Mononoke

回 Super Brief Anime Review:
An apparent fusion between Zen writing and Kabuki theater make for unique art style and brilliant writing prose. Only the first two story arcs seem to carry this ideal however, far outshining the proceeding story arcs. Never the less the first two arcs stand as a must see.


Less Brief:
An exceptional anime it is perfect if you've already seen all the “good” animes out there and are looking for another good one. Just make sure to stick with it for the first 10 minutes.

If the anime were to stand as just the beginning episodes constituting the first two story arcs ... I believe it is a 10/10 and this portion remains a must see. Very well written – love the succinct writing prose and deep understanding.

As I suspected however, and later confirmed the anime was indeed written by multiple (four) authors. As such while the others story arcs are ok they do not match, imo, the skill of whom-ever wrote the first two arcs.

Hey now here's an obscure series you should watch! Yeah!

The first thing that'll stand out when you look at Mononoke is the art. I'm not going to mince words: Mononoke is the best-looking animated show I have ever seen. The art is styled after traditional Japanese art, which means it's brightly colored, detailed, and everything feels kind of flat. I can't say enough about how amazingly gorgeous the art and color is in this series. It's used to maximum effect too, because the series is filled with all kinds of surreal visuals to let the art really stretch out.

Conceptually, Mononoke could be ... thought of as a really sinister version of Mushishi: The Medicine Seller shows up at a place and deals with some sort of haunting by a spirit, a Mononoke. Whereas Mushishi trades in a sense of tranquility though, Mononoke is effectively a horror mystery series. In order to exorcise a Mononoke, the Medicine Seller needs to figure out the spirit's Form (what it is), Truth (why it's here), and Regret (what it wants). Of course these are always tied into the secrets of the people the Mononoke is haunting, so each episode is an attempt to figure out what bad thing the characters did that caused the Mononoke to show up in the first place. Sounds formulaic, but each arc (which consist of 2-3 episodes) puts a new spin on the search for truth, and the show never repeats itself.

The only persistent character in Mononoke is the mysterious Medicine Seller. A strange fellow who looks like a Final Fantasy character in the middle of feudal Japan, he's... uh... enigmatic. He's also kind of an asshole. Unlike Ginko in Mushishi, The Medicine Seller isn't really made out to be a truly sympathetic or relatable character. He's mysterious and sinister, and it frequently seems like he cares more about vanquishing the Mononoke than the safety of anyone involved. Not to mention everything about him is left up to interpretation, there's no expanding on his character or history at all, although his personality does get some subtle development (such as in the Incense arc when he reveals a bit of a sense of humor). This isn't really a criticism though, he just plays a different role in the story than you might expect.

All of the other characters only show up for an arc, but they tend to be well-developed. After all, the stories pretty much all concern the character's histories and actions, so it's natural they'd be pretty well developed. They also tend to be the more relatable characters for the audience. They're the ones who are confused and freaked out by all the scary stuff going down, while the Medicine Seller remains constantly cool and mysterious.

The music is pretty nice, although there's not that much in the show itself. The opening is a nice piece that's less ominous than you might expect, and the ending is a fairly typical ending ballad sort of thing. What really does stand out though is that the sound itself is absolutely fantastic. Visually, Mononoke isn't actually that creepy. Oh sure it has it's moments, but an enormous amount of the tension comes from the sound design. When the creepy ambient noises pipe up you know something creepy's gonna happen. Or maybe not? When's it gonna happen? Tension!

Mononoke is an absolutely outstanding series, and definitely a new favorite of mine. The stories are great and the art is dazzling. It's not for everyone, some might be put off by the slow pace, but it really is a great show.

First ever review on MAL, though Mononoke was truly such a beautiful piece of media I felt compelled to give it the worthy praise it is due. Possibly mild spoilers ahead!

Story - 10:

The story is framed in an episodic fashion, following our mysterious protagonist, the unnamed Medicine Seller, across various scenarios where he must discover the Form, Regret and Truth behind a Mononoke to draw his sword of exorcism and banish them. Each story arc lasts 2-3 episodes, but none either overstay their welcome or leave you with questions, demanding more - though some arcs are a bit slower paced, the ultimate payoff makes it ... all the more satisfying, whilst also giving you time to ponder and assess the mysteries of the episode for yourself.

The story arcs can go into rather heavy themes, which admittedly I did not know about going in; though Mononoke never makes light of these topics, and does give them weight and considered thought.


Art - 10:

Oh my goodness, where to begin? I understand the artstyle can be quite polarizing; though it was a personal 10 for me. One of my biggest interests was seeing how the use of pattern, colour and style differed slightly episode-to-episode; in particular the use of colour in the fourth Nue arc - I imagine anyone who complains about eye-searing colours may have stopped either during or after the second arc, where this style is most prevalent. (No criticisms if it's not someone's cup of tea, just would like to point out!)

My only critique would be that I wish the episode quality itself was higher - but not much to be done about that when the show came out almost 15 years ago, and it's not really the show's fault.

Sound - 10:

Every aspect of the sound design, from OST BGM, sound effects and voice acting, has a clear purpose and thought behind it to convey emotion in the best way possible.

The OST is absolutely beautiful, and scenes are always appropriately tracked. The music only enhances the visuals, and ultimately ensures the viewer is enraptured by the episode taking place. A personal favourite moment for me was in the climax of the Noppera-bou arc, where our main character is questioning our Mononoke of the episode - the swelling melancholic violins and the sound effects used truly "make" that episode - if they had gone with other music, or sound design, I do not think it would be as impactful to the viewer.

I do not recall any of the sound effects used as being grating, annoying, or out of place - in fact, I'd argue the sound effects of Mononoke are used appropriately, and quite memorable (the chime of the scale, the thud of the wooden door segue, the chattering teeth of the sword).

The main character, the Medicine Seller, speaks in a calm, methodical, and almost- slow? fashion, and this manner of speech highlights how almost otherworldly he is. It's a great touch, and something I think should be noted!

Character - 9:

I honestly want to give this a ten, but I'm kind of wavering.. is it weird to give every category a ten? We have our main character, the Medicine Seller - beautiful design, quite mysterious - we do not learn much of him, though to be quite honest anything left out is something you do not need to know; and it's fun pondering the blanks. Who is he, really? What, if any, are his connections to the Mononoke and Ayakashi? How did he get his sword? Possibly these are answered in Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales, but as I've not seen it, I'm going based solely off Mononoke.

As every other character only appears in each corresponding arc, I won't list them all; but ultimately there is quite a varied cast of characters with believable motivations.

Enjoyment - 10:

Before watching Mononoke, if you had asked me what my favourite anime was, I would not have a definitive answer. I have thoroughly enjoyed some admittedly trash-tier anime, and highly rated anime I engaged with deeply, but may not have the enjoyment factor (think Grave of the Fireflies; amazing piece of media, I will never watch it again!). I am incredibly pleased I can now confidently answer that question with Mononoke! It truly has it all - beautiful visuals, compelling story arcs, intrigue, thought-out sound design and purposeful direction.

One of the best anime in the present era.

This is literally a piece of art, both in a literary and visual sense. Since the aesthetic effects are easier to describe, I'll start there. The art and sound follow a semi-traditional Japanese style, but with modern twists here and there. The art makes Mononoke something distinctly different from all the other anime in the world (except the last bit of Ayakashi, I suppose). It also really helps bring out the incredibly high level of disturbance that defines the plot of Mononoke.

The story of Mononoke is about a mysterious medicine seller with crazy but limited powers who ... goes around and slays demons known as Mononoke or Ayakashi. In order to do so, he must find the Form, Truth, and Regret of the monster (a very unique idea, in my opinion).

There are five or so plots, each about 2-3 episodes each, totaling to 12 episodes of Mononoke. What makes the story amazing also brings it down, though. The tales are very, very confusing, bringing the mood of the anime to an almost surreal sense. In fact, the more you think about it, the less answers you'll find. I don't know if what the makers have done is justified by "artistic license", because it frankly is very hard to follow and doesn't make much sense. That being said, the story also makes you think very hard to find some well-hidden symbolism, so it's definitely not a passive anime that you can just watch and be done with.

Overall, the story is really cool but confusing, the art and sound are unique and well done, and the medicine seller and his abilities are a praiseworthy concept. This anime brings a new definition to an old genre (horror) and I recommend that you go and see why that is.

Mononoke

This anime is truly something on an entirely different level. No silly, it’s not Princess Mononoke from Studio Ghibli, it’s on a different spectrum of anime! Mononoke is harrowing, scary, intense and one of the best visual experiences I’ve ever seen. I’m going to have trouble explaining it, because honestly, even after a week has passed since I’ve seen it, I still can’t make out what the heck I just watched.

Before I even begin, Mononoke follows the tales of someone called the Medicine Seller and yes, that’s the only name we’re ever given throughout the 12 episodes, he sells medicine, buuuut not at all. The ... format of Mononoke mimics that of Mushishi and even the Medicine Seller reminds me of Ginko. It’s not episodic, it’s more like…. Arc-based, some arcs last two episodes, others last three, so I can’t call this format of anime episodic at all. Medicine Seller travels to places where he believes Mononoke reside in, similar to how Ginko travels the world and helps out people with Mushishi problems; though the stark difference is that with Ginko, we sort of have an idea about the resounding world, in Mononoke however, Medicine Seller just appears at these places (As in, the episode already starts with events in motion).

So Medicine Seller is a Ginko type of person and the world isn’t really explained. On top of all this the Medicine Seller himself is rather strange, he chooses his words extremely carefully, to the point of only saying a few phrases, at most a couple paragraphs an episode, honestly, the guy just doesn’t talk much. He’s also unfazed by the events that occur around him and it’s… so bad ass. The way he reacts to things is just astounding. So he’s not really a Medicine Seller, in-fact he seems hell-bent on destroying Mononoke (I’ll get to it in a moment, I promise!!), but for good reason. Mononoke, from what I was able to comprehend, are Ayakashi that have latched onto a human emotion…. or rather, a specific emotion that is incredibly strong, like deep hatred, regret and things like that (all dark emotions). Now the Ayakashi, from what I was able to understand, are like demons, they’re powerful, similar to gods, but not quite. Mononoke on the other hand are like Ayakashi, since they emerge from them, but they are considered god-like and could be considered above gods in power. Now not all Ayakashi are evil creatures, in-fact we meet one in the 2nd arc that starts on Episode 3, but…. Well I’ll let you experience that harrowing event.
What’s even more interesting about this Medicine Seller is what he carries around with him, it’s like a huge Medicine cabinet, but one of its’ contents is a sword; more specifically the Sword of Exorcism; now this sword is super crazy, it requires three things about the Mononoke, its’ true form, its’ regret and its’ truth, once all these things are known, the sword will unleash itself from its’ own sheath and honestly…. what happens when all those things are known, the way the sword looks, I’ll just leave that for all you to witness and experience because it’s craaaaazy. I was going to screen cap what happens to the Medicine Seller when these events occur, but that’s a spoiler and should totally be experienced naturally without spoilers. It’s not even explained what happens, the sword and the Medicine Seller; don’t expect to know what the heck is going on, which is quite a shame because it would probably be mind shattering material.

Now the stories within Mononoke are……uhm…… I can’t even describe them. At first I thought they were Japanese legends or Japanese mythology or something, but doing some quick Google-fu, not much comes up. Like… I mean I was blown away at the contents that I witnessed. The first arc throws you into the world fast, the 2nd arc does some more exposition, but not enough at all and the consequent arcs just go crazier and crazier, I would honestly expect no one to really know what’s going on. It looks like there are manga for this anime too, but I’m unsure if things are better explained there too. It’s not just the crazy stories, it’s how they’re solved/handled, now of course the Medicine Seller kills the Mononoke and he is 100% unfazed by the events; but he’s not that important, it’s the supports. These people have no idea what’s going on and the way they’re shown to us, eyes moving sporadically, shivering, gasping for air because of shock, sweat pouring down their faces, shivering in place, crying uncontrollably, it’s harrowing, it’s so ridiculous and I had full-body goose bumps throughout the entire anime, it gets even crazier and then my eyes tear up, like…. What did I just watch? I had my brother watch the first arc……… he came back with the biggest what the heck face in the world and that seems to be the norm.

Now one of the best things about Mononoke is the absolutely insane art style it uses; it’s drawn on what appears to be Rice Paper (not my words, my brother thinks this is the case). It’s super unique because you can actually see the grains on the paper, like it looks hand-made and things. The colors are wild and the animation to go along with it is just as insane. Things like the snow and wind and rain are animated differently than you would expect. They’re not realistically depicted in Mononoke, instead they’re visualized in a way that you wouldn’t ever expect; rain doesn’t fall down straight, it goes down, wind blows a droplet so it takes a 90 degree turn to a new position and then continues to fall towards the ground, snow looks bizarre, the wind is visualized as air streaks accompanied by flowers; it’s beautiful, but it has this Mononoke darkness looming over it. I normally don’t do this, but I feel like I should when I talk about art styles, I’ll have a few samples from Episode 3 below, to show off what I mean about this insane style for art, it’s jaw dropping-ly good and 100% the most unique type of art I have ever seen, like… ever.

The music in Mononoke is…. well it’s what you’d expect from an anime that has an arc about …. Ahhh I wish I could tell you. It’s spine tingly good, it’s somber and dark, but somewhat soothing and smooth. The instruments, the overall choreography of the music and the animation/scenes that we witness, it aligns so freaking well. I have no words, expect the sound design in Mononoke to send chills up your spine, I’m almost positive it will happen. The OP is good, but it’s the ED I really like; I’ll just leave a link of the ED here for you all to listen =).

I was told about Mononoke a long while ago about an anime that was different from anything else, so off base from what you’d ever watch and honestly, it is just crazy. From what I can tell, (thank you Wikipedia), Mononoke is a spin off series from a horror series titled Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales, and after watching Mononoke, I’m pretty sure I need to watch this one too. I will tell you right now, your head will spin trying to understand what’s going on with the story, but watching some of the earlier episodes again, Mononoke has so much detail in the words and backgrounds and actions of the characters that if you really pay attention, you might be able to figure out the plots really early on, but honestly, you’ll be caught off-guard and stay off-guard. It’s beautiful, it’s ridiculous and it is by far a most definite must watch for people looking for something not moe, not cute, no lolis and something rather serious. (Just watch something happy and cute after this)

NOTE: Holy crap, I didn’t research the word Ayakashi until just now….. it is based on Japanese Mythology and…. yeah supernatural monsters and things, so holy crap at that.

This is the story of an onmyōji... ...meant to say, but a simple medicine seller...

If you enjoyed Ayakashi, you'll love Mononoke, if you didn't like Ayakashi very much, but like the last arc, you'll love Mononoke ;)

Story (10): It's basically about this mysterious and laconic medicine seller that travels the world looking for mononoke to eradicate, yet, he has a very deep and thoughtful way of solving things, many times acting as an spectator and making humans around him unsure of his own motivations to act. Yet I most say it's not for all the public, it's stories show the worst of mankind and ... often talk about very morbid sides of it, so beware of many suggestive topics.

Art (10): Very unique, fits perfectly with the traditional horror feeling and the details and color are simply gorgeous. The charcters look very disturbing sometimes, but I think it's a great way to convey the temperament or feelings in each character, as well as all the details involved in each picture.

Sound (10): The music, sound and voices, just like in ayakashi, convey perfectly the whole feeling of the anime.

Character (10): Very original and well developed, specially Kusuriuri, got to say this guy is one of my favorite characters of all times. Sometimes he gives you the creeps, while trying to figure what's happening behind his eyes and other times, you have to smile for his soft, ironic or cool side.

Enjoyment (10): If you like mistery and deep reflexions about life and beings, and are not afraid of taking a look at the morbid side of people, you'll love it, I could hardly keep from watching it all at once.

Mononoke is a supernatural, fantasy, historical horror series that came out in 2007. It was brought to us by our old friends at Toei animation. That's right, the studio behind Kuuchuu Bruranko and a lot of people's first anime with franchises like Dragonball and Sailor Moon. I've been told that this one is really good so let's have a look and see if that is the case.

Story:

We follow a “simple” medicine seller as he goes from place to place and hunts down mononoke. Which are a form of ayakashi, not the princess. The series gives us five short stories, each one lasting two or three ... episodes, about the medicine seller getting into some strange situation caused by a mononoke and seeking out its shape, truth and reasoning so that he can exorcise it. It's kind of reminiscent of Mushishi, which isn't a bad thing.

The only real narrative problem with the series is that it can get repetitive. Not in terms of the set ups or anything like that. Rather, the resolutions are a bit repetitious. Our Medicine Seller finds the mononoke's shape, truth & reasoning, draws the blade of exorcism and then he briefly talks to the audience. Although, in all fairness, there are exceptions where he ends up not drawing the blade but those stories where he does get kind of reiterative in their resolutions.

Still, that's a fairly minor complaint given how many things the series does well. It's really good at setting up interesting scenarios and at developing those scenarios in a way that keeps you interested. The pacing is also really well done. The series takes its time to build things up and really delve into a situation before moving into the action. The whole necessity of getting information about the mononoke really benefits the series in that respect. I also do like the way the series handles the medicine seller directly addressing the audience. They basically present the series as though it's a play with the way they use transitions and the medicine seller's final bits of dialogue when closing a story. It's a decision that could have very easily gone wrong, but the execution here is superb and it really works to its utmost, or close to it.

Characters:

Each story has its own cast with the only reoccurring character being the unnamed medicine seller. This is another aspect that could have very easily not worked. Since the medicine seller is, in many ways, an archetypical trickster character. He doesn't let anything agitate him and always seems to be in control of a given situation. You never feel like he's in any real danger. However, what makes the character not just work, but work really superbly, is a combination of the play aesthetic and the fact that he devotes so much time to information gathering without any real concern for protecting the ordinary people who are caught up in the situation. Usually because there's some karmic element involved. He'll warn people and give them advice, but he's more interested in unravelling the facts. I also do appreciate the way that every single side character has some contribution to make to the narrative. The side characters also do have relatable factors surrounding them. A lot of them aren't good people, but they have enough complexity that you can understand them and why they've made the decisions they have.

Art:

The artwork in this is an interesting case. Toei elected to make the artwork evocative of illustrated manuscripts. They were very meticulous about it with the character designs, backgrounds and even the colour palette. It doesn't look like many other anime but in a way that's dynamic and interesting. There is also something vaguely disconcerting about the more intense animation when paired with that art style which, ultimately, pairs well with the writing aesthetic. The imagery can also be pretty disturbing when it needs to be. The transitional artwork is really well handled, tying in with the theatrical feel nicely.

Sound:

There are a lot of really strong performances in this series. Yukana, Tanaka Rie, Wakamoto Norio & Midorikawa Hikaru to name a few. The strongest performance, though, comes from our protagonist voiced by Sakurai Takahiro. That's right, Cloud Strife, Rockman X, Kururugi Suzaku, Endou Kazuki, Okada Joe, Osomatsu & a whole bunch of other characters. The music was handled by Takanashi Yasuharu. The same composer who worked on Shiki & Gantz. He does a really good job. His music for this really supplements the art and narrative style. Which helps forge a really strong atmosphere.

Ho-yay:

There isn't any in this series.

Final Thoughts:

So, was this series as good as I'd been told? Honestly, I'd say that it is. It has an amazing narrative with intriguing characters, coupled with art and music that complement the narrative style and excellent acting. All in all, I do recommend this one & I have to give it an enthusiastic 9/10. Next week's review will be for another Toei production, Futari wa Precure: Max Heart Movie 2- Yukizora no Tomodachi.

I’ll admit I’ve never been keen on anime with a strong sense of art house artistry. I’m talking about the visually strange shows with unnaturally colored objects, settings designed like an abstract picture, or characters who move and look like something from a manga instead of anime. They give a sense of arrogance that they need nothing else so long as they have unique aesthetics.

Mononoke does not have this arrogance.

The show follows an enigma known as the Medicine Seller as he wanders feudal Japan and exorcises evil spirits known as mononoke. To do so, he must uncover the mononoke’s Shape, Truth, and Reason. Despite its ... mystical trappings, every mystery in Mononoke feels realistic. That is, they’re more about the people plagued by them than the mononoke themselves. Every spirit slain is prefaced by at least one other person whose secrets are revealed.

It’s this detective work on each ‘client’ that the Medicine Seller shows a penchant for exposing skeletons in the closet. His knowledge on the occult is matched by his intuition on other people, and perhaps eclipsed by his perpetual calm and facetious tone. In other words, the guy is hot shit and he knows it. How he became this way is never explained, but knowing the story behind that disinterested wit is secondary to the lives of the people he encounters.

From the inability to admit one’s fears to the paranoia of inadvertent sin, the show’s greatest strength is when it revels in its characters’ crippling weaknesses. Their every motive, every action, and every fault is mercilessly uncovered, and by the end of each mystery we know them better than we know the Medicine Seller. And yet, they’re not sympathetic but uncomfortably familiar. They’re reminiscent of the monsters we can easily be.

This is horror.

Horror is not about a bloodbath soaked with jump scares. Horror is the examination of the human condition as its furtive faults grant an uncanny power to do the unthinkable. It unleashes a despicable flurry whether we’re willingly heinous or acting out of desperation. This is something many horror films today fail to comprehend, but a truth that Mononoke lives by.

The show reinforces this truth through its visual direction. It rarely hides its horrors in the cover of darkness, forcing us to confront them where we think we’re safe. From unnaturally round eyes to a toothed mask, the show has no qualms about being too obvious in its frights. But rather than illicit groans of ‘get on with it!,’ it dredges a powerless feeling as if saying ‘we’re ruining your life and there’s nothing you can do about it.’

Adding to the visceral visuals is an atmospheric sound design. Empty hallways are lined with children’s laughter to unnerving effect. Chatter and banter play from a still picture to reflect a woman’s detachment from her own life. The rumbling of a train’s track traversing rises and falls with the tension of who the story focuses on. The show doesn’t lack music, but prefers mood. It ‘speaks’ with minimal effort for maximum effect.

If I had to point out one thing I didn’t like, it’s how each mystery varies in quality from one to the other, especially ‘Faceless Monster’ and ‘Japanese Chimera.’ The former treads ground the first two mysteries already covered, making it very formulaic. The latter either has no examination of the human condition, or one so understated that it’s out of place entirely. But the quality difference between each mystery is a pittance when the show is still good even at its worst. I might as well say ‘I didn’t enjoy this luxurious train ride as much as I enjoyed this luxurious cruise ship.’

This is what I mean by Mononoke not being arrogant. It knows it needs more than a unique look if it wants to be fondly remembered. There’s a conscious effort to want to make a good story as well as make the aesthetics its own. It knows it wants to be horror, and it knows what horror truly is. Through it all, more than anything else, Mononoke is simply an emotionally resonant piece.

Who knew a story about spirits could feel so human?

[general]
This series is a spin-off from the thrid arc of Ayakashi~Classic Japanese Horror, Bakeneko.

[storyline]
It is made up of 5 main stories, each spanning 2-3 episodes. All of which deals with the concept of mononoke, a spirit that combines with strong negative human emotions, becoming a malevolent being that creates trouble. The tone of the story is pretty serious, and usually manage to create the sense of tension desired. Most of the stories are very interesting, though sometimes confusing. But if you can take sometime to work out the flow of the story, it actually makes alot of sense.

[music]
The sound effects in this series are probably ... worth more than the actual music, because in most scenes it's the silence that does most of the work. An appropriate sound effect simply enhances the whole errie atmosphere. In terms of OP and ED songs, I can't say I liked it, but it somehow fits to the weird tune of the whole show.

[characters]
Do not expect nice looking characters. Because most of the characters inside are, by general anime standards, ugly. But one main purpose of the stories is bringing out the ugliness in human nature, so the appearance of the characters actually serve to enhance the entire visual experience and well, it worked for me. The main character is certainly good-looking, but rather in the odd way. And the main attraction from this protagonist actually lies in his demeour, which is certainly unique whichever way you look at it.

[animation]
Another main attraction factor of this show. The bold and imaginative approach towards the animation takes a big step away from the usual Toei animation style. In fact, it's pretty much different from almost all of the styles out there. The only similar one i can think of is gonzo's Gankutsuou, the count of monte cristo. But Mononoke takes the style further- it focuses a lot on the 2D elements, the job here is no longer making it seem realistic or even anime-like, but rather make it into a piece of art, with an abstract edge. The vibrant palette brings out the gaudy nature of the characters and story, while the animation experiments with pace, style and an entirely different form of art.

[in the end]
So, why should you watch this if you're looking for something different? Well, basically the style- the way of storytelling and the art in this show is simply different and a pretty risky venture. In the sense you'll either love it all or hate it. For me, it is one of my top horror shows, where you'll feel the tension and fear not from the usual black-shadow-at-the-back-and-blood-all-over-the-place scenes but rather from the oddly paced story and effective pauses in dialogue. And of course, not forgetting the weirdly vibrant colours, which at times seems gaudy, but seemingly fits into the picture just fine. Just watching this show for the effects of storytelling would be more than worth your time.

Mononoke, the sequel of Ayakashi: Horror Classics
Story: 8.4 - Art: 9.6 - Sound 8 - Character 8.4 - Enjoyment: 7.5 - Overall: 8.2

Story:
Kusuriuri is just an "ordinary" medicine seller (not really.) He travels about Japan, searching for spirits called Mononoke. In order kill them, he must learn its truth, form and regret/reason. He meets a lot of interesting characters, though the adventure switches about every 4th episode. ^-^

Art: The artstyle is incredible. If you are looking to try something new, bizarre, and amazing, I really, really recomend this anime!

This anime can also be greatly disturbing to some viewers, while it is very amazing to the ... majority, and most people will be amazed by the horror of this anime! It will be an amazing trip!

Character: Mainly Kusuriuri. (Just him.) If you love calm, cool characters who keeps their cool almost at all times, like L, Jin, and Sakamoto, you will love Kusuriuri! He is pretty much calm at all situations, even at death threatening, violent situations!

THIS ANIME IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Mononoke presents an artistically unique series of eerie ghost stories. Each story arc is akin to a mini detective novel, the central aspect of which is always an otherworldly spirit’s form, truth and regret. When all these mysteries are solved, the “medicine seller”s power is unleashed, and the mononoke may finally be put to rest.

The “medicine seller”, our mysterious main character, is never named, but always present. As each mononoke (a type of evil spirit) appears, only through him are the characters able to exorcise it, but first, our ‘heroes’ must find its form, truth, and regret. Each arc takes us through a new set ... of characters, new scene, and new mononoke, as the medicine seller calmly discovers the three aspects. From unborn babies to unearthly cats, each story entwines a unique set of terrified and utterly flawed characters with an equally disturbed spirit.

Mononoke is a curious series. On the one hand, its eccentric artistry and historical influences mixed with occult mystery makes for a wonderfully enveloping experience. However, I must admit that if one is looking to follow deep and complex characters, I’m not sure they’d find that here. Instead, we are given message driven stories, as if to produce a modern expression of ancient yet quaint Japanese myths and fairytales.

We certainly have a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The medicine seller’s mannerisms and dress make for a memorable character, and the search for the form, truth, and regret of each mononoke is deeply immersive. I found myself glued to the screen more than once in giddy anticipation as to how the mystery would unfold.

Add to that the gorgeous visuals, bringing such a powerful dimension with traditional Japanese artistry as the inspiration. The show easily spirits you away to a different time and place, away from the overdone landscape of the modern Tokyo area to a new envisionment of historic Japan, as if looking directly into an oriental tapestry.

Enjoyment, however, is only one side of the coin. To have memorable impact as a series, one hopes that the plot or characters touch us deeply, embedding seeds of wisdom deep within our minds, pulsing with sentiment. Mononoke is one such series that skirts the edge of this line. Each character and story holds close the potential to express something profound, but it takes at least a nudge of effort to come to understanding them. The dazzling displays and engrossing mystery within the series can actually be to the determent of the story’s moral trying to be expressed. It becomes up to the viewer to choose which aspect they’d like to gain out of the series, and perhaps with close enough attention, glean just a tad of both.

Conclusion:

Easily one of the more unique offerings in the field of anime, Mononoke is for anyone looking for something just that much different, especially from the artistic perspective.

Japanese sense of beaty is a sakura(cherry blossom)-leave on the crumbling surface of a calm mountain sea. It is the soft and inspiring silk of a kimono so perfected that you stare endlessly onto it's pattern.

And Mononoke is japanese beauty at it's finest.

If an art professor would tell me that anime is stupid and childish, overexaggurated and that the same motives are repeated again and again, I would screm:

"NO! Here watch this and see..." and hand him one copy of Mononoke.

Because it is art and something unlike anything you have seen before.
The animation is untouched. The whole style of the anime is inspired by old ... japanese paintings and classic japanese paper theater, while the story covers traditional ghost tales and the concept as a whole is so fitting. With the sounds of Kabuki added, you get a psychedelic adventure where nearly every still is breathankingly beautiful
.
Oh and the main character is so freaking cool. I'm talking about overpowered seinen coolness here and his style. His style, his voice, his actions. It all screams: "GODLIKE!"

I finished Mononoke yesterday night. 24 hours after starting it. And I'm gonna start again now with episode 1. Because this was the greatest anime I have ever seen.

Horror can take many forms. In this day and age, it seems like a relentless, blood lusted slaughter, jump scares abound, and stories that don't really matter, so long as the content tries to shock or scare people.
Let's look at it in another light. I myself am quite neutral to such things, but I can understand when the constant barrage of mediocre sameness can get... Tiring..... Mononoke is simply wonderful, for how it manages to be scary, calming, thoughtful, disturbing and artistic without ever seeming forced.
The series is composed into several short tales. The takes consist of the curious ... Medicine Seller, an intriguing man who for the most part, lies in much mystery, and who carries a sword, something only Samurais do during the time period he is in. If you are expecting to have in depth back story for this character, then you will be sad to find that there really isn't any. To the characters credit, however, they are themselves quite fascinating, and that air of mystery surrounding the character does work more for them then against, as much as I would have liked to know more about such a person.
The main characters in each tale, however, will have enough back story covered for them to give then a motive and a reason for what they have done and are doing. The stories have a theme going through them, in a sense that the Medicine Seller has to get rid of demons, essentially, in a certain way. He cannot go in and kill them straight out with his sword. He must find answers to certain driving forces before he has the ability to use his weapon. This mechanic is essentially the driving narrative of the show, helping us explore the characters and what is happening around them.
Now, onto the driving visuals for the show, as it were...It just looks.... So.... Stunning! Have you ever seen chiyogami paper? Those incredibly colorful sheets full of intricate patterns, high detail, and have a variety of designs to show? Do a google search, I insist. The show doesn't hold back at all in coloring its peculiar eastern folklore inspired world with as much style as it can do. This even extends to the characters, as most everyone besides the Medicine Seller himself looks rather...Off. The protagonist himself is quite handsome in a way, especially when compared to everyone else. Whether this is a way to drive home the point that he is quite unusual, or that everyone else is rather odd is up to interpretation. He contrasts so much with everyone that he almost seems like he doesn't fit into the show, which helps contribute to the bizarre feel of the series.
The music fits the atmosphere perfectly to what is happening at a given moment. It is gentle when needs to be, and thunderous when required. The opening is both fitting to the feel of the show and somehow feels not quite right. Give it a few listens and decide yourself.
The animation itself is quite good. While you won't be seeing the most amazing action sequences and such, it can boost it up when it really needs to, and the amazing style really helps in this department. You'll be going back to some scenes again because you had missed something previously.
The biggest complaint I really have for the show is that...It isn't long enough! Honestly, it is a shame that such a wonderful anime only gets a mere 12 episodes. This would seem more fitting for a 20-ish series, and even an average of a 50 ish episode anime wouldn't be a bad choice, considering that the show can do so much with the creativity it has available to it. I will admit that this show would not be to everyones tastes, however, so as usual, the most profitable audience is the every person audience, something that this show isn't likely to garner to. A minor complaint is never finding out much about our intelligent...Protagonist. The Medecine Seller is a good blend of calm, humorous and observing. The things he can do is also worth a look into, and to what exactly he is. Due to the short nature of the show, it doesn't feel like we got...Burned, as it were. The mystery of him does add to the intrigue, after all.
This series receives a marvelous score of 9. Watch it when you can, and buy it if possible. If more people discover this secretive jewel of the anime world, perhaps more people would open up to the possibilities of anime being an excellent storytelling medium.

Mononoke is an experimental abundance of art, tragedy, horror and it dares to be different making it an interesting watch.

The art is by far the best aspect of Mononoke. All the clothes, surroundings and sometimes even faces are covered with color. On top of that there appears to be a grainy texture covering all of it which also doesn’t seem to move, as if a colorful drawing were to be covered with a transparent sheet with multiple scattered smudges of white and grey.

When the story of an arc fails to be mind blowing, the art makes up for it as I get lost ... in the beauty of the visuals. It was much like Gankutsuou but it had a more dispersed variety of color.

The stories of every arc are simple and some quite common but are packed with loads of emotions. But what makes them so different and great? Well, that’s where the Mononoke come in. The idea of Mononoke and a lot of mythical Japanese creatures make it seem like it’s very unique and makes it stand out a lot. None of the stories hold back and are brutal, dealing with the ‘harsh’ truth and many depressing realities of life although in a very exaggerated way.

The downfall of this anime is that it tires way too hard to show it’s viewers that it’s outrageous and sometimes forces the viewers to feel the emotions that it wants them too. It repeatedly drags things out and tries to make them as dramatic as possible to be extremely dark. It told more than it showed. It would have been even better if the darkness was conveyed mostly through their actions and the plot but it has a habit of repeating things in the form of dialogues or random sound effects to make the matter at hand obvious to the viewer so they recognize the unbelievable situation.

Each arc was however quite different from the previous one and each has it’s own speciality. What was best about them was that they completely absorbed me into the intense story. Each arc was nerve wrecking and I wouldn’t be able to look away for even a mere second. It told simple stories in a very hyped, complexed and brilliant way. The beauty of it lies not in what it had to say but how it said it.

I enjoyed it to a great extent though. It was as if reading about ancient Japanese folklore and it had this sense of mystery and suspense topped with stunning art and it’s own way of doing things.

As a horror fan, I like to say that Mononoke brought out the traditional fortification of Japanese horror. Following an unknown handsome person named the "medicine seller" you go a series of encounter with demons.

The artwork is traditionally exotic and breath taking. The story is very analytical and psychological. The music is excellent too. However if more info about the protagonist should be revealed.

Must watch for horror fans.

For me, Mononoke feels to be a true masterpiece. It's strange, I didn't want to watch it first... I just saw the animation, and it seemed too absurd, too colourful, also the main character was weird... and then I started it with two friends, and in three episodes, I grew to love the series.

The art is still weird, but the best type of weird you can imagine. Like an old japanese painting, which suddenly came to life, and started to move, you could stop it any time, and you would get an amazing picture. It is tiring for the eyes because of the colours, but ... I was absolutely stunned by the weird beauty of some scenes.

And there is an amazing soundtrack as well, perfectly matching with what you see. I listened to it many times since I finished the series, and it was worth, since now I can really appreciate it, outside the story as well. Sometimes it is dark, mysterious, and sometimes simply uplifting, but anyway, one of the best soundtrack I ever heard. If I remember well, it is composed by the same person, who composed the soundtrack of Naruto Shippuuden... Well, he did an amazing job in both series.

The story is really dark, and it is horror, but not the kind of horror that tries to scare you. You will be afraid, you will feel nervous, but it is totally because of the atmosphere. The world Mononoke portrays is crazy, full of human greed, secrets, horrible fates, and decisions... it is a morbid, and dark tale not really about demons and a demon hunter, but humans themselves. I wouldn't say it is enjoyable... but you won't be able to stop watching it, and you will think a lot on it days, and weeks after you finished the series.

And last, but not least, the characters. We know awfully little about the main character, we can create theories, but no real information, and what's great about Mononoke, is that he is still amazing, without name, without past. I really grown to like his character, because he has a dark, cynical sense of humor, and a strange character development, which can only be realised, if you watch the bakeneko arc from the ayakashi series... there, you can see the Medicine Seller as a younger, much more inexperienced demon hunter, who still believes in humans, who really wants to save people, and even can get exited over facts... and then you see the person he becomes by the end of this series, and it's really sad. You can see, from story to story how he loses faith in humanity, and starts to care less and less, to the point where he doesn't really want to save anyone anymore. And besides this character, there are many interesting figures in every story, who are all too human. They are sometimes understandable, sometimes it is plain horrible what they've done and why did they do it, but they are all totally unique and interesting characters, perfect for their roles in the story.

All in all, this is an outstanding anime in every way. If you tolerate a darker story, which will have a deep impact on you, then I suggest you start it. For me, it's one of my favourites by far.

Mononoke was an absolute treat to watch, and I wish I could unsee it just so I could have the pleasure of discovering each episode for the first time again.

This show was outside my usual preferred genres, but I checked it out because I happened upon a crazy looking screenshot that caught my interest with its many colors. I didn't expect to like it much, yet from the first episode I was hooked.

The first thing that jumps out at the viewer is the art style. The unique color combinations, character designs, and crinkly paper filter give Mononoke and aesthetic like no other. Each episode introduces ... some new elements that flex the creators' artistic thoughtfulness, whether it be snow that zig zags to the ground, bodies flashing technicolor as they die, or my favorite "guru, guru, guru, guru" shots. As I begun each new episode, I was excited to see what the artists' had in store for me this time. I was impressed every time.

The music is composed by the legendary Yasuharu Takanashi, who I believe is the master of horror scores. He was the perfect choice for this anime, as his touch gives the series a believable sense of magic and allure. There is a fine mix of brooding traditional instrumentals and intense climactic fight songs to fit the escalation of each episode.

The Medicine Vendor is, in all respects, badass. He was a protagonist I could root for like the star quarterback on my home football team. While many people may want a character who is struggling with inner demons and challenged by daunting circumstances, I was quite content to watch Kusuriuri effortlessly whoop demon ass with a calm smile in every episode. It was honestly pretty cathartic. On the one hand, I wish we learned more about his background and motives (although I'm sure that's probably explained in Samurai Horror Tails, which I've yet to watch) but on the other hand, the mysterious confidence of this enigmatic nomad character is appealing as is.

While I usually don't like series with episodic plot structures, I found that I really enjoyed it here. I liked how every two or three episodes were contained stories, and that I could look forward to a totally new Mononoke and environment in the next arch. There was sort of a gratifying dramatic irony every time the Medicine Vendor was introduced in a new setting, gawked at by the confused side characters, and as the viewer I'm thinking, "oh boy, these people have no idea what's coming for them."

This is really one of my all time favorites, and I recommend it to anyone with an open mind and an eye for art.

Okay, so I had been putting off watching Mononoke for a long, long time. I watched the first episode at the suggestion of a friend, thought it was cool, and put it on my list of things to watch. Big mistake! I wish I had watched this anime years ago because it is so, [i]so[/i] worth the watch. Easily one of the best anime I've seen in a long time.

Story: So, the way the story works is that it centers around the adventures of the Medicine Seller as he travels around exorcising evil mononoke. The series is slightly episodic in that there's no overarching plot, ... so much as a set of five mini-arcs that are each about two/three episodes long. This might sound boring or not worth the time to those who prefer plot and long story arcs, but don't be mistaken: despite the mini-arc aspect, each arc is extremely interesting and each has its own unique plot with twists and turns the whole way through. It really keeps the viewer guessing right on the edge of their seat. Honestly, to me, it was excellent.

Art: I've seen some comments that the art is off-putting to viewers, but for me, I thought this was absolutely beautiful, based off of classic Japanese artowrk. It's a completely unique style that I've never seen before. My sister who watched the series with me said that it reminded her of a moving story book, and I think that this is quite accurate. Honestly, for me, the artwork was one of the best parts of the series, and I absolutely adored it. Even if it's off-putting at first for those who aren't expecting it, I think you'll come to appreciate it in the end.

Sound: The music, too, is extremely nice. Much of it is classic Japanese style, and it really aids in the development of the story and the suspense of the viewer. Really top notch; I loved it.

Character: Each mini-arc has its own unique set of characters for the most part, with the only constant being the Medicine Seller. That being said, I think that this helps to maintain the mystery surrounding the various stories, and despite the short presence of each of the characters, they go through almost as many changes as the plot does, so it's all very dynamic. Also, the mystery surrounding the Medicine Seller himself is very helpful to the story, because while watching, I often found myself wondering if he really was a 'good' guy. Just watch the series and you'll see what I mean.

I think by now if you're still reading this review, you can surely tell that I greatly enjoyed this series. I really wish that I had watched it sooner instead of putting it off, because I really think it's great. I pretty much found myself watching it all in one sitting because I couldn't bring myself to stop. Very riveting. Overall, I'm rating this one a 10 out of 10.

It's a very interesting serie for every fan of horrors. It's continuation of last story from anime "Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror" made because of number of fans of main character - Ksuriuri.

First thing which you see is art. At start it can be difficult to watch because, to be honest, it's weird. For sure someone was hay or drunk, that would be your first thought. But it's very importatnt part of it. Colours, shapes and everyting... It's scary even when you don't think about plot. Colour are light, but sometimes disturbing. Bacgroung tends to move, when characters are not, face are expressive. It's like in ... traditional Japaneese paintings. It is impossible to describe by words.

Plot. In this anime are four or five short two- or three-episode stories, every one with diffrent characters, problem and place. The only one which you always see is Ksuriuri, someone whose aim is killing a kind of demons called "mononoke". To kill them he needs to know how they were created, how they look and what happened in the past - than he can do something more. He's more a viever than anything else and he doesn't really participate in fights and problems till end. He's trying to find answers and persuade people to admit what happened. Episodes mostly focus on those stories, psychology of characters and their motives. You dive deep into human psyche to find out what's in there.

It is a scary anime, so if you don't like stuff like this don't even start it. But it's a very, very good anime. Masterpice for me, fan of horrors. Oh, and if you don't like controversial (I hope I wrote it correctly?) topics you can omit first case. I can't tell what is it about, but at first it shocked me a bit and it can discourage you to watch the rest of them.

Sound.
I wasn't a fan of opening at start, but know I think taht it's really good (and even more insane that rest). I don't really care about music, so I won't tell much, expecially that I know nothing about this topic.

Character.
I've already spoken about Ksuriuri, so here I'll tell something about otehr characters. They seem to be real, they have feeling and you can really understand why they did something and how they did feel. This anime is basicly about them - mononoke is created by human feelings so that is the main subject.

So I can honestly tell that it's amazing, and worth of spending time watching it.

Sorry for mistakes, but English is not my first language. Please, forgive :) If you notice any, don't hestitate and write me about it.

Alright onto the review, I'll try to be objective as i can, somewhat.

Story:
The overall plot is this medicine seller going around and being a badass defeating mononoke. That's the simple answer to "what's the story?" The deeper analysis are each story arc itself. The medicine seller goes around places encountering mononoke.

Art:
Something mononoke does very well. The color use and art style itself is different from many modern and old animes as well, it's unique and something i really enjoyed myself.

Sound:
The medicine sellers VA is great, that mono tone voice just sets the mood of the anime, ofc expressing emotions when needed. I ... really enjoy the OP soundtrack, its something i could listen to repeatedly.

Characters:
Now this is admittedly a weak point of mononoke, it doesn't do much to develop the medicine seller, there is "just enough" told about him, but in mononoke's defense i think this is what they were going for. A mysterious unknown medicine seller that slays mononoke. Now the mononoke themselves are fleshed out through the 3-4 ep arcs, you get to learn about them and why they are that way.

Enjoyment:
There's a lot to enjoy here from the story telling of each mononoke and how they were formed. To the people involved in the making of the mononoke. As well as for the medicine seller, i just find him a badass and enjoyable main character and he just fits the series great.