Spoilers · the ending
Princess Mononoke: the ending, explained
Hayao Miyazaki · 1997
This page gives the ending away. Not seen the film yet? Its spoiler-free guide is here.
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Spoilers · the ending
Hayao Miyazaki · 1997
This page gives the ending away. Not seen the film yet? Its spoiler-free guide is here.
What happens
Eboshi beheads the Forest Spirit and a deadly flood follows. Ashitaka and San return the head, the forest is spared, and Ashitaka's curse lifts. Eboshi resolves to rebuild Irontown more kindly, and the two part, promising to meet again.
The last image
Kodama appear again among the trees of the scarred but regrowing forest.
What it says
The forest is spared but not restored, because the film never believed in a clean victory. Ashitaka and San undo harm instead of seeking revenge, and the ending asks you to live alongside damage and difference, which is harder than triumph.