“PRINCESS MONONOKE” / もののけ姫 Japan (Toho), 1997 Original first-release Japanese theatrical poster (B1 Size) Colour-printed poster on paper, professionally linen-backed by Fourth Cone Restoration — Excellent restored presentation — Ultra Rare

PRINCESS MONONOKE / もののけ姫
Japan (Toho), 1997
Original first-release Japanese theatrical poster (B1)
Colour-printed poster on paper, professionally linen-backed by Fourth Cone Restoration
Excellent restored presentation on linen — display-ready

A true blue-chip Studio Ghibli sheet: the legendary first-release Japanese B1 poster for Princess Mononoke—one of the most important animated films ever produced, and among the most sought-after theatrical posters in the Ghibli collecting field.

This poster is incredibly hard to find in the B1 format, and this is the first example we have ever had in stock.

“A major Ghibli grail: San, Moro, and the unforgettable command — 生きろ。 / Live.”

Key Facts

Film: Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime / もののけ姫)
Director / Screenplay / Original Story: Hayao Miyazaki（宮崎駿）
Producer: Toshio Suzuki（鈴木敏夫）
Music: Joe Hisaishi（久石譲）
Studio: Studio Ghibli（スタジオジブリ）
Distributor: Toho（東宝）
Japanese release date: 12 July 1997
Poster format: Japanese B1 — c. 72.8 × 103 cm / 28.7 × 40.6 in
Poster type: Large-format theatrical/lobby display sheet
Conservation: Professionally linen-backed and restored by Fourth Cone Restoration

Studio Ghibli’s official materials list Miyazaki as original creator, screenwriter, and director, with music by Joe Hisaishi, distribution by Toho, and the original Japanese release date of 12 July 1997. The B1 format corresponds to the large Japanese poster size of approximately 72.8 × 103 cm.

Rarity and Market Context

The B1 factor: the size that changes the survival math

B1 is a large Japanese theatrical format, intended for cinema lobbies, major display frames, and high-impact promotional use. Compared with the more commonly encountered B2 format, the B1 is substantially larger, harder to store, more vulnerable to handling wear, and far less frequently encountered in strong presentable condition.

For Princess Mononoke, the B1 is especially desirable because the image has become one of the defining visuals of Studio Ghibli: San standing before the wolf goddess Moro, knife in hand, mask at her side, beneath the spare and powerful tagline 生きろ。 / Live.

True original theatrical B1s are dramatically scarcer than B2s and modern reproductions

This design has been reproduced officially in recent years, including modern B2 reprint editions and authorized print products, which makes careful authentication essential. Official Ghibli/Toho reprint products of Princess Mononoke posters are publicly documented, including B2-size Movie Collection reproductions.

This example is 100% an original 1997 Japanese theatrical printing, not a later shop reprint, museum print, Movie Collection reissue, or modern decorative reproduction.

Why This Poster Is the One Everyone Wants

The definitive Mononoke image

The composition is immediate and unforgettable: San’s blood-marked face and direct gaze, Moro’s immense white form filling the background, and the red title lettering anchoring the lower field. It is fierce, spare, and iconic—an image that communicates the film’s central conflict between humanity, nature, violence, survival, and spiritual balance.

A cornerstone of modern animation history

Princess Mononoke was not simply another Studio Ghibli success. It became a major cultural event in Japan, grossing ¥19.3 billion during its original release period and being described by Japanese film sources as a social phenomenon. It also became the first animated film to win the Japan Academy Prize for Best Picture.

The British Film Institute has described Princess Mononoke as Miyazaki’s international breakthrough hit, noting the continuing influence of the film decades after release. The Academy’s own materials also recognize Hayao Miyazaki as one of Japan’s most distinctive filmmakers, with Princess Mononoke listed among the major works in his career.

Joe Hisaishi’s monumental score

Joe Hisaishi’s music is central to the film’s power. The original soundtrack, released in Japan in 1997, was performed with the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra and includes the main theme sung by Yoshikazu Mera. The score gives the film its solemn grandeur—part requiem, part myth, part battle hymn.

Poster Design: Mythic, Direct, Unmistakable

This is one of the great Ghibli theatrical images:

• San and Moro: the central pairing of the film, rendered with extraordinary visual authority.
• The tagline: 生きろ。 — “Live.” A single word that captures the film’s moral and emotional force.
• Colour contrast: San’s red markings, the red title, and the pale mass of Moro create a powerful visual hierarchy.
• Theatrical scale: in B1 format, the poster has the size and presence the artwork deserves.
• Collector significance: this is the large-format first-release Japanese sheet for one of Miyazaki’s defining films.

Text and Translation Notes

Below are key on-sheet texts and their English meanings as printed on the poster:

Main title: もののけ姫 — “Princess Mononoke”
Tagline: 生きろ。 — “Live.”
Blue director credit: 宮崎駿 監督作品 — “A film directed by Hayao Miyazaki”
Top-left credit: スタジオジブリ作品 — “A Studio Ghibli work”

The sheet also bears the expected theatrical/legal identifiers and Japanese credit text consistent with authentic first-release Japanese cinema posters of the period.

Authenticity and Reprints

Important note: many official modern reproductions of this design circulate, often sold as inexpensive display pieces or as part of later Studio Ghibli / Toho reprint programmes. This is one of the reasons genuine 1997 theatrical examples require careful distinction from later prints.

The example offered here is 100% an original vintage Japanese theatrical B1 poster printed for the film’s first release in 1997.

It is not a later Ghibli shop reprint, not a Movie Collection reproduction, not an Academy Museum print, and not a modern decorative poster. It is the real deal!

Conservation

Professionally linen-backed by Fourth Cone Restoration.

This poster has been professionally linen-backed to ensure structural stability for handling, long-term preservation, and display. Linen-backing is a conservation process widely used for important vintage posters, particularly large-format theatrical sheets, allowing the poster to present flat, stable, and ready for framing.

Condition

Excellent presentation on linen, clean overall appearance, and outstanding eye appeal.

Prior to linen-backing, the poster showed signs of use consistent with a working theatrical sheet. Expert stabilization/restoration has addressed these issues, and the poster now presents clean, and display-ready.

Please refer to the imagery provided — it shows the exact poster offered for sale. This is the exact poster you will receive upon purchase.

Certificate of Authenticity included.

Please note the price is fixed for this item. It is not included in any discounts (e.g. Black Friday)!