Princess Mononoke: The First Story

Princess Mononoke: The First Story is a watercolor-illustrated book created by acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki in 1980, predating his 1997 animated film of the same name. The story follows a brave young princess who lives alone in a forest during Japan's Muromachi period. The narrative centers on the princess's encounters with humans who enter her domain and her relationships with the animals who share her forest home. Miyazaki's watercolor paintings accompany each page of text, depicting the forest landscape and its inhabitants. This early version differs significantly from the later film adaptation, presenting a simpler tale focused on the princess character. The paintings and text work together to establish the mood and setting of the medieval Japanese wilderness. The book explores themes of isolation, the relationship between humans and nature, and the price of maintaining one's independence. These elements would later evolve into recurring motifs throughout Miyazaki's broader body of work.

Readers note this illustrated book differs significantly from the 1997 film, presenting a simpler story aimed at younger audiences. The watercolor art receives consistent praise for its dreamlike quality and subtle environmental themes. Likes: - Miyazaki's personal watercolor illustrations - The book's large format showcases the artwork - Functions as both an art book and children's story - Provides insight into Miyazaki's early creative process Dislikes: - Text translation feels stiff to some readers - Story is more basic than the film version - Some found the $35 price high for length - Limited availability makes it hard to find copies Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (90+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Beautiful art but don't expect the movie's plot" Several reviewers recommend it more as an art collection than a storybook, with one noting: "The paintings alone justify owning this, even if you never read the text."

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🌿 This book was created 17 years before the famous animated film of the same name, featuring watercolor illustrations and a significantly different story than the movie version. 🎨 Hayao Miyazaki personally painted all the watercolor illustrations in the book while working as an animator at Telecom Animation Film in the early 1980s. 🦌 The original story follows a much younger protagonist - a princess who rides a red elk and lives in harmony with the forest animals, rather than the wolf-raised San from the film. 📚 The book was initially published in 1983 exclusively in Japan, and an English translation wasn't available until 2014, long after the movie had become an international success. 🌳 This early version of Princess Mononoke reflects Miyazaki's longstanding environmental themes, but presents them in a gentler, more fairy tale-like manner compared to the darker, more complex film adaptation.