Princess Mononoke is hands down one of the finest creations of Hayao Miyazaki that enjoyed unprecedented success when it was first released in 1997. However, now it is being re-released as a 4K IMAX movie on March 26 in both subbed and dubbed versions.
This is not only a technical achievement but proof of the unbroken legacy that Hayao Miyazaki has. Even after so many years of its release, fans are as excited about it as if it is a brand new film from the director.
But, there was once a time when this beloved movie ran the risk of being tampered with by none other than the notorious Harvey Weinstein. Thankfully, he was no match for Miyazaki, who refused to just sit and watch him do as he pleased.
Miyazaki versus Weinstein that almost led to a disaster
Princess Mononoke is perfect from every angle. Not only does it have some of the best characters ever written, but its storyline is also a masterpiece. In such a scenario, it is of utmost importance to respect the movie and its creator by not adding one’s own ideas or preferences to it.
However, Harvey Weinstein is infamous for just that. In Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man: 15 Years at Studio Ghibli, a memoir by former Studio Ghibli executive Steve Alpert, he candidly discusses this matter.
As Cartoon Brew reports, according to the memoir, Weinstein was livid when Miyazaki refused to cut Princess Mononoke‘s runtime from 135 minutes to 90 minutes. This definitely is outrageous because how can such a tightly structured storyline be conveyed properly within a shorter time frame?
Nevertheless, Weinstein could do nothing about it as Miyazaki retained final-cut privileges because of his deal with Disney. Miyazaki himself clarified this matter in his interview with The Guardian.
He explains how Harvey Weinstein practically bombarded him with aggressive demands of cuts, but Miyazaki was victorious.
I defeated him
To further make this point clear, Hayao Miyazaki’s producer even sent a samurai sword to Weinstein with a clear message.
No cuts.
One would think Harvey Weinstein would learn from his outrageous behaviors and reform himself. But he even tried to do the same with the South Korean Oscar-winning film Parasite. He wanted to make cuts, and Bong Joon Ho was not having it.
The legacy of Princess Mononoke and Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki is one of the best animators ever, and altering his work is not easily forgiven. Very few have matched his level of vision in filmmaking, and even Disney executives are aware of the consequences of messing with his works.
There was only one time when they could get away with adding their personal touch. Alpert reveals in his memoir that one Disney producer added extra music and sound effects to the US theatrical release of Kiki’s Delivery Service. When Alpert told that to a Disney executive, that executive gave the producer in question
The kind of verbal lashing that makes grown men cry.
This proves just how well respected Hayao Miyazaki is, even amongst the top officials of Disney. They know that you do not change, alter, or even add anything to the already well-made film that Miyazaki has provided.
Moro and San invite you to experience #PrincessMononoke in IMAX. Hayao Miyazaki’s timeless masterpiece appears FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER in IMAX starting March 26. Get your tickets now. https://t.co/RYe7lzxUjq pic.twitter.com/iu54Vt6QZM
— IMAX (@IMAX) March 11, 2025
The 4K IMAX re-release is also a testament to Miyazaki’s resilience against the influential people of the industry who do not value work. Hopefully, this movie will bring in a new generation of fans who will love Princess Mononoke just the way it is.
Watch Princess Mononoke on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
