Studio Ghibli animation and film studio released Princess Mononoke to US audiences in 1999. The critically acclaimed feature is a standard bearer for award winning director Hayao Miyazaki on the world stage and popular choice for vivid, innovative displays of tattoo art.  

Princess Mononoke centers on the adventures of the noble Prince Ashitaka as he journeys to the west to undo a deadly curse inflicted upon him by Nago, a boar god turned into a demon by the Lady Eboshi. Young Ashaitaka’s curse manifests as a worm of evil centered in his arm. 

On the way, Ashitaka’s curse worsens, and he stumbles into a war between the proud people of the Iron Town human outpost – led by the industrious Eboshi – and the creatures living in the sacred depths of the great forest, led by the great white wolf god Moro and warrior San  

San is the enigmatic Princess Mononoke, a young girl raised by the Wolf God Moro who will do everything to prevent the humans from destroying her forest home, the forest god and animal spirits living there.  

Princess Mononoke is the epic masterpiece that catapulted the legendary Studio Ghibli into the West’s collective consciousness. The epic story and beautiful animation created a legion of passionate fans, paving the way for Howl’s Moving Castle, 2002 Academy Award winner Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro.  

With it’s amazing into human character and motivation, memorable animal and supernatural characters, exhilarating battles, haunting visuals, and adult subject material tackling the environment, capitalism, and disability, Princess Mononoke has provided the opportunity for brilliant tattoo design in a range of styles, colors, and technical approaches.  

Read on for brilliantly etched examples of bloodthirsty and cute pop culture tattoos from Princess Mononoke.