Mononoke//
posted Saturday, July 9th, 2011
by Echydo | Comments (8)
First aired in summer 2007, Mononoke is a twelve-episode series organized in five story arcs, each centered around a different mononoke (legendary Japanese occult creatures). The five title arcs are listed as follows:
1. Zashiki Warashi (child-spirit)
2. Umibozou (sea bonze)
3. Noppera-bō (faceless ghost)
4. Nue (chimera)
5. Bakeneko (monster cat)
Each arc stands alone and presents a new set of characters in different settings and sometimes different eras. The only common thread is the presence of a nameless character called the Kusuriuri, literally the Medicine Seller. The Kusuriuri is no ordinary merchant. Ageless, nameless, and seemingly disinterested, he travels across land and time to unravel and destroy the ties between the mononoke and their human victims.
Mononoke is a feast, both for the eyes and the mind. Visually, it is the most impressive anime series I have ever watched. The art is strikingly beautiful. The animation is unique and reminiscent of Kabuki, classic Japanese drama, both in terms of structure and sound editing. Watching felt like turning the pages of a precious picture book, each leaf splashed with a wealth of colors and cultural references.
Story wise, Mononoke is anything but a simple depiction of folklore. Complex themes of love, hatred, persecution, jealousy and revenge are presented and each finale leaves a lot of room for interpretation. The Kusuriuri himself is an ambiguous character that remains an enigma throughout the series.
I strongly recommend Mononoke to anyone looking for a different anime experience. The best thing about its episode structure is that you can select a specific arc without getting lost or missing anything. This makes it perfect for re-watching.
Rating: 
PS: If you decide to give it a try (as I know you will), please come back and let us know which arc you preferred.
Part of YAM’s Unofficial Animation Week.
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COMMENTS & TRACKBACKS
on Sunday, July 10th, 2011
I wanna watch this… so SOOOOO bad. Is it out on DVD in the US? I love that Japanese animation does this type of stuff haha.
[Reply]
Echydo Reply:
July 10th, 2011 at 8:10 am
@amy,
Yes you really should give it a try.
I couldn’t find the DVD on regular sites like amazon etc. But here’s a link http://www.ioffer.com/i/mononoke-dvd-eps-1-to-12-complete-64686866
I didn’t mention it in the review but Mononoke was spun off of Ayakashi which is an anthology of samurai horror tales. It is also organized in arcs but they’re directed by different directors so the style and art varies completely from story to story. You might want to check that one too if you like horror tales.
[Reply]
on Sunday, July 10th, 2011
Ok you sold it to me! I must go and find it! :D
[Reply]
amy Reply:
August 24th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
@Mirella, I found it. Just watched the first episode O_O
[Reply]
Mirella Reply:
August 24th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
@amy, and what do you think so far? 8D
[Reply]
amy Reply:
August 24th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
@Mirella, very pretty art – kinda scary character design. Def. scary atmosphere with messed up bright colors. xD
on Saturday, September 17th, 2011
Just finished watching this and loved it. To be honest, as I sat watching it thinking the next arc was better than the last, my favorite ended up being the Bakeneko one where they mix a little political intrigue with revenge. I also thought that one was the scariest – though that may be due to all the itching and scratching that went on.
[Reply]
Echydo Reply:
September 17th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
@amy, Yay!! I’m so happy to hear that you liked it! It’s a very unusual anime that should get more press imo. My personal favorite was Noppera-bo but the episode I liked best (and thought to be the scariest) is actually part of the Ayakashi, Samurai Horror Tales series. It’s also called Bakeneko and I really recommend that you check it out.
[Reply]
What is your opinion?