Mononogatari (Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari)

Saenome are tasked with sealing spirits that possess objects and pose a threat to society. Known as tsukumogami, these spirits are generally non-violent, and saenome normally seal them after a simple verbal exchange.

Traumatized by a previous deadly encounter with a malevolent spirit, Hyouma Kunato refuses to use peaceful methods and gets into physical confrontations with all tsukumogami that cross paths with him. Deeming this behavior unacceptable for a future clan leader, Hyouma's grandfather, Zouhei, proposes that he starts living with Botan Nagatsuki, a young woman whose family is composed of six tsukumogami—lest he be excommunicated.

Determined to track down the spirit that took everything from him, Hyouma reluctantly accepts Zouhei's proposal. As unknown groups of evil spirits begin to jeopardize the balance between worlds, the young man must gain the trust of Botan and overcome his hatred for her mysterious family.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Background

Mononogatari was released on Blu-ray in two volumes from April 5, 2023, to June 2, 2023.

Episode Videos

Episode 1

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Adaptation:	Mononogatari
Sequel:	Mononogatari 2nd Season

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Characters & Voice Actors

Nagatsuki, Botan

Main

Takada, Yuuki
Japanese

Kunato, Hyouma

Main

Ootsuka, Takeo
Japanese

Kadomori, Tsubaki

Supporting

Oonishi, Saori
Japanese

Yuu

Supporting

Ueda, Reina
Japanese

Kagami

Supporting

Tanaka, Aimi
Japanese

Kushige

Supporting

Haori

Supporting

Sawashiro, Miyuki
Japanese

Nagi

Supporting

Kobayashi, Chikahiro
Japanese

Hata

Supporting

Uchida, Yuuya
Japanese

Aogi

Supporting

Okino, Kouji
Japanese

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Staff

Oowada, Tomoyuki

Producer

Itou, Kaori

Producer

Kimoto, Junji

Producer

Muroichi, Gouto

Producer

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Opening Theme

"Koigoromo (恋衣)" by ARCANA PROJECT

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Ending Theme

"rebind" by TRUE

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Reviews

Mar 27, 2023

KANLen09

Mixed Feelings

Funny

You know that expression: "My dog ate my homework"? It's more like "Your dog attacked it", and became something different all at once.

Let's set the record straight for this show. If anyone of you is thinking that this is affiliated to NisiOisin's Monogatari series, it's clearly not that, OK? This is mangaka Onigunsou's Mono-NO-gatari, or more commonly referred to as Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari. The manga that started almost a decade earlier in 2014 to the present day with (as if this review) 15 volumes out, with Seven Seas's English translation of the manga coming out at the same time as the anime had just started ... airing on TV, it's definitely the telling of a "hidden work", something that didn't grow as big as it was in Japan. And I will be right to assume that its popularity, even in its home country, fits the moniker of the "under the radar" type of work that only some people will warrant an anime adaptation of it. Which is where we are now today with studio Bandai Namco Pictures's adaptation, courtesy of the kids series Aikatsu!'s franchise director Ryuichi Kimura.

If I have to take a gander of what Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari is similar to shows out there, it would be in the vein of a mish-mash fusion of authors Yuki Midorikawa's Natsume Yuujinchou a.k.a Natsume's Book of Friends and Kafka Asagiri's Bungou Stray Dogs to create this homey, spirit-filled, supernatural-based action mythology series. The way that Mononogatari utilizes its story plot by having the Tsukumogami spirits (or "marebito") cross over into the human world and possessing objects and gain a physical form, that is typical of similarity to a rather underground work: novelist Megumi Hatakenaka's Tsukumogami Kashimasu a.k.a We Rent Tsukumogami (which got an anime adaptation way back in 2018). But where the show breaks the line to make it unique, is that there is a system of regulation, in which exorcists (or Saenome) from clans will help to clear out the wandering spirits that pose a threat to society, negotiate a deal and seal them back to the spirit world in a non-violent state, avoiding destruction.

Such is the case for the MC: Hyoma Kunato, the next heir of the Kunato Saenome house, having a rather horrific experience with Tsukumogami as one such spirit laid waste to his siblings. And since then, he's had a bad rep of extreme hatred with the general Tsukumogami that approaches his way, being nonchalant about their existence and treating them like he would on just about every other Tsukumogami, be it violent or not. This raises concern for his grandfather Zohei, which in the process of grooming him to be the next Kunato Saenome house heir, notices his own grandson's unravelling and unacceptable behaviour, so much so that he fires him from their own house, and places him under the supervision of yet another Tsukumogami family: the Nagatsuki family of a very well-protected Tsukumogami family, along with their master, a young college student named Botan, to try and change his mindset on accepting and reconciliating with fellow Tsukumogami.

For a start, I'd agree with you that Hyoma Kunato...is kinda unlikable at best. The hard-headed, pessimistic MC who always wears a stern, unfazed reaction on his face, it's as though he wears a facade both inside and out, that's the same wherever he goes. But then again, it's due to his childhood trauma, so that's justified. It's only when he meets the head of the Nagatsuki family Botan, is where he would start to calm his senses down and begins to trust the Tsukumogami again, as depicted by her 6 most reliable benevolent spirits: Nagi, Yu, Kagami, Suzuri, with caretakers Haori and Kushige. The thing is, Botan is possessed by a marebito that is the target of most if not all Saenome factions, making her a highly valuable figure in the community. As such, she is protected by a neutrality law that prevents others from attacking her. And it's this notion that serves to teach Hyoma about the difference between good and bad Tsukumogami, to learn about what it means to be a heir of the future Tsukumogami that will be inducted into his Kunato clan.

For a show that places emphasis on story and character at first glance, Mono-NO-gatari is a story about redemption and reconciliation, not just for the subtle hints at trying to make characterization work in the first place. If anything, Hyoma is the basis of how authors back in the day, would inject a "sad, childhood-inflicted" story to show that there is some semblance of motivation to keep the MC going about on his/her train of thought. Plus, the small amount of comedy gags in here, it felt like a haphazard effort at trying to be like Bungou Stray Dogs, and while the execution here is uncharacteristically funny at times to break the mold on the serious atmosphere, I find that to be a rather nice touch, actually. But when taken as a whole, considering that the manga started almost a decade early in 2014, this would've been in the mediocre-to-decent range by 2023 standards. Had the anime been adapted years prior, then it would at least still be relevant in its own age and time, but who can I say to assume that just for the sake of attention, would shows like this only get attention after a span of generally more than 5 years or so, or even worse for a show like this: an almost clear 9 years to be exact. Don't get me wrong, the show is actually watchable but really forgettable at the same time, and like its manga counterpart, will remain a cult-like status for the few that actually got a chance to watch this "flying under the radar" work.

The production is rather average and nothing noteworthy to talk about. Even though Bandai Namco Pictures have been trying to diversify their anime catalogue since 2015, it's mostly on the verge of producing more shows that are targeted for kids, and the niche ones like last Spring's Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story and most recently, last season's Koukyuu no Karasu a.k.a Raven of the Inner Palace, that are perfectly watchable by the general audience. Though for the case here with Mono-NO-gatari, it's...just there and does its only service is adapt the manga close to fruition. The frantic-paced action is also decent, though that's just par for the course and also is nothing more than getting the actual job done.

The OST is rather nice though. ARCANA PROJECT is back after a year and a half's absence with P.A. Works's Shiroi Suna no Aquatope a.k.a The Aquatope on White Sand, and their 4th Anisong here for this show...I'm even surprised to say that it is actually fairly good, and it fits the themes of the anime quite solidly. Miho Karasawa (also known as TRUE)'s ED is also a nice song that has a calm and soothing feel to it, and is also quite appropriate for an ending song. All in all, it's the highlight of the anime as a whole for me.

In retrospect, Malevolent Spirits: Mono-NO-gatari isn't a bad show per se, but it's just that there is no hook to the show being interesting and unique in one way or another. I suppose that for the few of you watching this show, it just so happens that the anime has piqued your interest in wanting to know more, so that's why you're in for this kinda quiet ride. Even then, I can only recommend this if you have some free time and want to experience something that's out of the ordinary, and for that, Mono-NO-gatari has got you covered. Just be sure to tamper your expectations first and foremost, for it has no wow factor, but a decent time-waster of a show.

See you in Season 2 when this show comes back in Summer, I guess, if you're still sticking around.

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Mar 27, 2023

AnimeEnjoyer420

Not Recommended

Funny

Overall Impression: Mononogatari is a battle shounen/romance that follows Hyouma, a young warrior monk (for lack of a better term) with a burning hatred for tsukumogami (spirits of inanimate objects) after watching his older brother and sister get killed by one in front of him. He is taken in by Botan, a girl that lives with several tsukumogami as a family, to let go of his hatred and learn that they aren't just creatures to be destroyed. The premise sounds more interesting than it actually ends up being though, this is a pretty run-of-the-mill battle shounen with an identity crisis and a total inability to ... animate thrilling action scenes. It can be safely skipped.

+ Positives: Hyouma is an actually interesting main protagonist, and a convincing portrayal of someone whose grief has warped into hatred. He and Botan's tsukumogami have a fun rapport. The character designs are pretty solid. Very good OP and ED. The plot has some promise if they can figure out what to do with it in the already-announced second season. Botan and Hyouma's relationship is pleasant and mostly free of aggravating romcom cliches, but hopefully there's a bit more heat to it in the future.

- Negatives: Visually atrocious. The backgrounds have a horrible filter over them to make them look like faded photographs and it makes almost every scene look glaringly ugly. Poor compositing and things like characters' feet not lining up with the ground compounds the problem. Action scenes are boarded in the blandest and safest way possible and even then the animation is incapable of rising to the task. One particular action scene where Hyouma has a house thrown at him (you read that correctly) almost made me cry because of how cool it should have been on paper, and how pathetic it looked on the screen instead. The series also seems unsure of what to do with itself. Long stretches are simply boring or forgettable because it fails to identify a clear conflict or villain. While Hyouma is supposedly working his way towards destroying the paper umbrella, the tsukumogami that killed his siblings, you only ever see it in flashbacks, and a large percentage of this season just feels aimless as he screws around with random small time villains that have only a tangential connection at best to the paper umbrella. If it were a monster of the week type of series, that might be okay, but it's clearly plot-driven and it makes you constantly wonder what the point or the significance of anything that you're watching is. Hyouma's transition from seething rage machine to guileless dork is a bit too sudden. He's great as a guileless dork so the change itself is fine, it just happens too fast and leaves a lot of nuance and potentially interesting character building on the cutting room floor.

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Mar 28, 2023

Saybarnet

Recommended

Well this was the seasonal suprise for me, Spirits is a solid B grade not bad not great. pretty much everything is around average across the bored. the better aspects is the story, this kind of story was done fairly often for a bit but with isekais flooding the stage its been a while so its refreshing. okay animations and sound with decent characters make this a solid watch if your nearing the end of your list. So for the ole 3-4 episode if you think the story is lame or characters boring then drop it, there isnt a conclusion pending the outcome of the ...

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