CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

I just got around to watching this yesterday, and it was a decent movie, IMO, but there's one thing I'm confused about.

Why the heck is it called Princess Mononoke? I think I might've caught one reference to that name, briefly, but I didn't see any significance in that with the rest of the movie.

SnoringFrog (post: 1241478) wrote:I just got around to watching this yesterday, and it was a decent movie, IMO, but there's one thing I'm confused about.

Why the heck is it called Princess Mononoke? I think I might've caught one reference to that name, briefly, but I didn't see any significance in that with the rest of the movie.

"Mononoke" is one of the many words in Japanese that get alternatively translated as 'Demon', 'Monster' or 'Ghost', depending upon what would be the most appropriate English word in context.

When Miyazaki named it "Mononoke-hime", he basically meant something like 'Fae Princess, Spirit-world Princess' or maybe even 'Jungle Princess'. "Supernatural Princess" might have worked, too. In other words, it's a description of San, the daughter of the wolves. It isn't to be taken as a name. Since none of the possible translations conveyed the same feeling in English, they left it as 'Princess Mononoke'.

All of Miyazaki's works are worthy of recognition... This one is not my favorite, but is still very good.

7.5/10

EricTheFred (post: 1241490) wrote:"Mononoke" is one of the many words in Japanese that get alternatively translated as 'Demon', 'Monster' or 'Ghost', depending upon what would be the most appropriate English word in context.

When Miyazaki named it "Mononoke-hime", he basically meant something like 'Fae Princess, Spirit-world Princess' or maybe even 'Jungle Princess'. "Supernatural Princess" might have worked, too. In other words, it's a description of San, the daughter of the wolves. It isn't to be taken as a name. Since none of the possible translations conveyed the same feeling in English, they left it as 'Princess Mononoke'.

True, but actually this movie isn't the "Princess Mononoke" originally slated. The title is left over from a completely different concept that was never launched about a girl who is forced to marry a totoro lookalike mononoke - hence "Princess Mononoke." I think the "princess mononoke/princess of the wolves" references were meant to make the title "work." Originally, Miyazaki thought of changing it to something like "Ashitaka's Tale", but somehow or other "Mononoke" stuck.

More info, see here: http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/mh/faq.html#translation

USSRGirl (post: 1241501) wrote:True, but actually this movie isn't the "Princess Mononoke" originally slated. The title is left over from a completely different concept that was never launched about a girl who is forced to marry a totoro lookalike mononoke - hence "Princess Mononoke." I think the "princess mononoke/princess of the wolves" references were meant to make the title "work." Originally, Miyazaki thought of changing it to something like "Ashitaka's Tale", but somehow or other "Mononoke" stuck.

More info, see here: http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/mh/faq.html#translation

Something I didn't know about it... but the explanation for why the title isn't translated still works. None of the translations normally used for 'Mononoke' would have much worked in that case either.

who cares about the title it is an ABSOLUTELY amazing movie. probably my favourite hayao miuazaki film although I love spirited away and kiki's alot too

Yea this movie is a classic and will always remain one. I also enjoyed Howls moving Castle.