Mononoke

About Mononoke

Here is what Mononoke (モノノ怪) is about, retold in plain terms: a fantasy, horror and mystery anime by Toei Animation (2007). The setup: In feudal Japan, evil spirits known as mononoke plague both households and the countryside, leaving a trail of fear in their wake. One unexplained person has the power to slay the mononoke where they stand; he is known only as the Medicine Seller, and he vanquishes the spirits using the ability of his Exorcism Sword.

Another thread: However, in order to draw his sword he has to first understand the Form, Truth and Reason of the mononoke. Armed with a sharp wit and keen intellect, the Medicine Seller wanders from place to place, striking down the evil spirits in his wake.

In a fantasy series like this, world-building, magic systems and creature design set the tone. Kusuriuri (Takahiro Sakurai) and Shino (Rie Tanaka) are two of the characters you will meet early. Think of it as a pick for fans of magic, kingdoms and invented worlds. The run is 12 episodes in total, so you know what you are signing up for.

Production & Appeal

Animation is handled by Toei Animation, so the studio's house style defines how Mononoke looks and moves on screen. Because it leans on fantasy, world-building, magic systems and creature design set the tone. Viewers rate it 8.2/10, which signals strong word of mouth. On the casting side, Takahiro Sakurai voicing Kusuriuri gives the lead role a recognizable voice. Released in 2007, it competed with that season's other new series for attention.