Princess mononoke's anime urban legend is true

Princess Mononoke creator Hayao Miyazaki has confirmed the urban legend claiming his film was actually about leprosy is in fact true.

According to All Nippon News Network (via Kotaku), Miyazaki revealed that leprosy (Hansen's Disease), and the way in which those who have it are treated, served as the inspiration for his film.

The famed filmmaker decided to finally share the news publicly just ahead of World Leprosy Day, which takes place on January 31 and raises awareness for the disease.

"While making Princess Mononoke, I thought I had to depict people who are ill with what’s clearly called an incurable disease, but who are living as best they can," he said. In fact, Miyazaki visited a sanatorium in Tokyo for those with leprosy and met with patients who have been cured, which proved instrumental in the creation of his film.

According to the urban legend, the bandaged-covered characters at the Tatara factory are those afflicted with leprosy. It's also worth noting the original Japanese version of the film uses the word "gyobyo" instead of leprosy, which not only means "incurable disease" but also "suffering the consequences," which is clearly in reference to the discrimination faced by those with the disease.