mononoke

This article is about the TV series. For the film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, see Princess Mononoke.

Mononoke
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モノノ怪
Genre	Ghost story[1] Mystery[1] Psychological horror[2]
Anime television series
Directed by	Kenji Nakamura
Produced by	Atsuya Takase Atsutoshi Umezawa Hiroaki Shibata
Written by	Chiaki J. Konaka Ikuko Takahashi Michiko Yokote Manabu Ishikawa
Music by	Yasuharu Takanashi
Studio	Toei Animation
Licensed by	AUS: Siren Visual NA: Discotek Media[3]
Original network	Fuji TV (Noitamina)
Original run	July 12, 2007 – September 27, 2007
Episodes	12 (List of episodes)
Manga
Illustrated by	Ninagawa Yaeko
Published by	Square Enix
Magazine	Young Gangan
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	August 17, 2007 – August 1, 2008
Volumes	2
Manga
Mononoke: Umibōzu
Illustrated by	Ninagawa Yaeko
Published by	Tokuma Shoten
Magazine	Monthly Comic Zenon
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	September 25, 2013 – November 25, 2014
Volumes	2
Anime and manga portal

Mononoke (モノノ怪) is a Japanese avant-garde anime television series produced by Toei Animation. A spin-off of 2006's horror anthology series Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales, Mononoke follows the character of the medicine seller as he continues lớn face a myriad of supernatural perils. Mononoke takes place between the kết thúc of the Edo period and Meiji era of nhật bản with the four class system, Samurai being the highest class and merchants (such as the medicine seller himself) being in the lowest class. Only Samurai were permitted lớn carry swords, which is why it comes as a shock lớn many of the characters that the medicine seller would be carrying a sword.

Plot[edit]

Mononoke follows a wandering, nameless character known only as the "Medicine Seller" (voiced by Takahiro Sakurai in the 2007 series, and by Hiroshi Kamiya in the 2024 film). The series is made up of individual chapters in which the medicine seller encounters, combats and subsequently destroys mononoke. The mononoke are a type of ayakashi, unnatural spirits that linger in the human world by binding themselves lớn negative human emotions. The Medicine Seller always proceeds in the same manner, using his knowledge of the supernatural lớn fend off the mononoke until he can learn the spirit's shape (Katachi), truth (Makoto) and reasoning (Kotowari). Only then can he unsheathe his sword and exorcise the demon. The English subtitles translate these three necessities as Form, Truth, and Reason.

Episodes 1–2: Zashiki-warashi[edit]

Plot[edit]

While spending the night in a traditional inn, the Medicine Seller stumbles upon a strange phenomenon. A pregnant woman named Shino who is desperately seeking shelter at the inn is led lớn the last vacant room. The room, though, is haunted by a group of Zashiki Warashi. When the Zashiki Warashi kill an assassin aiming for Shino's life, protecting Shino and her unborn child, the Medicine Seller inquires into the origin of the mononoke.

The innkeeper reveals that the inn used lớn be a brothel, which she owned and ran. The innkeeper forced her prostitutes lớn abort their children lớn continue working, and Shino's room is the room in which the abortions took place. The Medicine Seller realizes that the mononoke are attracted lớn Shino because of their strong desire lớn be birthed. The Zashiki Warashi want Shino lớn give birth lớn them, and she agrees, much lớn the Medicine Seller's dismay. She pulls the talisman warding off the mononoke from her stomach. As it turns out one of the Zashiki Warashi that she had met upon her arrival was in fact her own child. However, the overload of all the spirits causes Shino's in-the-womb child lớn start bleeding. At this point, realizing their wish would cause only harm lớn the only person that showed them kindness, the Zashiki Warashi smiles and allows the Medicine Seller lớn destroy them with the sword.

Characters[edit]

• Shino (志乃) (voiced by Rie Tanaka): The pregnant woman who seeks shelter at a rainy night. She became pregnant with a young lord's baby when working in a landlord's house, and wishes lớn give birth safely.
• Hisayo (久代) (voiced by Toshiko Fujita): The keeper of the inn which used lớn be a brothel she owned. The room she offered lớn Shino was where she forced her prostitutes lớn abort children.
• Tokuji (徳次) (voiced by Kōzō Shiotani): A helper in the inn. He is also the one who assisted Hisayo in forcing prostitutes lớn abort.
• Naosuke (直助) (voiced by Eiji Takemoto): An assassin who wants lớn kill Shino and her baby.
• Young Lord (voiced by Yūsuke Numata): The man who got Shino pregnant and then abandoned her.
• Zashiki Warashi (座敷童子) (voiced by Aiko Hibi): The spirit of the children killed by Hisayo many years ago.

Episodes 3–5: Umibōzu[edit]

Plot[edit]

Traveling on a merchant's luxurious ship, the Medicine Seller and the other passengers drift into the Dragon's Triangle, a mysterious sea full of ayakashi. Among the passengers are Kayo, a servant girl from the Sakai house of Bakeneko fame, Genkei, a Buddhist monk, and Genyousai, a minstrel and spiritualist. Through the appearance of Umizatou, an ayakashi who demands that the passengers reveal their worst fears, the group discovers that Genkei was the one who mix the ship off course.

Genkei explains that he and his sister Oyō, who was five years his junior, grew up very close ("too close" he states) because they were left alone on their tiny island home page when their parents perished at sea. This lust for his sister drove him lớn become a Buddhist ascetic at the age of 15, leaving Oyō behind.

Although he faithfully immersed himself in study and the solitary monk's life, he still could not extinguish his lust for his sister. When he learned that their home page island's ships were sinking and being destroyed at sea, he accepts his village's request for him lớn return lớn become a human sacrifice lớn the sea by being imprisoned alive in a "hollow boat" mix adrift. He explained that he would rather be dead than vãn live with his unquenchable thirst lớn "lie with" Oyō. However, on the night before he was lớn climb into the boat at sunrise, he met with Oyō, who was now 16 and "so pretty." She then confessed lớn him that she had the same feelings for him all along and that since they could never marry she would rather become the sacrifice in his stead, preferring, as she stated, "to go lớn the pure land" rather than vãn marry a man who was not her brother. Upon hearing this, the young recently promoted monk fled vowing lớn commit suicide lớn join Oyō in the afterlife. He could not bởi this and, instead, spent 50 years in deep meditation praying for the soul of his poor sister Oyō, her corpse supposedly adrift in the hollow boat in the Ayakashi Sea. However, deep down he actually was glad that his sister died instead of him, and that guilt followed him. It was his intense focus—metaphorically and specifically, his right eye—on that area of the sea and magnified by his guilt over not truly loving his sister that had caused the Dragon's Triangle or Ayakashi (spirits, generally malevolent) Sea lớn be sánh deadly.

Tragically, the ayakashi showed the hollow boat lớn the current passengers by dragging it up from the bottom of the sea onto the deck of their ship. Although they thought they heard scratching from the inside, they discovered that it had lain empty for 50 years, and that Oyō had in reality "given herself lớn the sea," as she too could no longer live with her own lust for her brother. The Medicine Seller discovers that Genkei is the mononoke, or at least his darker side has become one, and that this particular mononoke (literally translated as "enraged god who is sick" that khuông when human feelings of vengeance, rage, guilt etc. meld with ayakashi) was responsible for the Ayakashi Sea's unrest. The Medicine Seller exterminates the mononoke at Genkei's request and restores calm lớn him. After 50 years of guilt and lust, he is now at peace, although his beloved Oyō died for naught.

Characters[edit]

• Kayo (加世) (voiced by Yukana): A woman who knows the medicine seller from the previous series Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales. She is a servant girl seeking a new job in Edo.
• Genkei (源慧) (voiced by Ryusei Nakao): A respected Buddhist monk.
• Sōgen (菖源) (voiced by Daisuke Namikawa): An apprentice monk following Genkei.
• Hyōe Sasaki (佐々木兵衛) (voiced by Daisuke Sakaguchi): A young samurai who possesses a famous sword named Kanesada.
• Genyōsai Yanagi (柳幻殃斉) (voiced by Tomokazu Seki): A minstrel practicing Shugendō who is knowledgeable about Ayakashi.
• Tamon Mikuniya (三國屋多門) (voiced by Yasuhiro Takato): The owner of the ship.
• Goromaru (五浪丸) (voiced by Eiji Takemoto): The captain of the ship.
• Umizatou (海座頭) (voiced by Norio Wakamoto): An ayakashi who demands that the passengers reveal their worst fears.
• Oyō (お庸) (voiced by Haruna Ikezawa): The younger sister of Genkei. She volunteered herself lớn replace Genkei as a sacrifice lớn the sea.

Episodes 6–7: Noppera-bō[edit]

Plot[edit]

A despairing woman named Ochou, wishing for freedom but unable lớn escape her oppression, confesses lớn killing her husband's entire family. The Medicine Seller doubts this story and visits Ochou in her prison cell lớn ask her for the truth, but encounters a mononoke in a Noh mask who fights the Medicine Seller and allows Ochou lớn escape. The man in the mask convinces Ochou that he has given her freedom by helping her kill her family, but the Medicine Seller pursues the two and reveals lớn Ochou that she had killed not her husband's family, but herself. Ochou married into a good family as her mother wished, but in her desire lớn please her mother, withstood abuse from her new family lớn the point of forsaking any happiness she could have gained from her life. When Ochou realizes this, the man in the Noh mask vanishes, and Ochou finds herself in her kitchen. It is implied that the man in the mask was an illusion conjured by the Medicine Seller lớn help Ochou escape—at the kết thúc of the episode, Ochou ignores her husband's orders and leaves her family, gaining the freedom she had long desired.

Characters[edit]

• Ochō (お蝶) (voiced by Houko Kuwashima): A woman who married into a good family. In order lớn please her mother, she withstands abuse from her husband's family.
• Man in Fox Mask (仮面の男) (voiced by Hikaru Midorikawa): An Ayakashi wearing a fox mask. He can change his fox mask lớn other masks.
• Ochō's mother (お蝶の実母) (voiced by Ako Mayama): She wishes for Ochō lớn marry into a good samurai family because she lost her husband.
• Ochō's husband (お蝶の亭主) (voiced by Eiji Takemoto): He treats Ochō badly; as if she is a servant.
• Ochō's husband's mother (姑) (voiced by Oriko Uemura): She doesn't lượt thích Ochō.
• Ochō's brother-in-law (義理の弟) (voiced by Hiroshi Okamoto): The younger brother of Ochō's husband. He treats Ochō badly.
• Wife of Ochō's brother-in-law (義理の弟の嫁) (voiced by Aki Sasaki): She treats Ochō badly as well.
• Magistrate (奉行) (voiced by Fukuhara Kouhei): He judges Ochō's case.

Episodes 8–9: Nue[edit]

Plot[edit]

Three men seeking lớn marry Lady Ruri, the sole heir lớn the Fuenokouji school of incense (kōdō), arrive at her mansion lớn participate in a competition of incense only lớn find that the fourth suitor is missing and that the Medicine Seller has taken his place. During the competition, Lady Ruri is murdered. When the Medicine Seller inquires as lớn why the three suitors are sánh desperate lớn inherit the school even after Lady Ruri's death, the suitors reveal that the competition is not actually over the school of incense, but the Toudaiji, a piece of wood rumored lớn grant its owner great power.

Although Medicine Seller presides over a second incense contest, none of the three suitors win the Toudaiji, as all are killed. It is revealed that the suitors had already been killed by the Toudaiji, and that the Medicine Seller put on this act lớn make them realize their deaths. The Medicine Seller then asks the Toudaiji, the true mononoke, lớn reveal itself. The Toudaiji draws its sense of self-esteem from the fact that people value it sánh highly, yet in truth, it is nothing but a rotting piece of wood. The Toudaiji kills those who seek it, including Lady Ruri's suitors, perpetuating the bloodshed for its sake. The Medicine Seller destroys the Toudaiji, appeasing the souls of its victims, including Lady Ruri's suitors.

This chapter makes a reference lớn the Rannatai (the type of wood described above) that once existed in the Shōsōin (Great Treasure Room) of the Tōdai-ji temple in Nara, nhật bản.

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Characters[edit]

• Ōsawa Rōbo (澤廬房) (voiced by Takeshi Aono): One of Lady Ruri's suitors. A courtier.
• Muromachi Tomoyoshi (室町具慶) (voiced by Eiji Takemoto): One of Lady Ruri's suitors. A samurai.
• Nakarai Tansui (半井淡澄) (voiced by Masashi Hirose): One of Lady Ruri's suitors. A fishmonger.
• Jissonji Konari (実尊寺惟勢) (voiced by Naoya Uchida): One of Lady Ruri's suitors, horribly murdered prior lớn the competition.
• Lady Ruri (瑠璃姫, Ruri-hime) (voiced by Wakana Yamazaki): The incense school founder who owns the Tōdaiji. She was murdered during the competition.
• Old woman (老いた尼僧) (voiced by Yuri Kobayashi): A servant of Lady Ruri.
• Girl (童女) (voiced by Kamada Kozue): A mysterious girl who appears and disappears whenever Muromachi is alone.
• Nue (鵺): A murderous, shape-shifting mononoke born from the spirit of the Tōdaiji.

Episodes 10–12: Bakeneko[edit]

Plot[edit]

Set in a time decidedly later than vãn the previous arcs — implied lớn be in the 1920s — the Medicine Seller boards a train with several other passengers. Unfortunately, the train hits a ghostly girl on the tracks, and six passengers and the Medicine Seller are locked in the first siêu xe. The Medicine Seller questions the passengers lớn reveal a dark connection between them, shedding light on the murder of a young newspaper reporter. At the kết thúc of the episode the woman's spirit has its revenge, the passengers are saved, and the Medicine Seller challenges the audience lớn reveal lớn him their Truth and Reason, vowing lớn continue hunting mononoke as long as they roam the world.

Many voice actors from the original Bakeneko arc reprise their roles in this Bakeneko arc, which shares a similar plot lớn the original Bakeneko arc, possibly implying that the characters from the original have reincarnated into this arc.

Characters[edit]

• Kiyoshi Moriya (森谷清) (voiced by Eiji Takemoto): A journalist who colludes with the mayor. Because they didn't want lớn reveal the secret of the subway, he murdered Setsuko, who knew the truth.
• Setsuko Ichikawa (市川節子) (voiced by Fumiko Orikasa): A journalist. A subordinate of Kiyoshi Moriya. She found out the secret of the subway and attempted lớn report it, but she was then killed by Moriya. She reappeared as a ghost and finally killed Moriya.
• Jyutarō Fukuda (福田寿太郎) (voiced by Hiroshi Iwasaki): The mayor.
• Sakae Kadowaki (門脇栄) (voiced by Minoru Inaba): A police officer whose task is lớn protect the mayor.
• Bunpei Kinoshita (木下文平) (voiced by Seiji Sasaki): The driver of the train. Because he was tired while driving, he wasn't able lớn stop the train when he found Setsuko dropped on the railway.
• Nomoto Chiyo (野本チヨ) (voiced by Yukana): A waitress in a cafe who wishes lớn become a celebrity. In order lớn be known, she provided false testimony lớn the police about Setsuko's death.
• Haru Yamaguchi (山口ハル) (voiced by Yōko Sōmi): A widow. She heard the scream when meeting her lover, but she ignored it.
• Masao Kobayashi (小林正男) (voiced by Aiko Hibi): A milk delivery boy who witnessed the death of Setsuko, but escaped without calling the police.

Media[edit]

Anime[edit]

Produced by Toei Animation, the anime series was directed by Kenji Nakamura, written by Chiaki J. Konaka, Ikuko Takahashi, Michiko Yokote and Manabu Ishikawa. Takashi Hashimoto directed the animation and was the character designer, Takashi Kurahashi was the art director, its music was composed by Yasuharu Takanashi, and it was broadcast in Fuji Television's block Noitamina between July and September 2007, lasting 12 episodes.^[4] Siren Visual licensed it for Australasian region.^[5]

Episode list[edit]

Anime film[edit]

At the 15th anniversary sự kiện held on June 18, 2022, an anime film by Twin Engine was announced. Kenji Nakamura will return lớn direct the film. Originally it was scheduled lớn premiere in 2023;^[6] however, in February 2023, it was announced that the film would be delayed lớn beyond 2023. Additionally, Takahiro Sakurai, who originally was returning lớn reprise the role of the Medicine Seller, was removed from the cast of the film.^[7][8] The film will be released in 2024, with Hiroshi Kamiya performing the role of the Medicine Seller.^[9]

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Manga[edit]

A manga adaptation of the original Bakeneko arc was published in Young Gangan between August 17, 2007 and August 1, 2008.^[10][11] The individual chapters were collected and released in two tankōbon (collected volumes) by Square Enix on January 25, 2008, and September 25, 2008.^[12][13] A second manga series started lớn be published on September 25, 2013 by Tokuma Shoten on its magazine Monthly Comic Zenon.^[14] The last chapter of it was serialized in Monthly Comic Zenon on November 25, năm trước. The series was released into two volumes on July 19, năm trước, and December trăng tròn, năm trước respectively.^[15][16]

Mononoke （published by Young Gangan Comics, Square Enix）

Illustrator - Yaeko Ninagawa.

Original work - Anime「Bakeneko」by Kai 〜ayakashi〜 Production Committee.

• First volume （published on Feb 25th, 2008）ISBN 978-4-7575-2211-4
• Second volume （published on Oct 25th, 2008）ISBN 978-4-7575-2388-3

Serialized in magazine 『Young Gangan Comics』.

Mononoke -Umibōzu- （published by Zenon Comics, North Stars Pictures, sold by Tokuma Shoten）

Illustrator - Yaeko Ninagawa.

Script - Chiaki J. Konaka.

Original Work - Anime「Umibōzu」by 〜Mononoke〜Production Committee.

• First volume （published on Jul 19th, 2014）ISBN 978-4-19-980223-2
• Second volume （published on Jan 9th, 2015）ISBN 978-4-19-980250-8

Serialized in magazine 『Zenon Comics』.

Mononoke -Zashiki Warashi- （published by Zenon Comics, North Stars Pictures, sold by Tokuma Shoten）

Illustrator - Yaeko Ninagawa.

Original work - Anime「Zashiki Warashi」by 〜Mononoke〜 Production Committee.

• （published on Dec 10th, 2015）ISBN 978-4-19-980310-9

Serialized in magazine 『Zenon Comics』.

Mononoke -Nue- （published by Tokuma Shoten）

Illustrator - Yaeko Ninagawa.

Original work - Anime「Nue」by 〜Mononoke〜 Production Committee.

• （will be published in 2016）

Serializing in magazine 『Zenon Comics』.

Music[edit]

Opening theme—"Last Quarter Moon" ("Kagen no Tsuki" / 下弦の月)

Lyrics - Ai Kawa (香和文) / Composer & Arranger - Ryōta Komatsu / Singers - Ryōta Komatsu & Charlie Kosei

Ending theme—"Summer Flower" ("Natsu no Hana" / ナツノハナ)

Lyrics - Miyuki Hashimoto / Composer- Naohisa Taniguchi / Arranger - CHOKKAKU / Singer - JUJU

Stage play[edit]

At the 15th anniversary sự kiện held on June 18, 2022, a stage play based on the anime series was announced.^[6]

Reception[edit]

The directing and art have been called "boldly confrontational."^[17] It blends a murder mystery structure with "twist of supernatural and a shake of historical, peppered with plenty of stylistic experimentation." It frequently achieves "the ideal - great directing combined with great animation."^[17] Mainichi Shimbun newspaper said it could not be dismissed as a mere experiment, and that the story's themes were every bit as advanced as the digital animation techniques employed.^[18]

See also[edit]

• Princess Mononoke
• Yōkai

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Official trang web at Toei Animation (in Japanese)
• Mononoke (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia