Princess Mononoke: The First Story – Hayao Miyazaki

Before the film, there was another Princess Mononoke.

Originally conceived and illustrated by Hayao Miyazaki in 1980, Princess Mononoke: The First Story offers a fascinating look at an early story that would eventually lend its name to the Studio Ghibli film—but follows a distinctly different tale of its own.

Presented in an oversized illustrated format, the book tells the story of a young princess, a defeated samurai, a supernatural wildcat, and a promise that sets an unexpected journey in motion.

Throughout, Miyazaki’s original watercolor illustrations fill the pages with forests, creatures, architecture, and landscapes, offering early glimpses of the visual imagination that would become so recognizable in his later work.

Part illustrated story, part art book, and part window into the creative development of one of animation’s great storytellers, this is a beautiful volume to read slowly—and look at even more slowly.

Details

• Written and illustrated by Hayao Miyazaki
• Originally created in 1980
• Oversized illustrated book
• Original watercolor illustrations by Miyazaki
• An early, distinct story that predates the later Princess Mononoke film

Why We Love It

You can see an idea before it became the thing everyone knows.

That’s what makes The First Story particularly fascinating. It isn’t simply another way to experience the film. It’s a chance to encounter Miyazaki’s earlier imagination on the page and see themes, creatures, landscapes, and ideas taking shape through story and watercolor.

For artists, there is plenty to linger over in the paintings themselves. For storytellers, there’s something equally wonderful about seeing how an idea can change dramatically over time and still leave traces of itself behind.

Ideas in progress, indeed.

About Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese filmmaker, animator, illustrator, and co-founder of Studio Ghibli. His work is celebrated for richly imagined worlds, hand-drawn artistry, complex characters, and an enduring fascination with nature, flight, childhood, and the relationship between people and the environments they inhabit.

His films include My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke.