Ebert concluded that the film reaffirmed animation’s potential for serious, adult storytelling — a tradition he felt began with Snow White and continued with Miyazaki.
In his review of Hayao Miyazaki's epic animated film, Princess Mononoke, renowned film critic Roger Ebert praised the movie's ambitious scope, stunning animation, and thought-provoking themes. Ebert awarded the film 4 out of 4 stars, calling it "a great and serious film, a worthy epic."
While she seeks to destroy the forest, Ebert noted she is not a villain but a leader protecting a community of outcasts, including lepers and former prostitutes. princess mononoke roger ebert
For those interested in exploring Ebert's full legacy with the director, his review of Spirited Away and his ranking of the best anime movies offer further insight into his deep respect for Studio Ghibli. Princess Mononoke movie review - Roger Ebert
– Ebert approved of the English dub (produced by Harvey Weinstein but with Miyazaki’s oversight), singling out Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, and Minnie Driver for strong performances. For those interested in exploring Ebert's full legacy
– Ebert stressed that while animated, the film deals with serious themes (environmentalism, war, dismemberment, death) and has intense, bloody violence. He called it “a movie for adults.”
Roger Ebert gave Princess Mononoke movie review - Roger Ebert He called it “a movie for adults
One of Ebert's most profound takeaways was the film's moral ambiguity. Unlike Western fairy tales, Princess Mononoke avoids simple "good vs. evil" tropes.
Ebert highlighted several defining characteristics of the film: