Princess Mononoke
This Japanese animated film is interesting as a humanist film because it is a story with a mythology that is very unusual by Western standards. The animation is also done with beautiful visuals, which are worth seeing on their own.
The story concerns forest spirits and demons that are being disturbed by human industrial development. It is told from the point of view of Ashitoka (voice of Billy Crudup), a prince from an old tribe. Ashitoka is attacked by a demon that possessed a giant boar. He traces the demon to a town called Irontown, which is run by Lady Eboshi (voice of Minnie Driver). She is an ambitious woman who is the head of a matriarchal society. She is making iron guns in order to take over the world with her woman soldiers. Her mining has upset the forest spirits, so Eboshi is determined to destroy them. She pronounces, "Now watch closely, everyone. I'm going to show you how to kill a god. The trick is not to fear him."
Meanwhile, Ashitoka meets a young princess, Mononoke (voice of Claire Danes), who has been raised by wolf spirits in the forest. Ashitoka becomes torn between these two strong women and their ways of life.
The story is balanced in a way that no one is completely good or evil, including the spirits and demons. All sides have a determination to preserve their own land and way of life. Ashitoka, as the intermediary, only vows "to see with eyes unclouded by hate." Perhaps this is a reflection of the Japanese sense of balance between man and nature.
This 1999 film is available on video.