In ancient Japan, a brave young hero, Ashitaka, is cursed with a demonic infection that is destined to eventually kill him. He learns that the demon who attacked him was once one of the great Animal Gods which had been turned to evil by a mysterious ball of iron buried deep within its chest. Ashitaka's search for answers leads him far from home to Iron Town, where a fierce struggle rages between the humans there and the Animal Gods protecting the surrounding forest. On the side of the Animal Gods is San (Mononoke Hime), a human girl who was raised by a wolf god. On the side of the humans is Lady Eboshi, who is trying to build Iron Town into a kingdom for oppressed people by cutting down the forest for her iron making operation. Ashitaka finds himself caught in the middle of their bloody war as he desperately searches for a way to make both sides see reason before all is lost forever.