
This amazing movie changed my perspective on cartoons as well as anime. I have never been into anime; to me, watching big eyed girly men think for 30 minutes straight before the action starts is not what I call entertainment. But after seeing Castle in the Sky, I began to realize that the medium was far bigger than I originally thought. Princess Mononoke further convinced me of this.

Meet Lady Eboshi: the most badass woman since Ridley; she'll cut your dick off!
My initial suprise in this movie came from the violence. I had never seen a "cartoon" with such violent content. Within 30 minutes of the movie, a man's fucking arm is shot off by an arrow, as well as another guy's head! This truly caught me off guard.

Another badass woman. Rosie O'Donnel would be proud.
After this initial shock, I began to become emersed in the story. Princess Mononoke is far more than a simple action cartoon. In many ways it is a brilliant metaphor of man and nature's violent clashes. Like Lord of the Rings, Princess Mononoke deals with the idea of man warring against nature, and the advancement of technology at the cost of our planet's resources.

The Forest Spirt in all his glory
In terms of story and action, this movie is flawless. Also, the movie introduces many interesting characters who help progress the movie. From Princess Mononoke herself to Ashitaka to the badass Lady Eboshi, each character really shines. And with the help of voice acting from Billy Bob Thorton and Will Smith's baby mama, what can go wrong? Classic classic classic.
10/10