Princess Mononoke: Music From The Motion Picture - Cast

Cast

• Yōji Matsuda voices Ashitaka (アシタカ?), the last prince of the Emishi tribe whose traveling companion is Yakul (ヤックル, Yakkuru?), a red elk. Miyazaki did not want Ashitaka to be a typical hero, saying that he is a "melancholic boy who has a fate" and also stated that Ashitaka's curse "is similar to the lives of people " Ashitaka's English voice actor Billy Crudup stated that he liked Ashitaka as "an unexpected hero. He’s not your usual wild, brave guy. He’s really just a young, earnest man who’s trying to lead a valuable life and protect his village."

• Yuriko Ishida voices San (サン?), a young woman who was raised by the wolves and feels hatred for humans, but eventually comes to care for Ashitaka. In the English version, San is voiced by Claire Danes.

• Yūko Tanaka provides the voice of Lady Eboshi (エボシ御前, Eboshi Gozen?), the ruler of Iron Town who continually clears the forest. Miyazaki stated that Eboshi was supposed to have a traumatic past, although it is not specifically mentioned in the film. Miyazaki said that Eboshi has strong and secure personality, evident in the fact that she let Ashitaka move freely through the settlement unescorted, despite his unclear motives. He also said that Eboshi does not acknowledge the Emperor's authority in Irontown, a revolutionary view for the time, and displays an atypical attitude for a woman of that era in that she wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice herself or those around her for her dreams. Miyazaki also said that Eboshi resembles a shirabyōshi. Eboshi's English voice actress Minnie Driver stated that she was interested in "the challenge of playing woman who supports industry and represents the interests of man, in terms of achievement and greed." Driver viewed Eboshi as "a warrior, an innovator and a protector."

• Kaoru Kobayashi provides the voice of Jiko-bō (ジコ坊?, called "Jigo" in the English version), a monk and mercenary who befriends Ashitaka on his journey to the west. Miyazaki was unsure whether to make Jiko-bō a government spy, a ninja, a member of a religious group or "a very good guy." He eventually decided to give Jigo elements of the above groups. In the English version, Jiko-bō is voiced by Billy Bob Thornton.

• Masahiko Nishimura voices Kohroku (甲六, Kōroku?), an ox driver; John DeMita voiced Kohroku in the English version.

• Tsunehiko Kamijō provides the voice of Gonza (ゴンザ?), Eboshi's bodyguard; he was voiced by John DiMaggio in the English version.

• Akihiro Miwa voices Moro (モロの君, Moro no Kimi?), a giant wolf goddess and San's adopted mother; Gillian Anderson provides her voice in the English version.

• Mitsuko Mori provides the voice of Hii-sama (ヒイ様?), the wise woman of Ashitaka's village. In the English version, Hii-sama is voiced by Debi Derryberry.

• Hisaya Morishige provides the voice of Okkoto-nushi (乙事主?, called "Okkoto" in the English version), a boar god. In the English version, Okkoto-nushi was voiced by Keith David, who also voiced the narrator in the film's opening sequence.

The cast also includes: Akira Nagoya as the cattleman leader (牛飼いの長, Ushigai no Naga?); Kimihiro Reizei as a Jibashiri (ジバシリ?); Tetsu Watanabe as a mountain wolf (山犬, Yamainu?); Makoto Sato as Nago (ナゴの守, Nago no Mori?), a wild boar turned into a demon who curses Ashitaka when he attacks the Emishi village; and Sumi Shimamoto as Toki (トキ?), a former prostitute and the leader of Eboshi's women, voiced by Jada Pinkett Smith in the English version.