Princess Mononoke is arguably one of the most popular anime films of all time, with an English adaptation penned by the master of fantasy himself, Neil Gaiman. It went on to come the highest-grossing film in Japan of 1997 and one of the reasons Ghibli has become so popular outside of its home country. Now, thanks to VIZ Media, I can relive the story of the film over and over again with the Princess Mononoke Picture Book.

Set in the late Muromachi period of Japan, an Emishi Prince, Ashitaka, is forced to leave his village after being infected by the curse of a forrest demon he kills before it can attack his village. The Curse gives him incredible strength, but is also incredibly painful and will eventually kill him.

.Learning he may find a cure in the western lands that the demon came from, he leaves his village – knowing he can never return. On his journey, he meets an opportunistic monk, San, princess of the forest gods, and Lady Eboshi, the leader of Iron Town, who wants to destroy all the forest Gods so she can continue to mine their home.

The story is heavily influenced by the Shinto religion and the necessity of environmental conservation. It’s gritty, it’s dark, but it’s beautiful, and the book – even though it’s written for children – does not shy away from those aspects. This includes imagery of battles and blood.

Based on the script by Hayao Miyazaki, the 232 page book (written for ages 8-12) is an easy read filled with glorious imagery taken directly from the film. The cover is also beautifully drawn and protected by a sleek dust jacket. Its dimensions are 8.25 x 0.8 x 10.13 inches, and it weighs around 2.21 pounds, it’s a bit larger than the standard children’s book. Like the other books in this series from VIZ Media, the cover is heavy, the pages are thick, and the book is incredibly sturdy, which means, it’s travel able. It’s also the perfect length for a quick escape from the trials and tribulations of the real world.

You can purchase a copy of the Princess Mononoke Picture Book from most online retailers, including Amazon.com

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