Mononoke (Anime Series)
April Marie
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Directed by Kenji Nakamura and Hidehito Ueda
Animated by Toei Animation
Suitable for 17+
Folktales have always captured our attention, telling stories so fantastic that they survive for generations. While the Japanese anime Mononoke might not go down in history, it functions like a folktale, seizing your imagination and refusing to let go. Telling the story of a mysterious Medicine Vendor in feudal Japan, he does quite a bit more than his job description might entail. With the incredibly fortuitous timing of a storybook hero, he appears when a spirit (or ayakashi) has morphed into a mononoke. These titular creatures are evil spirits that must be vanquished before wreaking havoc upon those unfortunate enough to run into them.
To defeat the mononoke, the Medicine Vendor wields an “exorcism sword.” As with any good literary work, however, it’s not an easy process. Before the Medicine Vendor can draw his sword, he must first know the shape, truth, and reason for a mononoke. Even the simplest of those, the mononoke’s shape, is not always easy to discern.
The art style in Mononoke is uncommon to anime, looking more like a painting at times than an animation. The characters are stylized and often exaggerated, bringing something different to the plate than the average anime fare. Colors and patterns are played with frequently. One storyline went as far as to feature almost completely black and white scenes, with color only appearing at dramatic moments. Mononoke’s abstract style really allowed for the plot to go wherever it wanted to, and it wasn’t difficult to become accustomed to.
Mononoke runs 12 episodes and features five different storylines within it. There are the stories of the zashikiwarashi (household spirits), the sea bishop, the faceless monster, the Japanese chimera, and the goblin cat. The amount of time devoted to each of these storylines varies, but none feel rushed or cut short. With its incredibly abstract narrative, it’s not a casual watching type of show. Effort must be made to follow the plot, and not everything always makes sense. So if you enjoy more literal stories, Mononoke is not for you. However, for those of you with a taste for the surreal, Mononoke is very rewarding.
The series tackles some controversial subjects from the start, with the first story touching on abortion. One other storyline focuses on extreme denial in the face of violence. The last tale revolves around government conspiracies and cover-ups. These issues are explored through the investigations of the Medicine Vendor, as he learns what he needs to know to exorcise the mononoke. It’s highly entertaining to try to solve the mystery of the mononoke right alongside the Medicine Vendor.
While Mononoke is about spirits, it serves up more suspense with its historical folktales than terror. There are no jump scares and hardly any blood and gore. In addition, most of the blood in the series is depicted artistically, featuring patterns and shapes that look nothing like blood. If you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of horror anime and don’t want to dive in outright, Mononoke is a very good series to watch.
The historical feel that Mononoke offers really makes it something special. It features an incredibly fantastic art style that looks gorgeous no matter what story is unfolding. While the plot is not always straightforward and literal, it is rewarding for those who stay with it. So if you’re looking for an anime series that is quite unlike any other, Mononoke is definitely for you.
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