“Princess Mononoke” (もののけ姫), Original First Release Japanese Movie Poster 1997, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) J144
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1997 for the film’s first Japanese release of Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫), Hayao Miyazaki’s landmark Studio Ghibli epic. Directed and written by Hayao Miyazaki, the film features the voices of Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yūko Tanaka, Kaoru Kobayashi, Masahiko Nishimura, Tsunehiko Kamijō, Akihiro Miwa, Mitsuko Mori, and Hisaya Morishige.
Film background
Released in 1997, Princess Mononoke is one of the defining achievements of modern Japanese animation and one of the most important films in the history of Studio Ghibli. Set in a mythic vision of Japan’s late Muromachi period, it follows the young prince Ashitaka, who becomes entangled in a violent struggle between the gods and spirits of the forest and the humans expanding industry into the natural world. At the centre of the story is San — the “Princess Mononoke” of the title — a fierce girl raised by wolves, who stands between civilisation and the sacred wilderness.
The film is celebrated for its extraordinary ambition: morally complex, visually rich, and unusually mature in tone, it explores conflict, ecology, violence, and coexistence with a seriousness rarely matched in animation. It was a major box office sensation in Japan, becoming the country’s highest-grossing domestic film of 1997, and it played a crucial role in establishing Ghibli’s international reputation before the later global breakthrough of Spirited Away.
Authenticity
This point is important: many official later reproductions of Princess Mononoke poster designs have circulated over the years, often sold through Ghibli-related retail channels. The example offered here is 100% an original 1997 theatrical printing, issued for the film’s original Japanese cinema campaign — not one of the later shop reproductions.
That distinction matters greatly for collectors. Original first-release Ghibli posters are far scarcer than the reproductions many buyers encounter, and demand for authentic theatrical material remains consistently strong.
Poster design
This is a superb and highly recognisable first-release design, featuring Ashitaka riding Yakul in a dynamic close-up composition set against a richly rendered forest backdrop. The image captures the film’s sense of movement, danger, and mythic adventure with remarkable clarity: Ashitaka leans forward with bow in hand, while Yakul’s powerful form and sweeping antlers dominate the foreground.
The design is striking because it balances heroic action with the earthy, organic beauty that defines the film’s world. The large Japanese title もののけ姫 anchors the lower section in bold white and red lettering, while the vertical slogan near the top adds a strong graphic accent. Compared with more widely seen Mononoke imagery centred on San, this Ashitaka-and-Yakul composition has its own appeal and is especially admired by collectors for its dramatic visual energy.
It is also a wonderful example of how Japanese theatrical posters often distilled a film into one unforgettable image: clean, bold, and immediately displayable.
Condition
Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.
This poster presents extremely well overall, with strong colour and a clean appearance. It is an excellent collector’s example of a scarce original 1997 Studio Ghibli theatrical poster.
It is over 29 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
