Studio Ghibli’s iconic “Princess Mononoke” returns to theaters in new 4K restoration

For many, Princess Mononoke is part of a childhood of iconic movies by Studio Ghibli. It brought the most beautiful, legendary, and mesmerizing landscapes, characters, and stories to our lives. Princess Mononoke debuted in 1997 and now is coming back to the theaters in a way never before seen.

Ashitaka, Lady Eboshi, and San are coming back exclusively to North American theaters in an IMAX experience. This 4K restoration celebrates the 40th anniversary of Studio Ghibli. This marks the first time that Princess Mononoke is coming back to theaters since 1997.

"The hand-drawn, animated feature is an original story written and directed by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, produced by co-founder Toshio Suzuki, and features a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator, the renowned composer Joe Hisaishi", GKIDS Films describes on their official page.

This IMAX version was overseen by Atsushi Okui. He's a Japanese cinematographer who has been working with Studio Ghibli in various iconic projects such as Porco Rosso (1992) and When Marnie Was There (2014).

Princess Mononoke is jidaigeki, the Japanese word for period drama. The movie takes place in the Muromachi period (approximately from 1336 to 1573) and tells the story of an ongoing war between the supernatural guardians of a forest and the humans who consume its resources. A boar demon cursed Prince Ashitak, and now he must find a way to heal it before it kills him. In the meantime, he is trying to bring peace to his country.

In his journey, he meets the ambitious Lady Eboshi and her loyal clan, who use their guns against the gods of the forest, and a brave young woman, Princess Mononoke, who was raised by a wolf-god. Ashitaka sees the good in both sides and tries to stem the flood of blood. Humanity or nature? Who will win?

The movie will debut exclusively in U.S. and Canadian theaters beginning on March 26. Princess Mononoke will be shown in both original Japanese language with subtitles and English language dubbed versions. If you want to revive that childhood memory, you can now get your ticket here. Check out the official trailer.

You can rewatch the 1997 version on Apple TV either with English subtitles or in the dubbed version. That's all for now. Stick around for more Entertainment news and updates on esports.gg.