Story: 7/10
Each segment had a unique location and ambience. From an ancestral home to ghost ships to trains, it has got it all, making way for a thrilling Poirot-esque whodunit themed surreal horror. Each story follows a fixed pattern of determining "The Form, The Truth, The Motive" behind each evil spirit that the protagonist sets out to exorcise. However, the way the story is unraveled is a bit clunky - the situation gets resolved way too easily without actually keeping you on the edge of your seats. I feel like it lacked enough complexity while wrapping up an arc. This is only made worse by the slow baffling pace, like when the frame lingers way too long on character expressions. I am guessing that was how Japanese theater was done since this show is styled like a play. However, I am not really impressed by it. That said, the story by themselves, although lacking in complexity, are pretty impressive showcasing strong female leads, chilling schemes and cruel streak in humans.
Art & Animation: 10/10
I don't know if this surreal, psychedelic art is for everyone, but I loved it. From snowflakes to boats to swords, everything looks beautiful in this kind of art. Mononoke is the one with the most unique and striking artwork among all the anime I've seen so far. The characters are well drawn with their unique features and expressions. Solid work by Toiei.
Characters: 6/10
I liked the characters in every arc, even the most quirky ones. The medicine seller barely changes over time. We all know every character is hiding something. Eventually their true face is revealed as their desires and fears are exposed. However, I didn't like how repetitive they were since the show follows the same format over every arc. There was not one character that intrigued me throughout the show. Sometimes the characters might have flimsy motives. Sometimes they are impressive (ex. A person living in denial), but not very well presented.
Sound: 6/10
A decent job overall. Nothing that stands out but none that grates your eardrums either. If you like japanese traditional music then you should give the OST a listen.
Overall; 7/10
I did like Mononoke. But it required some motivation to keep watching it. The pace, the weird atmosphere and lack of complex plot might put you off a bit. Still, pretty visuals with a classical setting and decent music do make up for its drawbacks.
