Princess Mononoke is a very detailed animated film that I have always loved. The story consists of a battle between humans and the ancient forest gods, who take the form of giant talking beasts. One god in particular, the forest spirit, is shown here, with the body of a deer, and the face of a man. It is the idea of embodying the entire scope of nature into spiritual beings, and mythical creatures that I find so interesting about this film.
Shadow of the Colossus is one of my favorite video games. The colossus that must be fought in the game take the form of animalistic creatures. Many of these colossus combine stone, grass, hair, and other elements to form one massive and ominous being.
Watership Down was not only a favorite book from my childhood, but also a favorite film. In the 1978 animated version of the story the animals take on the same humanistic qualities they have in the book, but in a visually detailed and expansive environment. The main theme that I enjoy most in the story is the element of survival, and the idea that animals will always attempt to survive above all else.
Ariel Bowman Ceramics 