Hayao Miyazaki's animated film "Princess Mononoke" (1997) began screening on IMAX screens in a 4K digitally remastered version on October 24th, attracting 108,000 viewers and grossing 240 million yen over three days despite only being released in 61 theaters. In response to complaints such as "It's sold out and I can't get tickets!" and "I want it to be shown at a theater near me!", a two-week limited expansion has been announced for the film, which will be shown at 171 theaters nationwide from November 7th. The 171 theaters include 10 theaters showing the film in Dolby Cinema, the world's first screening of the film, and 8 theaters showing the film with English subtitles. This means that the 4K digitally remastered version will be screened in all 47 prefectures.
"Princess Mononoke" is about the coexistence of humans and nature. Ashitaka, a young man cursed by a god, and San, a girl raised by an inugami, become embroiled in a battle between humans who seek to destroy nature and the gods who protect it. Released in 1997, the film grossed 19.3 billion yen, breaking the all-time box office record for a Japanese film at the time of its release. Matsuda Yoji played Ashitaka, Ishida Yuriko played San, and voice actors Tanaka Yuko, Kobayashi Kaoru, Mori Mitsuko, Miwa Akihiro, and Morishige Hisaya also appeared.
This 4K digitally remastered version (the 4K version will be used for screening, but depending on the theater environment, it may be converted to 2K) brings clarity to every detail, making the greenery of the forest, the expressions of the characters, and the spectacular action scenes stand out even more. When shown on an IMAX screen, the high-definition images and clear sound create an immersive feeling that makes you feel as if you have entered the world of the story, allowing you to experience a fresh and moving experience despite it being a work from 28 years ago. It has attracted a wide range of audiences, from those who saw it in theaters when it was first released to younger generations seeing it in a theater for the first time.
