Review of Mononoke

Mononoke (2007)
8/10
Great
12 September 2022
A short 12 episode anime following the nameless Medicine Man, a wandering protagonist who uses his magic sword to slay invading mononoke, or vengeful spirits, back to the spirit realm. Originally a spin-off of the loosely related Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales, episodes are always grouped into 2-parters or 3-parters, each following a different short story of a spirit haunting inhabitants. The animation style is a reason alone to watch this series above all else, it is absolutely stunning, all done in a 2D Japanese ink painting style. Because of its style non of the horror is scary really, in that sense, but the plots and representations are just as chilling. The plot (a wandering healer exorcising spirits across late feudal Japan) is a plot very similar to a personal favourite Mushi-shi, which I would also recommend, but was very different in all other aspects. I had a ton of fun watching this, would highly recommend. And just in time, there's currently speculation around an upcoming 15-year anniversary film to be released in 2023, so here's to looking forward to that.
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