1) Ashitaka, the last Emishi prince, is cursed after killing a boar god that had been turned into a demon. He seeks a cure in the western lands and meets villagers in conflict with the forest gods.
2) Ashitaka learns the forest gods are being threatened by the growing human settlement of Irontown, led by Lady Eboshi, which is destroying the forest to mine for iron.
3) A battle ensues between Irontown and the forest gods, culminating in the decapitation of the Great Forest Spirit. Ashitaka and San work together to return the spirit's head, healing the land but causing the spirit to die.
1) Ashitaka, the last Emishi prince, is cursed after killing a boar god that had been turned into a demon. He seeks a cure in the western lands and meets villagers in conflict with the forest gods.
2) Ashitaka learns the forest gods are being threatened by the growing human settlement of Irontown, led by Lady Eboshi, which is destroying the forest to mine for iron.
3) A battle ensues between Irontown and the forest gods, culminating in the decapitation of the Great Forest Spirit. Ashitaka and San work together to return the spirit's head, healing the land but causing the spirit to die.
1) Ashitaka, the last Emishi prince, is cursed after killing a boar god that had been turned into a demon. He seeks a cure in the western lands and meets villagers in conflict with the forest gods.
2) Ashitaka learns the forest gods are being threatened by the growing human settlement of Irontown, led by Lady Eboshi, which is destroying the forest to mine for iron.
3) A battle ensues between Irontown and the forest gods, culminating in the decapitation of the Great Forest Spirit. Ashitaka and San work together to return the spirit's head, healing the land but causing the spirit to die.
1) Ashitaka, the last Emishi prince, is cursed after killing a boar god that had been turned into a demon. He seeks a cure in the western lands and meets villagers in conflict with the forest gods.
2) Ashitaka learns the forest gods are being threatened by the growing human settlement of Irontown, led by Lady Eboshi, which is destroying the forest to mine for iron.
3) A battle ensues between Irontown and the forest gods, culminating in the decapitation of the Great Forest Spirit. Ashitaka and San work together to return the spirit's head, healing the land but causing the spirit to die.
In Muromachi Japan, an Emishi village is attacked by a demon.
The last Emishi prince, Ashitaka,
kills it before it reaches the village, but its corruption curses his arm in the battle. The curse gives his arm superhuman strength, but will eventually kill him. The villagers discover that the demon was a boar god, Nago, corrupted by an iron ball lodged in his body. The village's wise woman tells Ashitaka that he may find a cure in the western lands Nago came from but he cannot return to his homeland. Heading west, Ashitaka meets Jiko-bō, a wandering monk, who tells Ashitaka he may find help from the Great Forest Spirit, a Kirin-like creature by day and a giant "nightwalker" by night. Nearby, men herd oxen to Irontown, led by Lady Eboshi, when they are attacked by a wolf pack led by the wolf goddess Moro. Riding one of the wolves is San, a human girl. Later, Ashitaka discovers two injured Irontown men, and sees San and her wolf pack; he greets them, but they leave. He carries the injured men through the forest, where he encounters many kodama, and glimpses the Forest Spirit. In Irontown, Ashitaka learns Eboshi has built the town by clearcutting forests to claim ironsand and produce iron, leading to conflict with the forest gods towards which she has no mercy. The town is a refuge for social outcasts, including former brothel workers and lepers, whom Eboshi employs to manufacture firearms to defend against the gods; Nago was turned into a demon by one of Eboshi's guns. Eboshi also explains that San, self-dubbed Princess Mononoke, was raised by the wolves as one of their own and resents humankind. San infiltrates Irontown to kill Eboshi, but Ashitaka intervenes, knocking them both unconscious. As he leaves, he is shot by a villager (unintentionally), but the curse gives him the strength to carry San out of the village. San awakens and is about to kill the weakened Ashitaka, but hesitates when he tells her that she is beautiful. She takes him to the forest, and decides to trust him after the Forest Spirit saves his life. A boar clan led by the blind boar god Okkoto attacks Irontown to save the forest. Eboshi prepares for battle and sets out to kill the Forest Spirit under Jiko-bō's supervision, who is working for the government. Eboshi intends to give the god's head to the Emperor of Japan in return for protection from local daimyō; according to legend, the Forest Spirit's head grants immortality. In battle, the boar clan is annihilated and Okkoto is corrupted by gunshot wounds. Jiko-bō's men disguise themselves in boar skins and trick the rampaging Okkoto into leading them to the Forest Spirit. San tries to stop Okkoto, but is swept up in his demonic corruption. Moro intervenes and Ashitaka dives into the corruption to save San. However, Ashitaka's infection is accelerated, and San too is cursed. The Forest Spirit kills Okkoto and Moro, and during its nightwalker transformation, Eboshi decapitates it. It bleeds ooze that instantly kills life as it searches for its head, which Jiko-bō has stolen. The forest and kodama begin to die, and Moro uses her last moment to bite off Eboshi's right arm. Ashitaka follows Jiko-bō to Irontown after bandaging Eboshi and convincing San to accompany him. Ashitaka and San battles with Jiko-bō to retrieve the head and return it to the Forest Spirit. Ashitaka, San and the land are healed, but the Forest Spirit dies. Ashitaka will help rebuild Irontown, but tells San he will visit her in the forest. Eboshi vows to build a better town as the forest begins to regrow.