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)
EncounterHisaishi Joe
It begins gently yet majestically, and a beautiful melody that colors the story flows in.
Simply titled “Encounter,” it accelerates the drama of the narrative.
This melody is the one used frequently throughout Princess Mononoke’s score—the theme of “The Mononoke Alone”—and it is an indispensable, key, and beautiful motif when discussing the music of Princess Mononoke.
Cursed Power IIHisaishi Joe
This is a theme song centered on the cursed power that rained down upon Ashitaka, and it, too, unfolds across several variations.
Every piece is terrifying, capturing the unstoppable might of the curse and Ashitaka’s uncertain future as that power runs rampant.
It’s a track imbued with the tenacity and bitter regret of the forest god who became a Tatarigami.
routHisaishi Joe
This song, too, especially conveys the darker parts of the story.
Its heavy, low-end arrangement and flowing, intricate melody are striking, and the way it unfolds as if collapsing perfectly captures a sense of “rout.” It vividly revives the atmosphere of that sad, frustrating retreat by Okko and the lord, who were no match for human strength.
Adagio of Death and LifeHisaishi Joe
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 GodsHisaishi Joe
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.