Princess Mononoke Art Book: 90 Unseen Miyazaki Sketches Arrive in December
Updated: 7 November 2026
Princess Mononoke almost became a completely different film. Before San, Ashitaka and the forest gods, Hayao Miyazaki sketched a story about a samurai’s daughter, a monstrous creature and a promise, much closer to Beauty and the Beast than the eco-epic we know.
A new book makes those early ideas public for the first time. Here’s what it contains, when it comes out, and why it matters even if you already own a shelf of Ghibli art books.
The book at a glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Title | Hayao Miyazaki Image Board Series Vol. 7: Princess Mononoke |
| Publisher | Iwanami Shoten (Japan) |
| Release date | 3 December 2026 |
| Pages | 184 |
| Artworks | 258 image boards |
| Never shown before | 90 |
| Price | ¥6,000 (around US$38) |
| Extra | Endorsement from One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda |
What is an “image board”?
Before a Ghibli film gets a script or storyboard, Miyazaki paints image boards: loose watercolour and pencil pictures that pin down mood, places and characters. They aren’t finished art. They’re how he thinks. Many never make it into the final film, which is exactly why they’re interesting.
Iwanami Shoten’s Image Board Series collects these early pictures film by film. Volume 7 is the Princess Mononoke entry, and it’s the first time so many of this film’s early boards have been printed together.
The Princess Mononoke that never got made
The story behind the book goes back more than 30 years.
- **After Porco Rosso (1992)**, Miyazaki started developing an idea set in feudal Japan: a young woman bound to a fearsome creature, closer to a fairy tale than a war film.
- In 1993, some of those illustrations, with text Miyazaki added, were published in a book by Tokuma Shoten. That early version is the one Ghibli fans sometimes call the “original Mononoke.”
- Around 1995, while making the music video On Your Mark, Miyazaki changed course completely. The fairy-tale romance was dropped for a harsher story about industry, nature and survival in the Muromachi period.
- In July 1997, Princess Mononoke opened in Japan and became the country’s highest-grossing film until Titanic passed it.
The new book shows the pictures from before that turn: a different heroine, a different creature and a much softer tone. According to SoraNews24’s early look, Miyazaki’s own view was that a creator shouldn’t be limited by his past ideas, which explains why he walked away from a story he had already illustrated.
Why the Eiichiro Oda endorsement matters
It’s unusual for a Ghibli art book to carry a quote from a manga artist outside the studio. Eiichiro Oda has spoken for years about Miyazaki’s influence on One Piece, and his name on the cover brings the book to manga readers who might never pick up an Iwanami title. It’s also a reminder of how far Miyazaki’s influence reaches across Japanese pop culture.
What to look for when you open it
If you get a copy, a few things are worth slowing down for:
- The heroine’s design. Compare the early young woman with San. The change in clothes, posture and expression shows how far the tone moved.
- The creature. Early boards show a single beast at the centre of the story. In the final film that role is split between the wolf god Moro, the boar gods and the Forest Spirit.
- The settings. Look for castles and villages that later became Irontown and the deep forest.
- Miyazaki’s colour notes. Image boards often show the palette long before the film’s art directors finalised it.
Who is this book for?
It’s a great buy if:
- you love seeing how stories change from first idea to final film
- you’re an artist or animation student studying watercolour, composition or world design
- you collect Ghibli books (it pairs well with the Art of series from Tokuma Shoten and Viz Media)
It might not be for you if:
- you need English text, since this is a Japanese release and no English edition has been announced
- you want polished film stills, because image boards are rough by design
How to buy it outside Japan
Iwanami Shoten sells the book through its own website in Japan. For overseas buyers, the usual routes are Japanese online bookstores that ship internationally, or proxy-shopping services. Expect shipping and customs to add a fair amount to the ¥6,000 price, so check the total before you check out.
Check Iwanami Shoten’s site for pre-order availability. First print runs of Ghibli books often sell out within weeks, so don’t wait for a restock if you’re sure you want it.
Looking for other gift ideas around December? Our Studio Ghibli merch and gifts guide lists official stores and safe places to shop.
Princess Mononoke is having a big year
The book lands in a busy year for the film. A 4K remaster screened across the US during Studio Ghibli Fest from 26 to 30 September 2026. The film’s Mononoke Village area at Ghibli Park keeps drawing visitors. And a fan-made Princess Mononoke LEGO Ideas design passed 10,000 supporters, the point at which LEGO reviews a project. That makes this the most attention the 1997 film has had in years.
If you want to understand the drawing style behind all of this, read our guide to the Studio Ghibli art style.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Princess Mononoke art book released?
3 December 2026, in Japan, from Iwanami Shoten.
How much does it cost?
¥6,000, about US$38 before shipping.
How many unseen artworks are in it?
90 of the 258 image boards have never been shown publicly.
Is there an English version?
Not yet. It’s a Japanese-language release.
Was Princess Mononoke originally a different story?
Yes. Miyazaki’s early 1990s concept was a feudal fairy tale closer to Beauty and the Beast. He changed direction around 1995.
See where Princess Mononoke fits in Miyazaki’s career with the full Ghibli filmography in order.
GujoAnimes is an independent fan site and isn’t affiliated with Studio Ghibli, Iwanami Shoten or Tokuma Shoten.
Sources: SoraNews24, 5 November 2026 · GKIDS, Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 schedule · CBR, Studio Ghibli LEGO coverage
