Ashitaka is the young prince who seeks a cure for his curse in Princess Mononoke (1997).
At the beginning of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film, Ashitaka is injured while defending his village from a demonized boar god. The wound gives him a spreading curse that grants great physical strength but threatens his life. He leaves his home to discover the curse’s cause and search for a way to survive.
Ashitaka becomes caught between Iron Town, led by Lady Eboshi, and the forest gods and animals defended by San, the human girl known as Princess Mononoke. His goal is not simply to choose one side; he tries to understand both the human community and the natural world as their conflict escalates.
The name is often confused with other Studio Ghibli characters. Haku belongs to Spirited Away, Howl is the wizard in Howl’s Moving Castle, and Seita is the central boy in Grave of the Fireflies.