is a princess like a Disney princess and San's princess dress will look similar to Pocahontas princess dress from Pocahontas 2. Do you guy's agree with that idea?

[@chrisball8364]

HARRY POTTER ANALYSIS FOR CHARACTER MOTIVE WOULD BE AMAZING!!!

[@FormalBandicoot]

Harry Potter, huh? To be honest, I've never been a huge fan. I also didn't intend on doing non-games too much, and I'm currently working on an analysis of Star Wars Episode I-IX. Maybe Harry Potter in the future but I can't promise it!

[@eeveeboba5046]

"Well, humans are animals"... The video was good but you acting like this isn't true just comes off as ignorant. If I'm not mistaken, I think you were trying to state that the forest spirit not only tries to protect the life inside the forest but outside of it which is good point to make. I just think the way you said it harms your abiltiy to get it across. On top of this, you refer to "the war between humans and animals" which could refer to a multitude of things. A better way to say this would be "the humans vs the forest spirits" or "humans vs non-humans"

[@FormalBandicoot]

Honestly, you're right. I really put that in as just a way to get some humour across but I think it came across more... asshole-ish. You're correct with my intent. It was mostly 'cause the movie draws a line between humans and animals and I didn't want someone pointing out that humans are You know, thinking about it, maybe I should have let people point that out, and show that as far as the Forest Spirit is concerned, humans and animals are the same, even if the two parties disagree

[@jaredpazin9211]

Isn’t it interesting that a god had to die in order to restore creation and Ashitaka’s curse? Hmmm 🤔 the Lord Jesus Christ (who is God) died in our place in order to redeem creation and man from the curse of sin. Repent of your sins and place your faith in Christ today to receive salvation which is eternal life. Don’t trust in yourself, nor in your goodness for we have none. Trust alone in the redeeming work of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and you will be saved from His just wrath we deserve. Praise God for His mercy and grace!

[@FormalBandicoot]

No thank you

[@fliegsal2348]

@@FormalBandicoot LOL

[@marcy1442]

@@FormalBandicoot damn

[@shivamprajapati8344]

But Jesus was not god..

[@fliegsal2348]

its as if people aren't allowed to say no nowadays 🤷‍♂️ there was literally no hate anywhere