This is an original B2 Japanese poster, printed in 1997, for the release of “Princess Mononoke” (もののけ姫).

Set during the Muromachi Period (1333-1568) of Japan, Princess Mononoke  is the tale of a mystical fight between humans and the Animal Gods of the forest.

On the side of the Animal Gods is San (the Mononoke-Hime), a human girl raised by the wolf god Moro. On the side of the humans is Lady Eboshi (Eboshi-Gozen), building a kingdom for oppressed people by cutting down the forest for her iron-making operation.

In the midst of this fight for survival, Ashitaka, the last prince of a dying race, struggles to find a way for both sides to co-exist. But the fighting only becomes more and more bloody and all hope seems to be lost.

This poster was printed to promote the film internationally and therefore, is in English. Notice the trappings of a major Hollywood production, with the celebrity actors whose names are heralded in bold type.

A real medallion (made of plastic with a bronze finish) was used as the model for the illustration. It was specifically commissioned by Studio Ghibli for the poster design.

Instead of the Japanese tagline, “Ikiro”, we see the following slogan: “The fate of the world rests on the courage of one warrior”.