Princess Mononoke research

Princess Mononoke
A Studio Ghibli Film
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119698/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Princess Mononoke is a Studio Ghibli film based on a young boy looking to free himself from a dark curse. ‘Set during the Muromachi Period (1333-1568) of Japan, Mononoke Hime is a story about a mystic fight between the Animal Gods of the forest and humans. On the side of the Animal Gods is San (Mononoke Hime), a human girl raised by the wolf god Moro. On the side of the humans is Lady Eboshi, building a kingdom for oppressed people by cutting down the forest for her iron-making operation. In the middle of this fierce fighting for survival, Ashitaka, an Emishi boy, struggles to find a way for both sides to co-exist. But the fighting just becomes more and more bloody and all hope seems to be lost...’ (http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/mh/ ) The story of Princess Mononoke is one of nature and the dangers of destroying it, with unique characters and environments, what drew me towards this film is the use of animals and spirits to portray the wonders of nature. What inspired me the most is the wolves and elk, and their loyalty and companionship with humans. This is something I would love to include in the narrative for our game.

Character Design
Firstly, looking at the character design of Princess Mononoke, there has been much thought put into the animal characters. In comparison to other films, there are equal, if not more, animal characters in Princess Mononoke than there is humans. Due to the inclusion of animal characters in our game, the designs in Princess Mononoke are very influential when creating our own work.  One of the main animals in the film that I am particularly influenced by is the elk ridden by the main character, named Yakul. This faithful elk transports the main character across the world and is a key role in the story. Playing the role of a horse, Yakul's design makes him completely unique to this world, and gives him character. The use of colour and antlers creates a beautiful animal, with his personality conveying his loyalty and love for the main character. Yakul is the perfect influence of the type of mount or 'spirit guardian' I would like to create in our games world, as well as the other animal characters in this film, the wolves.

The wolves are wild animals, however they still carry a human girl on their back. These beautiful snow white wolves are large creatures, and they dominate the screen whenever they are present in the film. Although wild, they are still loyal as well as vicious, and these animals will also be a strong influence on my designs of the 'spirit guardians' in our game.

Environment Design

As this is a Studio Ghibli film, the way the environments are designed are the same as in Howls moving castle, with the use of digital and traditional techniques. However, what I am most interested in with Princess Mononoke is the use of nature in the environment design. The use of light and colour in the forest environment, creates a beautiful setting where no two parts look the same. The detail used gives a realistic feel to the forest, creating a painting-type background. The forest is contrasted with the human settlement, where beauty is scarce, and the remnants of nature give a bleak look to the area. The use of the pointed wooden wall surrounding the complex conveys the use of nature for destruction and pain, and gives a strong contrast to the beauty and tranquillity of the forest. The environment that I will be looking at closely is the forest, as the use of lighting and colour is key to creating these scenes.