Summary

Princess Mononoke will be back in theaters in 4K soon for Hayao Miyazaki's fans to enjoy.
The 4K release will be available in North America on March 26, 2025, in IMAX theaters.
This limited release will only have Japanese audio with English subtitles, adding to the theater experience.

Hayao Miyazaki fans will be able to re-watch Princess Mononoke in grand style in a few weeks, as it will return to theaters in a few weeks, but now restored in 4K. Those who haven't seen it yet will also have another chance to do so, but everyone will have to hurry before tickets sell out.

Although this is not the first time that Princess Mononoke has been re-released in theaters, the last time was almost 10 years ago. The theatrical experience, especially in IMAX and 4K, is very different from watching it on streaming services like Netflix, and GKIDS hasn't confirmed that this version will later hit streaming platforms.

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Princess Mononoke In 4K Release Date

GKIDS, which has the rights to distribute basically every Ghibli film in the US and Canada, has confirmed that this 4K version of Princess Mononoke will be released in North America. It will be released in theaters on March 26, 2025, in the US and Canada.

Tickets are for sale on sites like Fandango, IMAX, AMC Theaters, and others. The 4K restoration will be screened only in IMAX theaters. This release is part of the 40th anniversary of Studio Ghibli.

According to ticket sites, the film will apparently only be available in Japanese with English subtitles, as this is a limited release.

What Is Princess Mononoke About?

Princess Mononoke, originally released in 1997, is one of Hayao Miyazaki's most popular films. It takes place during the Ashikaga/Muromachi Era (1336-1573) and follows Ashitaka, the last Emishi prince.

While fighting a demon to protect his village, Ashitaka's arm is injured and afflicted by the demon's curse. Although it grants him strength, the curse will eventually kill him. He then embarks on a journey in search of the deer-god Shishigami, to ask him for a cure.

On his journey, he reaches Irontown, a town that has deforested the area in order to mine iron and produce firearms, and is now in conflict with the animal gods who live in the forest. The town's leader, Lady Eboshi, even plans to kill the Forest Spirit and, with that, the animal gods too.

Life is suffering. It is hard. The world is cursed. But you still find reasons to keep living.

Meanwhile, San, also known as Princess Mononoke, is trying to infiltrate the town and kill Lady Eboshi before she does any harm to the Spirit Forest or the animal gods.

Latest Miyazai Movie Won An Oscar

While Princess Mononoke didn't win an Oscar at the Academy Awards, Hayao Miyazaki's latest film, The Boy and the Heron, won Best Animated Feature in 2024. It was the second time Miyazaki had won an Oscar (the first was for Spirited Away), and the second time he didn't attend the event to accept it.

Princess Mononoke is available on MAX in North America, while Netflix streams the movie in many countries around the world.

Source: GKIDS

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