Miyazaki Hayao’s Animism: The Historical Theories That Shaped “Princess Mononoke”

Tezuka Osamu talks in front of an image of Astro Boy in Tokyo in February 1985. (© Kyōdō; officially licensed by Tezuka Productions.)

The philosopher Umehara Takeshi. (© Jiji)

Miyazaki Hayao at the time of the release of Princess Mononoke in 1997. (© Reuters)

The character San in Princess Mononoke was raised by wolves. (© 1997 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, ND)

Ashitaka (left) follows Lady Eboshi through her iron foundry. (© 1997 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, ND)

In the top picture, Ashitaka (left) follows Lady Eboshi through her iron foundry. The bottom picture shows Jigo, a mysterious monk who wants to get the Forest Spirit’s head. (© 1997 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, ND)