Mononoke

A mesmerizing piece of art - with its animation and art style which sit somewhere between gorgeous and unsettling, and its paper-texture overlay, it feels like an ancient ghost story come to life. On the other hand, its layers, symbolism and open-ended conclusions sometimes work to its detriment. You may find yourself scratching your head for a few minutes after certain story arcs have concluded, wondering when you got lost and whether you were supposed to really understand what was going on to begin with. In the end, that doesn't make it much less worth watching, and watching again a few dozen times.

I found this show by pure chance. I took a chance with something that was completely unknown to me, having seen or heard nothing about it, just watching it on the recommendation of someone.

That's exactly how a show like this should be enjoyed, with no expectations for the purest kind of viewing. I recommend you do it too, though you might've already been influenced by the reviews here.

It's not for no reason that this show was voted the studio's most beloved show of all time. That vote has lead to the studio now making a new story for it, to be released in 2023. Hopefully there'll be a re-release so I can buy it!

Still, here is my review!

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I can understand if people don't find this one particularly interesting as it will require some patience to watch. You will not be blown away by non-stop action, but be required to actually pay attention to what's going on. The art style might be a turn-off for some, while evidently (and to me as well) one of the biggest draws of this particular show.

Through the viewing of this show you are given visual hints as through the strange art style, the actions of the characters and the dialogue, hints that during your first viewing you may not pick up on. Some of them are even red herrings to mislead you to the wrong conclussion. But eventually, more and more things are revealed in twists and turns until the climax of each story arc where the truth of each case is revealed.

My favorite one is the second story arc, Umibozu. It really takes you for a ride and has some stunning visuals.

So if you're not willing to sit down and enjoy the visuals, the excellent drama, the interesting characters and the twists of a who-dun-it mystery I suspect this might bore you. I'm sure there's some Shounen show out there that'll fit you better, one that doesn't require your brain to function.

I love Japanese anime, I'm a 74 year old grandma and a big Ghibli studio fan! What brought me here is the title "Mononoke" which I found out has nothing to do with " Princess Mononoke" by Ghibli studios lol! I was intrigued by the colours and detailed art at first and kept watching! Truly I don't know why I still keep watching but I started it and now I want to know what is happening! I love everything Japanese and this very colourful art nouveau style anime show just got me hooked!

The details in the anime are simply amazing, the colours beautiful and I get to learn a bit more about Japanese culture!

A short 12 episode anime following the nameless Medicine Man, a wandering protagonist who uses his magic sword to slay invading mononoke, or vengeful spirits, back to the spirit realm. Originally a spin-off of the loosely related Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales, episodes are always grouped into 2-parters or 3-parters, each following a different short story of a spirit haunting inhabitants. The animation style is a reason alone to watch this series above all else, it is absolutely stunning, all done in a 2D Japanese ink painting style. Because of its style non of the horror is scary really, in that sense, but the plots and representations are just as chilling. The plot (a wandering healer exorcising spirits across late feudal Japan) is a plot very similar to a personal favourite Mushi-shi, which I would also recommend, but was very different in all other aspects. I had a ton of fun watching this, would highly recommend. And just in time, there's currently speculation around an upcoming 15-year anniversary film to be released in 2023, so here's to looking forward to that.

This show is similar to Mushi-shi in many ways. Like Mushi-shi, it is structured as a collection of short stories, each with its own characters, settings, and ideas. A medicine seller travels the land in search of mononoke to defeat, which are demons born from human hate, regret, and sorrow---the darkest recesses of the human heart. Each storyline, which consists of either two or three episodes per story, play out like a detective story. The demon slayer must figure out three things before he can draw his sword and defeat each mononoke. He must know the Form, the Truth, and the Reason; that is, he must know its appearance, the truth of why it came to exist, and the reason it has a grudge against certain people.

This show delves into the deepest and darkest recesses of the human heart. Each demon is born because of some horrific injustice or evil action committed by people against others. It does not shy away from delving deeply into dark topics; it does not shy away from confronting the evil which resides in every heart. The story's narrative never takes away responsibility from the sinners, who either meet horrible ends or are forced to live on with their guilt (which is so refreshing in this age of blaming others for our own mistakes). I particularly like how sinful actions have consequences not just for the sinner, but for those around them as well, creating a never-ending cycle of perpetrators and victims. There are so many deep and profound messages in this show.

Note on the Style: The style is supposed to resemble kabuki and noh theatre, which often feature gaudy colors, crazy masks, and wild make-up with specific symbolism attached to each. I love the beautiful detail in the show.