In a mythical version of ancient Japan, a young warrior named Ashitaka is cursed by a dying boar demon after defending his village. The curse gives him immense strength but promises a slow and painful death. To seek a cure, Ashitaka travels west, hoping to discover the origin of the corruption that turned a once-great forest god into a demon. His journey brings him to a land torn by conflict between humans and the gods of the forest.

As he ventures deeper into the western lands, Ashitaka encounters Iron Town, a human settlement led by the ambitious Lady Eboshi. She is a strong and determined leader, respected by her people, especially women and lepers whom she has given shelter and purpose. But her progress comes at a cost: she cuts down vast sections of the forest to fuel her ironworks, disrupting the balance of nature and angering the forest spirits and animal gods.

Opposing her is San, a fierce young woman known as Princess Mononoke. Raised by wolves, San sees herself as a creature of the forest and despises humans for their destruction. She fights to protect the forest and its gods, especially the great wolf goddess Moro, her adoptive mother. When Ashitaka meets San, he is captivated by her strength and sadness, but he also sees the pain in both the humans and the forest beings.

Ashitaka finds himself caught between these two worlds. He does not fully belong to either side, yet he sees the humanity in both Lady Eboshi and San. He wants peace but realizes that neither side is willing to compromise easily. As tension builds, a deadly plan is set in motion to kill the Forest Spirit, a powerful and ancient god that gives life and death. Lady Eboshi aims to sever its head, believing it will end the forest’s power.

The final battle erupts when the Forest Spirit is wounded and chaos spreads. Nature rebels violently, and both humans and animals suffer. Ashitaka and San work together to return the spirit’s head, restoring balance but at great cost. The curse on Ashitaka is lifted, but Iron Town is left in ruins, and the forest is forever changed.

In the end, San chooses to remain with the forest while Ashitaka decides to help rebuild Iron Town with a new respect for nature. Though they part ways, they carry a deep understanding of each other. The story closes not with absolute victory but with a fragile hope for coexistence.