The Miyazaki Film That Nearly Broke Studio Ghibli — And Claimed a Life
Working on Princess Mononoke took a heavy toll on its animators.
When Princess Mononoke was released in 1997, it marked a stark departure from Studio Ghibli’s gentle, luminous tales. Director Hayao Miyazaki tackled themes of industrialisation and environmental decline with a gravity rarely seen in animation.
But behind the film’s breathtaking beauty and significance lay a gruelling creation process that pushed the studio to the brink — financially and physically.
The Making of Princess Mononoke
At Studio Ghibli, it was believed that all animators, regardless of their experience, should start from the basics — sketching hands, animating a bouncing ball. This commitment to nurturing talent proved a lifeline for young artists, yet it was also a heavy burden on the studio.
The production of Princess Mononoke was Ghibli’s most ambitious undertaking to date — and nearly its last. The film demanded an astonishing level of detail and complexity: every frame was painstakingly hand-drawn, turning the process into a monumental task.
Miyazaki, driven by his obsession with perfection, refused to compromise on quality. Ghibli poured so many resources into the film that the studio’s very future hinged on its success.
Staff worked to the point of exhaustion, with some even sleeping at the studio during the most intense periods. Animators later recalled an atmosphere that was both inspiring and grim — everyone knew that if the project failed, Ghibli would likely close its doors.
The Success — And the Price — of Princess Mononoke
In the end, the gamble paid off. Princess Mononoke became the highest-grossing film in Japan at the time and cemented Ghibli’s global reputation. Yet the emotional and financial cost was enormous.
The production drained key staff, and animator Yoshifumi Kondō — widely seen as Miyazaki’s successor — soon died from health issues, likely brought on by overwork.
