Director Weston Razooli on Princess Mononoke: Podcast

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Riddle of Fire director Weston Razooli first watched Hayao Miyazaki’s animated classic Princess Mononoke on a laptop at his boarding school. Even on a small screen, the film transported him to a strange and wonderful world, a world that has continued to inspire his work ever since. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Razooli recalls the magical experience and its lasting effects. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Razooli talks about falling head over heels for the detailed storytelling, gorgeous animation, and unforgettable voice work. Just as important, however, is how he admires the strength of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s negotiating tactics when dealing with difficult Hollywood distributors.”Disney had a deal with Ghibli. For a long time, they would distribute all the Ghibli, but Mononoke was too dark for Disney so they handed it off to Miramax, Harvey Wesintein’s company,” Razooli recounts. “He wanted to cut a ton and then Toshio Suzuki, Miyazaki’s producer, sent a note and a katana Samurai sword that said ‘No cuts’ to Weinstein. Which I think is the coolest, most badass — like so elegant, yet also a fucking hardcore threat.”

Listen to Weston Razooli dive into Princess Mononoke above or on your preferred podcast provider. Also, make sure to follow and review to support The Spark Parade, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

Host Adam Unze (The Opus) explores creativity in all its forms on The Spark Parade by asking musicians, artists, comedians, and other creators to share the single cultural work that has most inspired them. Whether it comes from the world of music, film, comedy, visual art, or literature, we all have something that sparks our own creative desires. On The Spark Parade, guests reveal the single piece of art that ignites within them to fire of creation.