Princess Mononoke: Music From The Motion Picture - Plot

Plot

In Muromachi period Japan, an Emishi village is attacked by a demon (祟り神, tatari-gami?). The last Emishi prince, Ashitaka, manages to kill the demon before it reaches the village, but not before its corruption curses his right arm. The curse gives him superhuman fighting ability, but will eventually kill him. The demon is revealed to be a boar god, Nago, corrupted by an iron ball lodged in his body. The village "wise woman" tells Ashitaka that he may find a cure in the western lands Nago came from.

Heading west, Ashitaka meets Jigo (Jiko-bō in the original dub), a wandering monk, who tells Ashitaka that he might find help from the Great Forest Spirit (Deer God (シシ神, Shishi-gami?)), a Kirin-like creature by day and a giant Nightwalker by night. Nearby, a convoy returning to Irontown (たたら場, Tataraba?), led by Lady Eboshi, are attacked by a wolf clan led by the wolf-goddess Moro. Riding one of the wolves is San, a human girl. The next day, Ashitaka discovers two injured Irontown men, and sees San and the wolf clan; he greets them, but they ignore him and leave. He carries the injured through the forest, where he encounters many kodama (木魂?), and glimpses the Forest Spirit.

In Irontown, Ashitaka learns Eboshi has built the town by clear-cutting forests to reclaim ironsand and produce iron, leading to conflict with the forest gods. The town is a refuge for social outcasts, including former brothel workers and lepers, whom Eboshi employs to manufacture firearms to defend against the gods. Ashitaka also learns Eboshi is responsible for turning Nago into the demon. Eboshi explains that San, whom she calls Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫, Mononoke-hime?), was raised by the wolves as one of their own, and has a deep hatred for humankind.

Soon after, San infiltrates Irontown to kill Eboshi, but Ashitaka intervenes, knocking them both unconscious. As he leaves the town carrying San, he is shot by a villager, and falls unconscious while heading for the forest. San awakens and is about to kill the weakened Ashitaka, but hesitates when he tells her she is beautiful. She takes him to the forest, and decides to trust him after the Forest Spirit saves his life.

Meanwhile, a large clan of boars, led by the blind boar-god Okkoto (Okkoto-nushi) attack Irontown to save the forest. Eboshi prepares for battle and sets out to kill the Forest Spirit. Jigo, revealed to be a mercenary, intends to give the god's head to the Emperor of Japan in return for protection from local daimyos. According to legend, the severed head of the Forest Spirit can grant immortality.

In the battle, Okkoto is corrupted by a gunshot wound. Disguising themselves in boars' skins, Jigo's men trick the rampaging Okkoto into leading them to the Forest Spirit. San desperately tries to stop him, but is swept up in the corruption consuming his body, inflicting her with the curse, until Ashitaka and Moro rescue her. Eboshi beheads the Forest Spirit during its transformation into the Nightwalker; corruption pours from its body, killing any living being it touches as it searches for its head, which Jigo has taken with him. Ashitaka and San follow Jigo to near Irontown, where they manage to return the god's head. Restored, the Forest Spirit falls into the lake, healing the land, and cures Ashitaka and San of the curse.

Though Ashitaka means much to San, she still hates humans for their actions and decides to remain in the forest. Ashitaka chooses to help rebuild Irontown, but tells San he will visit her in the forest. In gratitude to Ashitaka's efforts to save the people of Irontown, Eboshi vows to rebuild a better town. The film ends with a kodama appearing in the rejuvenated forest.