Week 6 - Anime

This week’s response seems a little all over the place but is mainly based around the question:

With reference to Cavallaro (2006), what distinguishes Mononoke technically as being – it is generally agreed – a great work of anime?

Cavallaro (2006) discusses in-depth how Miyazaki’s ‘Princess Mononoke’ is for adults AND children. I think that this is one of the main reasons as to why the movie was so successful and is considered a great work of anime. The movie is suitable, understood, and enjoyed by not only adults, but the younger members of the public also.

Mononoke is considered an adult film because some issues are confronted in the film that were troubling and existing in Japan at the time the movie was set, such as the Muromachi period (1392 – 1573). Miyazaki then explains the dark elements in Mononoke are there to address the younger members of the public and states “…What we found was that the children actually understood the movie and what we were trying to say more than the adults…” (Quoted in Lyman 1999).

There are also many figures and statistics that prove that ‘Princess Monoke’ is a great work of anime. After 8 months at the theatres, it had grossed more than $150 million and knocking out the previous record holder E.T. This was an extremely good effort and as Schilling (cited in Cavallaro, 2006) states, the film attracted a whole ‘one tenth of the population to the theatres’ (1997, p. 3)

Japan has a significant fascination with legend, mythology and folklore. Because Miyazaki portrayed these in his film, it became the highest grossing Japanese film in history in the year of its release. Because of the cultural prejudice and adult themes, the movie was less popular in the West making only US$3 million on release but it has now grown in popularity to people of all ages in the West. (Week 6, PowerPoint)

Here is another quote that I thought was very interesting and powerful.
“We are not trying to solve global problems with this film. There can be no happy ending to the war between the rampaging forest gods and humanity. But even in the midst of hatred and slaughter, there is still much to love for. Wonderful encounters and beautiful beings still exist” (Miyazaki 1997b, p.20; sited in Cavallaro, p123).
Miyazaki explains here that even in the midst of environmental destruction, there are still many positive and extravagant things in the world worth living for. He keeps hopes alive in his audience which gives the film a universal quality.

Miyazaki was genuine and honest when making films for children while at the same time confronting serious issues for the adults to acknowledge. Therefore it is generally agreed that Mononoke is a great work of anime.


References:
Cavallaro, D. (2006). The Anime Art of Hayao Miyazaki. London: McFarland & Company.