Princess Mononoke
It's such a shame that a lot of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki's movies have gone under the radar with Western audiences, despite being huge in his native Japan.
It's only with the success of Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle in recent years that his earlier movies have reached a wider audience.
Released in 1997 Princess Mononoke introduced Miyazaki to a Western audience when Miramax got behind the release and it is this week's hidden gem.
While protecting his village from a rampaging boar-god, the warrior Ashitaka (Billy Crudup) is cursed with a rapidly spreading scar that threatens to end his life.
Seeking a cure and a reason for the animal-god's attack, he journeys into the sacred depths of the Great Forest Spirit's realm. On the edge of this once serene forest, however, the Tatara clan have begun to destroy the surrounding land to produce iron.
In retaliation, San (Claire Danes), the adopted daughter of the wolf-god Moro (Gillian Anderson), has begun raiding the Tatara fortress to stop their encroachment.
Soon Ashitaka is caught in the middle and must stop the war between the humans and the forest dwellers before they destroy each other.
It's hard to understand why these movies are not more recognised in the West as they truly are some of the most beautiful animation movies currently being produced.
But, as with so many of his movies Princess Mononoke does carry a message and it is one of conservation and protection of the natural world around us.
The movie one again contains a familiar theme of war but this time between the human race and the animals who are tied of the humans domination and destruction of the planet.
And while these are very topical issues Miyazaki produces these ideas in such a dazzling way as he mixes familiar surroundings of the forest with mythical and wonderful creatures.
The human characters are also well developed as we come to understand their struggles and their fears but they are never demonised or vilified for their action.
So regularly called the Walt Disney of Japan filmmaker Miyazaki has once again produced an incredibly beautiful and poignant movie that asks question so often over looked by Hollywood.
If you are a fan of the animation genre of film that Miyazaki's back catalogue is a must and Princess Mononoke is a great place to start.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Studio Ghibli