I've seen countless films now. Too many to count. Watching film is more than a hobby for me, it's my field of study and future career.

Out of those thousands of titles not only from anime but cinema as a whole, Princess Mononoke stands out as my favorite. Princess Mononoke is Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece. It is the best expression of his consistent themes of pacifism, environmentalism, duality, moral ambiguity, and more through an epic marked by an engrossing plot and unusually complex characters.

Princess Mononoke's strength not only comes from its writing but its visuals as well. I believe that Princess Mononoke represents a peak for the world of animation. This goes beyond the stunningly beautiful landscapes used as backgrounds in this feature. Each character and creature feels incredibly lifelike. This is through the keen attention to detail poured into analyzing and depicting not only how people move, but how that action alludes to the character's personality or emotional state. The most impressive technical aspects of this film are in the little details. The lighting shadow work the most impressive I have seen in any animated film to date. It is in fact easy to miss how high quality it is due to how natural it all comes together.

I would not like to write any more at this point, but anilist requires a 2200 character minimum, so I apologize if this gets either rambly or repetitive. Ashitaka and San's romance is the best in any Ghibli production and simply beautifully done even when compared to the wide world of cinema. It is never the central motivation to either character, but so many of their scenes stand out as a highlight of the film. When Ashitaka first tells San she is beautiful when San feeds Ashitaka, and when Ashitaka hugs San after she stabs his chest are all within the top 10 scenes of this already masterpiece of a film. The moments between these characters are intimate and quiet which makes them more poignant when compared to the chaos and violence frequently throughout Princess Mononoke. Additionally, the quiet nature of these romantic moments fills the relationship with a sense of authenticity often missed in cinematic depictions of romance.

Joe Hisaishi's soundtrack is one factor that raises Princess Mononoke to the next level. Every track in this film is used perfectly to elevate the scene it is in. Whether it is the rousing melodies of the Legend of Ashitaka or the melancholy mood created by Ashitaka and San, each track is memorable, but not overpowering. The strength of Princess Mononoke's music is accentuated by the insertion of silence. Many scenes, particularly those surrounding the Deer God, are marked by a complete sense of quiet. These moments of quiet only add to the reverence of nature in Princess Mononoke and also add to the otherworldly aura that surrounds both the Nightwalker and the Deer God throughout the film. The standout moment when it comes to music, however, is the ending scene. This scene is simply perfection, but I do not want to delve into it further due to potential spoilers.

Princess Mononoke is the most influential piece of art I have ever consumed. This film changed the direction of my life. I can't remember how many times I've rewatched it and how many more times I will see it in the future. I cannot describe how I feel about this film in mere words and feel ashamed at how long it took me to review it.