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Princess Mononoke and Disney's Pocahontas: Both Provide an Excellent Basis for Study of Female-Nature and Human-Nature Relationships

The two animated films, Pocahontas (1995) and Princess Mononoke (1997) provide an excellent basis for study of female-nature and human-nature relationships. Although Pocahontas is an American-made film produced by Walt Disney Studios and Princess Mononuke is a Japanese-made film produced in the "anime" tradition, their common theme of nature makes them a propos for examining the different perspectives on humans and nature. The strong female lead characters in the films manifest intimate relationships with nature that reflect an underlying message about the relationship that man has, or should have, with the natural world around him. This paper will examine the relationships of both female leads with nature and explain how they reflect the cultures in which they were each created.

When Princess Mononuke came out in 1997, it broke all box office records to become the highest-grossing film of all time in Japan; it is still "the highest-grossing Japanese film ever," according to Susan J. Napier in her book Anime: From Akira To Princess Mononoke. Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation (7). Napier points out that anime, "with its enormous breadth of subject material, is also a useful mirror on contemporary Japanese society, offering an array of insights into the significant issues, dreams, and nightmares of the day" (8). Anime differs markedly from American film genres, especially the Disney film: "Its complex story lines challenge the viewer used to the predictability of Disney...while its often dark tone and content may surprise audiences who like to think of "cartoons" as "childish" or "innocent" (Napier 9). Anime is "a world unto itself" (Napier 26). According to the author, "The animated space, with its potential for free form creation, is in many ways a realm that exists in counterpoint to the world of modern Japan," demonstrating the kind of "creativity" and "flexibility" that makes it "a site of resista...

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Princess Mononoke and Disney's Pocahontas: Both Provide an Excellent Basis for Study of Female-Nature and Human-Nature Relationships. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 18:40, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/2000459.html