Shuna's Journey

[cornerofmadness]

Shuna's Journey by Hayao Miyazaki

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have seen the art on this cover for decades but until recently this Miyazaki story has not been translated into English. I have always been intrigued by the art and it was not a disappointment. The art is Miyazaki's typical style but in soft water colors. Many reviews (and the translation notes themselves) make the comparison to Mononoke and Nausicaa. It has that same dystopic feel.

Shuna is a prince of a poor country that barely can grow enough food to survive so he sets out, against his father's wishes, to find this golden grain grown by the gods. It should be enough to make his people prosperous. One of the first thing he finds, however are slavers.

Miyazaki does not shy away from violence. Shuna does attack and kill some of these people. He saves two sisters who go their own way. Shuna finding the grain is not the end of the story. It becomes the sisters' story and all of it has a root in a Tibetan folklore.

The only real gripe I might have is it is told like a fairy tale with great narrative distance so we don't get Shuna's emotions nearly enough.

I'm so happy though to finally get to read this



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