Princess Mononoke 4K IMAX Release Expected Across UK, Ireland

Princess Mononoke, the acclaimed 1997 animated fantasy by Hayao Miyazaki, will be re-released in the UK and Ireland in a new 4K IMAX restoration starting August 15, 2025, across more than 50 IMAX cinemas. This re-release celebrates the 40th anniversary of Studio Ghibli and features a restoration supervised by Studio Ghibli’s director of photography Atsushi Okui, promising enhanced clarity, depth, and color for a definitive theatrical experience. The film follows Ashitaka, a cursed young warrior, who becomes involved in a conflict between Lady Eboshi of Iron Town and San, the wolf-raised Princess Mononoke, exploring themes of industrialization, environmentalism, and moral ambiguity. The English voice cast includes Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, and Jada Pinkett Smith, with audiences able to choose between the original Japanese version with subtitles or the English dub. The restoration's release follows recent successful reissues of other Studio Ghibli classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, and it continues to highlight Miyazaki's signature storytelling, animation, and Joe Hisaishi’s score. Miyazaki has also voiced strong opposition to AI-generated artwork mimicking the studio’s style, emphasizing his dedication to traditional animation craft.