Mise-en-scene is generally defined as the staging of a film scene or sequence. It is composed of the set design, costume design and make up and hair choice, lighting, the composition or arrangement of props, use of spacing and proximity, the film stock and aspect ratio and the set design collectively.

Monaco believes that the spectrum of arts is separated into three different categories:

-The performance arts, this element can be viewed in real time and therefore would receive an instant reaction from the audience such as; music, theatre and dance.

-The representational arts, this form of art shares its message through physical objects such as; novels, paintings and sculptures.

-The recording arts, the last section of the spectrum of arts is shown to an audience after going through some kind of post-production such as; music, film and television that have gone through production/editing.

Mise-en-scene is used in many different ways in the film but I will be focusing on the introduction of Irontown as well as Lady Eboshi’s costumes.

Irontown is first introduced with the smoke it produces billowing up the mountainside, immediately showing the audience its constant battle with the natural world around it, as well as foreshadowing the clouded morality of its residents. The spikes protecting it makes the audience feel uneasy, showing that there is something that even the powerful humans who built it are afraid of.

The majority of Irontown’s citizens are workers, shown by their plain clothes. Some of the only characters that go against this are those in command, like guards, and Lady Eboshi- their leader.

Like the others in command, she wears mostly darker clothes, however hers have a lot more colour as she is the one in control. Her clothes are much more expensive looking with patterns, which she uses to show her status. She wears trousers to show how she is unafraid to get involved and help her people as well as to symbolise her independence. She is also one of the only female characters in the film to wear makeup (simple red lipstick), the only other being San who wears red warpaint- this creates a subtle connection between the two, making the audience more invested in their conflict.

Lady Eboshi is often seen in red, used to symbolise her desire for power as well as her anger towards the nature spirits. In the film, warm colours are often associated with fire, war, and mankind, while cooler colours are used more for the natural order- Eboshi is first introduced wearing a dark blue coat, allowing the main character Ashitaka to trust her, when she removes her coat- to reveal her true intentions- it shows her red and yellow shirt, reflecting the fires that burn in Irontown’s heart.

Eboshi’s other notable outfit is the one she wears when she goes to kill the god of the forest. In it she covers most of her body, almost to hide herself from the sin she is about to commit. She has her dark coat back, as well as a bright red hat, to further show her passion for power and contrast the natural world around her.