Mononoke
Looking for a mature and unique anime to really wrap your mind and soul around? There are quite a few noteworthy anime up for this task, and they all take on various shades of maturity and genres. More specifically, a Mystery, Historical, Horror and Seinen genre anime will narrow down the list considerably.
Mononoke is a 12 episode TV anime series featuring a vast array of genres including Mystery, Historical, Horror, Demons, Psychological, Supernatural, Fantasy and Seinen. It aired from the 13th of July up until the 28th of September, as a Summer 2007 title.
The anime was produced by Fuji TV, licensed by Flatiron Film Company and brought to life by Studio Toei Animation. The main staff behind this series include Shibata Hiroaki (Producer), Nakamura Kenji (Director, Episode Director, Storyboard), Umezawa Atsutoshi (Producer, Storyboard) and Ueda Hidehito (Episode Director, Storyboard). The series has a rating of R - 17+, for its violence and profanity, being best suited for mature audiences.
Mononoke is an original series sequel to the 11 episode “Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror” TV series centered around three classic Japanese horror stories, which aired in Winter 2006. The anime series was collectively adapted from the 2 volume Manga “Mononoke,” the 2 volume Manga “Mononoke: Umibouzu,” the single-volume Manga “Mononoke: Zashiki Warashi” and the single volume Manga “Mononoke: Nue.”
The main protagonist of the anime, named “Kusuriuri,” was first introduced in the "Bakeneko" chapter, which was the final chapter of the “Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror” anthology series and the anime was initially broadcasted during the NoitaminA programming block in Japan.
The story is centered around Kusuriuri, who is supposedly a "Medicine Seller" but also equipped with a deadly and mysterious mastery of the occult. He traverses all across historical feudal Japan while searching for certain malevolent spirits termed "Mononoke,” which he intends to slay. But even after he pinpoints one such Mononoke, he cannot simply kill it; his work is much more challenging and complicated than that.
First, he must learn its Form, its Truth, and its Reason, all to finally wield his mighty Exorcism Sword against it and engage in an iconic battle. He initiates all his orthodox exorcisms with intense psychological analysis and careful investigations, which proves to be a hazardous step every time. He must confront and learn about the Mononoke before obtaining the means to defeat it.
While on this fascinating journey, Kusuriuri is eventually led to an old-fashioned inn. Here, a pregnant woman named Shino has finally found a place to rest. The Inn owner, somewhat reluctantly, provided her with the last vacant room. Still, as.” she starts to settle in here, it soon becomes apparent that a lethal band of Mononoke thoroughly infests this room, termed the “Zashiki Warashi.”
Thanks to his hunter's intuition, the adept Medicine Seller realizes this promptly and initiates his investigation to learn the Form, the Truth, and the Reason of the Zashiki Warashi. He is on the clock, too, as he must complete his exorcism before these Mononoke start killing again.
The story of Mononoke is broken up into five different but interconnected tales, each part running for about 2 to 3 episodes. Each story tells the tale of a different Mononoke spirit, which stems from traditional Japanese folklore. The Medicine Seller, Kusuriuri, must learn the Katachi (shape), Makoto (truth), and Kotowari (reason) of each of these Mononoke. None of the tales of the different Mononoke feel repetitive or any less fascinating, which is part of the reason why this series is so great.
All the stories are unique and have their own distinguishing feel; even by the final arc, you will feel just as enthralled as the first. Each segment has unique twists and turns, contributing to its overall story. Each story can also be distinguished by its unique and thoughtful themes too.
Mononoke are not mere supernatural ghosts of dead souls; they are peculiar beings with deep and disturbing backstories. One of the main themes is human nature itself, as it is humanity and their actions that cause the transformation of spirits into vengeful Mononoke after all.
The characters of Mononoke are pretty diverse and spread out, with the only recurring character in the entire series being the Medicine Seller, Kusuriuri. He is nameless, mystical, mysterious, and adept at his art, with not much about him being brought to light throughout the series.
This suits his character and the anime’s themes overall, but he does show very subtle but excellent character development. Simply watching Kusuriuri make deadpan comments amid other characters, who are clearly freaking out over supernatural occurrences, is entertaining to watch and even lets the scenes flow ever so naturally. The other tale-specific characters get minimal screen time but still get a nice amount of character development within that time frame. This aspect is praiseworthy and lets the overall cast become a masterpiece as well.
The Art and Animation of Mononoke are unique; there is none other like it. Granted, it may seem off-putting at first to some viewers, especially as first impressions, but after they get used to it (which happens fast), the realization that the art is absolutely gorgeous, fitting, and unique hits hard.
The art resembles the traditional Japanese style, topped off with a wide array of vibrant colors, vivid backgrounds, subtle textures, and unique designs. The animation seems very two-dimensional, with a “paper cut-out” like appearance, and utilizes many camera movements and symbolism to work with it. This is done masterfully and in such an engaging way that one cannot help but be mesmerized by it.
Some of the tales would call for rewatching in order to grasp the whole meaning of it all, and it will be well worth the time. Mononoke is one of the best anime out there that uses its art perfectly, to its full potential, to present the story to viewers. The art style is consistent, but it also deviates slightly with each new arc, letting one tale distinguish itself from the others, giving each of them a fresh atmosphere.
The Sounds and Music of Mononoke do not fall behind the rest either. The sounds play a pivotal role in the series as they make up for any limitations caused by the art and animations on screen. They successfully set up the tense atmospheres, add suspense to the scenes and leave viewers clamoring for more. The voice acting is on point for all the characters; even the screams of terror and shock sound just right. The Opening theme is "Kagen no Tsuki" by Ryouta Komatsu and Charlie Kosei, and the Ending theme is "Natsu no Hana" by JUJU, both of which are nothing exemplary but aren't bad either.
Overall, Mononoke is a delightful series. It can be rewatched over and over again without getting tired of it. The series is enticing, beautiful, profound, well thought out, and masterfully written. Another noteworthy aspect is how it uses its art to relay the tales and does not hesitate to experiment with its own distinct style. It is no exaggeration to say that it is a visual and thematic masterpiece. If you give it a chance, a definite must-watch anime, you are guaranteed to walk away quite entertained, highly recommended!
