Song(s) from Princess Mononoke. Theme song and insert song(s).
We’ll introduce the main theme and insert songs from Studio Ghibli’s 1997 film Princess Mononoke.
When you think of Princess Mononoke, it’s a moving masterpiece set against a grand natural backdrop, depicting the conflicts among gods, animals, and humans—while the pure feelings of a boy and a girl from different worlds, caring for one another, truly touch the heart.
The film’s tagline is: “Live.”
Many who went to the theater at the time were likely deeply moved to reflect on “the feelings of all who live.”
In this article, we’ll present the memorable music from Princess Mononoke.
Like the film itself, each piece is wonderful and evocative of its iconic scenes!
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Song(s) from Princess Mononoke. Main theme / insert song(s) (21–30)
Adagio of Death and LifeJoe Hisaishi
Titled “Adagio of Death and Life,” this piece expresses the act of living and dying—themes central to Princess Mononoke.
It was used in the scene where the Forest Spirit is shot.
As a theme song, it prompts reflection on the relationship between the grandeur of nature and humanity, as well as the power of human civilization that continually crosses the boundary between the two.
It is a track that colors the film’s climax.
Forest of the GodsJoe Hisaishi
Among the vast and beautiful world of Princess Mononoke, the most sacred place of all is the Forest of the Forest Spirit.
It’s the theme song of that forest—teeming with kodama, untouched by human footsteps.
The music evokes the majesty of a realm inhabited by something mysterious, as if humans should not approach.
Though short, it’s a piece that makes you acutely aware of the boundary between gods and humans in this world.
Song of Princess Mononoke. Theme song and insert songs (31–40)
the world of the deadJoe Hisaishi
This powerful, intense piece is the track that played during the scene where the Deer God has its head severed and goes on a rampage.
Watching a sacred being like the Deer God go berserk and destroy nature with its own hands filled me with a sense of immediacy and futility that’s hard to put into words.
It’s a magnificent masterpiece that amplifies the emotions of that scene—turning them more violent and more despairing, pushing the tension to a harrowing crescendo.
In conclusion
We’ve introduced the main theme and insert songs from Princess Mononoke.
What did you think? The lineup ranges from breathtakingly beautiful pieces to slightly frightening tracks that thrum with tension.
The range is dramatic, but that feels perfectly fitting for a work set on the grand stage of nature.
If you haven’t seen the film yet, be sure to enjoy the music together with the movie!