The most successful Japanese film of all time from the famous animation studio Ghibli.
In the olden days, when the earth was still covered with forests….dwelled here since time immemorial.This is how one of the best Japanese films begins, paying tribute to all classic Anime films, which simply overwhelms all American films, not only live action but also animated. It's a shame that it's only coming to us on TV, when it's become famous in its homeland of origin, and quite popular around the world.
The author of this animated film is Hayao Miyazaki, who was unknown in the Czech Republic until he won the Oscar this year for Journey into Fantasia,as best animated film. But before that he made many, already quite cult films like My Neighbor Totoro or Castle in the Sky. I'm just giving the English titles because his films never made it to the Czech Republic. Only Journey to Fantasia (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi – Miyazaki’s Spirited Away) and
for VHS distribution only Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-hime (1997) – Princess Mononoke).
And now, just tomorrow, a beautiful fairy tale about love, gods, warriors, princes and princesses, and every living creature on earth is coming to Czech TV. It's the story of how Prince Ashitaka and his moose, Yakul, are wounded while defending their home village from a 
giant pig who is turned into an evil phantom that drags lianas around, destroying everything around it. Aschitaka is not only injured, but is infected with all the evil bacteria and curses,that he must die unless he finds a solution to heal himself. And so he sets out on a long journey, advised by the village psychic, to find God, the Spirit of the Forest, who can give life and take it away. The boar also passes on to him some of his qualities, which will allow him to survive in some moments.
Along the way, he meets many people and befriends many people. For example, with Mrs. Eboshi, who rules over a forge where mostly women work and men do the hunting, Princess Mononoke, who lives in a pack of wild talking wolves, samurai, and other people. 
Along the way, he also has many encounters with the spirits of the forest, such as the Kodama, small creatures whose presence signifies that the forest is healthy and unspoiled by anything.
What else can I tell you about this film? I don't know, it's a wonderful film, full of love, full of understanding, full of feeling. That can thrill, heal a tired psyche, simply one of the beautiful films you must have at least in your video library.
Original article October 9, 2003 – Kritiky.cz
