Some anime shows become legendary, their name instantly recognizable to everyone, even if they've never seen the show in question. Other shows remain cult classics. Despite their lack of a mainstream fanbase, they retain a group of dedicated fans who excitedly wait for more content and try their best to convince others to give their show of choice a chance. No show better fits this than Mononoke, and a new anniversary event has fans hoping that the show's return to the spotlight will lead to new content.

Recently it was announced that a Mononoke 15th anniversary event would be held in the Fuji TV headquarters in early June. It will feature the show's director Kenji Nakamura, star Takahiro Sakurai, and Fuji TV producer Koji Yamamoto. Many fans are hoping that this event will lead to the announcement of more Mononoke content, such as a new series or an OVA. But why does the show maintain such a dedicated fanbase, and why should you check it out?

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Mononoke 3

In 2007, Mononoke hit screens. The series was produced by Toei animation, as a spin-off of their Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales horror anthology series. Set between the Edo and Meiji eras, the series follows the adventures of the Medicine Seller. The Medicine Seller travels from town to town, aiming to slay spirits who attach themselves to negative human emotions called Mononoke. However, before the Medicine Seller can exorcise the Mononoke with his sacred sword, he must learn three things about it: The spirit's Form, Truth, and Reason.

What makes Mononoke stand out most from other shows is its visual style. The entire show resembles classical Japanese Ukiyo-e art, with most of the show having a paper-like texture and using a faded paint-like color palette. Thanks to the show's trailblazing use of digital animation techniques and 3DCG, the show effortlessly blends the real and the surreal. This art style creates unique and memorable landscapes and environments that perfectly capture the surreal nature of the spirits the Medicine Seller is forced to deal with. It also captures the horror of being haunted by something that defies our known laws of reality. In fact, you can clearly see how the techniques and aesthetics Mononoke pioneered would be used later in highly-praised shows like Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

But the show isn't just a visual treat as the stories are also gripping. The show is structured like a mystery story, with each individual mystery spanning two to three episodes, following the Medicine Seller as he tries to learn about his current target. As he does, he'll encounter loads of riveting characters, all of whom have emotional depth and intriguing characterization. While the Medicine Seller investigates, he uncovers anger, sadness, and tragedy. All of these mysteries are perfectly structured, leading to plenty of suspense and intrigue as the Medicine Seller slowly pieces together what happened to cause the current situation.

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Mononoke's Medicine Seller spreading arms.

Unfortunately, Mononoke's success outside of Japan has been limited because of the show's rocky release history. While it was subtitled by Toei Animation, the show has launched on and then left many streaming platforms, including Tubi and Retrocrush. This made it hard for those interested in the series to track it down. Currently, it is only available to buy via Google Play. However, past trends suggest that the show will appear on another streaming platform.

Mononoke's status as a cult classic is well deserved as the show laid a foundation that many later shows have built on. However, even with these modern developments, there is still nothing else quite like Mononoke. The show's fusion of gripping ghost stories and unique visuals means Mononoke is a must-watch for anime fans looking for something different and experimental and horror fans who love their horror more surreal. Hopefully, the 15th-anniversary event launches new Mononoke content or a new release of the classic series so fans new and old can fully experience this unique period horror tale.