Hidden gems are everywhere, lying around, waiting to be discovered by fans -- and once you find them, you can't help but want more. Mononoke is exactly one of those gems that most fans kick themselves for not encountering sooner. While being a highly overlooked show, it could probably be the best psychological horror anime there is. Although there are only twelve episodes to enjoy, with the compelling stories and its extraordinary art style, the series has managed to become a cult classic that takes its viewers on a trip down the horror tunnel.
The anime-original series Mononoke was animated by Toei Animation -- known for iconic masterpieces like Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Sailor Moon -- and aired in Japan in 2007, from September to December. Just recently, at the 15th Anniversary Festival, it was announced that Twin Engine is creating a full-length movie, commemorating Mononoke. Seeing that, over a decade later, Mononoke still has a dedicated fanbase that is looking forward to new content tells much about the self-evident greatness of the series. Here is why Mononoke remains such a compelling anime series, even after 15 years.
The main protagonist of the show is a mysterious man known as the Medicine Seller, who was also introduced as Kusuiruri in a prequel named Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror. Traveling across the Edo and Meiji periods of Japan, the Medicine Seller looks for Mononoke he can slay. To slay them, however, he needs to know the essence of the Mononoke, this being its shape, or physcial from, its truth, or purpose, and reason for existing. Once he collects all this information, he becomes able to vanquish the Mononoke with his magical sword.
The series does not have a continuous plot or storyline, but instead, it is broken down into two to three episode arcs that vary from a woman who falls in love with a Mononoke to a murder mystery at sea. While the Medicine Seller is searching for the Mononoke, the viewers enjoy the thrilling yet poetic stories and get to know multidimensional characters, even if they have a very little screen time.
The most intriguing thing about the series, however, is its unique art style -- an art style fans of Gen Urobuchi's Puella Magi Madoka Magica are already familiar with. Mononoke is visually gorgeous; not in a usual anime-aesthetic way, but rather, echoing Japan's Ukiyo-e art style that flourished in the Edo period. Like Ukiyo-e, Mononoke tries to reflect the pictures of the floating world, inviting its audience into a state between dreams, nightmares, and reality. This purgatory-like place captures the unearthly existence of the malevolent spirits while also perfectly harmonizing with the show's uncanny and thrilling ambiance. Although it seems weird to juxtapose a colorful and visually stunning art style with supernatural horror, the quick camera movements, haunting soundtrack, ambiance, and the horrifically colorful atmosphere definitely preserve and even increase the suspense.
Mononoke is basically a must-watch cult classic for anyone who wants to experience something different from the norm. Whether you like stories featuring fights with the supernatural, historical dramas, or psychological mysteries the series will get you hooked on. Some arcs are understandably weaker than others, however, animating and producing such a bold piece of work in a time when anime was much more conservative -- in means of art style -- is praiseworthy. Luckily now, 15 years later, the series will have the chance to embrace old fans and become an essential title on the watch lists of newcomers.