KT's Week 6

With reference to Cavallaro(2006), what distinguishes Mononoke technically as being – it is generally agreed – a great work of anime?

Mononoke is a great work of anime in many ways, but people think it is distinguished especailly in the technical section. First of all, the production costs incurred by Princess Mononoke ultimately amounted to a record-breaking figure in the history the acquisition of software and hardware for the creation of computer graphics having caused the expenses to soar to a total of $19.6 million. It was a lot of money for the production of Animation. Also, the exceptionally high number of cels produced for Mononoke (144,000 out of which approximately 80,000 were key animation cels) to improve its overall style of motion which is substantially more fluid and realistic. Computer-generated imagery contributed significantly to this cumulative effect by communicating a sense of solidity and presence comparable to that achieved in live-action cinema.

Since Studio Ghibli’s CGI department was established in 1995, what is most remarkable about the use of CGI in Mononoke is that it never exhibits the dubious quality of an add-on but is fully synthesized into the overall action and is therefore able to contribute vitally to the evocation of a meticulously nuanced atmosphere wherein elements from diverse historical eras coalesce, and traditional motifs mesh with wholly fictional interpretations of the forces of both nature and technology. Mononoke contains about 15 minutes of CGI. Of these, 10 minutes are filled by the scenes that used digital ink and paint only. The remaining five minutes employed various digital techniques, such as 3D rendering, morphing, particles, digital composition and texture mapping. The fact that the CGI and digital techniques were used proves that Mononoke was a great work of anime and it was technically outstanding. As Camera manager stated, the job of the cameraman for animated films may disappear, or it may have already disappeared.

Unfortunately I couldn't watch the movie of 'Princess Mononoke' last week in class, but as Darryl recommanded, I would rent the video and watch it at home.

Reference

Cavallaro, D. (2006). The Anime Art of Hayao Miyazaki. London: McFarland & Company