Every year on August 11, Japan celebrates Mountain Day—a public holiday designed to promote nationwide appreciation for the country’s mountain ranges, as well as their natural resources and beauty. This month, a particularly dedicated Studio Ghibli cosplay artist summoned the spirit of Mountain Day with his stunning homage to the iconic fantasy film. Princess Mononoke.
Inside Games, a popular Japanese website for anime and gaming, recently put together a group of cosplayers whose photos feature a distinct “mountain theme or in which mountains appear as a backdrop” to celebrate the Japanese holiday. Via X (formerly Twitter), the editors highlighted a stunning portrait by @beruka225, a user who frequently showcases high-quality anime and gaming cosplay. A recent post features her as San, the iconic heroine who fights alongside main protagonist Ashitaka. Next to her, against a mountainous backdrop similar to the film’s natural setting, is a watercolor-like depiction of Moro, the powerful wolf god who raises San after she is abandoned by her human parents. While @beruka225’s original post is no longer available, CBR readers can check out her cosplay below.
Stunning new Studio Ghibli cosplay as San from Princess Mononoke
Like many other Ghibli features, Princess Mononoke is heavily loaded with environmental themes. The story is set during the Muromachi era in Japan (1336 to 1573 AD), in a land where animal gods – and demons – roam freely. One day, an angry monster attacks a peaceful village. Their prince, a boy named Ashitaka, kills the monster, but is infected with the same curse of hatred that afflicted it. Originally, the prince was a boar god. Fearing for his life, the village shaman advises Ashitaka to leave the village and search for a cure.
The majority of Princess MononokeThe action takes place in the middle of a mountainous region covered by vast ancient forests. In the middle of this area is an industrial settlement called Iron Town, which angers the forest gods by cutting down trees and desecrating the natural terrain through constant mining. Enraged, San leads repeated attacks against the people of Iron Town and their leader, Lady Eboshi. After developing a close bond with San, Ashitaka becomes a mediator, seeking a peaceful solution for both sides. Released in 1997, Princess Mononoke was Japan’s highest-grossing film of the year, generating nationwide ticket sales of over 19 billion yen (US$160 million).
Princess Mononoke’s strong environmental themes fit the Japanese Mountain Day
Princess MononokeThe powerful and nuanced message fits well with the goal of Mountain Day, which aims to increase environmental awareness and advocacy across the board. While Mononoke was financially surpassed by his immediate successor, Spirited Away (2001), it remains a popular fan favorite among Ghibli fans. Last month, the film was re-released for a limited time in the United States as part of Ghibli Fest 2024, a year-long theatrical screening of Ghibli’s most popular animated works. Before August ends, Ghibli fans also have the opportunity to The cat returns (2002) and Whisper of the Heart (1995) in select theaters across America.
For viewers in the US and Japan, Studio Ghibli’s film library will be streamed exclusively on Max. This excludes The last fireflieswhich is scheduled to begin streaming on Netflix for viewers worldwide on September 16, 2024. Netflix has also made Ghibli’s other films available to viewers in Canada, Europe, Africa, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.
Source: Inside Games
