Anime 2 questions

What are the underlying thematics of Princess Mononoke?

I think there is a theme of nature that comes through in the movie. It is about understanding the Shinto religon, where there are gods in living things and other things like trees, forests and lakes. It is about respect for nature and the living things.

Anime questions

Is anime a genre or media?

I think anime is a genre. It is like animated film, that is different to cartoons because it is the same length of a normal movie and it has the same plot points that a normal movie has.

Is it a branch of film or another mode?

I think it is a branch of film. It is part of popular culture. It is an intelectually challenging art form.

The Magic Faraway Tree adventure

Last part to story.

The group ran up the beach to the icecream stall. "What shall I have?", said Silky "Look what delicious flavours there are" said Bessie. The group got their icecream's they wanted and sat down under the shade of the tree's near the beach, licking their delicious icecream's. After they had finished their icecream's, they wondered what to do next. So they got up and chased each other around the tree's and up the sand dunes until they were all quite tired. They sat down on the beach and then Tim said, "Look at the canoes over there". And Fanny said "Oh how I would like to ride in the ocean!" Just then, the canoes and the paddler boat drifted into the sea shore by themselves. "Thats amazing" said Silky. The children and Silky, Moonface and the Saucepan Man walked down to the sea. Jo and Bessie got into one canoe, Fanny and Silky got into another, and the Saucepan Man and Moon Face got into a paddler boat. Cousin Tim who didn't want to be left out managed to squeeze into Fanny and Silky's canoe. The children took the oar's and paddled out into the ocean, with the paddler boat that had Saucepan Man and Moon Face not far behind. They rowed around the beach, and it was quite fun sailing across the water, the children seemed to think. Suddenly, the canoes changed into seagull's and the oar's turned into big wings, and the paddler boat the Moon Face and Saucepan Man were riding in turned into a large pelican and the children were amazed! The seagull's and the pelican flapped their wings and flew up into the sky, with the children on their backs, and flew across the land of Nature. The children clung on the birds, and looked at the views around them. They could see the beach where they were playing at, and other things like beautiful waterfalls that turned into rivers and flowed into the lake. They could even see other folk of the land of nature, walking along the paths and going to their homes. The birds swooped lower and flew down to the ground. The children got off the birds, and Moonface and the Saucepan Man got off the pelican and walked back down the path in the land of nature. Jo looked at his watch. It was nearly 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Cousin Tim said that he had enough of the land of nature and wanted to go home. The other's agreed. Life in the land of nature was exciting, but it was also quite exhausting. The children walked back to where they arrived, thanking the kind pixie's on the cute rabbit's for showing them the way back to the hole in the cloud. The children climbed down the ladder of the Faraway Tree and the tree folk, that is Silky, Moon Face and Saucepan Man followed them down. They came to Moon Face's room and Moon Face opened the door. The children were quite tired, so they decided to go home. Moon Face gave them cushions to sit on, and then the children said "good bye" to Silky and Saucepan Man, and then Moonface said "it was nice to have an adventure with the children". The children slid down the slippery slip, through the door at the bottom of the tree and stood up. The squirrel came to pick up their cushions and bring them back to Moon Face. The children ran back through the Enchanted Wood, with the tree's talking to each other. They arrived back home, all of them tired, but excited with the adventure they had in the land of nature. That's the end of the story. The End.

Fanfiction: Princess Mononoke by Sunghee Kim

Shishigami changed to the god of death because of his anger. All creatures that touch with Shishigami’s power began being dead and the green forest changed into the black and white colour. Although people could be free to pass the forest, they were reluctant to go there. For some reasons or other, it chilled their blood to think of it and it was gooseflesh. Time had slipped along and people ceased to visit there. Also, the battle between humans and nature had covered up far in the distance of people’s memory.

Jiko Bou became the leader of Emishi tribe after he gave the head of the Shishigami to the emperor. One day, Tatarigami appeared his village again. Tatarigami destroyed the village and killed people randomly.
“Hiisama, Hiisama! That’s Tatarigami!” A man came to the female shaman of the village.
“Um…” She did not say anything and just watched that Tatarigami destroyed their village for a while. Then, She handed over a gourd bottle to the man. “ Sprinkle water in it on Tatarigami. It is the water of the lake where Shishigami lived in.” Hiisama said.
When he threw the bottle to Tatarigami and the huge body fell down with a thundering noise. That night, there was a meeting. Jiko Bou and some elders of Emishi tribe conferred with Hiisama about the matter.
“What can we do for it?” An ender asked Jiko Bou but Jiko Bou kept silence and looked up Hiisama. After a while, Hiisama opened her lips.
“It is sure that Shishigami is still finding his neck. Go to Tataraba to meet Ashitaka. And tell him the key is in the pendant.”

Ashitaka had lived in Tataraba after Shishigami lost his head and dissuaded Eboshi making matchlocks. He decided to go to see San when he heard the message from Hiisama. Ashitaka had tried to meet San several times before but he never met her.
“ Hiisama was sure that Princess Mononke is with the Shishigami’s body. And she also said the pendant will help you.” The messenger from Emishi told Ashitaka.
So Ashitaka went to the forest and shouted.
“Ashitaka came to see the forest. I’m going to go to find Shishigami’s head. I want to go with you, San.” But nobody answered.
“ I’m telling you again. I want to revive the forest before Shishigami’s anger is getting bigger.”



Clattering, clattering. There was a small sound somewhere.
“Kodamasama! You are alive! Can you show me the way to San?” Ashitaka asked.
Kodama brought him to the deep forest. He was frightened to see a wretched plight of the forest. Ashitaka arrived around the lake where the Shishigami cured him before under the guidance of Kodama but the lake already dried up.
“ Why are you here? What do you want?” San shouted.
“San, I’m going to find the head. I wanna go with you.” Ashitaka held out his hand.
“I heard that his head is inside of the emperor’s palace. We have to bring back his head. It’s the only way to stop Shishigami’s anger. If nobody does it, he will make another Tatarigami.” He said to San.

Boom-boom. It was the sound of the drum from a distance. Ahitaka and San lied down flat on top of the mountain to review the situation.
“ I attack with my brothers first.” San told Ashitaka.
“That’s Princess Mononoke. With wolves!”.
“ Shoot the arrow to the enemy!” The soldiers shouted.
Several hundreds of arrows poured down. San and wolves attacked the soldiers in full fling.
“ Prepare matchlocks! Shoot the matchlocks!” The soldiers prepared the matchlocks.
Bang! Bang! There sounded the matchlocks in places.
“No!” San cried. A wolf fell down. Poured bullets disturbed Ashitaka and San to go inside.

Bang! It was an earsplitting roar.
“ That’s Eboshi. The gang of Eboshi!” The place was an utter bear garden. Eboshi and her gangs came to help Ashitaka and Princess Mononoke.
“ Lady Eboshi, how…?” Ashitaka asked.
“ I saw you when you left the village. Don’t ignore me. I have a new weapon instead of my arm.” She winked at him. She lost one of her arm during the battle with Moro and Animal spirits.
Gunpowder exploded here and there and the soldiers had fallen down.
“Oh!” Eboshi yelled. A soldier attacked her from the side of her injured arm.
“Make off!” San ran at a tear to save Eboshi.
“Hahahaha...Princess Mononoke saved me. It’s unbelievable. Hahaha…” Eboshi laughed on the ground.
“ I still hate you but just you are one of our numbers now…” San made an effort to avert her eyes from Eboshi.
“San, Come here! His head is in it!” Ashitaka called her.
There was a box. It looked very heavy and firm as a rock. San held back an urge to open it but it wan not opened. There was a small hole in front of the box.
“Ah, pendant! San, give me your necklace!” Ashitaka told San.
“This one? “ San gave him the pendant that she was given from Ashitaka before.
Ashitaka put the pendant in the hole and the lid was opened. They found Shishigami’s head at last.
“We found it!”

Just then, they saw that something which is exceedingly huge covered the sky came up to them with breakneck speed over the mountain. It was the body of the Shishigami that was in the forest. The place that Shishigami’s body passed along was full of sticky fluid and that place was burned away.
“Don’t touch with that! Run for your lives! Go into the water!” San shouted urgently.
Shishigami, finding his head, took life of all creatures that were on the way to get to his head and burned them away as if he never let them revive.
“San. Hurry up. We have to give the head to Shishigami right now!” Ashitaka said.
San and Ashitaka lifted up Shishigami’s head.
“Here is your head. Take it!” They shouted.
The black body stopped moving and the sticky fluid poured on Ashitaka and San at the moment.
“Shishigami covered Princess Mononoke and Ashitaka!” The people shouted.
There was a silence for a while.

“ Oh! Falling down!” The body of Shishigami rose high and then fell down into the water. Excessively huge storm swept off the environs. The storm put out the fire which was burning the palace. After that, it was very quiet and the surface of the water was calm. The forest was restored to its colour. More and more. Getting greener.
“Oh, it’s great. Shishigami was the spirit that makes flowers bloom.” Someone was full of admiration.
“San, San. Look.” Ashitaka told her. They looked up at the green forest.
“ The forest is alive again but it is not Shishigami’s forest anymore. Shishigamisam passed away.” San said.
“No, I don’t think so. He isn’t dead. This, he gets to be himself. He is the god of life and death.” Ashitaka said. “He told me ‘live on’. San, Come with me”
“I like Ashitaka but I haven’t forgiven people yet.” San answered.
“Shishigamisama told us. Humans have to live with nature. Let’s try together.” Ashitaka told San again.
“ You saved my life. I thank to you.” Eboshi appeared.
“ Let’s do it all over again. Let’s build a better place. Of course with nature. San, Can you help us?” Eboshi asked San. San hesitated for a while but answered soon.
“ I don’t want to help you but…if it is Shishigami’s idea…” San made an effort to avoid Eboshi’s eyes but she smiled quietly.
Ashitaka and San looked at and smiled at each other.

Finally,the peace came to the forest and the people.

They found great illumination through the death of Shishigami.

about Princess Mononoke by Sunghee Kim.

Hello, all. I chose ‘Princess Mononoke’ which is written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki in 1997. This story is about the struggle between humans and nature. I wrote the story after Eboshi cut the Shishigami’s neck and Jiko Bou ran away with it. The desolate forest by the people who destroyed the forest for their advantage. I set up the story that Ashitaka meets San again so that he cooperates with her to find the Shishigami’s neck and they lead to the harmony between humans and nature. Because I think it is a great pity that Ashitaka lives in the iron foundry and San leaves in the forest.

Setting up the characters:

Ashtaka – an Emishi prince who was meant to become leader of his tribe but now, he lives in Tataraba Iron village to dissuade Eboshi making matchlocks.

San – Princess Mononke. a girl who is raised by Moro,

the wolf god. After Moro died, she still lives in the forest with Moro’s pups.

Eboshi - the strong-willed and independent leader of Iron village. She lost her arm but does not despair of making matchlocks

Jiko Bou - an Imperial agent traveling in the disguise of a monk who was assigned bythe Emperor to capture the forest spirit's head. Now, he is the leader of Emishi village.

Shishigami - the ancient spirit of the forest.

He is in deep forest and tries to find his
neck.

Hiisama- the female shaman of Emishi tribe

A Supernatural Helper ( Narrative)

In Cigars of the Pharaoh, Tintin chases after an international group of drug distributors through the Middle East and India. He is able to capture most of the cartel members, but not the mysterious leader, who falls down a cliff and disappears. We now follow Tintin as he travels to China to crack the drug cartel at great jeopardy.

At the beginning of ‘The Blue Lotus’ adventure, Tintin and his friend Snowy are in India invited to be the guests of the Maharaja of Gaipajama. Within the palace, Tintin meets the famous fakir, Ramacharma, who has the power to reveal the secret of one’s future. He perceives that Tintin’s life will be at stake in the near future. Therefore, he teaches Tintin how to say the inscription for a magic crystal that can be used to conjure the spirit-Shiro. Shiro is a spirit boy, who died of leukemia at the age of eight and has been fostered by Ramacharma as a supernatural helper.


Tintin is asked to meet a businessman from Shanghai in the palace gallery. Unfortunately, the informer is shot by a poison dart when explaining the purpose of his visit. The poison of madness, the Rajaijah juice is used by the opium gang against their enemies. But before he goes mad, he mumbles two words “Shanghai” and “Mitsuhirato”.

Tintin travels to Shanghai in order to find out the source and there he risks his life to fulfill his desire of bringing down the drug cartel. With the help of Shiro, he is able to escape from danger and satisfy his will. Tintin makes his new foe in defending his young Chinese houseboy from Gibbons, a Western businessman and racist bully while he is on his way to meet a Japanese businessman, Mitsuhirato. Gibbons is also a friend of Dawson, the corrupt police chief of the Shanghai International Settlement. In Gibbon’s fury, he and Dawson begin making life difficult for Tintin.

In the same evening, by accident, Tintin is caught and sent to the prison by Dawson’s patrol. They intend to beat Tintin up, for he hurt one of their mates before he is under arrest. During the attempt at retribution, Tintin only tries to avoid their attack as he is unarmed. Luckily, the Ramacharma’s words bring to his mind in a wink. He, then, retreats to a corner and hold up the magic crystal, saying the inscription loudly not sure if it would work. At once a queer wind blows a dank thick mist over the whole prison. Before it entirely envelopes Tintin, he gasps as a giant shadowy figure crawls towards the warders. Horrifying the warders, they panic and run to the exit. However, as the doorway is locked, one of them attempts to open it with his dagger, while the other two just stand there, doing nothing. Tintin throws a chair at the two, trying to knock them down.


With the assault, one falls, the other rushes at Tintin in his anger. Yet, the shadow instantly turns on him and emits a bloody red light as if it wanted to prevent him from harming Tintin. Under this strange beam, the warder looks enchanted and loses control of his body. Flung up into the air, he floats for a moment before dropping with a nasty thump into an unconscious heap.


Tintin, shocked at what he sees, hears a child’s whispering urging him to end his battle. Tintin follows the advice and aims a china vase at his last enemy beside the locked doorway, who shakes in his wet pants. The doorway bursts open and all the wind and mist vanish. Tintin is guided by the shadow to get out of the police station. At the street corner, Tintin asks the shadow if it is Shiro the boy spirit. And yet, the shadow only makes a fingered shape point at Tintin’s necklace where the magic crystal hangs.


Tintin doesn’t get the meaning and takes off the necklace for a clue. At that moment, a fresh light comes from the crystal and the shadow disappears with it suddenly. Despite Tintin attempts to use the crystal again, he receives no response. After a while, he recalls what he is told about Shiro, who becomes a shy spirit before a stranger and needs to be called back once a task is done. All the same, Tintin is extremely delighted to have such supernatural helper for his journey.

Shiro is the main contributor to Tintin’s final battle with the mastermind. As it turns out, without his aid, Tintin and the Wang family would be killed. Wang and his family are abducted. Wang is the leader of the brotherhood launched to fight against opium. Told by Mr. Wang’s servant that the Wang family is in trouble, Tintin attempts to save them. He goes to the Shanghai docks and conceals in one of the barrels that will be sent to the secret den of the opium cartel.


Although Tintin finds the Wang family once he arrives there, he is caught by Mitsuhirato, a corrupt Japanese Government secret agent and drug smuggler. Tintin is soon tied to a chair alongside the Wang family and introduced to the boss of the opium cartel. Tintin looks in disbelief at Rastapopoulos, once his friend, now obviously the mastermind.Taking order from Rastapopoulos, Mitsuhirato commands his underling to untie Mr. Wang’s son, who is insane under the effect of Rajaijah juice. He is given a sword to finish off his parents and Tintin.


When lunging at Tintin the necklace is cut and fallen. The magic crystal breaks into splinters and a grim fog comes from the remains, starting to fill up the whole room. Tintin calls out “Shiro” afraid that the spirit is harmed. He feels something moving towards him in the haze. Tintin is uncertain of what it is until the thing comes in sight. It turns out to be Shiro, a young boy with black hair in Indian cloths. He bows introducing himself. With Tintin’s relief, he would give Shiro a big hug if he was free to move. Tintin asks Shiro if he can untie him and the Wangs before their lunatic son has another attack. Shiro nods and says that there is an antidote to the Rajaijah juice in the den.

Tintin makes a plan that requires Shiro’s aid again. Nonetheless, Shiro expresses that he is not powerful as he used to be, due to the damage of magic crystal. With Shiro’s encouragement, Tintin conquers the madman and takes his sword and then runs at his enemies.However, Mitsuhirato points a gun to Tintin, takes the sword, and demands him to inject the Rajaijah juice into himself if he wants the Wang family unharmed. Tintin receives the needle from Rastapopoulos and gazes at him sadly reminded of the deception. Just as Tintin puts the needle into his forearm the bloody red light shines in the mist.

Tintin, familiar with that light, closes his eyes quickly as he is scared to be bewitched and knows he is about to be helped. The light fades away after a minute with two loud thumps. Before him, Mitsuhirato and Rastapopoulos are unconscious on the floor. The underling capitulates on knowing his masters have been overcome and offers the antidote to Mr. Wang’s son.


As they are all ready to leave the Chinese police break into the place, and with Rastapopoulos’s arrest, the drug ring is eventually brought down. Mitsuhirato’s embarrassing involvement with the cartel and Japanese espionage leads to Japan's withdrawal from the League of Nations.


Tintin bids farewell to all his Chinese companions at the pier and starts his return journey to India. And yet, he has to do the same thing to his intimate friend, Shiro on the ship. As a consequence of overspending the power in the last conflict, Shiro will turn into colorful bubbles at sunset. Tintin’s eyes are brimmed with tears on knowing the harsh truth. He understands that the departure of Shiro will be the fact though he still wishes that it was just a nightmare.

The sea-gulls wheel in huge flocks over the sea that looks extraordinarily beautiful under the reflection of the sunset. At the stern, Tintin’s tear stains sparkle with the rays of the setting sun. He stands beside Shiro, saying nothing, neither does Shiro. All they can hear is the sea-gulls’clamours. Finally, Shiro breaks the long silence by hugging Tintin from his right side for a second. To Tintin’s sorrow, he fails to ask Shiro why he can hug him as a spirit before Shiro’s departure. Shiro floats up into the darkening sky after his transformation. At that, the sea becomes fairyland and this picture will be embedded in Tintin’s mind forever.


The End ~

Ideas on Tim's tale

I would like to live in the Paradise Beach if it were a real place. It is depicted as a sanctuary for the urban people who are tired of daily routine. ‘They were able to see sand dunes, and a golden sand beach filled with the most amazing things, like canoes, paddler boats and a cafe that always had food no matter how much food you wanted to eat’.

I never visited such beach before and cannot describe the beach like Tim does without visiting it in person. All the beaches in Hong Kong are very crowded and water there is soiled. I guess Tim must have gone to one of such beautiful beaches. As Edmond suggests, Tim should have attached some photos of the beach to his story. This may make the story more interesting and attractive.