In what year was Princess Mononoke released?

Princess Mononoke was released in 1997.

Directed and written by Hayao Miyazaki, Princess Mononoke premiered in Japan on July 12, 1997. The film follows Ashitaka, a young warrior searching for a cure after being cursed by a boar god. His journey brings him into conflict between Iron Town, led by Lady Eboshi, and the forest gods, including the wolf deity Moro and the human San.

The film marked a major step in Studio Ghibli’s international profile. Its setting draws on Japan’s medieval past, while its conflict explores industrial development, environmental destruction, and the difficulty of labeling people as simply good or evil. Unlike many Western uses of “princess,” San is not royalty; the title refers to her relationship with the wolf goddess Moro, who raised her.

Viewers sometimes confuse 1997 with the film’s later North American release. The English-language version, distributed by Miramax, reached U.S. theaters in 1999. That later date does not change the original release year, which is 1997.